The western end

This was the part of the Costa del Sol that was originally much less developed. San Pedro de Alcantara remained quite Spanish for a long time when the town itself was more than one mile from the sea. Now, however, the area between the town and the beach has been developed beyond all recognition, and some of the worst traffic jams on the coast are in San Pedro. The older parts of the town remain very pleasant and there is also a very lively British expatriate community. Some areas are almost totally British with virtually all the shops and restaurants British-run and run for the British. These are the places where you can buy your English-style sausage rolls from a branch of a well-known frozen food outlet, your English books and cards, your English bed linen and then have a drink at an English bar. It really is little England in places!

San Pedro to Estepona

Coastal development continues between San Pedro and Estepona but this latter town has so far managed to remain very Spanish. The old town on the hill leading up to the church is delightful and should you decide to live here you would have Spanish neighbours, so an ability to speak the language would be a real benefit. The centre of Estepona has escaped the worst of the high-rise developments but there is now a lot of new building surrounding the town. In fact it is in this western end of the coast where the boom in building is currently taking place.

Why? Quite simply, the infrastructure – mentioned earlier – has improved. The coast road, which at one time was a nightmare bottleneck, has now been widened into a dual carriageway and a new toll motorway has been built a few miles inland so communication has improved. A few years ago nobody wanted to live here but now that is changing. The western end of the Costa del Sol is now accessible and right along the coast almost to Gibraltar the landscape is full of cranes.

Towns such as Sabinillas, which only three years ago was a sleepy little Spanish town on the coast road with the main road running through it, is now being transformed by new apartment buildings and new supermarkets. Manilva town hall has plans for a new theme park, hotels where no hotels existed and 6,000 new homes to be built in the next two years.

This area also appeals to many British expatriates since it is close to Gibraltar which remains a little bit of the UK stuck on the tip of the Costa del Sol. Many Brits go there to shop. Many work there and live in Spain. Gibraltar also offers an alternative airport to Malaga (which is becoming increasingly busy with long delays during the height of the season). Currently there are far fewer flights and a much poorer choice of destinations from Gibraltar but things are improving. (Incidentally Gibraltar itself is very expensive to live in and is very crowded and noisy.)

On to Sotogrande

Continuing our journey along the western coast the next major resort is Sotogrande. This relatively new development is either a paradise for the potential settler or it may have no appeal whatsoever. Built around a new marina it offers an ambiance that is very international – almost American in style – wide palm-lined boulevards, modern apartment blocks and villas which would not look out of place in Beverly Hills. It is very much an international resort, which bears very little resemblance to real Spain. There are plans to turn this area into the polo capital of Europe. This fact alone will give the reader some idea of the style (and potential prices of property) of Sotogrande.

For those who would like to be close to Sotogrande but cannot afford Sotogrande prices you could look in Torreguidiaro, Guidiaro, San Enrique, Tesorillo or San Roque.

Alcaidesa

Beyond Sotogrande there is currently only one new resort before you reach Gibraltar – Alcaidesa. Still very new it has many apartments and townhouses many of which have spectacular views of Gibraltar and the North African coast. Alcaidesa will no doubt be an important resort area in the future since it is surrounded by some of the most prestigious golf courses on the Costa del Sol.

La Linea, Algeciras and Tarifa

We have almost reached the end of the western coastal area but there are three towns that deserve a mention. La Linea has never really been considered a potential destination for the British expatriate. It remains very, very Spanish but it is a big town with all the things needed for everyday life and it is very convenient for Gibraltar should you work there. Currently property prices in La Linea are very low compared to the rest of the coast but that is because the prices here are geared to the Spanish market and not to the expat. It could be a very interesting growth area for the future although it is not a pretty place.

Just before we reach our final coastal destination, I have to mention Algeciras, if only to say that I would be very surprised if anyone chose to relocate from the UK to there. It is one of Spain’s major ports. It has some of the ugliest oil refineries imaginable and it really is a very big, industrial town and commercial seaport.

The final town on our coastal trip is Tarifa, where the Costa del Sol ends and the Costa de la Luz begins – in fact it is not really on the Costa del Sol although I have included it. Tarifa is Europe’s most southerly town and is in fact only 12 miles from Africa. You almost feel as if you can touch the Rif Mountains in Morocco from here.

We are no longer on the Mediterranean – we have reached the Atlantic coast and now we begin to experience the Atlantic winds. Tarifa is the wind surfing capital of Spain and does offer some absolutely spectacular beaches. The old town retains its original walls and is absolutely delightful and truly Spanish. The newer areas are not quite so pleasant but I am sure that they will grow and expand in the future and Tarifa will become more important.