Nerja makes a great day-trip if you’re already in the province of Málaga and/or look for an alternative of Málaga capital. I’m a fan of Málaga and keep coming back here. But I also love exploring new places and Nerja was a great find, especially if you enjoy outdoor activities like myself. It’s is part of the La Axarquía comarca only 50km east of Málaga capital.
Getting there:
If you’re already in one of the nearby pueblos (towns), getting Nerja is a piece of cake. Most locals drive here although during the peak season in the summer, finding parking is almost impossible. The best alternative is to take public transportation which is the bus operated by Alsa. It’s affordability and comfortability is quite hard to beat. I got dropped off by car from Torre del Mar, which is roughly half an hour drive.
What to do:
Three well-known beaches in Nerja are Carabeillo, Carabeo and Burriana, which I went. Needless to mention, you can imagine the amount of visitors who would like to throw themselves in the sun, sand and sea. Finding a spot on the main beach wasn’t the easiest thing to do but it’s an easy fix if you come alone, in a small group or if you arrive early. The peak hour is late morning and early afternoon before lunch.
I didn’t make any reservation prior to my arrival which, by the way, is recommended. I then ended up on the waiting list of a local kayak rental company. I soon realized that I could just rent a kayak independently which I did with a company called Padi and didn’t have to follow the traffic of a guided group. That ended up to be the best decision for many reasons. First and foremost, I got a kayak immediately. Secondly, there was hands down more flexibility on the route, the timing and the pace. Another bonus was that I paid the same price for three hours instead of the two-hour guided tour. There are more activities for you to maximize your vitamin sea including paddle boat, water skiing and parasailing.
What do see:
Going from the beach to downtown could quite be a hike uphill. I followed a couple who stayed at a luxurious hotel with access to the exclusive elevator to go up to town without a drop of sweat. Nerja central plaza is an absolute charm. I had a stunning panoramic view of the sunset. It’s a beautiful hang-out spot for local families as well as there are few ice cream shops near by. You could sit back and relax on one of the benches while looking at the beautiful view and munching on the delight artisan ice cream.
What to eat:
I already mentioned ice cream. It’s a must to soothe a hot summer day. There is also a famous all-you-can-eat paella restaurant right by the beach where you can, well, eat as much paella as you possibly can for 8 euros! Before you sit down to order though, get your camera ready because you might want a photo of possibly the biggest paella you’ll ever see.
That was one unforgettable day in the sand and the sun. I can’t wait to go back to explore the many spectacular caves that Nerja is known for.
