November 24 - December 05, 2026
Land only: $3,375 Single supplement: $1,100
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*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Around 9 PM, departure from Toronto Pearson Airport to Amsterdam with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Arrival in Amsterdam in late morning and connecting flight to Malaga, Spain. Arrival in Malaga in mid-afternoon, and short transfer to Torremolinos, hub of Spain’s famous Mediterranean playground, the Costa del Sol. Check into one of the resort’s top hotels, the first-class/four-star Melia Costa del Sol, centrally located and overlooking Bajondillo Beach, the town’s most central and iconic beach. We will be staying in deluxe sea-view rooms, and during our entire stay in this great property, a sumptuous and generous buffet-style breakfast as well as dinner will be offered daily; with dinner, beverages will be included, not only mineral water and soft drinks but also wine (white, rosé, and red) and beer in reasonable quantities. The hotel bar features entertainment most evenings, including Spanish and international singers, dancers (also Flamenco!), magicians, etc. For mostly highly favourable comments from guests as well as pictures, see Tripadvisor.
After breakfast, leisurely guided walking tour of Torremolinos, with sights such as La Carihuela fishermen’s quarter and beach; the church of San Miguel; the Calle San Miguel main street lined with shops; the extravagant mansion known as Casa de las Navajas; La Bateria city park; and of course the medieval Torre Pimentel, a.k.a. Torre de los Molinos, “tower of the mills,” which gave its name to the town. The afternoon is free for individual exploring or shopping, Or how about a stroll along the Paseo Maritimo, part of a hiking trail called La Senda Litoral (Coastal Path), stretching along the entire length of the Costa del Sol and featuring beaches, cliffs, and exceptional landscapes; in Torremolinos it passes along no less than six beaches: Los Álamos, Playamar, El Bajondillo (where our hotel is located), La Carihuela, Playamar, and El Saltillo. For more information on local sightseeing, shopping and other things to do, see https://turismotorremolinos.es/en/discover/places-of-interest
After breakfast, visit to Mijas, a quaint, typically Andalusian white-washed village in the hills overlooking the Costa del Sol, famous for its donkey taxis! On to Marbella, favourite resort of the international jet set; its past and present residents have included celebrities such as Sean Connery, George Clooney, Novak Djokovic, and Antonio Banderas. Marbella has an impressive yacht harbour, a picturesque old town, chic shopping, and many attractive restaurants to enjoy lunch. Afternoon return to Torremolinos via some more popular resorts along the Costa del Sol, such as Fuengirola and Benalmadena.
: Full-day excursion to Malaga, an important
Mediterranean seaport since the time of the Phoenicians and one of the major
urban centres of Andalusia. The city also boasts beaches, superb architecture,
fine museums, and excellent shopping, cuisine, and wine! Our tour includes the
foremost historical sites, such as the Roman Theatre; the huge Cathedral in
Renaissance style; and views of the two hilltop fortresses dating back to the
time when the Moors (i.e. Arabs) ruled this land, the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro,
where one can enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of the city, the harbour, and the
blue Mediterranean Sea. Free time for lunch and some shopping in the city’s central
market, Mercado Atarazanas.
Morning free. You may want to check out Torremolinos’ “Rastro” flea market near the bullring, which operates 9 am to 2 pm and features antiques, and all sorts of collectibles. In the afternoon, excursion to the town of Antequera for a visit to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring dolmens and other megalithic monuments, described as “one of the most remarkable architectural works of European prehistory and one of the most important examples of European Megalithism.” On to way back to our hotel, visit to the beautiful botanical and historical garden In the afternoon, on the way back to Torremolinos, visit to to the beautiful botanical garden of La Conception, “a natural oasis, the best-preserved subtropical landscape garden in Europe.”
Full-day excursion to the fascinating old town of Ronda, spectacularly perched on top of a big rocky hill cut in two by a 120 meter deep gorge; the two parts of the town are connected by an 18th-century stone bridge, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, the scenic Serranía de Ronda, reputed to be one of the most beautiful areas of Andalusia. Ronda was settled by Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, and Arabs, and was one of the last outposts of Islamic rule in Andalusia. The town is also considered to be the cradle of bullfighting and boasts the oldest bullring in Spain, built in 1785. Our local tour will focus on these sites and monuments as well as the well-preserved medieval Arab baths; the Church of Santa María Mayor, a former mosque; and Mondragón Palace, an architectural pastiche of Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance styles, with a beautiful garden. On the return to Torremolinos in the afternoon, we briefly visit Setenil de las Bodegas, a village nestled under a huge rock towering over a narrow river gorge!
Today we return to Malaga by train, which normally takes only 20 minutes, to visit the museum dedicated to the world-famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, who was born and lived here until he was 10; the museum features about 200 pieces of his work and is housed in an elegant 16th-century palace. On to the Malaga Museum, dedicated to archeology as well as fine art, featuring an impressive collection of paintings from 15th to the 20th centuries. Afterwards you will be free to enjoy Malaga on your own, perhaps visiting more museums and/or monuments such as Casa Natal Picasso, the home of Picasso’s birth, or one of the two Moorish castles. Tour participants can stay in the city as long as they want, returning by train to Torremolinos at their convenience.
Full-day excursion along the coast to the southern tip of Spain for a thorough visit to Gibraltar (120 km), the legendary rock at the entrance to the homonymous strait between Europe and Africa. Your tour guide will tell you the fascinating history of the Strait of Gibraltar, known in Antiquity as the “Pillars of Hercules,” and its connection with the dollar! In Gibraltar, our sightseeing will include Europa Point, from which the coast of Africa can be seen; the “Upper Rock” with its military installation and nature reserve where the famous monkeys live; St Michael's Cave, an impressive natural grotto inhabited during the neolithic; and of course the busy main street lined with shops, pubs and restaurants. Also an opportunity to take an optional cable car ride to the top of the Rock! Return to Torremolinos in late afternoon.
Free day to relax and/or explore Torremolinos on your own. Don’t miss the Thursday morning open-air market (mercadillo), featuring fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, clothing, shoes, and household items. If there is sufficient interest, an optional excursion will be offered to Granada, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its wonderful Alhambra Palace.
Morning free. After a group lunch at the hotel, transfer to Malaga Airport in time for the late-afternoon departure of our KLM flight to Amsterdam. Arrival and transfer to an airport hotel via the hotel’s shuttle service.
After a leisurely breakfast, transfer (via hotel shuttle again) to the airport in time for the KLM flight’s 1:30 PM departure to Toronto. Arrival in Toronto around 4 PM.
- Accommodation in the four-star/first-class hotels Melia Costa del Sol in Torremolinos (in deluxe sea view rooms), and one night in a four-star airport hotel in Amsterdam, based on double occupancy – the supplement for “single use of a double room” is $1,100; - Transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as shown in the itinerary; - Meals: breakfast and dinner daily, and wine, beer, soft drinks and/or water included with dinner; - Gratuities for local guide(s).
- Beverages & meals other than those outlined above. - All expenses of a personal nature. - Coach driver gratuities: approximately 25 euros per person. - All items of a personal nature. - Travel insurance. Please contact the office for premiums.
