Local Points of Interest

Casares Village

Whist it isn’t far in from the sea, the village of Casares can feel like a different world from some of the resort towns on the coast. As one of the “Pueblos Blancos” (White Villages), Casares is home to some dramatic scenery. Be sure to visit the main square, Plaza de Espana, and the very traditional bars and cafés that surround it. There are a number of traditional style hotels, some of which have been in the same family for many years. The village hosts a number of special music and dancing events at various points throughout the year.

The village is fairly easy to reach by car, though the route up is also popular with more ambitious cyclists. From the coast, the drive will take approximately fifteen minutes in the car.

As you reach the village, it is worth parking up and taking in the spectacular views from the terrace in front of Mi Cortijo restaurant which include Jimena to the west and Gibraltar to the south. On a clear day it’s normal to be able to see the coast of Morocco.

The village is a wonderful place to stroll around and is typical of the white villages of the region – though we warned, it can be quite hilly. There are a number of churches, including the Iglesia de la Encarnación which is now in fact the Centro Cultural “Blas Infante”, an Andalucian politician who was born in Casares in 1885 and who is one of Casares most well-known historical figures.

Casares is also known for its birds of prey, in particular the Vultures who nest in the mountains close by and will often be seen circling in large numbers in the skies around the village.

Playa de la Sal

This wide stretch of sandy beach is the closest beach to the Majestic urbanisation and also home to a number of popular beachside chiringuitos, including Chiringuito La Sal.

The beach gets its name from the Torre de la Sal, which is located at the eastern end of the beach on the headland and is visible for some distance along the coast. Whilst some people believe that the name is derived from its location close to the sea (“sal” being the Spanish word of “salt”), in fact it probably comes from the fact that it is also known as the “Torre del Salto de la Mora”. The tower is understood to have been constructed during the 1500s and was used as part of the Spanish navy’s network of coastal towers, though the site is understood to have been used for similar purposes by the Moors, hence its name.

Estepona Town

Estepona is only fifteen minutes’ drive from Majestic Casares and is home to some lively and diverse restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as some decent shopping. The beach here is also wide and sandy and stretches along the front of most of the town from the marina to the east. Whilst it does get busy, it’s normally possible to find a reasonable spot without too many issues. There is also a huge choice of beach bars, most of which offer a sunbed service for a few euros.