The LPG covers the areas of the Costa del Sol on the Eastern side of the Málaga province, the inland region known as Axarquia, and the Costa Tropical on the coast of the province of Granada. Below you can find general information about these three areas, and from the sub-menu above specific information, and in many cases videos too, of the principal towns and villages where the LPG operates.

Costa del Sol

Coming to Málaga Province and Costa del Sol is seeing beautiful landscapes, tasting delicious food, and experiencing the warmth of the people. It’s also discovering a rich cultural heritage, fabulous beaches and coastal sites, and charming hinterland villages.

The Costa del Sol stretches along just over 150 kilometres of the Málaga province and is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. The area’s mild climate is the root attraction that makes it possible to enjoy the beaches and a wide variety of outdoor activities year round. The eastern side of the coast stretches 54 kilometres from Málaga to Nerja, the most important urban centre on this end of the coast.

With much improved communications over recent years, access is fast and easy. Málaga is served by its International airport which is of course one of the major airports in Spain due to the number of tourist arrivals on charter flights from Northern Europe using Malaga airport as a gateway to the Costa del Sol.

Modern motorways link Málaga with the entire coastline as well as the rest of Spain. The recent addition of the new high speed train from Madrid to Málaga, the journey takes just two and a half hours (reduced from four hours and twenty minutes), the extended port of Málaga that now takes the world’s largest cruise ships together with a brand new underground Metro system, currently under construction, makes Málaga one of the leading pioneering cities in the whole of Spain in terms of access and transportation.

The Costa del Sol offers an incredible lifestyle. The activities available on the Costa del Sol are wide and varied; there is actually something for everyone. Many other areas report to offer the same but usually fall far short of the choice available on the Costa del Sol. The eastern side of the Costa del Sol offers a quieter and more relaxed version than the western side, better known for the more flamboyant style of life associated with Marbella and Puerto Banus.

It is an ideal location to own or rent or property and take holidays enjoying the excellent and mild all year round climate. Relaxing days out at one of the many beaches are a must, enjoying some of the most beautiful, clean and safe beaches on offer, with the Blue Flag of Merit being awarded on many occasions to the beaches on the Costa del Sol.

Beach activities include waterskiing, boat, fishing trips and yacht charter, other major sports such as tennis, bowls, football and basketball are also all popular and expertly catered for. Many of the larger towns have their own sports grounds for athletic events and football matches as well as public indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Many of the Sports activities are a very popular pastime to local residents and Tourists alike, the most popular of these being Golf.

The Costa del Sol has not been named the Costa del Golf without good reason; it is simply a golfer’s paradise. There are some 69 golf courses in Andalucía with some 45 situated along the Costa del Sol and four of which are ranked in the top 10 in Europe.Local golf courses on the eastern side of the coast can be found in Rincon de la Victoria, Torre del Mar and La Herradura, whilst two new courses are planned for Torrox.

For yachting enthusiasts, there are many marinas along the entire coast, and good news for local residents in the Nerja/Torrox area, the new marina has finally received the go-ahead and will be constructed on the municipal border between Nerja and Torrox Costa. In the meantime you can enjoy the local Marina del Este in La Herradura, just 10 minutes drive.

For country lovers, there is much to be discovered inland. Seek out some traditional cooking in one of the many great value ‘Ventas’ (country restaurants) dotted all over the countryside. There are many national parks in Andalucía and are a must for any visitor to the South of Spain. Nestled behind Nerja you will find the Almijara National Park, a great venue for trekking, horse riding, cycling, and off-road activities.

Just one and a half hours drive you have the international skiing resort of Sierra Nevada, ever popular with the winter ski enthusiasts, although even if you don’t enjoy the winter sports it’s well worth a visit for the breathtaking views across the mountains looking back down to the ancient city of Granada and its world famous Alhambra Palace.

Meanwhile those of you who relish a shopping expedition will be more than satisfied at the choice of modern indoor centres with bars, restaurants and cinema complexes, the smaller designer boutiques or the many shops offering a wide choice of local hand craft products and wines and other delights of the region. There are also aqua parks and top quality international schools.

As you can see the Costa del Sol is for people who like to live life to the full enjoying and enriching their lifestyles with the best things it can offer. Read more about the local towns and villages on the eastern side of the Costa del Sol, also known as Axarquia, from the menu above.

Video – Andalucia

Video and tourist information about Andalusia

Video – Costa del Sol

Costa Tropical

Costa Tropical, sometimes called the “Costa Granada”, is the Mediterranean coastline of the province of Granada, Spain, in the heart of historical Andalucia.

The backbone of the area is the N-340 coastal highway, extending southwest-northeast along the coast, to the border with France. Heading east from Málaga, the Costa Tropical begins after passing through the last towns in the Málaga province of Nerja and Maro. It begins at the fishing village of La Herradura on the Granada province border, and continues past the town of Castillo de Baños upon entering the Almería province.

