Discover the traditional ways being practiced in the fishing village Pedregalejo, where you will see how an old-style fishing boat is made and learn how to grill sardines on an open fire. The origin of the wooden boats, known as jábegas, dates to the Phoenician era. They have recently experienced a rebirth of sorts with rowing clubs using them in competitive events. Pedregalejo is also revered for its old-style beachfront restaurants known as chiringuitos. At one of the most popular chiringuitos, you will learn how to prepare espeto, which is barbecued fish, most often sardines. The fish are heavily seasoned with coarse sea salt and skewered on long flat bamboo sticks. They are then placed over an open fire of olive wood, which imparts an unmistakable flavor. If sardines are used, their silvery color will turn golden brown as they cook. Once the sardines are done, you can eat them with your fingers right off the skewer.

Enjoy an enlightening walk through an eco-friendly citrus orchard and then settle in for a breakfast made with organic ingredients. The setting for your immersion into healthy living Andalusian-style will be Al-Huerta, a farm that also serves as a center for environmental education. Your host will explain the sustainable agricultural techniques that improve the fertility of soil, heal degraded ecosystems and provide habitat for a variety of animals, including hedgehogs and indigenous birds. You will notice aromatic wild plants—some medicinal, others used for cooking—growing freely among the citrus trees. There are also orchards of fruits trees such as mangoes and avocados. The farmers follow a philosophy of social responsibility and encourage visitors to seek a more balanced lifestyle. Feel free to discuss the workings of the farm over breakfast, which will likely include fresh juices, organic coffee, herbal-infused olive oil and homemade bread from a wood-fired oven.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Walk through a citrus orchard where eco-friendly agricultural practices are followed.
• Become familiar with the benefits of sustainable agriculture for humans and animals.
• Enjoy a breakfast of organic juices, herbal-infused olive oil and homemade bread.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Browse a museum devoted entirely to Malaga-born Pablo Picasso before savoring a lunch of artistically prepared Andalusian dishes. You will first enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Gibralfaro lookout, an introduction to Malaga that will be greatly enhanced by closer looks at landmarks such as the Alcazaba fortress on the way to the museum. There, you will see a remarkable collection of Picasso’s most representative works from various periods. They include masterpieces of Cubism, innovative ceramics and the artist’s personal take on the classics. Your lunch at the nearby restaurant Los Patios de Beatas will be just as memorable. Located in two back-to-back palazzo-style houses in the Old Quarter, the restaurant couldn’t be more atmospheric. Although the cuisine is classic Andalusian, the chef has reconceived it with unexpected garnishes, seasonings and accompaniments. You can expect the meal to be extraordinarily imaginative, much like the works of Picasso.

HIGHLIGHTS
• View a collection of ground-breaking works of art, all by Malaga-born Pablo Picasso.
• Enjoy a delectable lunch that pushes the boundaries of classic Andalusian cuisine.
• See Malaga from atop the Gibralfaro lookout and while driving through the Old Quarter.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Survey glorious Granada at your own pace, visiting locations of your choice, on this independent exploration. Settle in for a relaxing drive to elegant Granada’s city center, where you’ll revel in approximately three hours to do as you please. You may choose to explore the glorious Alhambra and its stunning Generalife gardens or the labyrinthine streets and plazas of the historic Albaicín neighborhood, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Perhaps you’ll visit the marvelous Cathedral of Granada and its adjacent Royal Chapel, final resting place of Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand, or just wander the enchanting medieval streets in search of a perfect keepsake. However you decide to spend your generous free time, the dazzling sights and sounds of extraordinary Granada are certain to stir your soul.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy ample time for independent exploration in resplendent Granada • View the city’s spellbinding UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Alhambra and Albaicín.
• Choose to visit the extraordinary Cathedral of Granada and Royal Chapel.
• Shop for unique handcrafted items such as leather goods, hammered metalwork and pottery.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• If you plan to visit a religious venue, dress appropriately; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

