Costa del Sol, Spain

My very first trip to Spain was to Nerja in the Costa del Sol, sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Nevada mountain range (see map below).  While driving from the Malaga airport to Nerja, I was gobsmacked by the beauty of the surrounding area and I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous Andalusia region of Spain.  The weather is ideal, people are very friendly, and vistas are stunning.

Balcon de Europa — While in Nerja I spent much of my time at the Balcon de Europa, which is a large round balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with stunning panoramic views.  On a couple of occasions I had lunch in the restaurant beneath the balcony and enjoyed spectacular vistas.  It is a unique experience.

Caves of Nerja (Cuevas de Nerja) — One of the most unique features in the Coast del Sol area is the popular Caves of Nerja, which are a series of huge underground karstic cavities stretching 5km containing massive stalactites and stalagmites.  The caves were very impressive and the tour was quite interesting.  Artifacts and human bones dating back 25,000 years BC are evidence of ancient settlements in the caves.   One of the massive chambers within the caves is so large that concerts are held regularly in this natural amphitheater.

Facts & Figures

—  The Sierra Nevada mountain range (meaning ‘snowy range’) boasts the highest peak in continental Spain; Mulhacen at 3478 meters (11,411 feet).  Snow can often be seen on some peaks during the height of summer.

—  The watchtower of an Arabic fortress stood on the site of the Balcon de Europa in the 9th century.

—  The largest stalagmite in the world resides in the Caves of Nerja, measuring 32 meters (105 feet) tall and column width ranging from 7 meters (23 feet) to 13 meters (42 feet) wide.

Travel Tips

—  Car hire (car rental) in Spain is very straight forward with a valid driving license (from your country), however most all rentals are manual shift

—  Currency used in Spain is the Euro (€)

Psalm 76:4 – New Living Translation (NLT)  

          ⁴  You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains.

If you are a world trekker like us and want to become more ‘worldly’, then you will want to try our books below.  Thanks to the former British Empire and current Commonwealth, the English language is widely spoken across the world, however it is spoken quite differently depending on where you are traveling.  We believe the books below are essential to worldly trekkers and think you will find them both fun and informative.  The books include a dictionary of everyday words and phrases, traditional cuisine, some history and culture, and other handy information. Simply click on the book covers below to find out more:

Thank you for visiting!  Cheers!