Malaga tourist information

Malaga: Costa del Sol, Costa del golf

The Costa del Sol extends along the 161 kilometres of coastline belonging to the province of Málaga. It is located in the south of Spain, in the western extreme of the Mediterranean. In reality the Costa del Sol actually extends for some kilometres into the next province, one of these areas is the port of Sotogrande towards the Straits of Gibraltar.

The city of Málaga is the capital of the province and is a central reference point to divide the east and west of the Costa del Sol. The main towns in the east of the Cost del Sol are: Nerja (50km from Málaga); Torrox (46km); Vélez- Málaga (35km) and Rincón de la Victoria (12km). The western towns are; Torremolinos (15km from Málaga); Benalmádena (22km); Fuengirola (27km); Mijas (31km); Marbella (58km) and Estepona (85km). There is a fast and efficient main road that stretches the length of the coast and in the west there is also a toll motorway.

The province consists of 7,276 square kilometres of mountainous territory, however there is a good road network which makes travelling in the area easier. The coastal areas are relatively flat compared with the rest of the province and this is evident from the higher demographic development.

On a lesser scale, there are towns like Nerja and Rincón de la Victoria that still have a developed infrastructure and numerous hotels. The province is divided into six different regions: Málaga, La Axarquía (east coast and interior), Antequera (north of the province), Ronda (north-west), Valle del Guadalhorce (located between Ronda and Málaga) and west Costa del Sol.

The Costa del Sol has a Mediterranean climate with relatively high temperatures for Europe. The eastern regions have a subtropical nature and has hotter summers than the western regions. The western regions are defined as having a mediterranean-oceanic climate and both the summer and the winter seasons have lower temperatures than the eastern regions. The interior of the province is sheltered by the chain of mountains that runs adjacent to the coast which results in a pleasant continental climate. One of the most attractive features of this is its three hundred days of sunshine that the Costa del Sol receives each year.

Although the Andalusian summer has intense temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees celcius, it is not noticeably that hot. The annual average temperature is 18 degrees and during the winter the lowest expected temperature during the day is 14. The kind of climate you can expect here in the Costa del Sol almost guarantees a good time.

The beach and the sun are without a doubt the two most valuable assets of this important tourist destination. So much so, that even the name Costa del Sol cannot help but to include them.

The success of the Costa del Sol has always been associated with exceptional facilities and a complete range of services. All this, plus the benign climate and the richness of the extensive coastline has turned this destination into a favourite holiday region.

The Costa del Sol is an area in the south of Spain that benefits from exceptionally good Mediterranean weather, with average summer temperatures exceeding 25 degrees.

The coastline, full of natural splendour, extends for 161 kilometres and its various beaches range from huge expanses of golden sand to hidden coves with secluded beaches.

With an average of more than three hundred cloudless days a year, there are endless hours to enjoy the beaches during the summer. It is never too cold for a swim as the sea has a medium temperature of eighteen degrees, which in August can often rise to above twenty-four. Therefore, the summer season on the Costa del Sol is much longer than just the months of July, August and September.

The sun coast offers many beaches, and all of them are of a high standard and have extensive services, which have been recognised by the European Union under the blue flag system.

The majority of the beaches feature small open-air bars or these typical Spanish beach restaurants called chiringuitos. The menu typically contains a selection of fresh fish and is usually good value. As a rule, the beaches with the best services are close to urban or residential areas. These services may include deck chairs, showers and toilets, lifeguards or beach security. All kind of water sports equipment can be hired on the beaches or in one of the many leisure ports along the coast.
As you would expect, beaches that are more secluded do not offer all of these services. These quiet places however spoil the visitor with tranquillity and intimacy. The practice of going topless is acceptable on all beaches in Spain, however there are four private nudist beaches in Estepona, Benalmádena Costa, Guadalmar and Torre del Mar.

The leisure industry is perhaps one of the strongest and most attractive features of the Costa del Sol. A world-class tourist destination cannot just rely on the quality of its beaches and urban centre. Therefore, the Costa del Sol is constantly adding new attractions to the already varied offer of leisure attractions. The privileged location of the Malaga province between the Mediterranean and the mountains together with the unique mild climate make it possible to enjoy this ample offer all year round.

There are nine theatres in the Costa del Sol, the majority of which are situated in the city of Málaga. The times and dates of performances can vary, but normally there will be a few shows running at any one time of the year. Cinemas on the other hand are everywhere and can be found in every town in the Costa del Sol. Málaga itself has more than ten cinemas, showing the latest releases.

The Costa del Sol has come to be known as the Costa del Golf in recent years. The traditional things that have benefited the typical tourist over the last four decades have also to some extent caused an increase in the amount of people that come to the Costa del Sol to play golf. The climate and the long hours of sunshine provide a perfect opportunity in which to practise the sport and each year the clubs and courses are visited by an ever increasing number of enthusiasts and professionals. The long hours of sunshine that the Costa del Sol receives has established the region as firm favourite amongst golf aficionados.

The fact that the Costa del Sol receives over three hundred days of sunshine each year is something useful to keep in mind when starting a round of eighteen holes. Fresh Atlantic winds, due to the proximity of the Straits of Gibraltar, mix with the mild Mediterranean winds and help to moderate the temperatures.

The climate here is usually defined by the warmth of the air and lack of extreme atmospheric weather. This is due to the fact that the length of the Costa del Sol is sheltered by elevated mountainous regions - the sierras of Mijas, Alpujata and Blanca - which act as a protective screen against the affects of the colder northern winds. Apart from offering such a warm climate, the mountains, slopes and valleys provide a wonderful scenic backdrop to the game, this is especially evident on some of the famous courses in the Valle de Golf near Puerto Banús.