Well known for its fabulous climate, great quality of life and excellent cuisine, the Costa del Sol occupies just over 300 kilometres of coastline stretching from Gibraltar in the west to Malaga in the east. It is situated in southern Spain in the province of Andalucia and offers diverse landscapes with the beaches, Mediterranean Sea, mountains and valleys all within minutes of one another.

The mountainous backdrop protects the Costa del Sol from the cool winds of northern Spain. The scant rainfall and warm temperatures in the area allows numerous palm trees, oleander, hibiscus and other exotic flora to flourish. Orange, lemon and almond trees can be found all over the province, and there are olive groves in abundance. Just a short drive inland you will discover the more traditional Spain with picturesque villages and hills and valleys covered with pine forests and vineyards.

Most people visiting the Costa del Sol fly into Malaga which is a large cosmopolitan city and the birthplace of the famous artist Pablo Picasso, with several galleries, his house and a museum displaying his works. In common with most Andalucian cities, Malaga has strong Moorish influences and the fortress of La Alcazaba which dates back to 1065 and is now an archaeological museum is well worth a visit. On the Calle Alameda are the city’s botanical gardens which were “the” place to be seen back in the days when Malaga was a popular winter resort for the rich and famous.

Malaga is the firth largest city in Spain with an international airport which handles most of the traffic coming into the Costa del Sol. There is also a much smaller airport in Gibraltar at the western end of the coast. The driving distance between the two is just over two hours. To cope with the volume of visitors to the Costa del Sol huge investment has been made on transport communication links. Malaga International Airport is connected to all the towns and resorts along the coast via the N340 motorway, and there is a high speed train service which operates from the airport as far as Fuengirola as well as a bus service which runs right along the Costa del Sol.

The whole of the Costa del Sol has been influenced by various cultures. It was founded by the Phoenicians in the seventh century, followed by the Romans until it was conquered by the Moors and finally occupied by the Christians in 1487. Because of its varied history the area offers a great number of historic attractions to visit with numerous museums.

Heading west from Malaga the first resort you will come across is Torremolinos, which is a very lively and popular tourist resort with an old fishing quarter and Bajondillo and La Carihuela beaches which have some of best fish restaurants along the coast. Next is Benalmadena Costa which is a modern resort with an award winning marina with a lot of nightlife and places to eat and drink. Benalmadena Pueblo is a few kilometres inland and is a typical Spanish village with its own bullring and whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs.

Fuengirola has the longest esplanade on the Costa del Sol bordering sandy stretches of award winning Blue Flag beaches. Continue further west along the coast road or toll motorway and you will reach Marbella which is synonymous with glitz and glamour, with an exclusive shopping area with high street shops and designer boutiques. In direct contrast you can visit the Old Town which is full of narrow winding cobbled streets, more shops, beautiful squares and tapas bars and restaurants.

Next door is Puerto Banus which is another resort with a chic and stylish reputation with its marina full of large luxurious yachts, surrounded by international restaurants, piano bars, shops and night clubs offering something for everyone. Keep travelling along the cost for a few kilometres and you will reach the traditional Spanish town of San Pedro which is next to Estepona, and the modern and exclusive resort of Sotogrande, which also have their own marinas which are well worth a visit. Sotogrande also regularly hosts international polo tournaments

Traditional Spain does still exist in this region with a wealth of local culture and ferias. During Holy Week you can witness very impressive processions with fabulous music and valuable baroque images. Religious festivals in Nerja and Estepona are followed by riding and horse breaking competitions, while Cadiz holds a fair with typical Andalusian music and dance, accompanied by equestrian events, Nearly every town has its own feria which usually lasts for two to three days and provides colourful local entertainment which lasts from early morning late into the night.

For something completely different, visit the historic town of Ronda which sits high in the mountains on a plateau 48 kilometres inland from Marbella. The spectacular El Tajo river gorge divides the town into two, splitting the medieval architecture from the eighteenth century buildings. The Puente Novo stone bridge was once a prison and spans the gorge providing fantastic views. Ronda also has the oldest and largest bullring in Spain, which is no longer active and is now a fascinating museum.

The beautiful inland city of Granada offers many attractions including the Alhambra Palace which was built by the Moors and is one of Spain’s most important pieces of architecture. It is set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and has a summer palace with fountains and gardens and a hilltop fortress. The Cathedral has a chapel where Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain are buried.

The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf with over 30 championship golf courses, including Valderrrama which has hosted the Ryder Cup. Many of the clubs have golf academies and golf shops offering equipment at discounted prices. Because of the temperate climate golfers can play here all year round, but avoid the hottest months of July and August when the mid day sun can often be too hot to stand around in but when you can opt for “twilight play”.

The twenty four sandy beaches stretching along the Costa del Sol coastline offer every type of water sport including waterskiing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding, diving, pedalos and banana boats. You have a choice of over ten marinas where you can join sailing expeditions and cruises to some of the beautiful out of the way beaches and coves which are impossible to get to by road. Or you can go horse riding in the mountains.

Because the Costa del Sol is such an international holiday destination, entertainment facilities now range from the traditional bullfights and flamenco shows to water parks, zoos and theme parks providing days out for all the family.

Selwo Safari Park is based in Estepona. Here animals, including lions and tigers, from five different continents can be viewed safely in their natural habitat from a jeep travelling round the compound. There is also an amusement park which offers a variety of thrills and spills with a large number of rides.

Tivoli World is on the eastern end of the coast in Benalmadena and is the Costa del Sol’s largest theme park.

To keep cool visit the Water Park in Torremolinos, which covers over 70,000 square metres and has many attractions including the Kamikaze Twister, wave pools, jacuzzis and golf zones. Or nearby Selwo Marina is a sea life centre with dolphin shows, sea lions, parrots, a chilled penguin cave (popular during the hotter months) and 3D cinema.