House Sitting in Benalmadena

Benalmádena, Spain

At the end of November, Mac and I embarked on an idyllic almost three-week adventure of house sitting in Benalmadena. The four month old kitten we looked after was cute, spunky, and so cuddly! The apartment in which we stayed had an awesome view of the Plaza below. The view to the right was Monte Calamorro, and to the left was the Mediterranean Sea.

The sunsets were unlike any other I’ve seen before. Almost nightly Mac and I would pause to stare in awe at the explosion of colour over the horizon

One of my favourite spots in Benalmadena was Paloma Park. This park is home to a small lake (or maybe a pond?), several trails, bamboo-lined paths, a few donkeys, some goats, and the most chickens and birds to ever lay claim to a neighbourhood park. My favourite part was the cactus garden – who knew there were so many different types of cacti?! I spent a few hours parked in the cactus garden with my sketchbook and pencil case in hand.

Our days were blissful and relaxing, yet we tried to take advantage of the beautiful setting and surrounding area as much as we could!

Teleférico/Cable Car

One of my favourite memories from our stay in Benalmadena was taking the cable car up to the top of Monte Calamorro. The ride is about 15 minutes long and traverses a distance of 3km. En route, an audio guide gave us information about the area over which we were passing.

Once off the cable car, and after we had weaved through the crowds of people waiting to go back down, we took a trail that lead to one of many miradors (lookouts). The views from the top of the 771m summit were breathtaking. We could even see the peaks of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco!

From the top, there are numerous hiking (and mountain biking) trails that lead back down to the city. Mac and I opted to take ‘Route 2’ and followed the trail that lead along the mountain side and eventually back into Benalmadena.

(While it was not open during our time up at the summit, there was a Birds of Prey/falconry show as well as other cafes & shops to accompany your visit).

Practical Info

Tickets: they vary in price depending on the day and if you purchase a one way or return ticket. We each paid €8.90 for a one way trip on a Sunday. Check the website to see the price breakdown. It’s also less expensive to pre-purchase online.

Address: Explanada del Tívoli, s/n. 29630 Benalmádena. (If walking, follow the sidewalk on the south side of the train station heading west, and eventually you’ll reach Tivoli amusement park).

Castillo Colomares (Benalmadena Pueblo)

After we confirmed that we’d be house sitting in Benalmadena, I began researching this small town which was previously not on my radar of Spanish cities. One of the first things that came up was Castillo Colomares. This particular site is located in Benalmadena Pueblo, a 30-40 minute bus ride west of the city centre.

Confusingly, Castillo Colomares is not a castle but instead a monument to honour Italian explorer Cristobal Colon. In English, this explorer is known as Christopher Columbus! The monument was completed in 1994 following seven years of construction. Its completion almost lined up with the 500-year anniversary of Columbus’ initial journey. What makes this monument particularly remarkable is the fact that it was constructed by former surgeon Dr. Esteban Martín Martín and two stone masons. The monument is home to many different architectural styles, and the intricacies and attention to detail are fascinating.

Castillo Colomares is located near to Jardines del Muro, an elevated park with great views over the Mediterranean Sea. We also roamed the white-washed streets of Benalmadena Pueblo. I found myself continually falling in love with the Spanish architecture here. The plant-filled window boxes, a bustling plaza, colourful tile work… what’s not to love?

Though Cristopher Columbus generally receives quite a lot of fame and glory for having ‘discovered’ the Americas, it’s important to remember the consequences of his voyages. While discovery of a new world meant many positive things to Europeans, it meant devastation, eradication, and death to the massive amounts of Native societies that were already living there. Just a friendly reminder that there are usually two sides to every story, regardless how positively they’re ingrained in today’s society.

Practical Information

Tickets: 2€

Address: Finca la Carraca, Ctra. Costa del Sol, S / N 29639 Benalmadena

To say that I thoroughly enjoyed our time house sitting in Benalmadena would be a huge understatement. I was already in love with Spain, and spending nearly three weeks on the southern coast was enough to have me plotting ways to try to extend our stay. Mac and I developed daily routines and we were able to focus on personal tasks we had been neglecting during the past seven months. Though it was only our second house sitting experience, I’m already convinced that this method of travel is ideal for those that like to travel slow (and love animals!). We’ll definitely be searching for more opportunities in the future!

Tell me, have you ever house sat? What’s been the most spectacular sunset you’ve ever seen?

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