Things to Do in La Cala de Mijas
La Cala de Mijas is best known for its beach and golf resort, but the town has more going on than that. Here is what to do on a day or weekend visit, including a few things most visitors miss.
La Cala de Mijas works well as a day trip from Fuengirola or Marbella, and even better as a base for two or three nights if you want a quieter version of the Costa del Sol. The beach is the main draw, the golf resort the second, but the town rewards some wandering and makes a useful starting point for the Sierra de Mijas hills above.
Top La Cala Activities & Tours
The Beach
The most obvious place to start. Playa de La Cala is a broad Blue Flag beach of about 1.5 kilometres, with good chiringuitos, sun lounger hire and calm water for swimming. Arrive before 10am in July and August for a decent spot without paying for a sun bed. For something quieter, Playa El Chaparral is 15 minutes east on foot and rarely gets crowded even in high season.
La Cala Golf Resort
Ten minutes up the MA-426 from the beach, La Cala Golf Resort has three 18-hole championship courses (America, Europe and Asia), a practice academy and a four-star hotel with spa. Green fees run from around 50 euros in low season to 120 euros in spring and autumn peak. Non-golfers are welcome at the hotel and spa; the outdoor pool and restaurant are open to day visitors too.
The Promenade and Old Quarter
The seafront promenade runs the full length of the beach and is wide enough to walk comfortably even in peak season. At the western end it connects with the old fishing quarter, a cluster of narrow streets where the bars are traditional Spanish and the pace drops considerably. This is the part of La Cala that predates the holiday trade and it is worth spending 30 minutes walking around it. The contrast with the seafront restaurants 200 metres away is sharper than you would expect.
Water Sports
In summer (roughly June to September) there are usually paddleboard and kayak hire concessions operating from the main beach. A paddleboard runs about 15 euros per hour. Pedaloes are available near the centre of the beach for around 10 euros per half hour. The water is calm enough for beginners most days; the small waves that do appear usually die off by mid-morning.
Where to Stay
Where to stay in Mijas Costa
Walking and Hiking in the Sierra de Mijas
The hills above La Cala form part of the Sierra de Mijas, which has a network of marked walking routes. The most accessible from the town is the path that climbs from the northern edge of La Cala up towards the ridge line above La Cala Golf, from where there are clear-day views south to Africa and north to the Sierra Nevada. The climb takes about 90 minutes each way and is best done before 10am in summer. Take water, a hat and decent footwear; the path is rocky in places and poorly marked at the start.
Day Trips from La Cala
La Cala sits at a useful midpoint. Fuengirola is 20 minutes by bus (M-221) and has a good market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Marbella is 30 minutes by car, with the old town and Puerto Banus within easy reach. Mijas Pueblo is a 20-minute drive uphill from La Cala: the same Sierra de Mijas, but the whitewashed village side rather than the golf resort side.
Frequently Asked Questions
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