Estepona is
the Costa del Sol's most westerly resort and lies
approximately 80 km from Málaga
airport (Gibraltar Airport is the nearest international
airport, it is 45 Km away but has direct flights just
to Madrid and London). Due to its natural environment,
surrounded by the sea and Sierra Bermeja
mountains, Estepona has a micro climate with over
325 days of sunshine per year. Estepona is renowned
for its beaches, which stretch along some 23 km of
coastline. It is a popular resort and holiday destination.
This once tiny fishing and
farming community is at the quieter end of the Costa
del Sol and has retained much of its "pueblo"
charm. The town has managed to embrace modern tourism
without surrendering its traditional Spanish character
and appeal. Notwithstanding, all the tourist facilities
is here, including hotels, restaurants, leisure, cultural
activities and shops.
In the old quarter you'll be
delighted by the steep, narrow, cobbled streets where
you feel a horse or a donkey is more likely to overtake
you than a car. Stop at a street cafe in the Plaza
de las Flores in the town centre or explore the
tiny shops and bodegas which entice you into a web
of back streets. Most modern shops is in the centre
of the town on Calle Real and Calle Terraza.
Of course the main attraction for tourists is the
beaches which are clean and well equipped . There's
the main sandy beach of La Rada in the centre
of Estepona and a delightful sheltered cove, Playa
El Cristo, to the west of the marina.
The marina is at the western
end of the seafront promenade and is a great place
to stroll or just sit and people watch. It's divided
into two parts, one for the working fishing vessels
and the other for pleasure boats. For the early risers
the fish market at the harbour is an interesting sight.
A large variety of fish is auctioned off but you must
be there by 6am as it tends to be finished by 7am.
For entertainment, there's
a good range of water sports, some excellent golf
courses, a riding school and the Selwo Safari
Park. Selwo is one of the world’s most
exciting nature parks. The largest of its kind in
Spain, the African styled safari park features over
2000 species of animals living in more than 100 hectares
of land in semi-wild conditions. Selwo Safari Park
is an exceptional day out for anyone who wants to
see animals, some quite rare, all kept in beautiful,
caring environments.
