Most people associate Mijas and Costa del Sol with Golf, however there are many more interests available.
Horse riding for example. There are several equestrian schools and a large hippodrome where international horse racing is held through out the year. In Mijas this is very popular and horses races are held during the warm summer evenings.
The Andalucian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez has dressage demonstrations every Thursday . An Andalucian horse show is held more locally at El Ranchito near Torremolinos every Wednesday.
Alhaurin Golf & Country Club, An excellent riding school is located at the Alhaurin Golf & Country Club which is about 15 minutes by car from Mijas.
The Escuela de Arte Ecuestre in Estepona ,Here you can book lessons or simply hire horses for riding. You can also hire horses near Tarifa for riding across the miles of sand dunes.
Valderrama Equestrian Centre,In the hills just above Sotogrande, Lessons from beginners upwards and escorted hacks in delightful countryside.
All families love a day at a water park so there is the popular Parque Acuatico Mijas that opens during the summer months.
For those of you wanting to explore the countryside try walking in the sunshine .Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe and the mountain ranges of the Costa del Sol extend almost to the coast.
Most visitors lie by the pool on their sun loungers looking at the mountains, why not try walking amongst them. The area of Mijas has some of the most stunning scenery and best walks that you can find in Europe. The best time of the year for walking is from Mid September through to Mid June. If you like photography in ideal way to capture hidden valleys and pine forests, walk though old open mines where the Romans first mined. Walk from one side of the mountain where you look out at the sea to the other side and view inland Spain. On the mountainside above Mijas visit the Shrine of Calvario that appears to float.
For the beach bums and sun worshippers there is over 12km of coast, Mijas has many clean,sandy coves and beaches that are well kept to a high standard. Two of its beaches have been awarded Blue Flags: Playa La Cala and Playa La Luna. Many of the beaches in Mijas have beach bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood and barbecued sardines (espetos), which Mijas is also famous for.
If you are up for exploring some beaches are nicely hidden and have a more natural feel to them. Mijas has mainly resisted the development of beach-side hotels along its coastal region, striving instead to protect its beaches. The ideal accomodation is a comfortable villa that can be your base for many interesting trips and activities.
