With winter temperatures often reaching 16-20 degrees centigrade, a lot of people love San Pedro Alcántara in the winter for its mild climate and plentiful opportunities to enjoy the beachfront, along with stunning countryside and golf right on the doorstep. In fact, many avoid the heat and crowds of summer to enjoy it all off-peak, when Costa del Sol living is often at its very best.
This lovely Spanish town, founded in the 1800s, is well located just ten kilometres west of up-market Marbella, and a few minutes’ drive away from the stunning Serranía de Ronda mountain ranges. Meanwhile, the neighbouring coastal town of Estepona lies some 20 kilometres away.
The main coastal road divides San Pedro. On the inland side is the old quarter with its narrow, cobbled streets and local shops, and on the beach side are attractive new urbanisations, along with stretches of beach and a wonderful promenade, home to some excellent beachfront restaurants. The buzzing old town has a traditional Spanish atmosphere, with its interesting old shops to browse in, along with wonderful tapas bars and old cafés for savouring the best in rustic Andalusian cuisine.
San Pedro’s beach is long and sandy, backed by the palm-fringed promenade. You will find people enjoying the beach year-round, thanks to generally warm temperatures – keep an eye out for body surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers or take part in some of the action yourself. If you want to keep the kids busy, there are several play areas for them to let off steam and climb about while you all enjoy the sunshine.
Then there’s Selwo Aventura Wildlife Park, the largest on the Costa del Sol, just a 15 minute drive away. Here you can spy some of Africa and Asia’s largest, fiercest animals – many of which roam in the wild – another great idea for a winter’s day out for all the family.
Photo Courtesy of Ok Diario.