Itinerary The Best of Southern Spain - 10 Days
The jewel of historic Spain, Andalucia is the country’s largest and most quintessential region. It offers genuine folklore, boundless sightseeing, rich history and culture, and scenic beauty. The region occupies the entire southern Iberian Peninsula, including the provinces of Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, and Seville. Andalucia has become a vacation Mecca for its charming villages, seaside resorts, excellent shopping, local seafood restaurants, olive and citrus groves, and year-round temperate climate.
Day 1: USA- Malaga, Costa del Sol
Board your overnight transatlantic flight to Malaga, Spain. Relax and enjoy dinner, movie, and breakfast on board.
Day 2: Arrive in Costa del Sol, Spain:
Arrive in Costa del Sol and transfer from Malaga Airport to your hotel. Check into your hotel and then acquaint yourself with the beautiful area or simply take some time to relax and unwind. Dinner with wine and overnight at your hotel in Torremolinos.
Day 3: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Granada & the Alhambra Palace
Early drive along the Costa del Sol through the mountains of Malaga towards Granada. Stop in the town of Loja and then continue to Granada. As we enter the city you’ll be able to see the peaks of the white-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. A sightseeing city-tour will lead us to the Alhambra Palace. ”Alhambra” is an Arabic word that means red, the color of its fortified walls. Built during the 13th and 14th century, it took nearly 100 years to be completed. Visit includes the Court of the Myrtles, the Court of the Lions, the Hall of Secrets, the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the Alcazaba, the castle that guarded the Palace. We will also visit the beautiful gardens of the Generalife with its green water gardens and the fountains that inspired several famous Spanish composers. Over the centuries the Alhambra gradually fell into ruins but, curiously, it was the American Author Washington Irving who helped prod the city into having the monument restored. Irving lived in the palace early in the 19th century, where he wrote his book "Tales of the Alhambra". Now the Alhambra is completely restored and rebuilt.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 4: Costa del Sol at leisure
Breakfast at your hotel. Free day at leisure to explore or relax. Take advantage of one of your dine around vouchers (included) and enjoy dinner at a select local restaurant within walking distance from your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 5: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Ronda
Breakfast at your hotel. Depart for a full day Ronda tour. Spanning more than four centuries of Spanish architecture, this quaint town is sure to transport you back in time. One look at the famous “El Tajo” and the impressive sheer drop of the mountain cliffs illustrates its origins as a military stronghold. While in Ronda, marvel at its architectural variety, including the walled Old Town, a residential palace of nobility, the Cathedral, the bullring - the oldest existing in Spain - and the “Bullfight Museum.” Free time for lunch on your own and shopping prior to returning to your hotel. Dinner with wine and overnight at your hotel.
Day 6: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Seville, the capital of Andalucia.
Breakfast at your hotel and departure for Seville. The beautiful Andalusian countryside will be the setting for a great view of typical towns such as Antequera, Estepa, Osuna and, finally, Seville. The fourth largest in Spain, this is a city humming with life and prosperity, holding magnificent buildings and monuments, and considered the most popular and attractive in the whole country. Our visit will start with the Alcazar, which served both as Palace and Fort, and will continue in the Cathedral, a unique beauty all its own combining old Arabic and Christian architecture. The cathedral was built on top of a former mosque and is now the third largest in the world. Adjoining it, the Giralda tower stands 322 feet high. We continue our visit to the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter where we will ramble along the narrows streets with it small bars and restaurants. Not to be missed is the beautiful Maria Luisa Park with its sunken gardens, the decorative fountains, and the lovely "azulejos"(tiles) in the Plaza de España, a semi-circular square with a great building around it. We finish our trip to Seville with a drive over the Isla de la Cartuja area, where the Universal Exposition took place in 1992. Dinner with wine & overnight at your hotel.
Day 7: Full Day Sightseeing tour of Nerja & Frigiliana
Breakfast at your hotel. Today we drive along the eastern coast of Malaga province to Frigiliana in the "Lower Axarquia" Region, where history traces back through Moorish, Roman, Greek, and Phoenician civilizations to the Bronze Age. Often called the most picturesque town in Andalucia, Frigiliana shows the indelible mark of ancient culture in its Moorish “Mudejar” neighborhood with its outstanding mosaic paved streets, immaculate white houses, and the cornucopia of colors provided by abundant flowers. Free time is allowed to stroll in this quaint town and perhaps taste its delicious locally made sweet wine. The tour continues on to the site of the magnificent underground prehistoric Caves of Nerja. Free time is provided for lunch (not included) and to visit this cave, often called “Nature’s Baroque Cathedral.” Admission fee to the cave is included. Afterwards, we drive to the old section of Nerja and then walk to the nearby “Balcony of Europe,” set 100 feet above the sea and renowned for its spectacular views. Dine-Around this evening. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 8: Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Gibraltar
Breakfast at your hotel. Depart for a tour of the countryside including Marbella and Mijas. See the Guadalhorce Valley including Alhaurin de la Torre and Alhaurin el Grande. A stop is included at Alhaurin el Grande’s Wholesale Farmers Market before continuing through the valley and the Sierra Blanca Mountains. This picturesque route leads past the white town of Monda, and then towards the Sierra Alpujata Mountains to the town of Ojen. After a brief stop in Ojen, head toward the coast to Marbella, where sightseeing of the old section of this enchanting town is included. Continue on the coastal road leading to Fuengirola en route to Mijas, located about 1300 ft. above sea level and surrounded by the dramatic Sierra de Mijas Mountains. A sightseeing tour of the town is included as well as free time for shopping and lunch (lunch not included). Dine-Around this evening. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 9: At leisure in Costa del Sol - Farewell Dinner
Breakfast at your hotel. Day at leisure. Tonight we say farewell with a dinner at your hotel including wine, coffee, and a special dessert.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 10: Costa del Sol –USA
After a hearty buffet breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to Malaga airport for your return flight home, arriving later today.
The superior 4-star beachfront Amaragua Hotel, Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, Spain
The Amaragua Hotel is located on the beach in Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, Spain overlooking the Mediterranean. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated and include full bath and large private balconies with seaview. Facilities include an indoor heated pool, restaurant, lounge with piano music in the evenings, extensive outdoor gardens, sauna, and a steam room and spa (additional fees apply for spa services).There is a promenade between the hotel and the beach which is perfect for strolling and provides access to nearby shops and restaurants. Just 15 minutes away walking on the promenade you will find the Benalmadena Marina, famous for its extensive dinning and shopping options. A few steps away is the quaint fishing village of La Carihuela, dotted with stores and fresh local seafood restaurants. Just a short ride away is the town center of Torremolinos with its lively shopping district, Calle San Miguel, offering good shopping for unique souvenirs such as handmade leather goods, linens, and Lladro figurines.
Numerous daytrips are available including Granada, Gibraltar, Cordoba, and Morocco.
