Mijas and motorhome parking
It’s March 2024 and we’re driving along the coast from Malaga hoping to visit La Cala de Mijas and a motorhome parking we’ve seen on Park4Night.
First, we’re stopping near Torremolinos, managing to park on one of a few parking areas opposite a beach. It’s the kind of parking which has a few ‘attendants’ in reflective vests. We often come across these in Spain, never really knowing if they’re legitimate or not. Either way, we give €1.50 and find a place amongst the large number of other vehicles here.
Although the sandy parking areas, with Malaga airport in the distance have plenty of motorhomes staying, there’s also lots of cars too. Overall, this beach area, despite being off season is really busy.
Walking into Torremolinos
We use our time to check out the well known beach resort of Torrelmolinos. There’s a long promenade which starts opposite the parking areas, so it’s ideal for walking into Torremolinos.
By now it’s early evening, with few people out on foot and many of beach restaurants closed. Before we know it, the walk has taken us to the end of the 6km long prom. Passing high rise apartments, hotels, shops, bars and restaurants with barely a sole in sight.
This wasn’t quite the Torremolinos we were expecting, it’s so quiet. Perhaps it’s the wrong time of year for crowds, but we’re enjoying having the place to ourselves. Returning the same route, watching the bright lights of this Spanish resort light up the nights sky. All the while the sea is lapping along miles of sands, as we eventually arrive back at the campervan.
Coastal road route – Mijas and motorhome parking
The following morning we leave the sandy parking lot, re-joining the coast road towards la Cala de Mijas.
This route takes us through the top end of Torremolinos, then on to Benalmadena and Fuengirola. All these resorts of the Costa del Sol are familiar although we haven’t been here before. The names ringing out from package holiday brochures of our youth and those first holidays abroad for many of our generation.
The roads are busy and tall buildings rise up either side of the route with resorts seeming to merge into one another.
Mijas and motorhome parking
We haven’t been to La Cala de Mijas before, but know it’s meant to be a nice resort and very popular destination.
Following our Apps and Sat Nav, brings us to a huge parking area next to a Carrefour supermarket. The parking area is one of the largest you can imagine, with an area where a small number of cars are parked and a separate area for motorhomes.
It’s dusty and not particularly scenic, but practical. First up, is a supermarket shop, spending our Euro’s stocking up on supplies.
Then we park up in a vacant space between the motorhomes. There’s all nationalities as usual in Spain and we’re one of a handful of British.
We take a walk around the parking, which seems to be free to park. Signs at the motorhome area show ‘no emptying waste allowed’ the other saying motorhomes only. There isn’t a fresh or dump area, but there are clean public toilets.
Walking into Mijas town
The motorhome parking area is ideally placed for walking to Cala de Mijas town. Just a short walk brings us to shops, restaurants and the sea.
Along the sea front is a boardwalk, stretching for around 6km, winding along the coast. We decide to walk along and see how far we get, enjoying the calm sea and fresh air.
The wooden walkway stretches beside beach bars and apartment buildings. There’s little else but recreation activities going on. No doubt in Summer the beach areas are busy with people basking in the sun, but we’re here off season and it’s particularly quiet.
Shopping in town
The boardwalk is lovely and quiet, although we don’t walk to the end, instead turning around when we’re ready.
After leaving the beach front behind, we head to the small businesses in Cala de Mijas to spend some money. It’s something we always like to do when parking in a town. Today it’s a few bits and pieces for the campervan of all things. After finding a general store selling anything and everything. We come out with a new sieve and a bag full of items we never knew we needed!
Whilst a cool beer looks tempting at a bar, we’re really wanting to put away our purchases. We recognise a few people from the motorhome parking, sipping on wine, relaxing on comfy chairs.
Maybe we’ll walk back into La Cala de Mijas town to join them!
Moving on
After spending the night at the parking area and enjoying another walk into Cala de Mijas for that well earned drink, we’re ready to move on.
We’re the kind of people who have very itchy feet, always wanting to drive on and see just what’s round the next corner.
Cala de Mijas has been a great place to visit, even in March when it’s relatively quiet, perhaps a little too quiet if anything!
Now we’ll be driving to somewhere much busier, Marbella. That’s if we can park the campervan for a few hours, here’s hoping but we’ll soon find out!
Returning in March 2025
This year on our Winter tour of Southern Spain, we were going to return for a night at Cala de Mijas. Unfortunately the parking area no longer allows motorhomes to park, which was so disappointing.
This huge dirt parking area was empty, making the area look unappealing in a ‘where’s everyone gone’ kind of way.
A glance of reviews on motorhome parking Apps, were reporting the ban of motorhomes in the parking area, seemingly very recently over the week or so prior.
At time of writing the location has now been removed completely from both Park4Night and Campercontact.
For us, we drove on, as there were no other motorhome parking areas here to choose from. At least we were able to visit Cala de Mijas before the local ban.
