La Cala de Mijas – or La Cala as it is commonly known - is a wonderful beachside village located half way between Málaga and Marbella and just a 20 minute drive from Málaga airport.

As with many of the coastal resorts that line the coastline of southern Andalucía and the Costa Del Sol , La Cala began life as a small fishing village and has only developed into a bigger residential and tourist area in recent years. La Cala has retained much of its original charm and, in addition, it is now completely self-sufficient town with shops, bars, restaurants, banks and every type of service available!

In recent years La Cala has developed into an extremely popular tourist area but it has managed to withstand the onset of multiple hotel chains and the neon paraphernalia that can be found in other places.

The resort has been developed so sensitively because the council wanted the growth of La Cala to be low density in order to protect the resort’s rustic and traditional Spanish style. The result of that policy is that most of the residential development that has taken place in recent years focused on the outskirts of the town. La Cala itself remains fairly untouched and is still very much the place it always has been. The narrow streets nearest the beach are made up of traditional Spanish townhouses which retain every ounce of their original charm. If you would like to see some of the properties that are currently for sale in La Cala then real estate agent Costa Del Sol Property Group run a programme of Taylor Made Viewing Trip, which are the ideal way to get to know the area and find your ideal property.

Some of the traditional village houses have been converted and are now used as venues for restaurants and shops to cater for the tourist market and the huge international community that now lives here.

It is no surprise that La Cala has become such a popular destination because it really does offer everything you need in one place. It is the perfect place to come for a week or two if all you want to do is crash out on the beach and sample some of the local food and drink. You don’t need to leave La Cala if you don’t want to and – if you do – it is well connected to some of larger towns on the coast. The local M220 bus route stops in La Cala every 30 minutes and will connect you to the lively resort of Fuengirola within 15 minutes and the glamorous town of Marbella within 30 minutes.

Beach life is obviously the heart of La Cala and there are plenty of fabulous spots where you can hire a sunbed, rest on the sand or simply have a drink and take in the stunning views.

The promenade area at La Cala is only small but perfectly formed and lies at the foot of an old stone watchtower. It has a number of cafes and good quality chiringuitos – or beach bars - serving the most delicious seafood. There is also a new children’s pirate ship which is a climbing frame and has swings to keep them entertained. It is mounted on safe and soft flooring so you can relax and have a couple of glasses of sangria while admiring the perfect view of the ocean.

The beach at La Cala, like many others along the coast, has been awarded a Blue Flag for its cleanliness, safety and facilities. It is a wide beach and has soft fine sand. Quite often during the summer months there are parties held on La Cala beach, the local radio show has been known in the past to host road show style events here which are good fun for all the family. If you wander along the beach there is a couple of little beach bars which are very Latino themed and are directly on the sand.

There are plans being drawn up at the moment to build a small marina which would be a lucrative and beneficial addition to life in La Cala. But with the laid back Spanish attitude of mañana (meaning tomorrow) it may be next century that the marina actually gets built!

Eating out in La Cala is always a pleasure and there are a variety of Spanish and international restaurants to choose from. There are three excellent Indian restaurants, a wonderful Thai restaurant, Chinese, American style and the exciting and quality Olivier’s and many others too. You will never be short of choice when it comes to dining.

There are also a variety of bars including a very popular and bustling Irish Bar called Biddy Mulligan´s. Look across the road from there and you will see an excellent quality English Fish and Chip shop restaurant where you can eat in or take away. And if you are lucky, you may get to sample some of the owner’s home made chocolate covered fruits which are absolutely to die for and complimentary...but only if you dine in!

You will find plenty of apartments and townhouses to buy around the La Cala area and there is something to suit all budgets. Many Northern Europeans and Northern Europeans have bought property in the La Cala area and rent them out when they are not there themselves. If you are interested in looking at property in La Cala then fill in the form and contact Costa Del Sol Property Group now.

During the last 10 years La Cala has seen the arrival of many residents, of all nationalities, who form a large and thriving ex-pat community. La Cala is one of only two places on the Costa Del Sol where they have an English-speaking Lions Club and there are lots of other activities to get involved with too. The foreign community has integrated well into Spanish life here and is welcomed warmly by the local Spanish population. Tourists are also greatly appreciated by the town of La Cala as they have helped the town develop into the fantastic area it is today.