Guide to Andalucía - Sports

Costa del Sol Sports

The abundance of facilities and warm climate make the Costa del Sol absolutely ideal for sport lovers.

Water sports occupy a prominent place along the entire coastline. From Nerja to Sotogrande, yacht clubs and marinas scatter the coast.

Windsurfing

Windsurf boards can be hired in most of the ports and on the majority of tourist beaches. The beaches of western Costa del Sol have the best winds due to their proximity to the Straits of Gibraltar. But the winds off the rest of the coast are generally mild and the water calm.

Sailing

There is a large number of sailing schools and centres in the Costa del Sol. The coast is perfect for relaxed sailing, however its not difficult to find windier areas if desired. For specific information call the Federacion Andaluza de Vela on +34 956 85 22 39.

Diving

For details of where you can dive call the Federacion Andaluza de Actividades Subacuaticas on +34 950 25 21 13.

Paragliding

The valley of Abdalajís is one of the best locations in Europe for paragliding and has a reputable school in which to learn.

Outdoor sports have a large following in Spain and there is a wide network of clubs, centres and places to hire equipment in the Costa del Sol. There are also a number of organisations and clubs that specialise in adventure or extreme sports. These clubs will ask for all the necessary documentation and carry out a number of checks as they have to adhere strictly to European rules and regulations and meet the same safety requirements as the other countries within Europe.

Karting

All along the Costa del Sol there are a number of Karting circuits where you can race alone or with friends.

Trial Biking and Motocross

A popular sport in Spain and there are many clubs where you can hire bikes for use on private circuits.

Cricket

In the UK there are over 10,000 Cricket Clubs whose season is over before it has really begun, due to the bad weather but here we boast the best weather of anywhere else in Europe and yet we do not use this to promote a sport which is predominantly played in the sunshine.

The National Cricket Association based at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, have agreed that they will accept the results of League matches played here on the coast & so this would encourage teams to come & play here.

The Málaga Cricket Association was formed in 1986 but it was not until 1992 that Mike Symons built the Cartama Oval, comprising of an outfield of Bermuda grass with a Notts Sports All Weather artificial wicket, for the members to play on. The Cartama Oval is nestled in the foothills of the Málaga Mountains overlooking the city of Málaga as well as having beautiful views of the coastline. Only 10 minutes from the centre of Málaga and 45 minutes from the famous Puerto Banus, Europe’s richest port.

Ski-ing

Hard to believe but there is skiing in southern Spain about a half-hour drive from Granada.

The Sierra Nevada resort has skiing at an altitude of over 10,000 feet and brilliant sunshine most of the winter. When storms arrive, life at the top of this treeless mountain top stops and visitors either drop down to Granada or curl up with a good book. With good weather the views are spectacular—almost unbelievable. From the top of the Veleta peak, skiers can see across the Mediterranean to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
The resort town itself, basically a sparse cluster of hotels and apartments at the base of the first series of lifts, is modern with a hint of traditional charm. It is purpose-built. It is here only for skiing and has been well located for that pursuit. It is not a traditionally Spanish enclave, nor does it appear in any sense Alpine; however, if you want to find snow in southern Spain, this is the place to be. When it does snow, it comes down light and dry because of the low humidity in Southern Spain. When it doesn’t snow, Sierra Nevada has one of Europe’s most advanced snowmaking systems.

Golf

The Costa del Sol is often referred to as the Costa del Golf and is emerging as one of Spain's premier golfing destinations. Its not surprising with a concentration of top quality golf courses nearing the 40's and fabulous weather almost all year round, it's an idyllic setting. Popular with European golfers for many years the area has become better known farther afield due to the 1997 Ryder Cup held at Valdarama. The demand is so great that many new courses are being developed and in the more popular courses rounds need to be booked months in advance.

Golf is far more popular with visiting tourists than the Spanish. A recent study estimated that a staggering 80% of golfing tourists had visited the Costa to play. Many golf courses have club tournaments running throughout the year, so phone to check first and booking in advance is advised. Golf has played a great part in turning the Costa del Sol from a summer holiday destination to a year round resort, with many northern Europeans escaping bleak winters to come to the Costa's mild winter climate to play golf.

There are 40 golf courses which form an unprecedented rich tourist heritage for they are a high quality collection and many of them are considered to be the best in the world.
A little inland from Puerto Banus and Nueva Andalucia is the area known as "Golf Valley" with world class courses designed by the likes of Robert Trent Jones and Seve Ballesteros, the area not surprisingly is home to many luxury property developments including some fine frontline properties on the courses. The course at La Zagaleta Country Club designed by Seve Ballesteros is one of the most exclusive courses on the coast and is strictly members and guests only.