WHAT TO DO? WHERE TO GO?
Our apartment is approximately 10 minutes drive to both Estepona and San Pedro de Alcantara. Both are very quaint Spanish towns with pedestrianised and cobbled shopping streets with regular street markets.
San Pedro has a vast childrens play area going through the town, and Estepona has fascinating alleyways and side streets. Both packed with restaurants and bars and there's nearly always a Fiesta day on the horizon, which really brings the town and it's townspeople to life. They are both on the coast with blue flag beaches and beach cafes.
Both towns have glorious beachside promenades covered in flowers and plants, which stretch for miles, for leisurely strolls.
There are several large supermarkets within a few minutes drive.
New autoroutes have put much of Spain within easy reach - Jerez, Seville, the Moorish towns of Cordoba and Granada, the white walled villages of Caceres and Ronda etc. There is winter skiing in the Sierra Nevada near Granada; 2 hours away and breathtaking walking routes in the nearby mountains and river valleys.
Hire a car from Malaga or Gibraltar airports.
Approximate distances from the apartment:
Ronda: 53 Km
Malaga: 57 Km
Cadiz: 205 Km
Granada: 186 Km
Gibraltar: 70 Km
Sevilla: 206 Km
Cordoba: 244 Km
Madrid: 600 Km
Mijas: 43 Km
There are several typical 'white' Spanish villages within an hours' drive of the apartment;
Mijas, Ronda, Istan, Casares, Arcos de la Frontera.
Marbella
What formerly was just a small Andalucian fishing village has expanded into one of the top European holiday resorts, and one of the favourite places for the rich and famous.
The city is divided into various areas, and all are worth a visit.
Puerto Banus
Only 15 minutes drive to the famous port of Puerto Banus. The meeting point of the rich and famous! Here you will find high end retail and excellent restaurants. The area around the marina is the hub of the action. You will find uber-luxurious yachts with accompanying supercars. Just a walk away from the port is the large department store El Corte Ingles which also houses a large hypermarket. This store does not close at lunchtime for the usual 3 hours. It stays open all day and has a large, reasonably priced car park.
Orange Square (Plaza de Narajas)
Also known as Marbella Old Town, it is centred around a town square lined with Orange trees – hence the name. The whole area is quaint and full of charm and history. It's well worth a visit. The shops are interesting and there is an abundance of restaurants. It's a good place to try a paella, the delicious traditional Spanish risotto. The shops close here for siesta, so that's always a good time to have a typical long Spanish lunch.
Ronda
The largest of the white villages is Ronda. It is a drive of twisty, mountainous roads to reach the summit. Ronda is quite a large town, with a main Square with an old church. Cafes and restaurants surround the square, and it's really lovely to sit and have a cool drink in the warm sunshine. Ronda also boasts the oldest Bullring in Spain (Plaza de Toros), which is rich in architecture, character and beauty. Love it or hate it, bullfighting is an integral part of Spanish history and the bullring is a must visit. Ronda stands proud, high in the mountains with wonderful views into the gorge from the bridge (Puente Nuevo), which divides the old and new town.
Mijas
Found off the coastal road on the way to Malaga. It's a good place to visit on your way to the airport, as it only takes about 15 minutes to divert there from the main road.
It has similar charm and history to Ronda, but smaller and more compact. Parking is not easy, so grab a spot when you see one. It is also more touristy than Ronda and you are hard pressed to find any shops other than those catering to the tourist trail. Still, it's a lovely place and worth the journey. There are quaint village squares, and narrow alleys, with many cafes and bars.