Consisting of mainly agricultural areas and quaint resort towns and villages, Costa Tropical is set apart from the rest of the Spanish coast by its mountains, the Sierra Nevada range among them, that come to meet the Mediterranean Sea along a rugged coastline. The effect is stunning, resembling the Pacific Coast highway that runs through the southern coast of California, USA, a location frequently filmed in cinema for dramatic effect.

Costa Tropical has no flat areas for extensive urban sprawl, and the area is somewhat unpopulated in contrast to the rest of the Spanish coast. The region is less dry and more lush than the surrounding areas and the mountain range provides it with a pleasant “micro-climate” of mild winters and mild summers relative to the interior of Spain, with temperature differences of 10 degrees Celsius relative to the area on the other side of the mountains.

The landmark towns of the Costa Tropical are Almuñécar, with a population of just over 23,000, and Motril, with a population of just over 56,000. Almuñécar is mainly a resort town and agricultural center. As with other towns on the Spanish coast, it recently saw an unprecedented housing and construction boom. Motril, however, is much less of a tourist destination, and is primarily an agricultural and manufacturing center with a small seaport. The less developed areas and small towns lend a characterization of the Costa Tropical as more traditional than the larger region to the west, the Costa del Sol. It is also more affordable.

Rich with historical treasures, the Costa Tropical features pre-historic cave paintings in nearby Nerja and several Roman ruins including buildings, fish salting factories, roads, bridges, and irrigation systems still in use; as well as abundant remains of the many-centuries domination by Arab conquerors.

Video – Costa Tropical

Video and tourist information about Costa Tropical

Axarquía

Axarquia, east of Malaga, with its sub-tropical temperatures is known for the best climate in Europe. The Axarquia comarca (district) is bordered by the Mediterranean to the south and mountains, which shelter the area, to the north.

Covering 1,021 square kilometres of territory within the eastern extreme of Andalucía’s Province of Malaga, Axarquia stretches from the eastern side of Malaga to the east of Nerja and inland to Alfarnate.

Axarquia is an Arab name meaning “The East”. This area, to the east of the city of Malaga is much less developed than the west. The Axarquia retains all the charm of yesteryear thanks to unspoilt havens and attractive coves and beaches where bathers can flee the crowds to be found to the west of Malaga. Whilst becoming better known, the area still offers an ideal location for those in search of greater tranquillity. The Axarquia is one of the few areas to still feature beaches that have managed to escape the all-consuming urban development that has invaded other parts of the Mediterranean coast.

Until a few years ago when rural tourism took off, Axarquia was one of Andalucía’s forgotten areas. Major attractions are the spectacular unspoilt countryside and coastal villages. The hill and mountain scenery are ablaze with flowers and blossom from January onwards. Shepherds lead their goats and sheep through hills and valleys, eagles soar the skies and pretty, unspoiled white villages abound, each having a version of local sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes.

Axarquia is riven with deep valleys lined with terraces and irrigation channels that go back to the time of Muslim occupation. Almost all the villages that dot the olive, almond and vine-planted hillsides are of Arab origin and the influence is seen in the layout of the narrow, winding streets lined with white-washed houses reflecting the sunlight. There are also many lush tropical river valleys with orange and lemon groves, eucalyptus, avocado, banana, kiwi, chirimoya and mango trees. Wild herbs and lavender grow everywhere and further up the foothills and mountain slopes there are pine, oak and carob trees.

The natural sub-tropical climate for the latitude is of hot summers, mild winters and little or no rainfall either side of the long summer season. This is further influenced by surrounding geographical features. Huge mountains to the north and east provide a barrier from cold north winds and the 50 kilometres of coastline maintain mild temperatures in winter. 3,000 hours of sunshine are enjoyed each year, an average of 8.3 hours per day. Despite the warm climate, from November to May skiing is enjoyed in the Sierra Nevada, less than two hours drive away. There is also a wide choice of golf courses and other sports available year round.

Archaeological remains from Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman and Arab eras dot the countryside and coastline, whilst artefacts dating from 30,000BC to the Bronze Age can be seen in underground caves notably at Nerja and Rincon de la Victoria.

The total population of Axarquia is about 125,000 with 85,000 living in coastal municipalities and 40,000 inland. Velez-Malaga has the largest population with 55,000 inhabitants, whilst the smallest are Macharaviaya and Salares each with 400 inhabitants.

Axarquia is a land of contrast where high mountains look down upon the beautiful beaches of the Costa del Sol. The highest of the mountains, in the northeast of the area, is La Maroma which reaches an altitude of 2,080 metres and is snow-capped in the winter in contrast to sunbathers on the beaches below.

There are many undeveloped villages and towns in the inland regions and some srill remain on the coast. Mules are still used as a means of transport and bullocks can be seen ploughing the fields. At the same time the larger coastal resorts provide nightlife until the sun rises and all facilities the visitor or resident might desire. It is a land of gaiety, colour, fiestas and natural produce from the sea and land providing a healthy, fun and economic lifestyle.

Video – Axarquia