OVERVIEW

Explore a series of caves that were once under the sea and indulge in an inspired wine tasting at a nearby restaurant. The Treasure Caves are named for their unusual geology, their Paleolithic Age wall paintings and the legend that the monarchs of the Almoravid dynasty buried treasure there in the 12th century. As you walk through the eerily illuminated caves, you will notice how seawater shaped the interior over the eons. There are still subterranean lakes in some of the chambers. A tasting of premium Spanish wines thoughtfully paired with tapas follows at the Valle Niza restaurant. Those pairings may include a sparkling wine served with a ham-and-cheese board, a fruity white wine with confit cod, a red wine with braised ratatouille, and a moscatel dessert wine with French toast and coconut ice cream. The chosen pairings will be representative of Costa del Sol’s extraordinary wines and cuisine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the Treasure Caves, which were once completely under the sea.
• See wall paintings from the Paleolithic Age in the caves.
• Sample several local wines paired with tapas at a restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Watch a rousing flamenco performance and savor a traditional Andalusian lunch at Venta Luciano, a family-owned restaurant-club that opened in 1956. A wonderfully scenic drive along southern Spain’s sun-splashed Costa Tropical will bring you to this beloved venue in the town of Almuñécar. Over the years, it has hosted some of flamenco’s greatest performers and the scheduled Aires de Sacromonte show will be star-studded, as well. Once you settle into your seat, the flamenco performance will begin with all the flair and passion associated with this centuries-old art form. You can expect it to be mesmerizing as the performers tell emotional stories through song and dance. As the perfect complement, you will enjoy tapas and cava sparkling wine as starters and a hearty meal made with locally sourced ingredients for a true taste of Andalusia. Besides sangria, white Zacatín and red Lindaraja Roble wines from the award-winning Fontedei winery will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the seaside panoramas as you drive along the Costa Tropical, a subtropical paradise.
• Watch an expressive and emotional flamenco performance at Venta Luiciano.
• Savor traditional tapas and an Andalusian lunch with sparkling cava and other local wines.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the Montes de Malaga Natural Park in a 4x4 vehicle made for exhilarating off-road adventure. On the approach to the park, you will notice that it is densely forested with Aleppo pines, which were planted throughout the surrounding Guadalmedina River basin to curb flooding from the park’s steep mountainous slopes. The pines are so plentiful that they have become synonymous with the area. As you tear through this densely forested landscape in a caravan of off-road vehicles, you can’t help but admire the natural setting. The guide will offer enlightening commentary about the flora and fauna during stops. Be sure to keep an eye out for birds of prey, as booted eagles, black kites and tawny owls are often spotted in the conifers. Later, stop at whitewashed town and continue your off-road adventure with a drink and a sampling of tapas that reflect the local Andalusian ingredients.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip through the mountainous Montes de Malaga Natural Park in a 4x4 off-road vehicle.
• Stop on occasion at the most scenic spots, where you may spot birds of prey.
• Follow your off-road adventure with a drink and tapas in a white-washed village.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Paddle a kayak along the Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo and enjoy a unique perspective of the dramatically beautiful shore. This area is known as the Tropical Coast because the sheltering Sierra Nevada mountains have created a mild microclimate, one that encourages outdoor activities. You will begin kayaking at La Herradura, a town known for its horseshoe-shaped bay and wide beaches, and then skirt along the visually arresting shore of the nature reserve. It is one of the few coastal areas in Andalusia that is undeveloped and as a result the flora and fauna have flourished. Depending on the chosen route and sea currents, you may enter small coastal caves, pass seagull habitats and secluded beaches and spot mountain goats along the craggy cliffs. Regardless of where you paddle, you will enjoy a close-up view of the wild, mountainous landscape. Afterwards, you may have the opportunity to swim in the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak along the jagged cliffs of a nature reserve and enjoy spectacular views.
• Look for wildlife while passing the wild coastal landscape, isolated beaches and coves.
• Take a refreshing swim in the sea, if time permits.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Hike along an exhilarating narrow pathway that clings to the face of a precipitous rock gorge, following bridges and boardwalks hundreds of feet above the river below.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an immensely picturesque drive inland to Caminito del Rey in the El Chorro Gorge. Built in the early 1900s to connect two power stations, the narrow trail high above the Guadalhorce River was once considered the world’s most dangerous pathway. After walking the entire length in the 1920s, King Alfonso XIII named it Caminito del Rey, “The King’s Little Road.”

