The area has so much offer! We have made a (very subjective!) selection of our favorite restaurants, beaches, museums and festivities. Be aware timetables may change. Always check before you go!
Restaurants & Retail
Shops and banks
Benamargosa has two medium sized supermarkets, some small shops, a bakery and a fish shop. There is a small weekly market on Wednesday morning. Benamargosa has two banks with ATM.
In Vélez Málaga and Torre del Mar there are many boutiques and several big supermarkets like Lidl and Mercadona. The nearest shopping mall is El Ingenio.
Most shops close between 14.00h and 17.00h.
Restaurants, pubs and beach bars
The best time for eating out in Andalusia is around 14.00h. If you prefer to go in the evening be aware most kitchens do not open before 20.30h. In weekends and high season we advise you to make a reservation.
Benamargosa and around:
- Pub Paco: Nice garden, drinks only, sometimes live music. Football on big screen.
- Café-Pub Anais: Straightforward but good food.
- La Dehesa: Do not miss the sardines on Saturday afternoon.
- Venta El Charco: Good meat, nice walk from Encantada.
- El Cruce: Road to Benamargosa. Lunch only. Straightforward, quick, cheap and good quality.
Chez Epices: Near lake Viñuela. Indian diner, terrace on weekend nights.
Vélez Málaga:
- El Caserío de las Monjas: Delicious Basque food.
- El Convento: Nice atmosphere, good food and wine.
Beach restaurants:
- Bahía Beach Jazba: Nice food all day long.
- Chiringuito El Hornillero: Perfect on a hot day.
- Venta El Molino Great Moroccan food.
Comares and around:
- Hotel Molino de Los Abuelos: Beautiful garden, superb views.
- Casa Ortega: restaurant on the road to Riogordo: Authentic little family restaurant with a cozy fireplace in the winter.
Torre del Mar:
- La Cueva: Popular fish restaurant.
- El Yate: Fish tapas bar. Great atmosphere.
- La Bella Torino: Pizzeria, cheap and good.
- Restaurante Chino Hong Kong: Chinese, cheap and good.
Culture & Festivities
Where and when is the party?
Don’t pass up the opportunity to visit local festivals. It is definitely a unique experience.
Semana Santa
The Semana Santa in Malaga is world famous. Every day of the week before Easter procesions pass through the city center.
A bit smaller but also very impressive are the processions in Vélez Málaga.
Ferias
In the summer months every village has its own feria. The entire weekend streets will be full of festivities for young and old. Parties go on untill early morning.
Romería
A romería is a yearly short distance Roman Catholic religious pilgrimage. The first weekend of June in Benamargosa, the procession moves to the dry river where people pitch their tents to party all weekend. Music, campfire and horses complete the atmosphere.
Flamenco
At Velez’s flamenco club Peña Flamenca Niño de Vélez performances are held several times a month. It is authentic, it is soulful and for any hispanophile or music-lover it is an unmissable Velez experience.
For details have a look at the calender for the villages in Axarquia.
Museums and historical sites
From a Holy Week museum to a wine museum and from the Picasso museum to the flamenco museum. There is a nice museum in Vélez Málaga and Malaga city for every enthusiast.
Museum of Semana Santa (Vélez Málaga)
The Museum of Semana Santa (Holy Week) is housed within the beautiful church of Santa Maria.
Sala Miguel de Cervantes (Vélez Málaga)
On the ground floor of this beautiful building there is a small exhibition on the famous Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes.
Guided city walk (Vélez Málaga)
Go and discover all the interesting sites in Vélez Málaga with Plan A.
Castillo de Gibralfaro (Málaga)
This magnificent castle sits on a hill overlooking Malaga city and port, and dates back to the 10th century. Well worth a visit.
Picasso Museum and Birth-house Museum (Málaga)
No doubt Picasso enthusiasts want to visit these two locations in Málaga.
Alhambra (Granada)
No introduction needed. Buy your tickets weeks or months in advance.
Walks & Activities
Ideas for a good time
The location is perfect for walking, hiking and mountain biking. But you can also enjoy all kinds of water sports, horse back riding, fishing and much more.
Walk to Benamargosa
From Encantada ist is a 15 minutes walk down to Benamargosa. Via a steep dust track you enter the village from the top. Have a drink and a tapa in one of the bars and watch the locals go by. Try to find the bakery and the fish shop, both only open early morning. Stroll over the Wednesday morning market.
Food forest tour
If there is time we love to show you around in the food forest and explain you and your children all about the trees, the fruit and the ecological methods we use.
