The glorious months of September through to the end of November, Autumn always heralds an even greater opportunity to live the perfect life on the Costa del Sol. When the heat of the summer months begins to dissipate, thankfully just a few notches, the cooler temperatures allow for more energetic leisure activities during the day. Happily, the continuing blue skies and warm seas ensure that sunbathing and swimming and the feeling of summer remains. It’s a perfect combination.
In a region that spends most of its year outdoors, even when at home, the residents of the Costa del Sol are able to enjoy their lifestyle and leisure activities even more than usual during autumn. There is probably no better time of the year for families to gather for a barbeque on the beach or out on the terrace at home. The popular external living spaces of properties here can be fully utilised during these months, and homes with outdoor cooking facilities really come into their element during this period of the year.
Down on the beach, the ‘moraga’ parties are in full swing every evening – a nocturnal Andalusian tradition where people bring food and music and settle by the sea to enjoy themselves. Local councils have set up large communal BBQs for hire on many beaches along the coast, often created out of old metal skips or fishing boats. One of the more popular offerings to cook on the beach is the famous “espeto” (sardines on a stick cooked over the embers of the fire), a Malaga tradition that dates back to the 19th century.
The golf season also commences in a proper fashion, this part of Spain, after all, has the perfect landscape and climate for the ultimate game of golf. The many courses that magnificently unfold between the borders
of Mijas and Sotogrande include some of the finest in Europe; Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club, El Paraiso Golf Club and the world famous Real Club Valderrama amongst them.
If golf is not your thing, you might prefer to hike freely across picturesque lands, the countryside of the Costa del Sol has a never ending choice of beautiful trails and pathways to choose from.
The town of Estepona, now also known as the ‘Garden of the Costa Del Sol’, has recommended walks both through its surrounding rural countryside and its atmospheric historic old town.
Running adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea is the Málaga Coastal Path (Senda Litoral de Málaga) a 200-kilometre pathway that joins together beaches, towns and marina’s all along the Málaga Coast. This is a
walkway of beauty and interesting landmarks that connects the resort of Nerja in the east with the town of
Manilva at the most western part of the Costa del Sol. The Málaga Coastal Path is a walking route of outstanding beauty and a route bursting with flora, fauna and marine life, overlooking endless blue water.
Or for the adventure-seeker, the amazing “Caminito del Rey” (The King’s Way) is a must for your to-do list! The Caminito del Rey is more than 3kms of narrow walkway attached to near vertical canyon walls and suspended up to 105 metres high above the Guadalhorce River in Alora. The walk takes approximately 4 hours to complete and includes the 4.8km access walk. This activity requires planning as you must book a date and buy tickets online.
On the cultural calendar the days are marked with several highlight events including a national holidays on 12th October “Hispanic Heritage Day” (Día de la Hispanidad) and on 1st November we have “All Saints Day” (Todos los Santos), on this day you will notice many Spanish families taking flowers to the cemetery to pay respect. San Pedro Alcántara, a neighbour of Puerto Banús, celebrates its annual feria during the third week of every October. The fair is a colourful celebration of the town via music, dancing, singing, food, and art, which is undertaken by the whole community utilising many communal spaces in the charming municipality.
In essence, during autumn, every pleasure of summer is still available for visitors and the inhabitants of Andalusia, just at a slightly lower temperature. Alfresco dining is still the order of the day, cafe society thrives on the cosmopolitan streets of many towns and villages, and you will find every water sport imaginable is operating on a beach just a short drive away, and community festivities are just as joyous.
