The whitewashed villages of Costa del Sol are impressive historical monuments in themselves, and their people still live according to age-old traditions, inherited from their Iberian, Roman and Moorish forefathers. Many of the villages near the coast have become fashionable resorts, while still conserving their ancient charm, whereas others, lost in the highlands, remain rough and ready olive-farming towns, with a special appeal for the adventurous travellers.
The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) is the western part of the Andalucia coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the high-rise hotel development of other areas. The temperatures are slightly milder and the often strong Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike.
The Costa Tropical is on the southern coast of Spain, at the eastern end of the better-known Costa del Sol. This stretch of coastline takes its name from the sub-tropical climate which allows the cultivation of exotic fruits and crops such as avocadoes, mangoes, bananas and sugar cane. The area doesn't have the frantic activity of Torremolinos to the west, or the glamour of Marbella. But if you're after a beach holiday with plenty of activities and a taste of traditional Andalucian life, you've come to the right place.
Almeria province, long appreciated by Spaniards from Madrid and the North, is now very much on the list of destinations for the discerning holiday maker. This is mainland Europe's warmest and sunniest region, with over 3000 hours of sunshine a year. The province is steeped in history with a past reflected in its picturesque towns and villages. The whole area, with its unspoiled coastline, national parks, mountains and valleys provides an overwhelming sense of space, and offers an exiting new world to be explored.
Costa Calida has over 170 km of coastline: coves and small beaches alternate with rocky shores and sheer, craggy cliffs. As a geographical accident of nature we find La Manga, a coastal strip of land which, bar a few connecting channels, or narrows, completely closes off the Mar Menor lagoon from the Mediterranean. The Murcian littoral offers on the one hand unprotected shores with wild seas and on the other small coves with calm, placid waters. Sand-dunes, beaches, salt-water lagoons and mud-flats.
The Costa Blanca is well known for its major tourist towns and resorts where most people head for their annual holiday. With everything you could possible want out of a Spanish holiday; good weather, plenty of nightlife, sandy beaches, a high level of accommodation and lots of attractions and activities. But the 'White Coast' has so much more to offer... all you need do, is head out from the mega resorts and you'll find this 'real' spain, the traditional towns and villages awash with history and breathtaking scenery.
The Costa Dorada is Spain's "Gold Coast" extending from the city of Barcelona to south of Tarragona in the region of Catalonia. It boasts the dual attractions of seemingly endless miles of golden sandy beaches and the Port Aventura theme park, a Disney style entertainment centre which is the main magnet for many international holidaymakers. This stretch of the coastline has long been popular with Spanish tourists, anxious to escape the stifling summer heat of Madrid and the traffic chaos and congestion of Barcelona.
If you have never been to the Costa Brava, then we must start by explaining that the word that best defines them is diversirty. Don't expect to find one landscape, one light, one vegetation... what you will find is a multitude of changing landscapes. Like a kaleidoscope, your senses will receive an avalanche of sensations, shapes, colours. Your senses and your heart will absorb a multitude of impacts capable of producing the most pleasant emotions and the most diverse experiences.
The Canary Islands can thank their position, to the north of the Tropic of Cancer and to the west of Saharan Africa, for their extremely agreeable climate. A holiday in the Canaries virtually guarantees a healthy dose of winter sunshine for those wanting to split up the winter, a fact which draws back thousands of holidaymakers year after year. The Canary Islands have a very warm climate with temperatures ranging from 18ºC in the winter to about 24ºC in summer.
The Balearic Islands offer a wide variety of activities for all types of holidaymaker and all types of interests. Its traditional fiestas provide a unique range of celebrations to help you really get to know the local culture. Nautical activities are the bread and butter of an archipelago such as this. Maritime competitions are the high points of the sporting calendar, especially the many internationally prestigious sailing regattas in Palma Bay. In these waters sailors vie for, amongst others, the Trofeo Princesa Sofía.
