La Cala de Mijas
La Cala de Mijas is the Costa del Sol spot the old guard has been trying to keep quiet for years. A small beach town between Fuengirola and Marbella that has quietly gone upmarket, with serious golf country ten minutes inland at La Cala Golf Resort.
La Cala de Mijas is one of those places the Costa del Sol's old guard has been trying to keep quiet for years. A small beach town on the Mijas coast, it sits between Fuengirola and Marbella — close enough to both to benefit from the infrastructure, far enough to have stayed genuinely relaxed. Over the last decade it has quietly gone upmarket. Good restaurants have opened on the seafront. Boutique hotels have replaced tired apartment blocks. The expat community here runs more to evening meals on the terrace than all-day lager, and local prices still have not fully caught up with the quality.
Top La Cala Activities & Tours
Ten minutes inland, La Cala Golf is a different world entirely. Three championship courses spread across a valley in the Sierra de Mijas, a four-star resort hotel, a spa, and views that make you forget there is a motorway 15 minutes away. Whether you are here for a weekend of golf or a quieter alternative to the Marbella crowds, this part of the coast rewards the effort of finding it.
La Cala de Mijas Town
The town centres on a broad sandy beach and a pleasant seafront promenade. There are no big hotels blocking the front, which gives it an open, unhurried feel compared to the resort strips in Fuengirola or Torremolinos. The old fishing quarter behind the beach still has a handful of traditional bars where you can get a coffee and a tostada for under two euros. The newer restaurants along Avenida de la Cala lean towards grilled fish, cocktails and wood-fired pizza, with mains typically running between 12 and 22 euros.
La Cala Golf Resort
Where to Stay
La Cala Golf sits 10 minutes up into the hills from the beach on the A-7058. It is one of the largest golf destinations in Spain, with three 18-hole courses (America, Europe and Asia) and a practice academy that pulls serious golfers from across the continent. The four-star La Cala Resort Hotel overlooks the fairways and has a full spa, outdoor pool and several restaurants. Green fees vary by season, typically from around 50 euros in low season to 120 euros in high season on the headline courses.
Getting to La Cala de Mijas
By bus: the M-221 runs from Fuengirola bus station to La Cala de Mijas several times an hour. Journey time is around 20 minutes. By car: take the A-7 coast road and follow signs for La Cala de Mijas at the junction with the MA-426. For La Cala Golf, continue on the MA-426 into the hills for a further 8 kilometres.
In This Guide
La Cala Golf Resort: Courses, Green Fees and What to Expect
La Cala Golf Resort has three 18-hole championship courses in the Sierra de Mijas hills, a four-star hotel and a full spa. Here is what each course is like, what green fees cost, and how to make the most of a visit.
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La Cala de Mijas Beach: What to Know Before You Go
Playa de La Cala is a broad Blue Flag beach with calm water, a good line of chiringuitos and noticeably fewer crowds than the strips in Fuengirola or Torremolinos. Here is what to expect, what it costs and where to park.
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Things to Do in La Cala de Mijas: Beach, Golf and Beyond
La Cala de Mijas is best known for its beach and golf resort, but the town has more going on than that. Here is what to do on a day or weekend visit, including a few things most visitors miss.
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Where to Eat in La Cala de Mijas: Restaurants and Bars Worth Knowing
La Cala de Mijas has moved well beyond the standard resort seafront. You will find proper grilled fish, good Spanish tapas and a handful of restaurants that would hold their own in Marbella at prices that have not fully caught up with the quality.
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