On my costal train tour of the Mediterranean, Spain’s Costa del Sol is a obvious stop for all my beach needs and more. Costal Del sol means “Coast of the Sun” and you better believe it. This coastal region enjoys an average 300 days of sun a year, and shares the latitude of southern California, and even claims the warmest winter temperatures of anywhere in Europe.
The Costa del Sol was only a series of small quiet fishing villages until the 1950s where it took-off as a get-away for Europe’s upper-class and royalty, where they could enjoy the beaches with some privacy. Now Costa del Sol is a global hot-spot for tourists looking for sun and relaxation in its gorgeous surroundings.
To start here let me fill you in on some of the tasty cuisine you’ll find in this area. Let me start with my favourite drink: Sangria. Sangria is made from Spanish red wine, a local specialty or sometimes white. It consists of fresh wine, and any number of delicious fruits or other liquors and ice. You can imagine sitting sea-side at a chiringuitos (beach restaurant) with a huge ice-cold jug of wine, with a rainbow of fresh fruit packed in, nothing is more refreshing and relaxing. Also note that the Spanish like there drinks strong, their regular servings of liquor are about twice as strong as drinks in North America.
For food you can bet on all the fine seafood the Mediterranean brings in: mussels, squid, prawns and several types of fish. The coast of Spain offers many types of meats, but I love their pork recipes. Chorizo is a popular one in western culture, and here is where you can find many different varieties to try, but watch out if you are sensitive to hot spices. Eggs are also a staple, with huge omelettes full of meat and veggies that will please anyone. For desert, coffee, chocolate and churros are staples. Churros are a fritter-like snack that is covered in sugar and cinnamon and is dipped in rich hot chocolate; this is not to be missed.
Now let me fill you in on some top beaches of the region to enjoy all this wonderful food and sangria:
Alcaidesa, Cadiz: a huge, semi-urban beach. Not usually that crowded due to its size, it also offers amenities of the city and a large golf course nearby.
Tarif, Caduz: This beach is for those who crave a beach unspoiled by urbanization, so don’t expect all the services of the bigger beaches.
Carvajal Beach, Benalmadena: This is another large urbanized beach like the one in Alcaidesa. The golden sands and quiet waves make it a popular spot for families, so expect it to get quite crowed in the summer months.
Cabopino, Marbella: This is another example of an unspoiled beach with super-clear water and fine sand. Note there is a nude beach to its west called Dunas de Artola
So take a look at some Eurail passes, and plan your trip to the Costa del Sol for beaches and delicious cuisine.
