Located in the far south of Spain, on the eastern side of the country, Calahonda is a quiet, culturally unique place, just a short car ride away from Málaga airport. The town of Málaga has more to recommend than some might expect, and this list of attractions between the airport and Calahonda has some truly unique stuff. The journey only takes around half an hour, but it can be well worth keeping an eye out for some of these highlights as you travel in case you want to come back to visit them.
Molino de Inca Botanical Gardens
Tucked away behind Aqualand waterpark, this small, stunning botanical garden is a real hidden gem. It’s only 20 minutes’ walk from the town centre, but it feels completely secluded.
Over 300 species of tree can be sighted as you walk around the park, and a small stream running through it plays host to a range of aquatic life. Exotic birds sit in specially designed cages, adding their calls to the tapestry of sound the gardens weave around you. Many statues and sculptures can be found dotted around the area, including four representing the four seasons, and a 100 foot pine tree towers over a beautiful hedge maze. If you want a quick retreat into nature, this is the perfect place to do it!
At a Glance
Distance from Calahonda 30 minutes by car
Opening Hours 11.30 am to 2 pm | 6 pm to 9 pm
Bird Exhibition Tuesday and Friday
Prices Check online
Crocodile Park
Slightly further down the road sits Torremolinos Crocodile Park. The town brands itself as ‘the heart of the Costa del Sol’, but this park offers an experience far removed from lazing on a beach with a cocktail.
Instead, as you may have guessed from the name, Crocodile Park is all about these giant, powerful, reptilian killing machines.The park’s website boasts that these creatures shared space with the dinosaurs, and looking at them it’s easy to believe. They’ve barely evolved, if at all, in 200 million years. Because you can’t improve upon perfection: these are fast, armoured predators, and you don’t envy the handlers.
Guests can take photos with baby crocodiles, watch park demonstrations with fully grown ones, and even come as close as 2m to these beasts, including ‘Big Daddy’ – one of Europe’s largest crocs!
At a Glance
Distance from Calahonda 30 minutes by car
Opening Hours 11.00 am to 5 pm | July and August 10.00 am to 6 pm
Prices Buy tickets online
Colomares Castle
You’ve likely seen castles before, especially if you’ve been to any major European historical sites. But you’ve never seen one like this. Whereas most castles were built as palaces, fortresses or some combination of the two, Benalmádena’s Castillo de Colomares has a stranger pedigree.
Built between 1987 and 1994 and designed by a Hispanic American medical doctor,this castle was conceived and constructed as a monument to Christopher Columbus. It covers an area of 1,500m2 and the two local builders who put it together drew inspiration from a variety of styles, including Byzantine, Roman and Gothic. What’s more, the castle’s chapel has even been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest Christian church, with a total area of just 1.96m2!
At a Glance
Distance from Calahonda 25 minutes by car
Opening Hours These vary according to the time of year: see details
The Enlightenment Stupa in Benalmádena
LoponTchechu Rinpoche, born in Bhutan in 1918, was one of the most famous, well-regarded Buddhist practitioners of his day. He lived in Nepal for most of his life, but turned his attentions west from the late 1980s, teaching thousands and eventually constructing 16 stupas, Buddhist meditation sites, across Europe and Russia.
This Enlightenment Stupa, representing the Buddha’s conquering of worldly temptation under the bodhi tree, was Rinpoche’s final work, and he sadly died just four months before its inauguration, at the age of 85.
The stupa breaks with the bright colours of Eastern sites for a whitewashed style more in-keeping with Andalusian tradition, and at 30m tall and with almost 100m2 of meditation space, it’s the largest of its kind in the Western world. Finally, its location, built atop an observation platform, offers breath-taking views. You don’t need to have any pre-existing interest in Buddhism or spiritualism to be blown away by the natural beauty of the place.
At a Glance
Distance from Calahonda 20 minutes by car
Opening Hours Open every day except Mondays | Closes for lunch
Guided Tours Tours should be requested in advance here
How to Get to Calahonda
Málaga is a hugely popular travel destination, and accordingly it’s well-served by a wide range of operators, all offering flights from various UK airports. The short journey on to Calahonda can be made by several means, but public transport can be unreliable, and you’re best off booking a Shuttle Direct transfer in advance to get to the town stress-free and in good time.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is Europe and North Africa’s best known and best regarded airport transfer operator, offering an intuitive booking system, friendly and experienced drivers and options for a wide range of budgets. Drivers are well qualified, capable and always happy to chat and offer suggestions, and they’re guaranteed to get you where you need to go by the safest, quickest, easiest route available.
