Estepona - The Sunniest Place on the Costa del Sol
Quieter and more rustic than other places on Spain's southern Costa del Sol, Estepona has managed to avoid becoming one of those modern resorts and maintaines its original charm. Sunbathing, golfing, horseback riding and many more things await you on the Costa del Sol.
General Info
Found on the beautiful Costa del Sol in Spain’s southern shores, the town of Estepona s one of the sunniest in the region (hence the name) with over 325 sunny days in a year. This, no doubt, coupled with the lovely location between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Bermeja mountains, offers Yacht Charter visitors an unforgettable experience.
The town is presumed to have been settled by the Romans, judging by the artifacts found at this location, though the name is believed to come from the time of the Arab influence. Today, the town lures groups of Yacht Charter sailors with its blue flag beaches, its sports marina, its tapas bars and its old architecture.
Travel & Arrival
The nearest big town is Marbella, which 30km to the east along the coast, but the closest international airport is Gibraltar international, 45km away, with direct flights from Madrid, London (Gatwick). There is another international airport nearby, the Malaga Airport, but that’s 80km away, which means longer transfer times for Yacht Charter arrivals.
By land, you can reach the town of Estepona by taking the AP7 Autopista (highway). Yacht Charter groups travelling this way should keep in mind that while this is the fastest route by land, since the road bypasses
most of the urban centers such as Marbella, it’s also a toll road, which means there are fees to be paid at certain intervals. Don’t worry though, getting from Malaga to Estepona shouldn’t cost more than a couple of euro in an average sized car.
The port and marina are very busy region of the town, not just because of the ferries and yachts coming and going, but also because this is where the weekly market is held in Estepona. For ferry rides to other places in Spain or even in Africa (Morocco), the Yacht Charter boatman must travel to Malaga.
Avant & Apres Sail
Somehow, Estepona managed to hold on to that authentic rural look, that pueblo feel that makes a Spanish village seem unperturbed by modern times. Tall apartment buildings or high-rise hotels are nowhere to be seen here, as do the “touristy” clubs or bars. Maybe that’s why so many Yacht Charter tourists who come here on vacation later choose this place as their wedding location, among the old buildings peeking out of the subtropical vegetation.
When it comes to attractions, there aren’t that many landmarks around Estepona that are worth mentioning but that isn’t to say you’ll get bored while here. This small Yacht Charter resort and former fishing village is known as the golfing capital of Europe, with some of the most extensive and well managed courses on the continent.
However, outside of town, in the Selwo Safari Park, you’ll get a truly African experience, with over 2000 animal species from the Black Continent. In town, Yacht Charter seamen can visit the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Estepona. This is also the place where most of the events in Estepona are organized, regardless of their nature. Some other places of interest might be the Clock Tower, the San Luis Castle and the bullring.
The shopping experience in Estepona is mostly comprised of local produce and clothing boutiques by international brands. The Wednesday market held along the harbor is more for the locals, whereas the Sunday one has souvenirs for Yacht Charter crowds.
The tapas or bistros in Estepona are famous for their Yacht Charter interesting choice of cuisine, a mixture of Spanish and Mediterranean recipes, with some restaurants focusing only on a certain specialty, like French or Italian. Most of the eateries around town are centered along the seafront or the main promenade. The rest are scattered in small plazas next to Calle Real.
The nightlife isn’t exactly up to par to the rest of the Costa del Sol, famous for its wild parties and wild party crowds. Here, you’ll see bars and pubs where you can get a drink with your Yacht Charter friends. For a wilder and louder time head on out to one of the bigger cities, like Marbella.
Events & Actions
Among some of the annual local festivities, the Yacht Charter guest might want to experience the San Isidiro Labrador on May 15th (agricultural and religious celebration), the Ferias y Fiestas mayors at the beginning of July, the Quema de los bigotes de San Juan on the 23rd of June (a traditional night celebration) or the Virgen del Carmen on the 16th of July which is a fishermen’s celebration.
Among the local activities, sunbathing is held in high regard by almost anyone, with the beaches stretching out on either side of the harbor and plenty of sunshine to go around for every Yacht Charter group. Then, there’s golfing, widely spread among all visitors and horseback riding, also very popular and widely practiced by almost all who find themselves spending their vacation in Estepona.