Costa del Sol Tourism Guide - Estepona

Estepona Old Town, Estepona Beaches, Estepona Marina

Estepona central old town is pretty indeed, and perfect for pottering. The main Plaza de las Flores is pure pleasure, lined with alfresco cafes. Relax in one of the cafes and muse over the one-time bullfighting that once went on in this square. Occasionally exhibitions are on show at the Casa de Cultura to the east of the square.

All that remains of the Moorish castle than once stood in Estepona on Calle Castillo are sections of the wall. Christians took the town in 1456. The weekday food market is situated near the wall ruins. Nearby Torre del Reloj clock tower dates from the 15th century and is all that remains of the church. Estepona boasts some delightful arts and crafts shops around the old town and Los Remedios 18th century church. If you like pottering and crafts shopping, you'll love Estepona.

Main Estepona beach La Rada is long (nearly 3km) and wide and with Blue Flag status. Note the interesting feature showers on the beach! Estepona's stunning promenade lines La Rada, with beach bars dotted along and shady spots under attractive canopies. Like the beach, the paseo is wide and accessible, popular with walkers, cyclists and roller skaters. To the far west end of La Rada Beach sits Estepona's Marina. Pretty again, the marina offers a selection of bars and restaurants and some low key disco bars. In peak season Estepona's marina is at its liveliest. Further west of the Marina sits the fishing port and another beach, El Cristo. This one's an attractive sheltered cove beach. East of main beach La Rada you've two other beaches - El Padron with adjacent big car park and Costa Natura is a naturist beach open to members only (visiting membership available).

Like Marbella, Estepona has a number of museums including the Ethnographic Museum, Museo Taurino Bullfighting Museum, the Museum of Palaeontology and an Archaeological Museum. Visit the Tourist information Centre in the town hall on Plaza de Blas Infante or on Avenida de San Lorenzo for details on these museums, plus rural excursions (either walking and cycling) into the Andalucian interior and the Natural Park of Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja from Estepona. For full restaurant listings for Estepona check the Costa Del Sol Guide/Estepona weblink right.

Estepona Golf Costa Del Sol

Estepona boasts one of the most visited golf courses on the Costa Del Sol - Atalaya New and Old Course, Ctra Benahavis, Km 0.7, 29688 Estepona. Tel. 952 88 28 12 (weblink right for details). Onsite are two quality 18 hole golf courses, a driving range, putting green, golf lessons and a golf academy alongside numerous other sports.

Estepona Golf situated just to the west of Estepona is the most well known of the Estepona golf circuit. A demanding course/par 72, Estepona Golf course demands a good technique with rough and short fairways. See the Estepona Golf weblink right for details. Estepona Golf, N-340km, 29680 Estepona Malaga. Tel. 952 11 30 81.

See also El Paraiso Golf, Ctra Cadiz Malaga Km 167, 29680 Estepona, Malaga. Tel. 952 88 38 46. (weblink right for details). Coto de la Serena Golf, N340, km 163,5, 29680 Estepona Malaga. Tel. 952 80 47 00. Coto de la Serena Golf sits between San Pedro and Estepona.

Los Almendros Golf, Ctra. Genalguacil, km. 3, 29680 Estepona, Malaga. Tel. 952 11 33 27. (weblink right for details). El Campanario Golf, Ctra Cadiz-Malaga, km.168, 29680 Estepona Malaga. Tel. 660 722 025. A 9 hole golf course. Further golf is west at La Duquesa Golf & Country Club and Sotogrande. See the Visit Costa Del Sol golf guides via their weblink right.

Estepona Holiday Attractions - Selwo Aventura Estepona

Selwo Aventura just outside Estepona is one of the Costa Del Sol's most popular holiday attractions. An animal come adventure park, come zoo, more than 2000 animals have a home here and you can get up close to Bengal tigers, lions, bison and zebras.

The Adventure park on-site has slides on a flying fox over lakes!, overhead walkways and archery to name a few of the activities. Falconry displays are also offered.

Further afield the choice of holiday attractions around the Costa Del Sol is within easy reach, particularly day trips to Gibraltar where you can ride to the top of the Rock on the Cable Car and enjoy great shopping. Other attractions easily accessed include Tivoli World Amusement Park and Cable Car just inland from Benalmadena, Torremolinos Aqualand Waterpark, Aquapark Mijas near Fuengirola and Benalmadena Seaworld/aquarium and Marina. Both Marbella and Puerto Banus are also within easy reach by hire car. Car Hire Costa Del Sol from Malaga Airport is handy in Estepona to help you get out and about.

Selwo Aventura A7 - Autovia Costa Del Sol, Km 162.500 Las Lomas del Monte, Estepona, Malaga. Tel. 902 19 04 82. (see weblink right for details).

Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja Natural Park, Inland Estepona Andalucia

Many visitors use Estepona as a handy base for accessing one of the Costa's most stunning natural park, Los Reales. Average heights of the mountain peaks in the park reach 1000m, with the highest peak at 1449m. You're in ancient volcanic territory here, and the reddish colours of the rock comes from peridotite which is rich in iron oxide. Spanish firs (which flower in April and May and bear fruit from September to October) are in abundance, and the views from the peaks towards the coast spectacular. If you've enjoyed a trip up to Ronda north of Marbella, you'll be equally amazed by the scenery within Los Reales.

To reach Los Reales take the MA-557 from Estepona towards Jubrique. The first pueblo you'll arrive at is Puerto de Penas Blancas. The crossroads gives you a choice - Jubrique to the right (18km) or left to the Paseo de los Pinsapos meaning Walk of the Spanish Firs. Take that turning on to the Agustin Lozano Shelter and other recreational areas in Los Reales beyond. Stop and read the poem by Federico Garcia Lorca 4.5km on. Close friend of Salvador Dali, Lorca's home territory was Granada. Poet and play writer, and Republican supporter, Lorca was assassinated by fascists in 1936. (see Granada pages on this website for more details on Lorca).

An excellent guide to Los Reales is available to download in PDF format from the Visit Costa Del Sol guide/ see Nature tourist guide download. (weblink right for details). Car hire Costa Del Sol from Malaga Airport is highly recommended to push up into Los Reales from Estepona. In fact Estepona offers easy access in and out of the resort and makes the perfect base if you're planning to push out by car hire to explore Andalucia, and pushing west to Gibraltar. (see Car Hire Estepona weblink right for booking with Holiday Autos online).