Let’s go for a walk in Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel, but before we do, let’s think about some of the basics. Firstly, unless you intend to stay on the sea front, you are going to hit some hills. So be prepared. Secondly, and particularly in summer, it’s going to be hot, very hot. Take plenty of water with you, or stop at every bar and top up – with water of course!
We need a starting point. Those staying in the resort will hopefully gravitate to the Puerto Marina at some point. Those visiting for the day will either arrive by train at the station up in Arroyo de la Miel, or by bus or by car coming in on the N340, the main coast road which is close to the Puerto Marina. So by virtue of the majority, let’s start at the Puerto Marina.
Don’t leave Benalmadena without visiting the Puerto Marina. It’s the Jewel in the Crown. It was completed in the early 1990’s and named the Best Marina in the World in 1995. There’s shopping, bars, nightlife and style here in abundance. Over 1,000 berths with boats and yachts of all shapes and sizes make this a walk in itself. Watch the large fish that swim in the Marina, sit and people watch, view the multi-million pound cruisers (many are for sale), or take a charter trip on one of the many boats. There is absolutely everything here. Before we leave, if you come during the day, make sure to visit again in the evening to see it illuminated, it’s transformed. We’ll make our way out, walking west through the Marina until you arrive at the Sealife Centre which is well worth a visit, particularly if you get a rainy day, (there are a few every year).
As you walk along the prom, watch out for the many tiled features in the pathway. Benalmadena Council have worked hard to make this a pleasant and interesting walk. There are many shops offering a variety of things along here. You’ll soon pass the Hotel’s Riviera and Triton, both having good reputations, with pools and sunbathing areas looking straight out to sea.
Once you’ve passed these you’re coming up to another gem. You will see a spit of rocks that extend into the sea on your left and a number of bars on your right. Look out for “Our Hub in Benalmadena”, The Potter.
This wonderful bar is owned by a member of our Benalmadena and Arroyo de la Miel Forum, Helen and her partner Gordon. This is definitely worth a stop. The sangria has a reputation all of its own and the food always pleases. Go on, treat yourself.
Continuing along the front you will enjoy the pleasant walk. Eventually you’ll pass some popular Spanish fish restaurants. Look out for the BBQ boats where sardines are grilled to perfection.
I want to extend the walk a little here to share something with you. At the end of the Paseo Maritimo, climb up the ramp towards the road then continue along a little more, staying close to the beach wall, to Castillo Bil Bil. Here, with its series of fountains you’ll see Bil Bil where a number of exhibitions take place. Enjoy the cool shade and the water features for a few moments. Turn back on yourself. Past the Torso, (sorry about that madam), and no we don’t know who the model is! Let’s get across this busy N340 road at the traffic light crossing just before the roundabout. This is known as the Windmill roundabout, you will see why, and it’s a popular landmark. Once you cross turn right and look out for some excavations. No, not a building site, but Roman ruins that were discovered when the site was excavated. Clearly, the Romans that came here got a better posting than Hadrian’s Wall!
Turn left up the hill, (Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca), until you arrive at the impressive entrance to Parque de la Paloma, another gem. This wonderful park has three bars. Many rabbits, wildfowl and peacocks roam the park freely, there are ostriches in a pen, and a farm. The fountain in the centre of the lake has a 30 metre plume.
Stop a while and look across the lake. If you have the time, turn left and walk clockwise around it. Once you get to the far side of the lake, you’ll notice the Selwo Marina just outside the park. This houses dolphins, penguins and many other species – another useful visit.
Next door is the Benalmadena Auditorium. This was opened in 2003 with a recital by Jose Carerras. Many famous names have played here including Terence Trent D’arby, who holds an annual concert. Above the Auditorium, in the car park, there are regular flea markets, usually on a Wednesday, but a smaller flea market also takes place on a Friday.
No time to relax, only joking, The three bars / shops around the park are a wonderful place to sit and enjoy a beautiful setting. When you’re ready, continue around the lake and enjoy the view. At any point you wish, take one of the many paths that start to climb up the hill, sorry, but it had to be climbed some time. You’ll pass another circular lake, (there are sometimes motor controlled boats on here at weekends), and eventually pass the ostriches, the farm and the newly opened cactus garden. Keep climbing, moving over to you left and you will reach the top gates.
As you leave the park turn left into Camino del Prado, and then first right into what is also Camino del Prado. Yes, another hill! You’re entering the lower part of Arroyo de la Miel, the commercial centre of the resort. Enjoy your climb by doing some window shopping. At the roundabout, and diagonally across from you is the new real ice skating rink and indoor swimming pool, which opened in the winter of 2006 / 2007. This is the only real ice skating rink on the Costa del Sol!
Continue up the hill, (you’re back on the continuation of Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca again), and through the shops until you arrive at the traffic light junction by a bar called El Malagueno. I’d like to take you on a little detour here. Turn left onto Calle Andalucia and walk along this road. Nothing stunning here but bear with me. Keep going and when you arrive at the Social Security, (Seguridad Social), building on your right, turn right up the small street and enter Plaza de España, (also known as Fountain Square). This little square with its bars is tucked quietly away and is a real find. You will see the walls of some old buildings, including part of the original paper mill here. You should leave the square on your left through the old gate.
Walk through the shops and turn right up the new pedestrianised area called Calle Blas Infante. More shops to look at, and eventually you’ll arrive at the main road through Arroyo de la Miel. Here several roads meet at a point called Plaza de la Autonomia. The road to your right is Avenida de la Constitucion and to your left Avenida de la Estacion. Across on your left is the railway station. If you have come in by train you can start the walk from here.
