Marbella’s coastal path continues

The Senda Litoral or Coastal Path project is the ambitious and exciting venture to create a seafront promenade that will cover more than 180 kilometres between Nerja and Manilva. This extensive walkway will join up the whole coast of Málaga, utilising existing seafront promenades and adding new paths to connect them.

The entire project is due to be completed in five years, but it will not be necessary to wait that long to start enjoying the promenades. As soon as each stretch has been completed it will be opened to the public, which is one of the great advantages in the planning of the overall scheme.

A forecast of the project’s timeline has been estimated, with some of the opening dates already being announced. The first section – the six kilometres in Mijas Costa, which will link La Cala with Cabopino, has just been inaugurated and the works in neighbouring Benalmádena should be completed soon after.

This elaborate undertaking will benefit a total of 14 coastal municipalities, and when the entire project has finished, sports enthusiasts will be able to walk, run, blade or cycle the entire stretch in one day. The Senda Litoral will start (or finish – depending on which way you are travelling) at the Balcón de Europa in Nerja and will end (or begin!) at La Duquesa port in Manilva, passing through Málaga city, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas Costa, Cabopino, Calahonda, Marbella, Puerto Banús, San Pedro Alcántara and Estepona on the way.

The project is the result of the uniting of various different administrations, the Junta de Andalucía provincial government, local councils and the Ministry of the Environment via the Coastal Authority. The ecological aspect, in particular, is of great importance because the route passes through areas of environmental and historical value. Along this stretch of 180 kilometres, for example, there are 42 ancient watchtowers and plans are underway to signpost all of these, with names, dates and historical details as an added attraction for walkers to enjoy.

Some parts of the coast are proving more complicated than others and experts are currently working on solutions for creating walkways where seafront promenades are impossible; for example at the mouths of rivers, such as the Vélez or the Guadalhorce.

This lengthy project first began when the walkways and large wooden bridge over the Rio Verde were created to connect Marbella with Puerto Banús, followed by the promenades linking Puerto Banús with San Pedro. These popular walkways, which lead all the way along to Marbella’s famous Paseo Marítimo, see crowds turn out each morning and afternoon to jog or power walk, and are a favourite route for friends and family on Sunday afternoons.

We’re eagerly anticipating the opening of the next section and look forward to many long wintery afternoon walks by the sea.