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Your guide to
Morón de la Frontera Olvera Villamartín Alora Antequera
Costa del Sol
Loja
1669 Cerro de Santa Lucia
Sierra de Yeguas
1369 Camorro Alto
Granada
Colmenar
1832
Vélez-Málaga Frigiliana Navachica Almuńécar Ronda Nerja Torrox 1919 Málaga Costa Maro Punta de la Mona Torrecilla La Carihuela Mijas Torremolinos Ojen Benalmádena l Puerto o Marbella Fuengirola Gaucin Banus S 1449 Calahonda San Pedro l Reales N de Alcantara e Estepona d
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San Roque
Algeciras
Gibraltar
Punta del Carnero
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Costa del Sol
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Sea
COSTA DEL SOL
15 km
© TUI 2005
i t S t r a
Punta Almina
Ceuta
MOROCCO
Average daily maximum temperature
80 70 60 50 40
30 25 20 15 10 5
Costa del Sol
°F
Apr 6 5 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Average daily hours of sunshine 8 11 11 11 9 6 7 6 6 5 Oct 7 3
°C
London
"With its sandy beaches and modern hotels, Costa del Sol has got beach holidays down to a fine art."
Stretched along Spain's southernmost coast, the Costa del Sol has long been its holiday Mecca. And once you see the beaches, you'll get why Brits arrive here in their droves every summer. Almost everywhere you go, golden sands rule the shores. There's Marbella, whose silky sands run for a whole 25 kilometres, broken up only by marinas and fishing harbours. Then there's Torremolinos with its big, buzzing sweep of beach, and Fuengirola, with its five-mile, Blue Flag stretch. Close behind is Nerja, with its sandy bays and picturepostcard coves. And finally, there's Benalmadena, where a white-washed old town sits shoulder to shoulder with a cosmopolitan harbour area. Beyond the coast, you'll find the `real' Spain that is Andalucia. This rugged province is home to cities like Granada and Seville, with their Moorish palaces and fiery fiestas. And in the countryside, a quieter mood takes over. Wind your way through the hills, stopping off at the region's famous `pueblo blancos', or white villages, like Frigiliana and Mijas.
Beaches With a name like Sunshine Coast, you'd expect the beaches to be pretty impressive. And they are. In fact, once you've seen the Costa's shores here, it's hard to tear yourself away. In Torremolinos and Fuengirola, the lure's especially strong if you love your beaches big and buzzing. In both resorts, cushiony pale sands extend for around seven kilometres, so there's always room to bag a space and stretch out. Better still, there are plenty of watersports and `chiringuito' beach bars to keep you smiling. Benalmadena's beach is worth talking about, too. Here, the clay-colour sands are broken up by rocks and pebbles, and the prom bubbles with cafes and activities to keep you planted here all day long. The beaches in Estepona, Marbella and Puerto Banus are hot stuff as well, with quiet areas perfect for peaceful sunning and others right in the thick of the action. If you prefer your sands smaller and cuter, then Nerja will be right up your street. Here, rock-framed coves indent the coastline, so you can take your pick and switch your setting almost every day.
Benalmadena
TRANSFER TIME About 1 hr Benalmadena is a lively seaside town that's a real hit with Brits. Looks-wise it's a bit of mish-mash 1970s high-rises give way to a pretty whitewashed marina that takes its cue from Moorish Andalucia. Packed with millionaires' yachts, the marina sits at the very heart of Benalmadena's social scene, with no shortage of bars and restaurants. Nightlife aside, the big draw here is the beach. The 700-metre stretch of sand-and-shingle runs parallel to the town's raised promenade and coastal road.
Fuengirola
TRANSFER TIME About 1 hr Fuengirola's main attraction is its five miles of Blue Flag beaches, stretching either side of the busy marina. Edged by spacious promenade and lined with palm trees and flower beds, it's the perfect spot for some serious sun time. And then there's the restaurants. Serving everything from traditional Spanish to English, you're bound to find something that tickles your tastebuds. Generally Fuengirola caters for those who want to soak up the sun and play watersports. But there are a few sights to see with the Moorish Castillo de Sohail featuring high on the hit list.
Nerja
TRANSFER TIME 1 hr to 1 hr 30 mins Unlike much of this famously touristfocused coast, Nerja has managed to retain every scrap of its Spanish charm. Perched on cliffs and backed by the dusky Sierra Almijara mountains, its feel is distinctly home-grown. In its old quarter, white, pan-tiled houses and shops border twisting lanes. And horse-drawn carriages clip-clop along cobbled streets. The beaches aren't Nerja's only natural gem. Whatever you do, find time to marvel at the town's cave system. And don't miss the stunning inland village of Frigiliana.
San Pedro de Alcantara
TRANSFER TIME Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes This typically Spanish town is a rare gem on the Costa Del Sol. Ambling along the whitewashed, narrow alleys and haggling with the stall holders on market day, you'll settle into the laid back pace of local life in no time at all. And that's exactly what you want on family holidays in San Pedro De Alcantara ... leisurely days on the gorgeous beach, strolls along the promenade and feasting on tasty grub from the beachside chiringuitos.
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