La Cala de Mijas area guide: thriving town with a village atmosphere
The location of La Cala de Mijas acts as a natural divider between 'east' Costa del Sol (or north Costa del Sol, depending on your handle on geography) and 'west' Costa del Sol (or south). The town delivers a mixture of expat-haven, affordability, authenticity and affluence. The town centre has fountains for roundabouts; manicured tree-lined avenues; portly old Spanish gentlemen staring in bemusement at the fast-paced town that has sprung up around them; and a multinational collection of families and couples dashing all over the place, lending La Cala de Mijas a slightly muddled, but intoxicating, atmosphere.One needs to live in La Cala de Mijas to really experience what life is like there. This part is easy – there are plenty of affordable and desirable properties throughout the town and its outskirts, ranging from your typical new-build apartment to more traditional Spanish-style flats and townhouses as well as luxurious detached villas.
Superficially, the town has everything you are going to need, including large Mercadona and SuperSol supermarkets, its own weekly market, sports pitches, a lovely beach, great road access to either end of the Costa del Sol, plenty of bars and restaurants and all manner of shops, including a 24-hour pharmacy.
The large British and Irish community that lives in La Cala de Mijas will make new inhabitants from the UK and Ireland feel right at home. Taking that first step to living abroad is made much easier in a town like La Cala de Mijas – you can get your hair cut in a language you understand; have British satellite TV installed; call a plumber; buy furniture; appoint a delivery driver and send your kids to the nearby nurseries, schools and colleges. What's more, La Cala de Mijas has retained a tangible Spanish presence, so if your desire is to immerse yourself into Spanish culture, this is the place to dip that first toe.
Running parallel to the beach and the promenade is La Cala de Mijas' central thoroughfare. Here, British-style cafeterias serving all-day English breakfasts live cheek-by-jowl with your more traditional Spanish eatery. Chalkboard menus advertise 'Menú del día' and 'churros frescos', or 'bangers ‘n mash' and 'Sunday roasts'... it's all relative, sometimes quite literally – there's a strong sense of community here, among both the Spanish locals and the British expats. This close-knit atmosphere lends the resort a village atmosphere, where even the beachgoers all seem to know each other.
At the beach, the gentle shore and soft golden sands are ideal for families of all ages. Watersports can be enjoyed at the curved eastern end of the beach, and the thriving promenade is lined with lovely restaurants, bars, cafés and the ubiquitous gift shops selling brightly-coloured lilos, postcards, ice cream and all manner of beach kit.
A few steps from the centre, La Cala de Mijas boasts a reasonably large commercial centre that lines the coastal road on its northern side. There one will find additional bars, a bookies, restaurants and various shops and boutiques. Farther inland, the topography of the landscape takes a turn for the beautiful – just a short drive past the football ground brings you through a narrow blanket of woodland and out into undulating countryside. The horizon is halted by the distant mountain range, but the nearside views are all rolling hills, individual fincas and cortijos, and empty roads. In essence, this is wild Spain, with barely a non-Andalusian soul in sight.
With Fuengirola just a short drive away, memorable nights out on the tiles are easy to come by. But wait – La Cala de Mijas has plenty of late night choice to keep most ages happy, so why head to Fuengirola? For the summer 'Moonlight Visits' at Fuengirola Zoo, of course. Catch a number of creatures in their natural habitat, give the kids a memorable night out and enjoy a celebratory glass of wine once home.
For more animal-based fun, La Cala de Mijas boasts the only horse-racing course on the Costa del Sol. Called the Hipódromo Costa del Sol, this large race course has regular meets, a thriving social scene, organised bookmakers and some of the best Irish, British and French racehorses on the continent, so grab a beer and have a flutter.
In the centre of town, the main hub of activity revolves in and around the Irish Pub, where late night revellers enjoy the warmth, reasonable prices and jovial atmosphere until sunrise.