Detour time again I’m afraid – but trust me, worth it. Turn left and walk past the railway station along Avenida de la Estacion, continue along the side of the railway line until you reach a roundabout. Turn right up the hill, (Avenida del Tivoli),– not too far I promise, and you will arrive at the Tivoli World Theme Park. Here you can gain entrance to the theme park, or ride on the famous cable car up to Monte Calamorro, with fantastic views over the coast and out to the Atlas mountains in North Africa. You can come down by cable car, walk down, (it’ll take a long while and stout shoes required), or parascend down if booked at the bottom before you go up!
Also in this area, the massive Tivoli World car park plays host to the weekly Arroyo de la Miel Friday market. Please, and it’s the same throughout the world, watch your wallet / handbag.
We need to re-trace our steps to the Railway Station. Once past it, look to your left to see the parish church. Spend a few moments admiring the secular / religious mix here. We’re now in the heart of Arroyo de la Miel. Just past the church is the Casa de la Cultura – the Cultural Centre. Here there are exhibitions and concerts throughout the year. Always worth stopping off for a look at what’s going on.
From here wander right and left through the pretty townhouses with their external tiled walls, or past the many and varied shops. Gents, there’s lots of bars to rest in while our other halves “shop till they drop".
Time to start making our way back down to the Marina, but before we do there’s one large square I’d like you to see in Arroyo de la Miel. Head east along Avenida de la Constitucion, (away from the railway station), on the lower side of the road.
As you come to the children’s play area, turn right down the hill through the pedestrianised area and then look right into Plaza de la Mezquita. This is the main entertainment area for Arroyo de la Miel, with fiestas, concerts and lots of other entertainment. One side of the square is given over to a large stage, whilst at the other there are Spanish bars and restaurants to meet all tastes. Keep walking down the hill and bear left onto the road you now know as Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca.
At the traffic lights, cross to the left and then cross right, (in other words diagonally across the junction), onto Calle Zodiaco. Here we enter the Jardines del Gamonal complex. These apartment blocks have numerous shops, bars and restaurants. Bear left down Calle Zodiaco then cut between the apartment blocks, walk across the next road, (Calle Sagitario), until you come to a raised terrace overlooking the road (Avenida de Gamonal). Across the road you’ll notice that there are a number of apartment blocks that form the Zodiacos group of apartments. Minerva, Jupiter, Agata, Hercules, Saggitario, Aries and many other blocks are here. These are very popular with visitors.
Turn left and start to make your way back to Avenida del Gamonal which you crossed over, and head right down the hill. Continue walking downwards until you reach the “New Church”, (Inglesia La Virgen del Carmen), where you should turn left and cross Calle San Silvestre into Plaza Bonanza. A little further to your left, opposite the main entrance to the church is Plaza Ibensa. Once again an area of many bars, restaurants and shops. Walk through Bonanza Square, but at the end bear left walking past the Bonanza Bar then right down the hill, (Avenida de Bonanza). At the roundabout, turn right on Avenida de la Telefonica. As you approach the top of the Bali Hotel, tarry a while and look down the hill. Known locally as Cardiac or Heart Attack hill, (you can see why). Hopefully you will appreciate that we did this route in a clockwise and not anti-clockwise direction!!!
At the bottom of the hill turn left onto the busy N340. Before the motorway was built it was a lot busier, and more dangerous too. Walk along the left hand pavement past the many gift, (regalos), shops and at a point of your choosing, cross at one of the many traffic light crossing points. Continue walking along the N340, past the Centro de Expositions, until you approach a road junction with the Post Office, (Correos), at the opposite side of the road. Turn right down the hill, (Avenida de Alay), and we will eventually return to the Marina.
It’s been a good long walk, about 4.7 miles, but at least you’ve had a chance to see what makes this area so special to many, many people.
One warning before you start out! Benalmadena, like many other resorts in Spain and the Canaries, is plagued by pests of the human species, Tout. These people used to be called timeshare touts, but the new name is Holiday Club. They may have changed the name of the product, but they are still after one thing, your hard earned cash. They will approach you and offer you a scratch card, which when checked, will always be a major prize winner. You will then be asked to attend a presentation, which will include a two to three hour hard sell session. These people can earn £100 for just taking you to the presentation, and they are hard to get rid of if you stop and engage in conversation. My advice is, keep walking, unless of course you want to buy a share in one of these properties.
Immediately after the Sealife Centre, turn right and then right again, up the steps and a rampway. Cross the road in front of you, (if you turn left down the hill you’ll come to the Nautical Centre where you can learn to sail, canoe and enjoy all things nautical). Stand here by the beach wall and enjoy the vista of the Benalmadena beach. Fantastic isn’t it? Turn right up the hill until you meet the large roundabout with steps down to your left. Take these. Let’s enjoy the Paseo Maritimo, or “the front” as we’d say in the UK. Turn right and join “the prom”. Here you can enjoy a pleasant, flat walk along the seafront.
In this early part of the beach you’ll see different marked out sports areas. Volleyball, football and many more sporting events take place here.
The beach at Benalmadena is divided up into formal sunbathing areas and free areas. The formal areas provide sunbeds, (hamacas), and umbrellas, (sombres), for around €8 for two. Once you’ve paid and got your tickets they are yours all day – so leave your towels and wander up to the Paseo Maritimo bars for lunch or a drink.
