Things are currently warming up in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain. Time to think about a holiday break away from it all and what better destination that this popular seaside town with its gorgeous beaches? Not only does Fuengirola offer around eight kilometers of beaches, however, as there is so much more to see and do.
When it comes to accommodation, the town offers several excellent hotels and smaller hostels, both on the beach and in the centre. For the more independent traveller, there are some excellent holiday apartments and villas in Fuengirola on offer, conveniently close to shops and all the attractions mentioned below.
Right at the end of Fuengirola’s beaches stands the Sohail Castle, a medieval Moorish fortress which stands guard over the town. The building is in an excellent condition and well worth the walk up the winding pathway from the beach below for the view alone, as well as several sinister looking cannons.
Around the centre of the stretch of beach, Fuengirola offers a working fishing port which combines with a leisure marina, where visitors can take dolphin watching cruises, fishing trips or even a ferry to another great seaside resort, Benalmadena Costa. There are several restaurants and bars in the port, some overlooking the luxury yachts and fishing boats.
While the town itself has much in the way of shopping opportunities, there is a modern shopping mall with every imaginable type of outlet, just across the road from the castle. The Miramar shopping centre doesn’t just offer shops, however, as there are several restaurants and many of the popular fast food outlets as well as a full scale cinema complex.
In the town itself there are endless restaurants and bars, especially in the area dubbed “Fish Alley” where everything from traditional Spanish food to various types of international cuisine can be found, including Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and more.
However, one of the highlights of Fuengirola is located right in the heart of town and is a secluded and surprising destination for first-time visitors to Fuengirola. In the dim past, Bioparc Fuengirola used to be known as Fuengirola Zoo, and while at that stage it was a typical zoo with small and unpleasant cages, today the animals live in a much more natural and comfortable environment.
Almost like an oasis in the middle of the busy town, the newly designed layout is perfect for the animal residents and the Bioparc is involved in the protection of endangered species. In fact, some of those species are actively breeding there, a testimony to how much happier they are.
Walking along leafy pathways through the Bioparc takes the visitor from Asia to Africa, with appropriate sounds playing and realistic and spacious environments on every side, where tigers, orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas and leopards all live in harmony. The ominous looking Nile crocodiles lie on the sand, or in the crystal clear water of their little home.
The fascinating lemurs of Madagascar are housed in a grassy and pleasant environment, accessed through a realistic, manmade baobab tree. Visitors can take a tour of the enclosure at set hours during the day to get an up front and personal look at these cute and friendly creatures. Besides these, there are many more animals, birds and reptiles on view.
Close to Fuengirola there are many other attractions for the whole family. A visit to the quaint and traditional white village of Mijas is moments away, as well as other resorts including Torremolinos, Benalmadena Costa, and a little further afield, upmarket Marbella, making this an ideal starting point to your Costa del Sol holiday.