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Leisure Activities on the Costa del SolThe leisure industry is perhaps one of the strongest and most attractive features of the Costa del Sol. Thousands of people choose the Costa del Sol for their holiday rentals, as apartments and villas are well priced and have much to offer on the Costa del Sol. A world-class tourist destination cannot just rely on the quality of its beaches and urban centre. Therefore, the Costa del Sol is constantly adding new attractions to the already varied offer of leisure attractions. The privileged location of the Malaga province between the Mediterranean and the mountains together with the unique mild climate make it possible to enjoy this ample offer all year round. Cinema and Theatre: There are nine theatres in the Costa del Sol, the majority of which are situated in the city of Málaga. The times and dates of performances can vary, but normally there will be a few shows running at any one time of the year. Cinemas on the other hand are everywhere and can be found in every town in the Costa del Sol. Málaga itself has more than ten cinemas, showing the latest releases. Concerts: The level of tourism in the Costa del Sol is such that famous international artists can put on large concerts (The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Julio Iglesias, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, George Michael have played here in the past). There is also a wide offer of different cultural events, especially in places like Marbella. In Málaga, they celebrate the 'Serenatas de la Luna Joven' an interesting show with a variety of singers from Latin America. There are also regular shows in the Tívoli Word fairground. Classical Music: Apart from the extraordinary season of concerts in the Teatro Cervantes in Málaga, the outstanding event of the year has to be the Festival de Música y Danza that is celebrated throughout the length of the summer on the amazing stage of Cuevas de Nerja. Marbella has a variety of other events in which internationally renowned concert performers attend and also to a lesser extend, in other places in the Costa del Sol. Horse lovers also enjoy a wide offer of equestrian events and competitions on the Costa del Sol. Close to Mijas, you will find the Racetrack Costa del Sol, where you can watch and bet on races throughout the day and night. It is a recent venture and has proved very successful in attracting the attention of the main jockeys and stables from Spain and abroad. Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol. This equestrian centre offers once a week an impressing exhibition directed by D. Álvaro Domecq about classic riding forms from the 17.th century. Furthermore shows arte staged in western riding and with horse carriages. In the Pony Club horse riding classes are given, especially for the young once. You will find complete boxes, a covered training ground and another one outside, plus a leisure area. The riding school offers classes on all levels and also special training in dressage, classic, western and high school, as well as horse jumping. The centre organizes excursions on horseback leading through gorgeous natural areas. There is a covered manege, a competition track, two for foal dressage, a walking area for six horses, a warm up area and stables with 142 comfortable boxes. The riding centre constitutes a splendid surrounding to discover the world of horses. There is a beautiful shop offering all kind of horse equipment, a workshop for harnesses and a plant where leather articles are produced. Getting to know the culture and the deep-rooted traditions of the Malaga province can be an attractive alternative to enjoy the beauties of this unique region. Bullfighting is one of the many aspects of Spanish tradition that arouses interest in many tourists. The traditional time for this celebration of Spanish culture is at seven in the evening, but it occasionally occurs during the night. There are usually six bulls with each performance lasting twenty minutes and the duration of the bullfighting is just over two hours. Apart from the permanent bullrings, performances are occasionally held in temporary squares throughout the year. These events almost always coincide with local festivals (see relevant section). During the festival of Málaga, which is held during the middle of August, they organise a special bullfight (the bullfighters are mounted on horses and can use lances) and three afternoons of normal bullfighting, which attracts some of the highest rated bullfighters of the season. Local Fairs: The majority of the fairs that are associated with patron saints occur during the summer in the Costa del Sol. There is usually an organised pilgrimage or procession where the Saint is paraded through the town, followed by a few days of celebration, which can often include an open air dance at night. Frequently there are additional festivals from the end of August to the beginning of October, which are usually held in celebration of a natural product or the end of a wine harvest. Another gorgeous option to enjoy your stay in this beautiful part of Southern Spain is: Hot air balloons: From Ronda, a town easily accessible from anywhere at the Costa del Sol, you can undertake excursions in a hot air balloon. This is a magnificent alternative to discover the natural beauties of the mountain region Sierra de las Nieves. You will be able to watch rare predators such as eagles, vultures or hawks. This unforgettable experience starts early at dawn and last for about an hour and a half. Back on safe ground, a hearty Andalusian breakfast is offered with quail’s eggs, ham and other products of the region. Teleférico de Benalmádena. The cable cars can transport four people from Benalmadena to the mountain peak Calamorro, a difference in altitude of about 700 metres. The peak is part of the beautiful and unspoilt mountain region Sierra de Mijas, which protects the Costa del Sol from cold northerly winds. The glaring white of limestone rocks contrasts beautifully with the deep green of the pine forests. The trip from the sea up to the mountain peak takes about 15 minutes. During this time, the visitor enjoys, especially on clear days, gorgeous panoramic views of the Mediterranean coast, the Pillars of Hercules protecting the Strait of Gibraltar and the North African shoreline with the Rif mountain chain. A beautiful highlight of this excursion is a tour on the back of a donkey on the so called "ruta homenaje" (route of honour), which has been dedicated to this beautiful animal in danger of extinction. Quite a few of them have helped to build this cable railway in a difficult terrain. Of course, the Costa del Sol features a wide variety of specialized leisure centres, where especially the young once can enjoy a whole day with attractions, water events or in theme parks related with nature and adventure. Tivoli World is the oldest and most complete fairground in Spain. It covers almost one hundred thousand hectares, contains wonderful gardens and fountains and has thirty-six of the latest rides and attractions that should satisfy the youngest