Beaches & Outdoor Pursuits
Beaches - Alternative & Clothing Optional
Málaga
guadalmar
Recently achieved official status by Málaga town hall. Long expansive stretch of beach. Located between the Málaga city and the Parador de golf.
Benalmádena
playa de las yucas
Playa de las Yucas is within the Benalmádena town limits. It is not a blue flag beach, but it is very popular. It is only 400 metres long and 15 metres wide. The beach is made of dark gravel and has light waves. The access is difficult, nonetheless there are showers, telephones, and rubbish bins.
To locate the beach you must leave Benalmádena Costa going towards Fuengirola on the old N-340 following the coastline (formerly Antonio Machado - just renamed Avda. del Sol.)
After you see Playa Bonita continue straight and at the next possible turn around, you get onto the slip road where you will see the restaurants Merendero Baredero and the Embarcadero. The nudist beach is 100 metres away.
benalnatura
Located 1 km to the west of the large Torrequebrada hotel, west of Benalmádena. Family atmosphere; crowded summer weekends.
Estepona
costa natura
The nudist resort is walled around the perimeter and down to the beach. It is located at km 151,5 just west of Estepona. Large car park in front.
Marbella
playa de las dunas
Located slightly west of the Cabopino Marina. Leave the coast road at Cabopino and turn right into the sand dunes just before reaching the Marina - follow signs for Andres beach bar. There is also a gay nudist beach situated approx. 20 metres west of the Dunas Bar on Cabopino Beach.
Beaches - Blue Flag Info
The Blue Flag Programme is owned and run by the independent non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches / marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and other services.
Blue Flag beaches must meet monthly water quality guidelines, have rubbish bins, posted environmental information, adequate sanitary facilities, drinking water and be staffed with lifeguards.
As the beaches which qualify for blue flag status change frequently, we suggest you refer to the following website for an up to date list www.blueflag.org
Camping (Tents & Caravans)
Algatocín
Camping Salitre (Ronda Mountain Range)
www.turismosalitre.com
Tel: 952 117 005
Alhaurín De La Torre
Málaga Monte Parc Holiday Village
www.málagamonteparc.com
Tel: 951 296 028
Almayate
Camping Almanat (Beach/Nudist Camping)
www.almanat.de
Tel: 952 556 462
Camping Almayate - Costa (Beach)
Tel: 952 556 289
Álora
Camping El Chorro (Inland)
Tel: 952 112 696
Benajaraffe
Camping Valle Niza (Coast)
Tel: 952 513 181
Estepona
Camping Parque Tropical (Sea Views)
Tel: 952 793 618
Manilva
Camping Chullera Ll (Sea Views)
Tel: 952 890 196
Camping Chullera Lll (Sea Views)
Tel: 952 890 320
Marbella
Camping Cabopino (Next To The Nudist / Gay Beach)
www.campingcabopino.com
Tel: 952 834 373
Camping Marbella Playa (Beach)
www.campingmarbella.com
Tel: 952 833 998
Nerja
Camping Nerja (Sea Views In An Olive Grove)
Tel: 952 529 714
Ronda
Camping El Sur (Mountains)
www.elsur.com
Tel: 952 875 939
Torre Del Mar
Camping Laguna Playa (Beach)
www.lagunaplaya.com
Tel: 952 540 631
Camping Torre Del Mar (Beach)
Tel: 952 540 224
Torrox - Costa
Camping El Pino
www.campingelpino.com
Tel: 952 532 578
Yunquera
Camping Pinsapo Azul (In The Sierra De Las Nieves Mountains)
www.campingpinsapoazul.com
Tel: 952 482 754
Caves And Spelunking
Pileta Cave
Benaoján in the serranía de Ronda
Discovered in 1905 the "Cueva de la Pileta" has prehistoric drawings on the walls. Guided tours are available. It is very romantic as the cave is not outfitted with electricity and visitors carry paraffin lamps!
Treasure Cave
"cueva De Tesoro" / Rincón De La Victoria
This marine cave has quite an interesting past. Supposedly it was a prehistoric sanctuary dedicated to the Moon Goddess, Noctiluca, Goddess of fertility, life, death and hunting.