Visit Vélez Málaga
Velez-Malaga, the capital of the Axarquia region, has a charming, authentic and refreshingly un-touristic historic centre. Walk your way up to the fortress at the top. Have a meal or tapas at El Caserio de las Monjas or El Convento.
Visit Comares
Through the Encantada kitchen window you see the typical white village of Comares. Footstep tiles on the streets provide a lovely tour. Molino de los Abuelos is great to have lunch.
Lake Viñuela
Just over the mountain behind Encantada you can rent a canoe or a mountainbike, past Hotel Viñuela. The scenery around the reservoir is lovely and wide.
Tirolina zip line
Fly high on Spain’s longest zip line Tirolina de Comares. Book with Viva Aventura.
Visit Málaga
Wander around in the centro histórico, have a meal at restaurant Lo Gueño or tapas at Bar El Pimpi. Visit one of the many museums or stroll along the Pedregalejo boulevard. The AC Hotel roof terrace offers a wonderful 360 overview of the city.
Walk to los Romanes
It is a one hour walk through the hills from Encantada. Have lunch in El Charco or Las Orquideas, both overlooking the Viñuela lake.
Torcal de Antequera
This nature reserve located south of the city of Antequera is one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe. Spectacular, also for kids.
Walk the Caminito del Rey
This mountain path was once the world’s most dangerous footpath, but is now safe and accessible to all hikers. You can book this spectacular 7 km walk at caminitodelrey.info.
Walk El Saltillo
If tickets for Caminito del Rey are sold out, a smaller, closer and free version is ‘El Saltillo’ in Canillas de Aceituno. Have a delicious lunch afterwards at El Bodegon de Juan Maria.
Aquavelis Water Park
In the summertime you can cool off at water park Aquavelis. The kids will love it.
Nerja
Nice touristic coastal village with white beaches, boutiques and the balcony of Europe.
Cuevas de Nerja
The caves of Nerja are truly spectacular. In summer concerts are held here. It is also a perfect place if you want to escape from the heat or the rain.
Buggy tour
Buggy Tour Malaga offers 3 hour buggy tours. Breath taking panoramic views guaranteed.
Horseback riding on the beach
At Club Hypico Almayate you can ride on horseback on the beach even with little or no experience.
Rio Chillar river walk
Between April and September you can do this medium difficult but popular walk which is mostly in the actual river. It is a beautiful 8 km walk to a natural pool with a little waterfall.
Flamenco
At Velez’s flamenco club Peña Flamenca Niño de Vélez performances are held several times a month. It is authentic, it is soulful and for any hispanophile or music-lover it is an unmissable Velez experience.
Cycling
If you want to take it easy rent a bike in Torre del Mar and cycle along the flat coast. A bit more challenging is mountain biking around lake Viñuela (Agua Viñuela). Well trained cyclists love to do the tour up to Comares.
Watersports
At Caleta de Velez harbour you can rent a boat or go on a catamaran tour. You can go kayaking at Maro. Padel surf is available in Torre del Mar and Nerja.
Wine tour in Bodegas Bentomiz
Enjoy a guided tour of the winery’s vineyards and production area, followed by a wine tasting and a delicious gourmet lunch. Food, wine, stunning views and a relaxed atmosphere.
Climb la Maroma
Through the Encantada living room window you see the 2 km high Maroma. There are several starting points. We started at Alcaucín at 9.00 and returned there at 17.00h. In total we walked 17 km. You need to go well prepared! It is definitely not for beginners. On a clear day you can see Granada and Africa. Check the weather before you go. Best times are spring and autumn.
Beaches
A selection of fine beaches
Small, wide, rocky, sandy, busy, quiet and secluded. There are countless beaches and beach bars along the coast. The nearest beach is a 20 minutes’ drive.
Torre del Mar
- Playa Torre del Mar: Long family beach. Restaurants, park boulevard, shops, bike rental, sun loungers. On the very west side of town you will find trendy chiringuitos (beach restaurants).
- Playa canina Torre del Mar: Dog beach. Big fun even without a dog.
Almayate
- El Hornillo at Playa de Almayate: Several off the beaten track beaches with nice chiringuitos (beach restaurants).
- Playa Naturista de Almayate. Nudist beach.
Nerja
- Nerja has several beautiful sandy but touristic beaches.
- Maro and onwards has some secluded beaches. Cala del Cañuelo and Playa Cantarriján (also for nudists) are some beautiful examples.