Avoid beaches on a Sunday when they tend to be very busy, otherwise most are relatively relaxed even in the peak holiday period.

Bolonia (1 hr 15 mins)

West of Tarifa, Bolonia not only has Roman ruins, it has a relatively remote beautiful sweeping sandy beach. A visit to Bolonia should be combined with a visit to Tarifa's beaches, a haven for windsurfing and extreme sports and the trendy and historic town of Tarifa.

Estepona (45 mins)

Estepona has a long sandy beach and is a relatively low-key resort with plenty of

parking in an underground park under the seafront, There are numerous chiringuitos (beach bar/restaurants) offering good value. Behind the front there are bars and cafes and a small square with traditional Spanish restaurants. At the Western-end of Estepona (towards Gibraltar) there is a small marina with bars and restaurants.

Marbella (1 hr)

Marbella has excellent beaches and an array of bars and restaurants. Any visit to Marbella should be combined with a visit to the old town which is a good venue for dinner. Puerto Banus also has a small beach to the left as you enter the complex.

Puerto de la Duquesa (40 mins)

As it name implies Duquesa is more of a port than a beach resort, but it does have sandy beaches either side with beach restaurants. In the marina there are a range of restaurants: Chinese, Indian, Italian, as well as plenty of bars serving food, many showing televised sporting events. By the Castilio, only 500 metres from the marina, there are some excellent fish restaurants largely frequented by the Spanish.

Sotogrande (30 mins)

Sotogrande has a small, but good beach at the opposite end of the marina from Torreguadiaro. El Octógono: Tel 956 616 963.

The beach at Bolonia

  
The Rio Hozgarganta