There are paintings on the walls. Legend says that the lost fortune of the Moorish Emperor Tasulin Ibn is hidden in this salty grotto. The cave is found at Urb. el Cantal, just off the N-340 between la Cala del Moral and Rincón de la Victoria.
Tour times vary: (Mon - Sun) 10:45; 11:30; 12:15; 13:00; 15:45; 16:30; 17:15
Adult: 4,25€
Child: (over 5) 2,50€
Tel: 952 406 162
The Torcal In Antequera
Málaga
Follow the road C3310 through Villanueva de la Concepción. A few kilometres after the village, a road on your left leads to the Visitor Centre.
The fabulous limestone rock formations have been built by the wind during thousands of millions of years. Locals say they spot flying saucers up here, whether this is fact or fiction - we just don't know, go along and see for yourself.
(wed-sun): 10:00 - 14:30
Nerja Cave
Málaga
This is a nice day trip from the Costa. Visit the cave and then have lunch on the beach, Nerja is a very popular beach destination. Located nearby, the Nerja Cave is an immense series of caverns. Discovered in 1959, this prehistoric stalactite and stalagmite cave was inhabited from 25,000 to 2000 BC.
There is an archaeological museum here containing a number of prehistoric artefacts. You can walk through stupendous galleries where ceilings soar to a height of 60m (200 ft.)
Special bi - monthly tours of the interior caverns are offered from October to May. These last 7 hours and cost 90,15€. Small groups of 10 with two guides explore the inner caverns with ropes, flashlights and helmets!
Open: 10:00 - 14:00 / 16:00 - 16:30
(jul & aug): 10:00 - 14:00 / 16:00 - 20:00
Adult: 7€
Child: 3,50€
Tel: 952 529 635
Climbing
El Chorro
www.rockandsun.com/locations/spain/andalucia/elchorro.htm
El Chorro is a magnet for rock climbers! The drastic drops make for a climbers paradise. Located 12 kilometres west of Álora, along the Guadalhorce River, this breathtaking gorge was formed by the river and is 200 metres in height - it is an amazing site.
The dam built between 1914 and 1921 was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII. In commemoration of its opening, he walked along the narrow catwalk built especially for the occasion. Known as the Royal Road, this wooden bridge may be quite aesthetic but is perilously in a state of disrepair.
You can also hike nearby at Bobastro and visit a 9th century church carved out of a single rock or gaze across the mountain top reservoir.
From Álora, or Málaga, take the A-357 to Ardales, turn right at a signpost to los Embalses and Bobastro. Turn left at a T-junction soon afterwards. Follow the road and then eventually turn right at a signpost to Bobastro and El Chorro.
National Parks & Bird Watching
Andalusia is a privileged area with an abundance of flora and fauna. The contrasting landscapes are amazing. Driving inland from the hospitable Mediterranean coastline, you cross barren mountains and soon reach vast olive plantations and if you carry on driving, inevitably you will reach alpine mountain peaks or perhaps marshlands. There are many national parks worth visiting. In Almería the beaches are picture perfect at Cabo de Gata and the desert town of Tabernas is literally a motion picture set. Explore Andalusia - it will amaze you!
The two largest national parks are Sierra Nevada that extends from Granada into Almería and the Parque Doñana in the Huelva/Sevilla provinces. Sierra Nevada is a great place to go sledging with the kids. Go up towards the ski resort and bear left. Sleds and coasters are available for rent.
Bird watchers just go crazy at the Doñana National Park. No wonder, the list of birds is unbelievable! Crested Coot, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Purple Swamp-hen, Little Bustard, Dartford Warbler, Azure - winged Magpie and Black-shouldered Kite. And in the marshes... you can spot Black Stork, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo, and Red-crested Pochard.
A bit closer to home is the Lagoon at Fuente de Piedra a bivouac for many migrating water birds including flamingos.
Bird watching is a wonderful, free and fun parent/child activity. It gets you out into nature and helps your child learn the specifics of language. Get a pair of binoculars, a bird guide and go off on an excursion.
Here is another handy website: www.fatbirder.com. The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society invites you to attend a meeting or check out their website: www.gonhs.org.
Tel: 956 772 639