Things to do in and around Marbella

Owning a holiday home at the Costa del Sol means being able to explore the surroundings of one's chosen resort at leisure rather than having to rush from attraction to attraction during a two week holiday. For those who have made Marbella their home-from-home there is plenty to choose from. The nearby town of Istán for example makes for a great day trip destination with bike hire or by joining a guided 4 x 4 jeep tour for four.

Let a hired driver take the strain of finding the most scenic mountain route leading through the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park. Various Marbella-based companies offer guided jeep tours that provide a driver. One of their destinations is Istán, a small town at the foot of the Sierra Blanca, nestling in the valley of the Rio Verde. Istán is located some 15 km to the northwest of Marbella, easily managed with a bike, but even more fun in a jeep. 

Off-and on-road excursions to this part of the Costa del Sol provide visitors with spectacular views, a stop-over at a lake or river for a quick refreshing dip, and the chance to go kayaking or tying their hand at outdoor activities like blow-gun target practice or learning how to shoot with bow and arrow. A typical jeep tour with activities takes around 4 hours.

The town also offers visitors the opportunity to go fishing, kayaking and swimming, for Istán is close to the large reservoir that was created by the Presa de la Concepción dam, which provides much of the Costa del Sol with drinking water. Lake Istán is inhabited by carp and black bass, frequent catches for tourists who join guided fishing tours. These tours take between 2.5 and 3 hours and all fishing gear is provided by Marbella and Istán-based excursion operators.

A whole day tour offers the chance to indulge in a canoe or kayak trip on Lake Istán. The lake spans some 7 km in length and its shores are offer some of the most scenic views of the national park's wild and rugged beauty. Relax and listen to bird song, enjoy the tranquillity of this freshwater paradise and travel as fast or as slowly as your own paddle permits!

Some of Marbella's temporary residents may be Hollywood A-Listers or high-flyers from the world of finance and business, but ordinary mortals can also experience the "high life" in Marbella. Nothing prepares one for the sheer exhilaration of a tandem skydiving experience or helicopter ride. Several operators offer tandem sky rides over Marbella, Ronda and Malaga. Including the training session and safety briefing prior to the flight the whole experience takes around 6 hours. Tandem skydivers need only comfortable clothes and sports shoes for their "freefall", the rest is provided. 

 Helicopter tours above Marbella and and nearby Ronda, a beautiful hill town with white-washed houses and ancient Moorish architecture, are also one of the more unusual leisure activities on offer at the Costa del Sol. Available for a maximum of 6 passengers, helicopter tours are an unforgettable experience, providing everyone with a VIP feeling and bird's eye view of this beautiful coastline.

And if the sight of Ronda's white-washed houses set against the backdrop of the Ronda mountain range should inspire you to set out by car for further exploration, be sure to include a trip to the smurf village for your little ones, a popular destination near Ronda.

The world-famous Puerto Banus Marina offers water babies of all ages amazing choice concerning water sports. Board a boat and enjoy a chill-out cruise complete with lunch or dinner, go dolphin watching with an eco-friendly tour along the coast or join a fishing party. Looking for a romantic trip with champagne and chocolates being served against the background of a setting sun? Romantic boat tours leave Puerto Banus every day.

For thrill-seekers there are also jet ski rides and fly board challenges to enjoy. Both activities last 15 minutes each and take place just offshore of Marbella, but can be booked together into one glorious package of adrenalin-fuelled fun.