Day 1 in Estepona

Welcome to the Costa del Sol! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Estepona and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Start your trip by exploring Estepona`s historic center. That is the area bounded by Avenida España to the south, Avenida Juan Carlos I to the west and Avenida Andalucia to the north and east. At the northern edge of the historic center, there is the triple-domed Orquidario, which features over 1,300 species of orchids growing alongside a mini-bamboo forest and a waterfall. From there, visit the eighteenth-century Iglesia de Santa Maria de los Remedios, located just off Plaza de San Francisco. Interestingly, you will find that it is a unique example of a hybrid architectural style which includes early U.S. Colonial influences mixed with the rococo popular at the time. The five or six streets north of Plaza de San Francisco are pedestrianized and are home to hundreds of beautiful flowers in colorful flowerpots. Estepona is known as the `Garden of the Costa del Sol`, and the flowerbeds and flowerpots of Estepona have become tourist attractions in their own right.

Afterward, head south to one of the biggest plazas in town, Plaza de las Flores, where the city`s tourism office is located. If you walk down toward the water and turn right before reaching Avenida España, you will see a number of local attractions, such as the ruins of a Roman mausoleum; the Torre del Reloj, the only remnant of Estepona`s oldest Catholic church, dating from the 15th century; and the Castillo de San Luis, the fortification around which the historic center of town was built in the decades after the Castilian liberation of the mid-1400s. The streets to the west of the Torre del Reloj and the Castillo de San Luis are another set of pedestrianized streets with colorful flowerpots. Finally, after wandering down the side streets and looking at the beautiful flowers, head down toward Calle Real, a pedestrianized area set just off Avenida España, one of the widest avenues in town. Find a restaurant and eat dinner; try the paella or a local delicacy such as Malaga sardines!

Day 2 in Estepona

Wake up bright and early and take a walk along the promenade near Avenida España, otherwise known as the Paseo Maritimo Pedro Manrique. Stake a claim on one of the beach umbrellas at Playa de la Rada and sun yourself for a good part of the morning, partaking in water sports or splashing around in the surf as much as you like. After finishing up at the beach, walk down the promenade to the Port of Estepona. The first sight you will see upon reaching the Port is the Punta Doncella Lighthouse, which stands 100 feet above sea level. Have brunch at one of the restaurants at the Port, and then head east to see some sights outside the city.

About three miles northeast of the Port, there is the Torre de Padron, one of the seven extant watchtowers of Estepona. These watchtowers were built in the 14th and 15th centuries, some by the Moors and some by the Castilians. In another mile, you will encounter the easternmost watchtower in the region, the Torre de Guadalmansa. Afterwards, visit Cancelada, the farthest-flung suburb of Estepona, where you can find the only church in Spain that practices perpetual adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Finally, head east to San Pedro de Alcantara, one of the few towns on the Costa del Sol which can rival Estepona in terms of authenticity and beauty. Return to your accommodations at the end of the day.

Day 3 in Estepona

Enjoy some more leisure time early this morning by either taking in 9 or 18 holes at Estepona Golf, west of the city, or catch some more rays at Playa del Cristo, a beach west of the Port. Then visit the town of Casares, much of which is built into the cliff faces of the Sierra Bermeja foothills. Near Casares, there are the Roman sulphur baths of Hedionda, which supposedly have healing properties. As the story goes, Julius Caesar, once the governor of this region of Spain, had skin and liver ailments that were cured by the waters in Hedionda.

For the afternoon, choose your own adventure. If you want to sightsee and enjoy more beach time, you can head south to Casares Costa, where there are two beaches, one of which (Torre de la Sal Beach) is home to one of the seven watchtowers of Estepona. You can find another one south of Puerto de la Duquesa, near the ruins of the Castillo de la Duquesa. If you want to experience the mountains and go hiking, you can head north and climb hills and mountains made of iron ore and limestone. There is the Sierra Crestellina Natural Park to the west, and the larger Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja Natural Park to the east. Vantage points at both parks allow you to see the Rock of Gibraltar, which is located about 25 miles to the southwest. Finish the day by having dinner and some drinks at the Port. Return to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

Additional Days in Estepona

If you are interested in enjoying more of the Andalucian mountains and becoming one with nature, visit two larger natural parks to the north of Estepona, the Sierra de la Grazalema Natural Park and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, each to the opposite side of the historic city of Ronda. Ronda, one of the most famous whitewashed towns in Andalucia, is divided in two by the Guadalevin River. The division is dramatic and results in a massive canyon below the town. The tallest bridge, the Puente Nuevo, is built nearly 400 feet above the canyon floor.

Estepona tends to be a stop for people traveling the Costa del Sol all the way down to La Linea de la Concepcion, the border town closest to the British colony of Gibraltar. A visit to Gibraltar can be arranged, but keep in mind it will be like leaving Spain and entering the United Kingdom for visa and customs purposes. Opposite Gibraltar, there is also the port of Algeciras, one of the largest in Spain, and a jumping-off point for visitors who want to take ferries to see the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla across the Mediterranean on the African coast.

On the way back to Malaga to fly back home, take a day to stop in Marbella, a perennial favorite for British expatriates. Before you enter town, you will encounter a large port and shopping area called Puerto Banus, which is considered a top luxury shopping and nightlife destination. Marbella has great restaurants, bars and cafes, many of which can be found near the ferry port. The city is quite historic, with portions of beautiful Moorish defensive walls dating back over 1,000 years rising over the Old Town.

Your Last Day in Estepona

Depart your hotel and head to the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer; if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out. We hope you enjoyed your stay on the Costa del Sol!