The setting is close to ideal, with its impressive mountain backdrop and ocean views. Since its inception some forty years ago, the port has steadily grown and now features a casino, commercial shopping centre, marine observatory and a multi cinema. Nightlife buzzes at Puerto Banús with your choice of alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos. During the day this is a window shopper’s dream with several of the world-renowned fashion houses featured here, in addition to small, interesting shops and boutiques.

If you really want to have a bird’s eye view of the port’s magnificent position, then regular boat trips are the ideal solution and available on a regular basis from the central promenade. The beach adjacent to Puerto Banús holds a European blue flag. Every Saturday morning at Puerto Banús by the bullring is a very popular street market where you can pick up all sorts of bargains.

Weather
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/SPXX0054_f.html
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/08482.html

Tourist Info

http://www.andalucia.com/costa_del_sol/home.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/calendar/index.htm

Golf
Top golf courses, many of which features special classes for beginners, dot the coast.

http://www.golfspain.com/index2.htm
http://www.spaingolf.com

Family Fun
There is plenty of fun for families and activity seekers on the Costa del Sol but you have to know where to go. Check out the following:

WET WET WET
Aquapark - the Coast's original waterpark at Torremolinos. Attractions include mini golf, water toboggans, flumes, a wave pool and a kamikaze twister ride.
(opening times May-Sept 10.00- 18.00 hours tel 952-238 8888
By Car: Take the Torremolinos/Palacio de Congresos turn-off from the N340 motorway)

Parque Acuatico - Mijas - this open-air water park on the Fuengirola bypass offers the biggest thrills and spills with the latest new attraction 'Adventure River' - over 300 ft of winding raft slide. Not for the faint hearted. Other attractions include the Wild River sitting in a monster sized rubber ring, bodyski down tier and tier of water chute, surf the wave pool or try out the gigantic kamikaze slide. Suitable for older children, teens and the young at heart there is also a mini aqua park for the little ones.
(opening times May 1030-17.30 June & Sept 10.00-18.00 hours July & Aug 10.00-19.00.
By Car; Take the Fuengirola turnoff on the main N340 by-pass by MacDonalds.

Prado World - Estepona - the coast's only combined water park and theme park. It's got 4 giant swimming pools, 11 waterslides, including 3 new 18 metre high kamikazes, a wave pool, a bouncy water trampoline. Other attractions on dry land include roller skating, mini-train, climbing frames, shooting gallery, a spacious indoor play area with slides, ball pond, cafes, picnic and barbeque area where you can bring and cook your own food!

Sea Life Centre - Underwater Adventures - Sea Life Centre, Benalmadena Marina - handle actual crabs, starfish and sea cucumbers in the 'touch pool' and see little sharks and rays swimming in their egg cases via magnifying glass. Underwater glass tunnel for a bird's eye view of sharks swimming above you.
Opens daily from 10:00 tel local no 952 560150

Water Ski - Cable Ski Marbella - set slightly inland from the coastal town of San Pedro (north of Puerto Banus) - this is an ideal way to learn to water ski or to improve your technique. You will first be fitted with skis that are graded according to your ability, then you hook up to an overhead cable which powers you around the 800 metre lake circuit on a motor driven pulley at 28-40 kilometres an hour - brilliant fun - great for teenagers and young adults! You must be over 10 years old and a good swimmer. Other features include a ski jump, slalom and mono skis, an adventure park and a cafeteria. Skis, life jackets and tuition included in the price.
Tel local no 952 78 5579.

Sailing & Yacht Clubs
Many of the coast's ports have berths with unlimited length, as well as yacht clubs, sports facilities boat and equipment rental etc. Most organise beginners' sailing, monitor and yacht-master classes during the Summer.

