La Cala de Mijas is a beautiful fishing village located in the center of Mijas Costa and close to Calahonda. The original fishing village has grown over the last 30 years and now covers a large area from the village up the hill overlooking the cove yet manages to maintain something of its Andalucian village by the sea atmosphere. Within the main village is a large boulevard that runs the length of the village, home to many shops, banks, bars and restaurants.
Within 2 mins walk from the village center is the beach, one of the most popular beaches in Mijas. There are several beach bars (chiringuitos) along the beach serving great fresh fish, a great way to relax in the cool shade. The beach is perfect for families of all ages and is easily found, head for the 16th Century watchtower (Torreón). Lifeguards patrol the beach and watersports are available towards the eastern end of the beach.
To the west of La Cala de Mijas is the small area and beach know as Butibamba, a nice quiet long beach, great for evening walks. The area also has many amenities for visitors.
There’s a strong sense of community in La Cala de Mijas, a close-knit atmosphere. The area is home to a large British and Irish community, although many original Spanish families are still living in the town and many Spanish tourists also visit the area during the middle of the summer. A walk down through the village will show you how international with bars advertising everything from ‘Menú del día’ and ‘churros’ to ‘bangers ‘n mash’ and ‘Sunday roasts’.
Mijas is also home to the only horse-racing course on the Costa del Sol. Called the Hipódromo Costa del Sol, this large race course has regular races, lots of bars and restaurants, bookmakers and some of the best racehorses on the continent.
There are schools, a health centre, public library, post office, shops and cultural center as well as many excellent bars and restaurants. There is also a very popular street market (‘mercadillo’) every Wednesday and Saturday.
La Cala de Mijas celebrates its very own festivals, with a massive annual fair during July. The village is beautifully decorated for a week of festivities, wines, tapas, music and dancing.
La Cala de Mijas Transport
Public transport provides access to the entire coastal towns including Fuengirola, Mijas, Calahonda and Marbella. In Fuengirola and Marbella, transfers can be made to travel further east to Malaga, Nerja and beyond, whereas on the other side, transfer at Marbella bus station for buses to Gibraltar, Tarifa and beyond.
Transport is also available from Calahonda taxis, some of the fastest taxis on the Coast. The main taxi rank in La Cala de Mijas is located in front of Biddy Mulligans Irish bar in the centre of the village.
By law, all Spanish taxis must have a charges book, listing the prices from each destination for different times of the day. If you have reason to believe the quoted fare is higher than expected, ask the driver for the charges book to confirm the price.