Today, the trail has been widened and extensively improved to make the trek much safer, as the original pathway had deteriorated. During your nearly five-mile hike, a guide will lead the way and provide commentary regarding the history of the pathway.

You will climb a series of stone steps and walk along wooden bridges and boardwalks that hang on the gorge’s vertical walls, an average of 325 feet above the swirling river. You can expect it to be the most exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping hike that you have ever taken.

Fortunately, the scenery hasn’t changed one iota. The gorge is as steep as ever, the river below still makes its way between the lakes and the views are beyond stunning. There are also benches where you might rest for a moment and admire the natural beauty.

After the adventure, you can discuss the experience with the other hikers over tapas.

OVERVIEW

Ride through downtown Malaga on, a small electric vehicle, ideal for navigating through an urban environment. According to the availability , you might be assigned either a Twizy - a half-car, half-motorcycle with seating for two people – made by Renault , a Ami, a funny e-minicar made by Citroen or a similar vehicle. Large windows and remarkable stability, will allow you to easily zip in and out of traffic. You can either drive or ride along as a passenger. As you travel from the pier through Malaga’s downtown, the guide will provide enlightening commentary over the vehicle radio. The exact route will depend on the traffic conditions, but you can expect to pass all sorts of historical landmarks before looping back to the pier. Stops will be made at points of interests such as Gibralfaro Castle, a 10th-century Moorish fortress that perches high on a hill overlooking the city. The views are spectacular from atop the castle’s medieval stone ramparts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through Malaga in unique electric minicar
• Take the wheel or just ride along as a passenger, if you prefer.
• Enjoy commentary from the guide through the vehicle radio.
• Take in the panoramic views while stopping at the ramparts of a 10th-century castle.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Gain an understanding of the cultural significance of bullfighting in Andalusia by touring a cattle ranch in the town of Ronda that breeds and raises fighting bulls and horses. Local matador Rafael Tejada created the ranch Reservatauro Ronda after retiring from a life in the ring. Tejada’s passion for the sport and the animals will be apparent as you meander about the pastures and stables of the working ranch. You will discover how fighting bulls are bred and how they develop through various stages. You may also learn the characteristics of the stout Andalusian horses that are selected for the picadors to ride in the ring during the bullfight. Reservatauro Ronda features a circular testing bullring that will enhance your grasp of the sport’s nuances and inherent dangers. When not being trained, the bulls and horses freely roam the ranch’s magnificent grounds, which are within a UNESCO Biosphere Nature Reserve.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse a cattle ranch where bulls are bred and raised for bullfighting. • Gain insight into the cultural significance of bullfighting in Andalusia. • See how horses are chosen for the picadors that accompany the matador in the ring.

HELPFUL HINTS:
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Settle in for a panoramic drive through the heart of Malaga to whet your appetite for the culinary immersion that awaits you. The Phoenicians founded Malaga in the 8th century, and it is wonderfully atmospheric with plenty of landmarks, including hilltop Gibralfaro Castle. The Andalusian cuisine served throughout Malaga is just as remarkable as you will first discover at El Pimpi, a traditional bodega that actor Antonio Banderas co-owns. There, you will sample an inspiring selection of local wines thoughtfully paired with tapas. These small-plate snacks are synonymous with Malaga and often feature seafood such as fried anchovies and prawns. More wine and a full meal will be served at the restaurant El Merendero de Antonio Martín, which overlooks lovely La Malagueta Beach. The exact menu of Andalusian dishes will depend on what’s freshest and seasonal, but you can be sure that the preparation will be innovative, as that is the chef’s trademark.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Relax in air-conditioned comfort on a panoramic drive through historical Malaga. • Sample traditional Andalusian tapas at a bodega that actor Antonio Banderas co-owns. • Enjoy highly creative Andalusian cuisine at a restaurant on La Malagueta Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS:
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.