The municipality of Mijas is one of the prized possessions of Spain’s Costa del Sol Malaga. This certified tourist destination gives thousands of visitors a lasting impression, with its excellent beaches, and views of the mountains and the coastline. Mijas is divided into two major sections, which are Mijas Costa and Mijas Pueblo.
Mijas Pueblo is the village proper, where you can marvel at charming whitewashed Andalusian houses nestled on the lovely hillside. Walking on the narrow paved streets of Mijas Pueblo makes you appreciate its strong culture and tradition. You can easily find historic monuments and structures, which reflect Roman and Arab influences. Some of these structures include the two old Moorish churches and a chapel named “El Puerto”. Arguably, a visit to Spain is not complete without watching the traditional bullfight. Fortunately, this sport is the specialty of the oval shaped Mijas bullring.
Mijas Pueblo is also widely known for its unique transport called donkey-taxis. If you want to experience this unique ride, which is a tourism attraction in itself, head out to the villa’s central plaza. The Pueblo area is also the place to be when it comes to satisfying your craving for Andalucian gastronomy. There are a number of restaurants to choose from and various dishes to sample but you may want to first try the village’s simple staples; homemade honey and bread. The village’s terraced cafes, restaurants are bars are great alternatives to their coastal counterparts as they are significantly cheaper.
Mijas Costa is the other major part of the Mijas Municipality, which encompasses villages along the 12 kilometer coastal stretch. Costa is a mere 20- minute drive from Mijas Pueblo, and the perfect place to completely admire Malaga region’s stunning coastline and sea. Mijas Costa presents a contrast to the traditional Pueblo, as it boasts a more modern setup. Here, you will find more luxurious residences, villas and apartments, which cater to tourists.
The beautiful sandy beaches are of course the main reason to visit Costa. They offer visitors not only clear refreshing water and perfect weather, but also plenty of fun water sports and activities such as water skiing, windsurfing, paragliding, wakeboarding and jet skiing. Most of these beaches are populated by local bars called chiringuitos. This type of beach bar strip does not only sell refreshing drinks but also specialize in serving seafood cuisine.
The La Cala de Mijas or The Cove of Mijas is the center of Mijas Costa, and is also known as one of the best beach areas in the entire Malaga region. A former fishing village, La Cala has seen tremendous development for tourism over the last decade. However, it has managed to retain its Andalucian coastal village charm, which has attracted quite a number of British tourists.
While visiting here, do not forget to drop by El Barratillo – a popular street market organized every Wednesday and Saturday, which features numerous stalls selling a wide range of items like clothes, ceramics, fresh produce and plants. One of the best times to visit La Cala is during its festival celebrations, where you can enjoy local music and sample their homegrown wine and cuisines. During the Saturday nights of July and August, the village becomes more captivating as its promenade becomes host to classical music and Flamenco dancing performances.
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