Excursions

• Less than 50 kilometres from Málaga and with easy access to all the Costa del Sol hotspots, this is a fabulous rural location with some of Spain's finest landscapes close at hand.
• Four kilometres away, the pretty village of Casarabonela retains its traditional charm but is well served with shops and amenities. It has a population of 2,500. You will find all your daily needs in the shops there, fresh vegetables, meat, fish, bread, as well as a chemist, a couple of banks and plenty of places to eat tapas and good local food.
• To the north lies an area of mountains, pine and eucalyptus forests cut by wide river valleys, of which the Río Guadalhorce is the most well known, a land of small farms, fertile fields and rural villages. This is the region known as El Chorro and the Lake District of Ardales.
• At the heart of the region lies the white town of Álora (30 minutes away) built on three hills rising above the river. The scenery in the higher reaches of the valley, just to the north of Álora, is dramatic.
• Garganta del Chorro is a huge natural gorge, 180 metres high, three kilometres long, spanned by an ancient iron bridge. It offers some very challenging rock climbing, walking and hang-gliding and is a favourite place for the extreme sport set.
• A dam at the head of the gorge has created Andalucía's very own Lake District, three turquoise blue lakes bordered by pine forests. This is an altogether more tranquil retreat, a place to swim, fish and canoe or just to picnic by the lake shore or enjoy a glass of wine and a bite to eat at a local taverna. Wonderful terrain for walkers, too, with shaded paths through oak forests and olive groves and gentler, scenic routes along the shores of the lakes.
• Take the fabulous mountain road from Casarbonela to Ronda ... which winds up, through and over the barren, rocky and almost deserted terrain of La Sierra de las Nieves (literally, the mountains of the snows). Some would argue it's the most beautiful National Park in all Andalucía. Once best known as a refuge for highwaymen and outlaws, the lack of human activity and endeavour within the National Park has paid rich dividends for nature: it now boasts an impressive array of both flora and fauna.
• The trip is well worth it and, better still, takes you to Hemmingway’s favourite town in all of Spain, with its spectacular gorge and Spain's oldest bullring.
• Another fabulous destination is El Torcal, just to the south of Antequera, a magnificent 1,100 hectare National Park of massive, Mars-like mountains of eroded rock formations. Here the imagination plays tricks as giants, monsters and castles seem to appear before your eyes.
• La Costa del Sol with its wealth of sandy beaches, sun, fun and nightlife is just an hour away. Resort towns Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella are all within an hour's drive from here. If you want to check out what the beautiful people are doing, with their designer shops and jet-set marinas, or just enjoy the sparkling sun, sand and sea, Marbella is the place to head for.
• And don't ignore Málaga itself, particularly the old town. The covered market and the Picasso museum are wonderful.
• Close to Antequera is the crossroads of Andalucía's motorway system with fast autopistas which will take you quickly to Granada, Córdoba or Sevilla.

Activities

• For all nature lovers you have some of the most varied and beautiful terrain in all Europe on your doorstep. See above. Anyone who enjoys walking, riding, swimming, canoeing or quad biking will be in their element here.
• Very challenging rock climbing, walking, hang-gliding and other extreme sports are available at El Chorro.
• For golf enthusiasts, many speak very highly of the course at Antequera (an hour away). There are any number of golf courses on the coast, two within 40 minutes drive, Lauro Golf and Alhaurin Golf, both near Alhaurin el Grande.
• All major water sports are also available on the Costa del Sol including water skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing.