Sports and Activities on the Costa del Sol

Activity guide on the Costa del Sol

Marbella offers a lot of possibilities to do sports either for fun and recreation or to boost your physical condition. The diversity of activities is enormous, but no doubt, golf is the most popular activity in the region. Tennis also attracts a good number of people, however it is being replaced by padel, something between squash and tennis, and hugely popular among Spaniards.

Golf

Golf is without any doubts the most popular sport at the Costa del Sol. With more than 80 breathtaking golf courses stretched across from Málaga to Sotogrande, Costa del Sol is not only the national golf treasure of Spain, but also the world renown destination for international competitions. Rightfully this region is also called the Costa del Golf. Golf has never been more popular than in the past decade and now mostly because it is accessible for any age, physical condition, background and budget.

Golf

Bicycling

Bicycling

Surrounded by a picturesque landscape the Costa del Sol is the perfect place to enjoy bicycling. The area is not only suitable for very sporty and professional cyclists, but it is also a nice spot for the recreational cyclists and families. While bicycling you will pass beautiful unspoiled nature and authentic villages. Spring and autumn are the most popular seasons among all the cycling lovers in Andalusia. Ronda, for example, is an ideal place for cycling trips through a very special scenery.

And for the less trained bicycler, cycling along the seafront promenade with panoramic views over the Mediterranean sea is absolutely recommended. Andalusia has the ambitious plan to connect 14 coastal communities with one bicycle path with lots of terraces, restaurants, beach bars along the way.

Tennis

Mild winters and comfortable weather in springs and falls make Costa del Sol a perfect place for tennis all year round. A large number of prestigious tennis clubs, high quality facilities and an amazing climate that you can enjoy all year round, have definitely made Marbella a true tennis paradise. One of the most famous tennis clubs is the Puente Romano Tennis Club, which is a part of the famous resort hotel. Many international competitions and popular events are being held there.

Tennis

For example, the Annual Marbella Senior Masters, with such renowned participants as John McEnroe, Yannick Noah and Carlos Moya. The first executives of the club were the legendary Bjorn Borg and the local hero Manuel “Manolo” Santana, Wimbledon winner in the 1960s.

Padel

Padel

Since a couple of years padel has become an extremely popular sport not only in Spain, but in the rest of the world. The tulles are pretty similar to tennis, however it is a bit easier to play. The field is smaller and the net is lower. It is played with a firm padel racket and a soft ball. All these features create a fast and response-based game loved on Costa del sol.

Mountain biking

The mountain ranges of Costa del Sol are the perfect place for some of the best mountain bike tracks. There are plenty of professional companies that focus exclusively on mountain bike trails along the coast and inland. The Andalusian countryside is the ideal playground for challenging mountain biking.

Mountainbike

Canyoning

Canyoning

An adventurous descent on a gorge with a small waterfall, natural slides and some wading and swimming – all this is to be found on Costa del Sol. The Marbella area offers some particular interesting options. Especially Benahavís with the Guadalmina river is just amazing.

Flyboarding

Dive and jump like a dolphin. Flyboarding is a great water sport activity where you can dive in the water and fly high up in the air at the same time! This is a very unique experience that won’t leave you indifferent. A set of two powerful water jets at the bottom of the flyboard will surely make you feel like Superman.

Flyboard

Diving

Diving

The south coast of Spain is well known for its beautiful white beaches and calm sea. The Mediterranean sea is a world on its own with all kinds of fish and aquatic plants ready to be explored. In the summer time the visibility under water can reach up to 30m. By snorkeling you can already see all kinds of beautiful sea creatures. And don’t worry about the water temperature, because in the summer the sea can warm up to pleasant 27 degrees. Important to know that in Spain it is obligatory to have a dive insurance.

Kitesurfing

During the winter season it is pretty common to see kitesurfing on the beach of Bahia de Marbella. This sport requires a windy day and a great deal of upper body strength. For the uninitiated, the surfer is secured to the shortened surfboard via foot straps and secured by a harness with a large wind sail. Using pulleys in each hand to control the direction of the kite, the surfer can easily navigate the waves and perform spectacular flips and somersaults.

Kitesurfen

Horse riding

Horse riding

Do you enjoy the nature and animals? If the answer is yes, then the horse riding is a perfect leisure activity for you. There are many possibilities to rent a horse for a nice ride or to get riding lessons from the professionals.

Horses and horse riding are an important part of Andalusian culture. The bread of the Andalusian horses comes from Seville and have a very noble and elegant posture.

In the past, monarch family was often using them as a tool in diplomatic matters, and as loyal companions during the war because of their brave nature. The Andalusian is an ancestor of many European horses, including the Friesian horse. The Andalusian horse is very easy to ride and is widely used for dressage competitions and horse riding tours. The number of Andalusians dropped sharply due to the war and poor crossings in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are currently over 185,000 registered Andalusians worldwide.

Hiking

There are many opportunities for hiking in Marbella and its surroundings. Everyone can find something to its liking and physical condition.

One of the most popular hikes is to the top of La Concha – a beautiful nature symbol of Marbella. On its top you can enjoy the majestic views over the whole Costa del Sol.

Hiking

Jeep Safari

Jeep safari

A fun and exciting way to discover the hidden nature treasures of Costa del Sol is to go on the Jeep safari. These pre-planned on- and off-road tours through winding mountain roads and picturesque landscapes offer some breathtaking views of the coastline and are ideal for visiting the small white villages.

Cable ski in San Pedro

Located next to an attractive lake in Guadalmina Alta in San Pedro de Alcántara, just five minutes driving from Marbella, this popular center for cable ski offers you a great opportunity to practise your skills in water ski, wakeboard or kneeboard. This easy to work with and trustworthy cable system will give you plenty of positive emotions. Each ride around the lake takes about a minute, but the cable can be set to a speed that suits you – slow for children and beginners and faster for the more experienced skiers.

Cabel ski

Fishing

Fishing

Long time ago the coastline of Costa del Sol was filled with small fishing villages. No surprise that fishing is still very popular not only among the locals, but also as a tourist attraction. There are many places to enjoy it in Marbella. You can choose to fish from the shore or you can join a fishing excursion on a boat from one of the ports of Marbella.

Canoeing

Canoe trip is a real good way to explore the nature of Costa del Sol from another perspective. For example, a guided excursion on Lake Guadalhorce, about 1 hour driving from Marbella, is a great opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of water and lovely Andalusian landscapes.