Harbours
Jose Banus - tel 952 814750
Marbella - tel 952 77 57 00 (club 952 772504)
Estepona - tel 952 801800 (club 952 8009 54)
Fuengirola - tel 952 468000 (club 952 772504)
Benalmadena - tel 952 443048 (club 952 444234)
Cabopino - tel 952 831975
La Duquesa - tel 952 89 0100 (club 952 89 0057)

ANIMAL MAGIC

Andalusian Horse Show. If you cannot travel as far as Jerez to see the famous dancing horses then you can see a smaller but very impressive version of the Andalusian horse spectacular at El Ranchito near Torremolinos. Apart from the shows which take place usually on Wed at l7.30 El Ranchito offers full horse riding facilities as well. Tel local no 952-38 3140

Dolphin Cruises in Gibraltar See wild dolphins dancing and playing by going on a dolphin watching trip. A trip with Dolphin Bay Cruises aboard the 'Pride of Gibraltar' a 23 metre passenger vessel is a great opportunity to cruise and enjoy the stunning sights of Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco and to experience these wonderful creatures. Tel local no 9567 4448684 Monkey Magic by Cable Car Gibraltar - Take a cable car to the summit of the Rock of Gibraltar and meet the famous Barbary apes en-route.The view of the Straits of Gibraltar at this point where you can see Morocco on a clear day is spectacular. The Barbary Macaques as they are called are semi-wild tailless monkeys brought from north Africa to Gibraltar during the l8th century as pets. They escaped eventually and now form their own colony on the Upper Rock. A cable car round trip includes entrance to St Michael¹s Cave and The Apes Den (tel 952 6777 826)

Safari. Visit the Selwo Safari Park in Estepona which occupies over one million sq metres of wild and wonderful country side with an immense range of animals from five continents living in semi-wild conditions. Routes through the park, which opens at various times during the year usually from around 10.00-17.30 - take you through different sections where you can see lions, rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, tiger, elephant, bison, bear, jaguar, camel, ostrich, wolf and many more species. (tel local no 952 792 150) Discovery Jeep Safaris See rural Spain by jeep safari -travel across mountainous terrain, through lakes and natural parkland rich in wildlife - two companies offer chauffeured escorted safaris are Autos Lara of Torremolinos (tel 952 217 1417) and Marbella Rangers Jeep Safaris (tel 952 833 082)

THEME PARKS
Tivoli World - A mini Disney -2 dozen thrilling rides -meet aliens in outer space in UFO -'The Dark Side': creep through the Passage of Terror and check out Laser Drome. Lots of restaurants, evening shows, open-air brik-a-brak market during the daytime on Sunday. Open April, June & Sept 16:00-01:0 - July & August 18:00-03:00 (tel local no 952 577016). By car : take km 223 exit from the N340 motorway or by the coastal road to Benalmadena.

Parkilandia - Fuengirola -located in the Fuengirola port this is a great Carnival style fair with lots to keep children of all ages occupied from trampolines, mini-race track, slides swings, electric trains, bouncing castles and lots more. Opening times Oct/April 16:00-20:00 May 17:00-23:00 June/Sept 19:00-01:00. (tel local no 952 81286).

Funny Beach Marbella -A giant coca Cola can on the coast road to Marbella is the distinctive landmark of Funny Beach. Geared for the whole family -small rides for the little ones, go-kart racing, mini bikes, kiddy cars, mini golf, trampolines, a giant-sized Scalectrix and beginners classes in scuba diving for all ages. Opening times 11:00-22:00. NO ENTRY FEE. Tel 952 82 3359. By car: N340 eastern entrance to Marbella

SHOPPING
Larger shopping centres and supermarkets open throughout the day from 10:00 up to as late as 22:00 - smaller shops close for 'siesta' between 14:00 and 17:00. Note: MOST Supermarkets and grocery stores ARE CLOSED ALL DAY SUNDAY (except July & August, when they open every day) so if you are travelling or arriving on this day in Spain it is really a good idea to tell us in advance to have in the property bottled water, milk, tea/coffee, bread and light snacks.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
The emergency number for medical attention from a landline is 061. For local ambulance services on the Costa del Sol covering Marbella, Malaga, Fuengirola and Torremolinos is 952 230 3034

How to arrive from Málaga Airport