of children to those of a more thrill seeking persuasion. There are typical rides like the Roller coaster and the Ghost Train and others with names like The Twister, The Mysterious Ship, A Jurassic Adventure, The Dragon (with eight metre high loops), Children's Pirate Park and The Jungle Express. There are also regular shows, three theatres and numerous restaurants. Water Parks have become a successful form of entertainment over the last few years. There are three excellent water parks in the Costa del Sol: Torremolinos Aquapark. This place is within very easy reach of most places in the Costa del Sol and has a large car park. Inside the water park they have: large green areas in which to sunbathe; numerous swimming pools; the 'black hole', one hundred metres of fantastic tubes with sharp drops and unexpected turns; the 'gran cañón', where you can take inflatable rafts down cascading water channels; the 'kamikaze', probably the highest water toboggan in Europe at over twenty-two metres high and with a fifty percent gradient; an assortment of water slides; a wave pool; a tropical lagoon; and a Jacuzzi. Parque Acuático de Mijas. This water park is ideally situated between Marbella and Málaga, it has a full array of water slides and other attractions (Kamikaze, wave pool, a labyrinth of toboggans, Children's Waterland, Adventure River....) and also has superb facilities for picnics and other activities, such as volleyball, mini golf or indoor games. Selwo Aventura Selwo Marina Leisure and adventure park “Las Navillas” Zoo in Fuengirola. In this natural habitat with lots of water and vegetation, 250 animal species live together in semi liberty: In this beautiful zoo, we can admire crocodiles, tigers, apes, lemurs, butterflies and much more. The area is divided in three different zones: The island of Madagascar, Equatorial Africa and Southeast Asia. This fantastic park follows a new design called “zoo immersion”, where the visitor is able to roam freely among most of the animals. Furthermore, it is the only zoo in Europe, which can be visited by day and night. Crocodile Park. This is a Nature Park exclusively for crocodiles. They have species from Africa, Asia and America and the giant crocodile from the Nile. They live on an area of over twenty hectares located in the most important fluvial valley of the province and it is situated within very easy reach of most of the Costa del Sol. Sea Life Centre Benalmádena. It is the first interactive underwater park in Andalusia that allows you to walk across the bottom of the sea and gaze at almost three hundred thousand aquatic species from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Red Sea. There are more than thirty tanks of different dimensions that accurately recreate the natural surroundings of the sea life that inhabits them. The Ocean area contains different types of sharks, moray eels, turtles and other endemic species. The Tropical area is filled with surprising colours and unexpected creatures such as balloon fish, butterfly fish, stonefish, surgeonfish, sea horses, etc. In the Invertebrate area, there are anemones, jellyfish, large shells, octopuses and crabs. They have one of the species of crabs in here that is one of the oldest on the planet at over 500 million years old. Aula del Mar. Located in Málaga, it is similar to the Sea Life Centre in the fact that it tries to promote the protection of the natural sea environment. It offers a variety of educational workshops and has an unusual school in the shape of ship. The museum has five rooms, which catalogues the remains of over a thousand species of sea animal. There are giant squids, the jaw of a tiger shark, the tail of a fox shark, turtle shells, the skull of a whale with an intact vertebral column and many other archaeological remains. Centro del Mar. This theme park, located in Benalmádena is an addition to the Aula del Mar. It is a learning centre, based on the principal to teach the conservation of nature. Unlike the one in Málaga, this one is located right on the beach. It offers a wide variety of leisure attractions, especially for children, with guided visits of the centre and excursions to the open sea. It also features an oceanographic laboratory, which allows a direct contact with endangered species from the oceans including octopus, sea turtles and groupers. There are also workshops and exhibitions about the life in the oceans aimed at a greater understanding of marine ecosystems, biodiversity and the richness of the sea. On the Costa del Sol, the sunshine extends the day so that a countless number of activities can be practised. It is the night time, however, when this beautiful region comes to life. In addition, in this area the visitor is spoilt with a great variety of possibilities. Casinos: There are two high-class establishments at the Costa del Sol that are officially authorised, the Casino in Benalmadena and the one in Marbella. All stakes are accepted in these elegant surroundings and the most common forms of gambling are blackjack, roulette and the fruit machines. City nightlife: There is a healthy nightlife in the majority of the historic towns within the Costa del Sol and the streets are normally full of people enjoying themselves throughout the summer season and over the weekends the rest of the year round. People often visit in excess of ten places or more during an evenings entertainment and continue having a good time until very late. Discos and Nightclubs: In the tourist areas of the Costa del Sol there are a wide range of discos and nightclubs, from small and popular venues to luxurious super clubs. The licensing laws in Spain allow clubs to remain open until what is commonly referred to as 'after-hours'. Ports and Marinas: It is only recently that ports and marinas have started to become the preferred place to go out at night. Because of their ideal location, they can go on late into the night without disturbing the rest of the population. Popular bars, pubs and even clubs are now established in the ports and marinas of most major towns and cities on the Costa del Sol and attract thousands of visitors of all ages. However, the leisure offer does not end here. At the Costa del Sol, there are specialized companies, like for example Ticket to Ride, offering a selection of leisure opportunities to groups and individuals, such as survival training, excursions in 4x4, kayaking, canoeing, bungee jumping... Furthermore, events that are more traditional can be booked, like barbecues, paint ball, trap shooting, etc. Also completely dedicated to leisure are large centres like the Plaza Mayor offering a wide variety of entertainment opportunities. This leisure centre is located close to the highway between Malaga and Torremolinos. The design of Plaza Mayor recreates the typical atmosphere of an Andalusian village with narrow streets, plazas and fountains. The visitor is spoilt by countless attractions like 20 modern cinemas, a huge fitness centre, a bowling centre with 20 lanes, plus over 70 bars, restaurants and shops. Another exciting alternative to spend your spare time.
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