The marianas

THE MARIANAS

The Malaga coast, from the Caleta de Vélez near Torre del Mar in the eastern Costa del Sol, up to Manilva, has such a scope regarding nautical tourism, that 60% of the capacity of the marinas in Andalusia are concentrated in a space of little more than 100 kilometres.

From one extreme to the other, the Costa del Sol has 11 marinas: Caleta de Vélez with 200 berths, El Candado in Malaga capital with 215 berths, the Real Club Mediterráneo also in the capital with a capacity for 20 crafts, the Benalmadena Marina which is the one with the most capacity with 961 berths and is the most modern and complete regarding an excellent complementary gastronomic, commercial, and night life offer; Fuengirola, in the town centre with a capacity for 226 vessels; Cabopino, a secluded port sheltered by a luxury urbanization with 169 berths; Marbella has two ports, a municipal one in the town centre with 377 berths, and another private one, Puerto Banús, considered to be one of the most luxurious on the Mediterranean, with a capacity for 915 berths even for large yachts and sailing ships, and Puerto Banús II is still in project. Further west, Estepona also has an excellent port with 443 berths, whereas the locality of Manilva has the cute Puerto de la Duquesa, with 328 berths and an intense activity. There are also the approved projects of a future marina in Nerja, which will be sited in the coastal area known as Punta de Macaca, in the western part of the municipality.

In the near future, the commercial port of Málaga has a project to reconvert docks 1 and 2 to integrate them into the urban medium from a tourist view. The plan contemplates the construction of areas for sporting and leisure vessel, and another area as a cruiser station, given the growth prospects for the next decade. The budget toyed with for the whole event ascends to over 40.000 million pesetas, of which 30.000 will be destined to works related to the harbour’s activity.

The infrastructures of the marinas are competed with the activities developed during the whole year by the more than half a dozen nautical clubs, such as the El Candado, Real Club Mediterráneo, Club Náutico-Marítimo de Benalmádena, Club Náutico de Mijas, Club Náutico de Fuengirola, Club Marítimo de Marbella, Club Náutico de Estepona, and Club Náutico de La Duquesa.