There is so much to see and do in our immediate area. Whether you´re interested in nature, history or culture, there really is something for everyone! There are many wonderful destinations (both natural and historical) that can be reached within a 30-60 minute drive from our home. For example, within a 30 to 45 minute drive from our apartment are the typical whitewashed Andalusian hilltop villages of Casares, Gaucin, Jimena and Castellar de la Frontera, as well as Los Alcornocales Natural Park, which has the largest cork oak forest in Europe and is one of Spain's biggest natural parks. This park is a mecca for hiking and outdoor recreation. It is less than a 30 minute drive from our home and it features many hiking trails.

The further inland you go, the more historic whitewashed towns and villages you find. Gaucin is the next one after Casares, and further inland is the spectacular town of Ronda. What makes it so special is that it´s divided in two by a very deep gorge and connected by an ancient stone bridge. Ronda is a 90 minute drive away from our apartment.

A 15 minute drive past Ronda is Setenil de las Bodegas – a truly unique town with dwellings built into the rock walls of a narrow gorge!!

A 45 minute drive from our home is Tarifa - the southernmost point of continental Spain! Apart from being a mecca for surfers and hippies, it has wonderful beaches and views of Morocco (which is only 12 kilometers away!), as well as a lovely old town. There is a fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangiers, Morocco and the ride only takes 25 minutes. Tarifa is well worth the visit!

A 50 minute drive towards Malaga is Marbella, the heart of the Costa del Sol and one of Europe's most popular seaside resort cities. Apart from great beaches, shopping, restaurants, bars and cafés, Marbella also has a beautiful old town.

Cadiz, the capital of Cadiz Province, is a 90 minute drive away. People say it´s the oldest city in Europe and it´s full of historical and archaeological sites and museums.

Sevilla – the capital of Andalucía and UNESCO World Heritage city is a 2 hour drive away. Whether you like history, culture, architecture, art or fine cuisine, it is a truly exceptional city and well worth the drive.

Last but not least, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is just a 20 minute drive from our condo. It´s worth a day trip, as it´s full of history and the views from the top of the Rock are spectacular. It´s most famous for its Barbary Apes, which are the only wild monkey in Europe. They tend to stay in the Upper Rock Nature Preserve. It´s better not to carry any food near them, as they can be quite cheeky!

There are countless beaches on the Costa del Sol and on the Costa de la Luz. The white sand beaches of the Costa de la Luz between Tarifa and Cadiz are consistently voted as the best in Spain. The most famous one (and our favorite beach in Spain) is Playa de Bolonia, which features large white sand dunes. It's 64 kms from our home. The nearest beach is called Playa de la Alcaidesa and it is 3.4 kilometres from our home. It is a sandy beach with gorgeous views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the Moroccan Coast, with the Atlas Mountains in the background!

The centre of La Alcaidesa has a supermarket, restaurants, shops, cafes, etc. It is about 3.5 kms from our apartment. Our complex is sandwiched between a nature reserve and one of the most extensive golf courses in Spain. It’s a 10 minute walk to the golf club house, which has a restaurant and bar. It’s a 15 minute drive to the towns of Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro and Sotogrande - one of the most exclusive communities in Spain. Sotogrande has a world-class marina and recreational facilities (polo, tennis, golf, water sports, spas, etc.). Both towns have a wide range of restaurants, shops, cafes, supermarkets, etc. In the other direction on the A7 motorway, it’s also a 15 minute drive to the typical Andalusian town of San Roque - our municipal capital.