General News Manilva Area Guide

Duquesa and Sabinillas Area Guide

11th October 2022 by c2cadmin

Duquesa and Sabinillas attract many expats. These popular spots sit on the western Costa del Sol between Estepona and Sotogrande. Their closeness to Gibraltar and great property prices draw English-speaking residents who work in Gibraltar.

These families still enjoy the wonderful Spanish lifestyle the Costa del Sol offers.Before we explore the areas in detail, let’s set the scene. We will introduce the Costa del Sol and explain why it attracts so many holidaymakers and expats.

Discover the Costa del Sol and Andalusia

Andalusia captures everything that feels truly Spanish. Even Spaniards from other regions agree! You will find classic Spanish icons here — bullfighting, sherry and tapas. Base yourself on the Málaga coast and you gain easy access to historic cities. Granada, Ronda, Córdoba, Sevilla, Jerez and Cádiz all lie within a 2–3 hour drive. Gibraltar sits just 30 minutes away.

Why Choose the Costa del Sol?

Reasons for choosing the Costa del Sol for your Permanent Residence, Holiday Home or Investment Property:

Wonderful climate with over 300 days sunshine each year
Year-round rental market from golfers, holidaymakers and residential/seasonal tourists
Wonderful relaxed lifestyle
Low cost of living compared with the UK, Northern Europe and North America
Lower petrol prices, and cheaper tobacco and alcohol
Property prices still good value compared with UK and Ireland
Excellent investment potential
Legal protection for money invested
Constant improvements to infrastructure (golf courses, amenities etc)
Incredible coastline with many blue flag beaches
History & culture

Andalusia holds Roman ruins, Moorish palaces, museums, galleries, cathedrals and churches in abundance. The region brims with history and culture.Away from the busy coast you discover Andalusia’s famous “white villages.” They cling to hillsides or nestle in lush green valleys. Their cobbled streets and white-washed houses feel charming.

Summer beach visitors often miss these hidden gems. Andalusia offers natural beauty everywhere — pine-covered hills, lakes, mountains and a stunning coastline. It ranks among Spain’s best rural tourism destinations.Spain follows a Catholic calendar.

Andalusia celebrates with parades, pilgrimages and parties. Cities, towns and villages host week-long ferias for their patron saints. Music, dance and merriment fill these events. You must not miss them.Gibraltar, full of history, lies just a short drive away.

Easy Airport Access

Two main airports serve the Costa del Sol with daily flights to most of Northern Europe.

Málaga Airport sits under one hour from Sabinillas. It ranks as the nearest international hub on the eastern side. This busy airport flies to 132 destinations, including daily UK routes and many other countries.

Gibraltar Airport lies at the far west of the coast. Border controls exist between Gibraltar and Spain, yet easyJet and British Airways offer regular flights to Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester.

Jerez de la Frontera Airport sits north of Gibraltar. It handles London Stansted flights plus some internal Spanish routes.

Fun Things to Do for the Whole Family

Activities for Children

Children never feel bored here. When they tire of the beach or pool, plenty of options await.

In summer they love waterparks. We recommend Bahia Park in Algeciras and Aqua Mijas in Fuengirola.Near Manilva you find a paintball centre in Torreguadiaro.

A go-karting track, trampoline park and Selwo Safari Park sit in Estepona. Mundo Mania in Cancelada offers soft play and water fun. Castellar Zoo lies near Sotogrande.

Manilva Town Hall organises free beach sports, inflatables, water slides and traditional games every summer.

Travel a little further and you reach Tivoli World theme park in Benalmádena. Selwo Marine Park and a cable car ride are also there. Fuengirola boasts a great zoo, a massive skate park and its own Aqua Park.

This area welcomes families. You will find year-round entertainment for every age.

Activities for Adults

Adults enjoy cultural activities, fine food and sightseeing. National and international golf, tennis and other sporting events happen regularly.

Boating fans love the world-class marinas — Benalmádena, Puerto Banús, Estepona, Sotogrande and Duquesa. More marinas are planned.

The Ryder Cup in 1997 and Volvo Masters in 2007 both took place at Valderrama in Sotogrande. People now call this stretch “Costa Golf.” Andalusia offers some of Europe’s finest golf courses. They draw visitors all year, especially in cooler months.

The Sierra Nevada mountains sit only a couple of hours from Málaga. Europe’s southernmost ski resort hosts many competitions. Beginners and intermediate skiers love it. You can eat breakfast on the beach and ski by lunchtime!

In summer tourists head to some of Europe’s cleanest Blue Flag beaches. Water sports line the coast — boat charters, parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing and more. World-class windsurfing waits a short drive away in Tarifa.

Municipal swimming pools and leisure facilities stay open everywhere. Private sports clubs and gyms dot the coast.

Slightly inland you can go horse riding, shooting, fishing or quad biking. Adventure lovers find paragliding, caving, canyoning, scuba diving and kite surfing.

The Costa del Sol’s nightlife stays legendary. When the sun sets, the party begins. Three major casinos, countless shows, concerts, restaurants, bars and clubs ensure you never feel bored!

What’s on offer in Sabinillas?

Sabinillas is the main town in the district of Manilva and it’s a busy little town which has everything you need. There are several supermarkets, a post office, banks, chemists, hairdressers, dentists, a health centre, gym, shops, bars and restaurants so it’s a good choice if you want the maximum amenities on hand. There are also two primary schools and public and private nurseries, so it’s very popular with families. There’s also a very highly regarded international school around 15 minutes’ drive away in Sotogrande if you want your child educated in English.

Sabinillas has a long seafront promenade with bars and restaurants and lots of events and activities going on in the summer months. The long, wide beaches are wonderful places to relax, sunbathe, swim and exercise and due to their size rarely get super busy. There is a Friday market and a regular market during the summer months.

Sabinillas is most famous for its annual San Juan festival on the beach, where thousands of people flock for a massive party and the burning of a huge sculpture which is designed and built each year by a local artist. Other highlights are the Luna Llena (Full Moon) party, the Sabinillas Feria, Vigin del Carmen (blessing of the boats), Carnival and the Medieval Market.

Why choose Duquesa?

Puerto de la Duquesa is a very pretty port, around a 10-minute walk from central Sabinillas. It is popular for its international restaurants and bars and excellent nightlife and is a hub for expat residents in the area.

You can find the tastes and experiences of home, such as Sunday lunches and English breakfasts and there are shops such as Arkwrights Supermarket and the English Butcher where you can pick up the essentials that you may miss in a Spanish supermarket. There are English and Irish bars where you can watch sport, take part in a quiz or karaoke. There are also flavours from all around the globe, so there’ll be something to suit everyone. In amongst all these restaurants and bars there are a few shops, a beautician, hairdresser and pharmacy, but you’ll probably need to go to Sabinillas to stock up and run errands.

Behind the port are a number of popular residential developments which are favoured by expats and there’s also a golf club and properties constructed around the fairways as well.

Properties in Sabinillas and Duquesa

There are excellent value properties for sale and rent in this area and there is a large choice. In central Sabinillas and within Duquesa port itself you will mainly find apartments, with townhouses and villas on the outskirts and up into the hills.

With our office located in Sabinillas since 2002 and a lot of time spent showing properties and enjoying the lifestyle in both Sabinillas and Duquesa, we’re very well placed to help you to understand the market and the area. We can give you an area tour, based around what you’re looking for and how much space you need, as well of course as your budget. Contact us to arrange a call, or to pop into the office if you are visiting the area.

You can also search for properties in Sabinillas and properties in Duquesa on our website, to give you a flavour of what’s available.