Sotogrande and Manilva area is a perfect leisure and beach location in the Southern coast of Spain. During your stay you can plan various activities and trips around those towns to fully enjoy your holidays. Here is a brief guide to the best places to discover near Sotogrande and Manilva.

Beaches near Sotogrande and Manilva

Costa del Sol is known for its wide sandy beaches, perfect to spend the day swimming, sun-bathing, playing water sports and some tapas and drinks in local chiringuitos.

Located in Sotogrande, this nice beach offers clean waters, a nice view of Gibraltar and a great beach bar: Bunker Beach Club, where you can rest a little and eat some seafood. The area next to the bar can see some more crowds, but as the beach stretches further away from the bar, you’ll find a more relaxed atmosphere.

On the other side of the Guadiaro river and close to the Sorogrande Port you’ll find another Sotogrande’s beach, maybe a bit less known, but nice and wide, and quite sandy for the area. You have an option to rent sunbeds, a good restaurant nearby and big parking close to the beach, so this is definitely an option if you want some more beach infrastructure for an easy beach day.

Did you know that while staying in the area not only can you swim in the Mediterranean sea, but also in the Atlantic ocean? Within a 50min drive from Sotogrande you’ll find the Tarifa beach which spans both coastlines as it sits at the very tip of mainland Spain (the actual Southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula is actually located in Tarifa as well, close to the Tarifa Beach). This stunning sandy beach is not only an amazing place for all the regular beach activities, but also is a bustling kitesurfing and windsurfing spot with many rentals and schools to practice those water sports.

Aqua parks

A short 35min drive from Sotogrande will get you to the Playa Nini Aquapark, located between Estepona and Marbella. With plenty of water attractions it can be a nice stop while visiting the nearby towns and beaches.

Bahia Park in Algeciras is a water park with slides and all sorts of water attractions for any age and skill level. Although it’s not a huge space, it is definitely packed with amenities and is a perfect option to spend a whole day, not only with kids.

Dolphin and whale watching

Another water activity in the Sotogrande area we highly recommend is dolphin and whale watching. You can find them everywhere in the area from Algeciras towards Tarifa. A 45min trip from Tarifa will suffice to see the dolphins, whereas the whales are further from the coast and it takes 3 hours to see them. Very often you can also see the moon fish, turtles or flying fish.

Sotogrande ZOOs

More than a typical zoo, it´s an animal shelter for rescued lions, tigers and snakes, a veterinary clinic and an animal sanctuary. What´s unique about this place is that for a small donation to rescue the animals you can pet a tiger! You can also enter the living spaces of these animals or feed them.

An animal park dedicated to marine animals, birds and snakes. A great place to visit with younger kids, as they will definitely enjoy the dolphin show where you can come inside the swimming pool with dolphins. There is also an inside penguin area.

A classic ZOO with walking trails and a wide selection of animals to see. It´s a big park so there is also a possibility to rent a scooter if needed. There is also a Safari experience, where you can get close to the animals such as rhinos, zebras and hippos.

Tennis clubs in Sotogrande

Sotogrande is a well known spot for tennis professionals and enthusiasts around the world. You can train in the most exclusive tennis clubs here, sometimes even among the real tennis superstars!

Train next to the beach in this exclusive tennis club with professional players and top trainers to the tennis stars! It’s a professional tennis club with additional padel and pickleball courts. You can join multiple leagues and learn from the best players in this sport. The unique location of this club, next to the beach, with palms and the sea breeze, will add to its charm.

There is also a gym available with a wide range of classes for you to choose from. After the training head to the bar, where you can have a glass of wine. Call to reserve your spot or use the app to register.

La Reserva is a big complex for various sports: tennis, golf, swimming pools and even an artificial lake with wakeboard and SUP. La Reserva provides an exclusive day access, where you can try different activities, try the food in the restaurants in the complex or use the sunbeds in the lagoon area. In this truly exclusive setting you can play tennis on 4 clay courts, and after that head over to the lounging area or to the Trocadero restaurant.

Golf clubs in Sotogrande

Golfing is another activity preferred by the guests in Sotogrande. The perfect weather and an ideal location makes for a perfect combination to set a golf club in the area. We recommend the La Reserva club for your golfing experience, as it is ranked among the 12 best golf courses in Spain by the Golf World Magazine. The 18 hole course provides a variety of different features, hills, greens and water, for an ultimate golfing experience. Book your classes here.

Yoga classes in Sotogrande

For a relaxing yoga class in Sotogrande we recommend the ORIGEN Escuela de Yoga - Sotogrande, a women-owned beautiful establishment with Vinyasa and Hatha yoga as well as Somatic Yin and special classes. Drop in classes are 20EUR, for 50 EUR you can book a private class.

