A Travel Guide to the Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa del Sol is one of the best-known coastlines in Spain. The coast is located in the southern province of Malaga in Andalucia. The surrounding region has a rich history as well as all the modern facilities of today’s best tourist resorts and of course, perfect beaches.
The entire region here has changed hands several times throughout history and this means there are many historic attractions to explore all along the coast. The Balcon de Europa is the remains of a fortress that was built to protect the area from British ships until its destruction in 1812. Today some of the cannons still remain and the structure offers stunning views of the Mediterranean. There are several castles in the area and Arabic bathhouses built in the 1300s.
The thing that attracts most people to the Costa del Sol is the beaches. There are hundreds of beaches to choose from and each is a little different. Some beaches are pebble beaches, others have soft golden sand, some are large and busy, others are smaller, quieter and some sit within sheltered coves with protection from the winds and with calmer waters well suited to snorkelling.
For those looking to take a break from the sun, sand and sea; the Costa del Sol offers other amusements to enjoy. The Tivoli World amusement park is a great choice for those with children. The park has various rides, shows and amusements like bumper cars and Karting to enjoy. The Benalmadena Sea Life Aquarium offers a chance to see sharks, otters and turtles, octopus and rays up close, with a chance to touch crabs and starfish in the Rockpool experience. The aquarium encourages visitors to watch the animals being fed and a list of feeding times is available.
The Costa del Sol is the location for some famous tourist towns. Many of these towns have their own pretty marinas surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants. Puerto Banus is known throughout the world as a playground for the super rich, exotic cars are a common sight and fabulous yachts are often moored in the marina.
There is a wide variety of self catering holiday accommodation on the Costa del Sol ranging from villas and apartments to rent in the luxury areas of Marbella and Puerto Banus to inland cottages set on the hillsides with fantastic views over the coast.
