The Andalucia region of Spain is easily the country's most famous area, and rightfully so. It is known for its flamenco, fiestas and a sprawling 800 kilometers of coastline. It's most famous area is the Costa del Sol, or Coast of the Sun, that stretches along the coastline of the Malaga province. The area's most famous attraction is its sunny climate, but it also has some perfect white sand and warm Mediterranean water that is perfect for swimming.

 

Calahonda Beach

Calahonda Beachdidelco10, Flickr/photos/23653627@N03/

At 4,500 meters long, Calahonda Beach is the longest beach on the coast with sandy scrub bluffs and soft golden sand right up by the water. However, since it is at the foot of some recent urbanization in some spots, the beach is often busy. The plus side of its crowds is that they have garnered quite the collection of beach bars, sun bed and parasol rental shacks as well as hotels right up on the beach. As it is such a long beach, it also has its quieter corners where visitors can escape the crowds. Regardless, this is an excellent place to stay and play for visitors that crave entertainment and refreshment with their beach experience.

 

Playa del Cristo

The Playa del Cristo beach is among the best beaches outside of Estepona. It is a popular beach with families due to the shallow bay waters and the thin strip of sand that makes it easy to go back and forth between the car to pick up things. While the beach fills up quick in the summer months, during the off-season it is pretty barren. There are two beach bars on either end of that can keep appetites sated, but not much other development exists along the beach, making it one of the more natural beaches along the Costa del Sol.

 

Torremolinos

Torremolinoshttps://www.flickr.com/photos/kans1985/

This is where is all started. Costa del Sol, as well as the entirety of the Andalucian coast, is among some of the most developed beachfront in Spain and that all started with the Torremolinos resort. This was the first ever resort on the Costa del Sol and not much has changed since it opened in the 1970s. It still has a certain retro charm to it, but to most visitors, its beachfront is still the attraction. Open to resort guests and outsiders alike, this long, straight stretch of coast backed by high rise hotels and apartments offers the luxurious coast experience that visitors have come to expect from Europe's Mediterranean beaches. Oddly enough, the bars along this beach have taken British culture to heart, showing live football matches and serving up fish and chips alongside English beer. Although it's not that odd, considering this is one of Britain's favourite beach holiday destinations.

 

Playa del Canuelo

Playa de El Cañuelo, Tarifa, CádizConsuelo Ternero, flickr.com/photos/131783450@N03/

The sands of Playa del Canuelo near the town of Nerja are both out of the way and a little difficult to get to. However, because this off the beaten path beach is such an adventure to reach, it is very possible that visitors will have the sands all to themselves. What other visitors the beach does get are trendy hippy types that enjoy the solitude themselves, so it is a haven for those looking to escape. Visitors can spend their day exploring the lush forests and tall cliffs or they can head to the thin strip of beautiful sandy beach to sunbathe or indulge in the area's great snorkeling waters. While most of the beach is wild and untamed, some of the locals in the area run a few beach bars located on some of the wider and more well known stretches of sand.

 

El Bajondillo

The beautiful beach of El Bajondillo is iconic to the Costa del Sol area. The soft sand traces the coast of the warm Mediterranean waters just outside of the city of Malaga. Visitors can stroll along the waters on the sand with the sun bathers and swimmers or they can enjoy the numerous beach bars, restaurants, clubs and other amenities up along the beach promenade. For those that have a hunger strike them, the area specializes in pesca'to, or small fried fish, that is served in most restaurants along with a fresh salsa and an assortment of different dipping sauces (depending on the restaurant).

 

Puerto Banus

Marbella, Puerto Banus, SpainJilles Dissel, Flickr.com/photos/jisdis

For that atmosphere of celebrity-style glitz and glam, a visit to the beach town of Puerto Banus is a must. Not only will visitors find hot bodies soaking up the sun on the sands of the beautiful beaches lining the coast, but its marina is legendary, filled with an assortment of million dollar yachts. For those interested in Spain's late night party scene, Puerto Banus delivers, unlike many of the other beach towns in the region. Their nightclubs are always packed and always where the party is at in Costa del Sol. Whether it is chatting up some nouveau rich at a world-class beach bar or rubbing elbows with them in the city's raucous nightlife scene, there is a lot of fun to be had in Puerto Banus both on and off the beach.