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The Costa del Sol is probably the best known of all the Spanish Costas. Situated in the most southerly province of Andalucia, it stretches along about 300 kms of Mediterranean coastline - approximately from Estepona in the west to Nerja in the east.

This is an attractive stretch of coastline with many fishing villages and towns which have now become holiday resorts. Much of this coastline has high hills or mountains very close, creating some dramatic locations.

The City of Málaga is the capital town of Andalucia and looks out over the picturesque coastline. The costal tourist centres on the Costa del Sol include: Nerja to the east of Málaga and to the west, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Estepona and of course Marbella with it's Puerto Banús which was built in the 1970s and considered to be the most sophisticated and exclusive seaside resorts along the Costa del Sol. Yachts and leisure-craft owned by the international 'jet set' are moored in the harbour.

The proximity of very diverse countryside of the Guadalhorce Valley - full of orchards, the mountains and the sea is undoubtable one of the main attractions of this coast.

The airport servicing The Costa del Sol is conveniently located in Málaga which is roughly central to the costa and within 1hr drive to all parts.

It's not only the perfect weather that attracts people from other areas of Spain and from all over the world to the Costa Blanca. The sea, beaches, beautiful nature of its mountains and the many leisure possibilities are also an important reasons why people decide to make this area their home. The Costa Blanca has also been a holiday favourite for many years. The coast is lined with many beautiful 'blue flag' beaches, most of which have lifeguards on duty during the high seasons, offering facilities like beach bars and restaurants, toilets, showers, children's play areas and even crèches.

The coastline is dotted with marinas and Alicante has an international harbour from where you can take boat trips to the island of Tabarca, which was fortified and settled in the 18th century as a prison island for Genoese captives. At Torrevieja harbour, an ingenious system of underground conveyor belts delivers salt to waiting cargo ships, straight from the salt processing plant on the salt flats.

Alicante is the airport for Costa Blanca and you can reach all parts of the costa within an hour's drive

South of Costa Blanca is Costa Cálida. It is one of the least known costas but probably has the best climate of them all. It's possible to find lovely quiet beaches as the resorts are smaller and therefore quieter than those aimed at the mas market. In the north is the Mar Menor, a saltwater lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a 30km stretch of land called La Manga. The 170 kms² of the Mar Menor is often called 'The Largest Swimming Pool in the World' because, being separated, it has higher temperatures than the Mediterranean, calmer waters and high levels of salts - thought to have beneficial qualities. The sea temperature fluctuates between 17°C in winter and 23°C in summer.

In the north of the Mar Menor is Lo Pagán which is famous for it's causeway containing healthy grey and black mud baths which attract many visitors from across Europe. People suffering from rheumatism and arthritis come to smear their bodies to alleviate their pain.The salt dunes form a shelter for the nature reserve where there are more than a hundred species of birds, including many flamingoes.