SUGGESTED EXCURSIONS

SAN ROQUE   is a small town and municipality. Only 5 minutes drive from Sotogrande you can find the San Roque Club which features one of Southern Spain's finest Golf and Country Clubs and an internationally run Equestrian Centre offering countryside riding treks.

The town is full of history and culture with tradional white-washed buildings and narrow streets. There are many historical attractions including churches, museums and one of the oldest bullrings in Andalucia.

In the heart of San Roque is Pinar del Rey, a beautiful forest with 4 nature trails. The archaeological site of Carteia is situated on the mouth of the River Guadarranque between San Roque and the Bay of Algeciras.

GIBRALTAR   known as the gateway to Mediterranean is just 15/20 minutes drive from Sotogrande. You should not miss a visit to the Rock of Gibraltar where the Barbary Apes live. Dolphins, and sometimes pilot whales can be seen off the coast and Gibraltar is home to around 15 different species of bird including its own unique species the Barbary Partridge. Also well worth a visit are The Moorish Castle, The Cathedral, St. Michael's Cave, The Botanical Gardens, Stakis Casino and Gibraltar Museum.

Don't forget to take your passport!

CASARES   is approximately 25 minutes drive from sotogrande and just 9 miles in from the coast. The picturesque white-washed village with its medieval fortress has a population of just 3,000. It is built on a steep cliff with the top of the village at 1400ft above sea level.

TARIFA   known for its strong winds is located on the Atlantic coast approximately 30 minutes drive from Sotogrande. With its 10km of dramatic wild white sandy beaches and sand dunes, Tarifa offers some of the best windsurfing and kite surfing in Europe and is host to the world windsurfing championships. Other sports facilities include horse riding, hang gliding, rock climbing, diving and watersports schools. The area is also an excellent place for watching migrating birds especially storks and dolphin and whale watching trips can be taken from here. The historic white-washed town of Tarifa is also well worth a visit.

PUERTO BANUS   is approximately 45 minutes from Sotogrande. This famous port is just west of Marbella, where you can view some of the finest luxury yachts and motorboats whilst taking a drink or meal at one of the open air cafes or restaurants. There are also regular boat trips from the central promenade. Puerto Banus offers a wide range of expensive bars, cafes, restaurants, small boutiques, department stores and designer shops. A street market is held here on Saturday mornings. There is also a good nightlife in Puerto Banus with a choice of alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos.

MARBELLA   is approximately 50 minutes drive from Sotogrande. The luxurious resort town of Marbella is a favourite location with the rich and famous where attractions include the Plaza de Los Naranjos (Orange Square) with small shops, art galleries, bars and bistos, the picturesque narrow cobbled streets around the old town, an ampitheatre used for concerts and plays in the summer, beautiful parks, leisure and sports facilities, promenade, 26km of beach, great nightlife with numerous bars and clubs.

MOROCCO   Take a fast boat to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier.

• From Tarifa 35 minutes crossing by fast catamaran
• From Algeciras 1 hour crossing by fast catamaran or 2 hours by car ferry
• From Malaga 35 minutes flight

Morocco is two hours behind Spain in the summer and only one hour behind in the winter. There is no need to change money, you will still be able to bargain effectively, even if you are paying in euros or using credit cards.

RONDA   A journey through dramatic mountainous scenery will take you to Ronda - approximately one and a half hours drive from Sotogrande. The Guadalevin River cuts through the historic town of Ronda, carving out the deep El Tajo gorge. There are wonderful views over the Serrania de Ronda mountains from Pueblo Nuevo, one of three impressive bridges which span the canyon. Ronda is also the birthplace of modern bullfighting with The Plaza de Torres being one of the oldest operational bullrings in Spain. There is also a museum at the bullring where you can stroll out into the arena.

OJEN   Approximately one and a half hours by car. Take the panoramic mountain road to Ojen, a peaceful village, where you could enjoy a coffee at the Refugio de Juanar, the hunting lodge of Alfonso XIII. A short walk through the Iberian mountain nature reserve where ibex, wildcats and eagles abound will take you to a fabulous view over Marbella and the Costa del Sol or sample some of the regions wines at the local wine museum.

JEREZ   is approximately 2 hours drive away, famous for its sherry, horses and Flamenco. Enjoy an impressive horse show at the Royal Equestrian School of Andalusia (only on Thursdays). Afterwards take a historical tour of one of the famous Sherry Bodegas or visit the "Museo de Relojes", which is one of the biggest and most interesting exhibitions of clocks in Europe. The Flamenco Festival of Jerez is one of the most important in the world with two weeks of music and dance from internationally renowned performers held in February/March.

CORDOBA     It is well worth a visit to this unique town, approximately 3 hours drive, known for its mosque-cathedral and the Arab and Jewish quarters. The ancient Jewish Synagogue now a museum, the Alcazar a fortress built by the Christians, the Calahorra Fort originally built by the Arabs which guards the Roman Bridge and the typical patios and gardens of Cordoba should also be included.

GRANADA   is approximately 3 hours drive away at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. Excellent winter sports in a Mediterranean climate are offered at the Sierra Nevada Ski Resort with ski and snowboarding facilities. Whilst in Granada visit the Alhambra Arab monument, universally renowned and the most visited in Spain and the magnificent Charles V Palace and Gardens of the Generalife. Also well worth a visit - Casa de Castril, a Renaissance palace housing the archeological musuem, the Plaza Larga, San Miguel Bajo and San Nicolas in one of the oldest quarters known as Albaicin, the gardens of Campo del Principe in the former Jewish quarter known as El Realejo and Sacromonte - a legendary area of hillside caves inhabited by Gypsies with characteristic flamenco shows.

SEVILLE   Approximately 3 hours drive from Sotogrande. Seville is famous for its important monuments and fascinating history. Take a sightseeing coach tour of Seville taking in the quarter of Santa Cruz, Maria Luisa Park, Plaza de Espana, Torre del Oro. Whilst there try some tapas from one of the many bars serving them.

All information provided is subject to change.

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