With some of the best weather in Europe, and miles upon miles of beautiful Mediterranean coastline, it’s no surprise to see hear that the Costa del Sol is increasingly becoming one of the most popular travel destinations for European holiday makers. Marbella and Puerto Banus continue to attract some of the wealthier visitors but there is plenty more to see and do throughout the rest of the region. With travel sites like momondo helping you find cheap flight deals in and out of Spain, this part of Malaga can be an amazing place to visit even if you’re on a budget.
Finding the best things to see
La Maroma is the highest mountain peak in the Sierra Tejeda range, at the edge of the Malaga-Granada border. Many of the pueblos blancos of La Axarquía rest on the slopes of La Maroma with amazing views past the mountains to the sea (and the Moroccan coast on a clear day), with endless hiking trails in between. The entire area is a massive mountain nature reserve that also includes the Sierra Almijara and Sierra Alhama ranges, home to numerous species of rare birds (you’re almost certain to see eagles), mountain goats and the Iberian Lynx. Gorges, waterfalls, pre-historic caves, remnants of Phoenician, Roman and Moorish civilizations – it is a hiker’s paradise without doubt. Many of the villages will offer detailed maps and possibly contact information for trail guides; for example, there is a tourist office in Canillas de Aceituno where you can find information, and from there it is only a seven hour trek to the very summit of La Maroma at almost 2100m. However, if you’re not quite up to all of this hiking but still want to see the terrain for yourself, you can hire a small plane from the nearby Axarquía – Leoni Benabu Airport to fly you past. Otherwise, for even more adventure, try paragliding through.
Finding the best places to eat
Restaurante Sollun in Nerja, with Chef Juan Quintanilla, earned a well deserved Michelin recognition in 2012 for creative and impressive Spanish cuisine, and a personal approach to service. It’s one of the most exciting restaurants anywhere between Malaga and Almeria with a unique modern flair applied to traditional Spanish classics with occasional elements of fusion. The menu is always changing and with only about five tables in the dining room, you’d better reserve a table in advance and before word gets out much further. For more casual fare, the numerous chiringuitos right on the beach all along the coast offer the freshest of seafood and the coldest of beer in the most relaxed of environments.
Finding the right beach
The most beautiful and isolated beaches lie near Maro, just beyond Nerja, and eastward into Granada province at La Herradura. Here the cliffs rise dramatically from the sea and many of these beaches lie within national parkland so they’re protected reserves. Exploring is half the fun, and of course, the more remote the beach the fewer people you will encounter. Playa Cantarrijan, in a cove right at the border between Malaga and Granada provinces, is a favourite. With two chiringuitos right on the beach you needn’t bring your own food and drink, and there is a more private section of beach accessible by an ankle deep traverse around a huge rock sticking out of the sea. The most secluded and hidden beaches will be most easily accessed on a small boat chartered from nearby Caleta de Velez or La Herradura.
Finding somewhere to stay
While there are some four star hotels in the area, if it’s authentic exploration you’re after and an insight into local life, you’ll definitely want to stay in a private villa where you can live like a local. Try an established villa rental and tour company such as A&K Villas or an independent luxury villa rental agent. A new startup company called Caramel Trail is even developing full luxury trip planning services with accommodation in La Axarquía. You can stay on or near the beach, but a property in the hills off of the coast will offer a more culturally immersive and authentic experience.