Mijas Off The Beaten Path

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The lower side of Mijas has around 12kms of Costa del Sol coastline. Beaches of the municipality include Cabo Rocoso, El Bombo, Calahonda, El Charcon, El Faro, Butijplaya, El Egido and Piedra de Cura. Little villages of Mijas Costa are dispersed between the beaches.

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Cabapino is a few minute from Mijas, La Cala. Very pretty view point for the lovely sunsets but also a nice place to visit for the little port. There are several restaurants beside the boats in the marina. One leading out onto the beach. Sunbeds and brollies for the sunbathers too. We ate at some of the places there including Andys Bar/Restaurant, right on the beach. Free partking too and good fishing and windsurfing on windy days ! We were very lucky as had really warm and sometimes very hot days in Feb/early March 08

The beautiful park next to the Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepcion and the bullring is a good place to relax and rest your feet. It's very calm up there. The fountain is soothing and the trees are big enough to provide a lot of shade. There is even a Helado stand nearby. (What park is really complete without one?) Enjoy some ice cream at one of the tables or do what we did - we took our ice cream to a park bench with the fantastic view of Costa del Sol.

If you are in the mood for a pilgrimage of sorts, walk up to the Shrine of Calvario, which is perched high on the hillside. It's not incredibly old - just dates back to 1710, but it is worth the visit for the view of the Mediterranean and the Costa del Sol. To get there, take a winding path, marked by iron crosses from the village. The interior is open only on easter Friday, but the panoramic vista is open every day of the year.

There are lots of tourist bars in Mijas and, if you're willing to look, lots of real Spanish bars. But La Boveda is something different. It's run by my amigos Cristobal and his wife Maria and one or two of their daughters. He opens early in the morning and starts chopping up tomatoes for his special sandwiches. The bar begins to fill up with foreign artists who live in Mijas. Friendly holas are exchanged with the locals who pop in for quick cafe con leche (and sometimes an anis). It's a hangout where everyone feels at home. Nothing fancy... no TV, no gambling machines, no tapas. Spanish radio is the only musical entertainment. In the afternoon, Maria takes over until 11 or 12. Outside, there are tables adjusted to the slanting street. Cars, trucks, motos, horses and burros pass by within inches as La Boveda is at a tiny crossroads where mini traffic jams occur... hang on to your cerveza!
For something a little different, stop in for a quick refreshment while you're touring Mijas. La Boveda is not hard to find. It's just below the Plaza de la Constitución. And say Hola to Cristobal and Maria for me.

The main attraction of Mijas is the whitewashed picturesque city in of itself. It's a great place to wander the streets.