Activities, Costa Del Sol

Aqualand Torremolinos

Aqualand Torremolinos is the largest water park in the Costa del Sol and has 19 water slides for adults, and 15 children’s slides.

If you are a bit of a daredevil you will love the 22-metre Kamikaze, the Black Hole, with over 100 metres of breathtaking drops, the Boomerang, a dizzying round trip on a super-slippery surface on board a float or the rapids, the closest thing to a rafting experience for two.

For younger children, there are mini slides and a kid’s park. Other attractions include: an 18-hole mini-golf course, a wave pool surrounded by a green area and sunbeds and a jacuzzi-style pool.

There is a souvenir shop and lockers for your towels etc. so that you don’t have to carry them around with you. It may be best to take your own snacks and drinks as the restaurants and cafes are said to be quite expensive.

Bioparc Fuengirola

Bioparc Fuengirola is a zoo that prides itself on being very animal-friendly. The animals live in areas reflecting their natural habitat, encouraging their development. In total, more than 200 animal species live in Bioparc and many of them are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered.

As you wander through this simulated tropical forest, lush with vegetation, rivers, and waterfalls, you’ll see crocodiles basking on the sandy shores of the Nile, Sumatran tigers bathing beside Angkor Wat, lemurs playing around an ancient Baobab tree and bats flitting around abandoned mines. You can also see meerkats, giant snails, river hogs, gibbons, hornbills and rainbow loris monkeys. Wherever you go in Bioparc, the only thing between you and the animals are natural barriers like bridges and riverbanks, or bulletproof windows that allow you to get right up close, even to razor-sharp crocodile teeth.

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Boat rides

What better way to see the impressive coast of the Costa del Sol than by boat? Relax on a yacht, experience life on a catamaran, be exhilarated on a speedboat, be delighted and amazed seeing dolphins jumping about in the sea, or be enthralled watching the under-water world from a glass-bottomed boat. The choice is yours.

You can go on one of the many organised boat trips that are on offer in most resorts or if you prefer and you have sailing experience, you could hire a boat of your own. This is a truly magnificent option for exploring and enjoying some unforgettable scenery along the 160 kilometres of the Costa del Sol coastline while relaxing, enjoying the sun, onboard with family and friends. There are so many places to discover and what a truly lovely way to sightsee?

Crocodile Park

At Crocodile Park Torremolinos, you will find prehistoric monsters which have miraculously survived 200 million years of evolution. If you love wildlife and dinosaurs then this is a place you must visit.

On arrival, you are provided with a map advising you of how much time you should spend at each of the stations. The end of your journey can include a presentation on the lives of these amazing creatures.

There are more than 300 crocodiles of different species in the 8 lakes and the park has 4 crocodile exhibitions per day, presenting Paco also known as Big Daddy to you (the largest crocodile living in Europe). All visitors can hold a young crocodile in hands to be photographed with their own cameras for free.

Open 365 days a year, there is a food court and a gift shop and the park is suitable for disabled visitors.

Day trips

If you are staying on the Costa del Sol in Spain for your holiday, then why not think about taking a day trip somewhere? There are many firms offering day trips to the main tourist sights of the area but why not try something a little different?

Granada is a fascinating place to visit and is home to the Alhambra, a lovely Moorish palace where you can wander through its intricately carved arcades and tiled halls and then onto the trickling fountains, serene pools and immaculate flowerbeds of the Generalife gardens.

Once you’re finished, why not walk down to the historic Albaicin quarter with its delightful lanes lined with traditional bars and restaurants.

Alternatively, take a trip to Tangier, Morocco by taking the 45-60-minute ferry. Enjoy a guided walking tour around a small souk and the Medina (old walled city) and then head to the bazaar for souvenir shopping

Golf

If golf is your passion, the Costa del Sol offers a host of golf courses with top-notch facilities and surroundings that are worth visiting in their own right. With its lovely sunny climate, very little wind and rain, the Costa del Sol is one the best golf destinations for you to improve your handicap.

Many tour operators offer Golf Holidays or you can just visit the course of your choice.

You could try: The Santana Golf Course at Mijas, where the greens are immaculate and the clubhouse small but lovely, or Los Naranjos Golf Club in Marbella which is a varied golf course in very good condition, suitable for low to middle handicap. It has lovely scenery and fairly wide fairways which would also make the high handicapper enjoy the game. A very good golf shop and a nice restaurant are situated on the terrace overlooking 18th hole.

Mijas Bullring

The Mijas Bullring is an unusual oval shaped building built in 1900 and was the show ring where all the town’s bullfights were held. Because of its unusual shape, instead of having seating around the whole perimeter there is only raised seating on two sides. Today, there are no events held there, but it’s still a focal point for tourists and at the top of a steep hill, it looks over of the pretty town of Mijas.

It is easy to imagine the bullring, full of fans waiting to see the spectacle and splendour of the fight between man and animal, the roar of the crowd and the music, all adding to the excitement. Not something most of us want to see for ourselves, but an interesting part of Spanish tradition.

In the museum, there’s memorabilia relating to bullfighting including costumes, photographs, posters and even stuffed bullheads.

Parque Aquatico Mijas

Parque Acuatico Mijas is a water park located just twenty minutes from Marbella that offers something for all the family. For the fearless, there are three twisting labyrinth slides, the rapids of Wild River and a 50ft drop on the Kamikaze – a real heart-in-the-mouth experience. Younger visitors have their own area, Lizard Island, with shallow pools to explore and islands to clamber over.

The water park also has a wave pool, lake pool, jacuzzi, mini-golf, a rock climbing wall and a performance stage for live shows.

There are plenty of places where you can sit or lie on the grass if you don’t want to hire a sun lounger and there is a gift shop, a self-serve restaurant, and kiosks selling snacks, or if you prefer to bring your own food, a shady picnic area.

Tivoli World

Tivoli World is an amusement and theme park in Benalmadena. It was opened in 1972 but over the years new rides and attractions have been added. It is an ideal day out for the whole family as there is something for everyone.

Why not try some of the rides such as the roller coaster, Twister, Jurassic Adventure, Tivoli Water, Grasshopper, Tivoli Dragon, Passage of Terror or the Giant Ferris Wheel?

For younger children, there are smaller rides, carousels, mini Ferris wheel, mechanical horses and the Plaza de la Jungla.

The Tivoli Theatre is where various shows take place suitable for adults and children and there is an authentic reproduction of a western town where you can eat the best Texas grill.

There is also a choice of restaurants, photo and souvenir shops, ice-cream and fast food kiosks as well as a first-aid centre and the usual public facilities.

Water Sports

The Costa del Sol is a great place for water sports due to its climate and striking coastline. The numerous resorts and marinas found along the Costa del Sol cater to a large selection of water activities. Most of these pursuits are suitable for individuals, groups, and families

Boating, kayaking, parasailing, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, and water skiing are only some of many possible water sports worth trying while visiting the Costa del Sol.

One of the most popular areas for water sports is around Nerja. Sea kayaking from Burriana beach to Maro and stand-up paddle surfing are two activities not to be missed, The seabed in this area is brilliant for scuba diving and snorkelling fans.

If you want to enjoy sports such as kite surfing, this sport is allowed on beaches such as Guadalmar (Málaga) and Río Real (Marbella). You’ll also find perfect diving beaches in Benalmádena, and Marbella