For families with a holiday home or those renting an apartment or villa in Fuengirola or nearby Marbella, a day out at the Bioparc Fuengirola is the perfect way to spend a day away from the beach.
To get to the Bioparc is easy, as the Mediterranean Freeway (exit 208) takes motorists there, while pedestrians have only a 5 minute walk from the bus and train stations in Fuengirola.
The concept of the zoo or bioparc is to exhibit animals in habitats as closely resembling their own as possible - and that means no cages. Visitors are quite safe - they are separated from animals like tigers by thick safety glass, but the tiger will enjoy life in a jungle environment, where it can live as nature intended.
There are other animals that are a little strange like the armadillos or birds like the hornbill or kookaburras from Australia. Others are more familiar to us, like the otters and raccoons for example.
The habitats resemble natural environments in Madagascar, Equatorial Africa and Southeast Asia. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, school visits, night-time rambles and even birthday parties can be held at the zoo. Throughout the year the Bioparc holds special days that will appeal to all the family, such as biodiversity weekends, weekends celebrating birds of Southeast Asia, Earth days or month of the Apes and Universal Children’s Day.
For many people living in Britain the high taxation, inflation and the resulting increase in cost of living has meant that family budgets no longer stretch to treats and day out at home. Relocating to the Costa del Sol may be a little more difficult at the present time, but the far lower property prices, lower cost of living and year-round sunshine are increasingly tempting British buyers.
With the average property in Spain costing around EUR 225,000 and offering a lifestyle that is second to none, buying a semi-permanent or permanent home in Spain is a dream for many people. For those working over the internet from home or those whose retirement is imminent, the dream can become a reality.
Many Spanish banks are currently selling off their repossessed housing stock at up to 60% discounts, while at the same time offering generous mortgages of up to 107% for those who qualify. Such offers are mainly for key-ready, new built real estate, much of which can be purchased for less than EUR 120,000, even on golf developments or beach-near urbanisations.
Fuengirola at the Costa del Sol is within a short drive of glamour capital Marbella, where the Puerto Banus marina and the Golden Mile attracts the rich and famous. The much quieter resort of Fuengirola is ideal for bringing up children, as the area offers much for families. The nearest airport is at Malaga, a 25 km drive.
The town has its own marina and fishing port with boat hire, but there are other attractions like the beaches stretching for some 8 km along the coast or the Roman remains further inland or the Moorish castle Castillo Sohail that perches high on a hill overlooking the main beach - not to mention the horseback riding, the golf, tennis, ferry cruises to Benalmadena port, where the aquarium is yet another family attraction!
While in Marbella property can be very expensive, in more sedate Fuengirola it is possible to find a 2-bed, 2-bath apartment with roof terrace and pool access for just EUR 150,000. The stunning mountain views are free of charge!
Town houses can cost as little as EUR 230,000 for 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms in the heart of Fuengirola close to all the facilities and services.
In glitzy Marbella there are also districts that won’t require a lottery win. Brand new luxury apartments in Elviria might cost as little as EUR 179,000 for 2 to 3 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bathroom homes in a terraced development overlooking the sea. Resales can cost considerably less and a 2 bedroom middle floor apartment with 1 bathroom might be as little as EUR 154,000 or less for 80 sqm of floor space.