Estepona trip - one day

Estepona is a known resort town with a wide beach, nice old town area, many restaurants and bars and a palm-lined promenade where you can stroll during the sunset. Walk the narrow streets of Estepona, admire the local decor of the houses and especially the flower pots that provide a lot of charm and color to the white traditional architecture.

Spend some time on the beach there, as it has all the amenities and is conveniently located next to the old town. For lunch or dinner time choose among many restaurants and tapas places next to the promenade. We promise you’ll have a hard time deciding where to eat: all the places are incredible!

Trip to Tarifa

We already mentioned Tarifa in the context of its beach and water activities, however it’s a charming town on its own. Apart from being most known as a popular windsports destination, which definitely brings a chill surf vibe to the city, it’s a precious place to walk around, shop and eat.

Its proximity to Morocco and a fascinating history of conquests and sieges has left a mark on the city in the form of ancient ruins, monuments and fortifications that provide it with the historical depth and will encourage you to learn more about those ancient times. On the busy streets of Tarifa you’ll also find unique shops with clothes, souvenirs, pottery and accessories, many of which are handmade by local artisans.

Trip to Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is a landmark that is perfectly visible from many locations along the coast near Sotogrande. A visit there is actually a trip to a British Overseas Territory. Its tumultuous history has resulted in a unique mix of Spanish and British influences, visible to this day in the culture and the language (a mix of Spanish and English, called Llanito).

What to do in Gibraltar? Visit the Upper Rock Nature Reserve and see the famous colony of macaque monkeys, explore the ruins and military installations from the XVIIIth century and World War II, or just walk down the streets of Gibraltar city full of museums and food spots. Enjoy this unique blend of cultures and an incredible history of this place!

Trip to Ronda

Hemingway wrote about Ronda: “Ronda is the place where to go, if you are planning to travel to Spain for a honeymoon or for being with a girlfriend.” and while we agree, we want to give you some more practical tips on what to do while you visit this charming Andalusian city and one of the oldest towns in Spain. In Ronda you will be immersed in the charm of Andalucía, as you walk through the narrow streets hiding from the sun and have some wine or chilled beer on a plaza while listening to the nearby church bells.

Among the most important attractions is the Puente Nuevo with its viewing spot - perhaps the most famous view of Ronda, which we recommend to see both from the top as well as from the bottom of the gorge. Another famous site is the bullring arena and Royal Cavalry of Ronda: Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. Do not skip a visit to the bullfight museum and the arena, an incredible opportunity to learn more about this unique Spanish tradition and the history of one of the oldest bullrings from the XVIth century, still used today.

Ceuta by helicopter (Helity app)

Not many people realise that Spain is a country that spans across two continents: Europe and Africa, with its two enclaves: Ceuta and Melilla across the Strait of Gibraltar. You can get there by a helicopter (which is an awesome adventure on its own), using the Helity Copter Airlines. The flights depart daily from Algeciras, you can consult the schedules on their website: https://www.helity.es/

Once in Ceuta, discover the Arab Baths, the fortress on Mount Hacho, many viewpoints, ancient ruins and museums, as it’s a place with a fascinating history and a unique blend of cultures.

Trip to Sevilla

Seville is one of the most magical cities in Andalucía and we definitely recommend visiting it at least once in your lifetime. A place with stunning architecture, amazing food and the friendliest people, is truly unforgettable.

For a quick one day trip we recommend visiting the city centre with the Cathedral which is at the end of the city´s most popular avenue, full of bars and tapas places; the Alcázar - a stunning royal palace full of moorish design and decor, and the Plaza de España - a unique square with beautiful ornaments and little niches dedicated to each province of Spain. Finish the day walking around Sevilla´s streets and trying local specialties.

Trip to Cádiz

Cádiz is an ancient port city with an incredible history on the Atlantic coast of Spain. During a one day visit you can definitely appreciate all the historical eras during which the city of Cádiz has flourished, changed and grown. It´s from Cádiz´s port that Columbus embarked on the second and fourth trip to the continent newly discovered by him - The Americas.

Walking around the city you´ll find many museums dedicated to its rich history. Head over to the central Mercado, fishmongers market, and try fresh catch of the day. Stroll through the park next to the Cádiz university and along the seaside promenade and enjoy the shade provided by ancient magnolia trees. Finally, finish the day on the Cádiz beach which is located on a long peninsula, so you can take a long walk and admire the views of the Atlantic ocean.