To attempt to define Calahonda is like trying to define the Costa del Sol itself. Blessed with beautiful weather, straddling the thin strip of land between rugged mountains and the silky shimmer of the Mediterranean and attracting plenty of tourists each year, Calahonda is a firm favourite with families, couples, retirees, golfers and groups of younger holidaymakers. For the prospective homebuyer, Calahonda has just the right balance of Britishness and Spanishness to make it worth investigating, with a wide choice of properties that are reasonably priced and close to Málaga airport.
Continue reading: Reality
The Costa del Sol is not one of the most popular tourist and second home destinations in the world for nothing, and what the coast boasts, so does Calahonda. Located in Mijas Costa, between Fuengirola and Marbella, halfway along Málaga Province's coast, Calahonda's boundaries are difficult to define. The town area near the coast is actually rather small, yet the urbanisations, golf courses and private residences stretch for miles inland, over some of the region's most gently undulating terrain. Its geographical makeup has helped Calahonda create a distinct community of expats, drawn from Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and large parts of South America, yet it is the Brits who have stamped their culture most noticeably on the place.
Containing a large number of British and Irish bars, British supermarkets and every kind of British (or at least English-speaking) businesses – including dentists, vets, roofers, cable guys and hairdressers – those looking to take their first tentative steps in another country could be forgiven for choosing somewhere like Calahonda.
After all, not every potential homebuyer or expat is some sort of adventure-hungry Michael Palin, eager to sample all the cultures, flavours and languages of the world. Often, all they seek is somewhere warm, accessible and easy to relocate to – something that Calahonda provides, in abundance. Whether you want to move to Spain for work, to retire, to play golf or simply to enjoy a less stressful lifestyle without relinquishing all you know and hold dear, Calahonda is ideal.
Continue reading: By Day
With plenty to do for all ages, Calahonda in the daytime is a joy. Families arrive armed with books, lilos, board games and video games, nearly all of which go unused as every member finds something to divert their attention. Dads fall in love with the superb nine-hole golf course at the La Siesta Golf Club; mums enjoy the plentiful shopping and dining facilities at the various commercial centres; teens enjoy the beach or the various sports on offer at Club del Sol, while little ones simply wonder at the fast-paced thrill of it all, rounded off with an absolutely imperative trip to the large McDonalds, complete with playpen and the omnipresent Happy Meals.
The beaches can get crowded in summer, so an early start is recommended for those hoping to spend a day catching some rays. Along the beach are plenty of well-priced eateries, serving everything from fresh fish and seafood to your more typical burgers, pizzas and pasta dishes. The few bars that front the promenade are pleasantly homely, with a distinct British feel in most. Cross the highway and the commercial centres become the next hub of activity. Here you'll find Irish butchers, a Barclays bank, an English-language gym, gift shops, golf shops and plenty of stores, including a couple of large supermarkets. Farther inland still and the pretty avenues and streets – lined on either side by attractive whitewashed apartments and villas – characterise the landscape for as far as the eye can see, broken only occasionally by the odd bar or restaurant.
For prospective residents, the close proximity of Marbella's Costa del Sol hospital is a bonus, as are the fine selection of international schools found either side of Calahonda, including the excellent English International College on the eastern outskirts of Marbella, and St Anthony’s College in Mijas Costa.
Continue reading: By Night
Who needs nightclubs when Spain's non-existent licensing laws allow bars to stay open as late as they want? Irish Bars, karaoke bars, traditional British pubs, golf bars – even a token Spanish tapas bar or two – nestle alongside one another near to the centre of the resort. Your classic 'night out in Spain' memories are cast in places such as these: the friendly Spanish barman who gets to know your name almost immediately; the ubiquitous burger and chips accompanying your beer; the memorable chat on a sun terrace as the Mediterranean sparkles on the horizon; the local wine that you pledge to hunt down when you return home... memories from holidays, made everyday reality by the multitude of happy expats that call Calahonda home.
For livelier evenings, the superclubs of Marbella and Puerto Banús are a short drive away, while the residential areas of inland Calahonda have a fine smattering of quieter tavernas that are ideal for a few late night drinks with family and friends.
By journalist, editor and former Costa del Sol resident, Ian Clover.
