WATER PARK:  Down near the coast and about 20 minutes drive from the house.   Lots of pools, fountains and slides with all the thrills and spills you would expect.   A great day out for all the family.

HORSE RIDING:   Near the village of Periana in Vinuela valley.  Short rides or long treks offered … and including a picnic if required.  The Dutch family, who have made their life in the countryside close to Periana have 6 horses and will take you through the breathtaking scenery on a route to suit your interests and abilities.  As well, they have two donkeys either of whom would love to take you walking and carry your picnic!  (3 – 4 hour marked trail … and the donkeys not only know the way but also know a good spot to stop for lunch!). The family’s restored farmhouse is about 20 mins drive from Casa Louisa..  Fluent English and other languages spoken.

KAYAKING AND SAILING:  On the lake below.  You can paddle the safe Vinuela waters … or sail a small dingy, hirimg by the hour or taking a lesson.  Children have a great time and a safe experience.  There is no need to book .. check it out when you arrive.   The lakeside jetty and moorings are about 15 minutes drive from the house.  Or, if a day at sea on a yacht sounds exciting then organising that for you is no problem.  By all accounts it’s a fabulous (if expensive) trip.

GOLF:  Two of the courses, Baviera in Caleta de Velez and Anoreta in Ricon de la Victoria are down on the coast and each is around 25 minutes drive from the house.  Antequera, just north of the town itself, is just over one hour away.  Each club has its own website if you want to check out the options.  There are often special offers.

WALKING AND BIKING :  The house is in the most stunningly beautiful mountainous region and on the edge of the Sierra Tejeda National Park. There are hundreds of square kilometres of peaks and valleys, pine forests and great swathes of gorgeous open countryside. Hidden throughout are the little white pueblo Spanish mountain villages where life goes on much the same as it has for so many years. All this is on the doorstep... and better still... relatively undiscovered. There are countless tracks and paths to suit all requirements. You could take a two-hour stroll for the moderately fit on a reasonably level path (not missing the fabulous views of course) or decide on a strenuous full day, to stand, perhaps, on top of a glorious peak with breathtaking vistas for hundreds of miles in all directions. These seemingly endless trails are perfect, too, for mountain bikers of all levels, with dramatic views to distract even the most committed... and if cycling is your sport, riding on miles of tiny almost traffic-free mountain roads is a delight. (Bike hire is easy to arrange for you).  Spring and autumn are wonderful times to be active ... July and August are almost too hot except for the dedicated few who like to get up really early. In winter, although sunset is earlier, there are crystal clear sunny days when it is a joy to be out... and down to a t-shirt at mid-day! There are several self-guided walks described on pull-out sheets in the house as well as maps and books to give you plenty of ideas.  If you want an easier time, however, then our guides would be happy to help you discover the full glory of all this beautiful part of Andalucia has to offer. 

GUIDED WALKING AND BIKING … and other ideas for adventure:

Martas main passion is walking in her beloved mountains. She has a great zest for life coupled with a love of Andalucía where she was born and raised, although she has lived and worked in USA for some time... which accounts for her perfect English. She is a fully qualified Spanish Mountain Guide... a full-time 2 year course (TECO)... and walking or climbing in the mountains is where she likes to be. She can take you for a beautiful undemanding stroll, an energetic morning hike or a full-days expedition.  She could, for example, take you walking high on the plateau to Alhama de Granada where a stop for a swim in the natural hot springs of the old Roman baths might be on the cards... or through pine-clad hills in the National Park to a fabulous view-point... and she can also arrange a typical Spanish bar-b-que or picnic (depending on the season) in the mountains at the end of your walk when non-walkers can be brought to join you and so get a taste of the action. She knows the mountains like the back of her hand... and has some wonderful ideas for exploring the best the area has to offer.

If biking is what you want to do and you need some kit then Terry Motterhead is your man. He can offer you your choice of bikes (childrens’ included) for independent biking for as long or as short a time as you like .. and bring the bikes to the house for you when you arrive (as well as a bike carrier for most hatch-back cars if you want to be independent and go far and wide). With his 8-seater minibus and bike rack for the car he can do even more for you than just hire you the bikes if you’re keen to explore and experience the best trails the area has to offer. He could, for example, guide you for anything from half a day to a full week … from an easy down-hill ride through the National Park and back to the house right up to various long cycling treks on the many small quiet roads that he knows so well. Perhaps you would like to go deeper into the mountains on bike trails calling at a local hostelry for refreshments …? He is extremely flexible when it comes to giving visitors to this wonderful part of Andalucia the best possible time. For the more adventurous and for those for whom pedal-power sounds like hard work, Terry can organise a quad bike trip into the National Park.

He can also offer all or any of you a taste of Andalucia in the widest possible sense. With his mini-bus (and fluent Spanish) he can take your group on a day out to suit all interests ….to Cordoba, Seville or Granada for example … a visit to a chocolate factory? … or a trip to the amazing El Torcal park perhaps. After you and Terry discuss a few ideas and you make a choice, there are no further decisions involved! The minibus will collect you from the house, Terry will look after everything … no parking nightmares, getting lost or missing the important bits … everyone will have a great time and see the best of the best in the easiest possible way.

Michael can offer mountain biking and walking. He swapped a frantic working life trading on the floor of a US bank, moving to Spain with his family for a more relaxed and ambient quality... and slower pace found in a Spanish life-style and the temperate climate of the south coast. From the age of 7 he followed his adventurous father (who was in the Parachute regiment), walking and climbing in Europe and all over the world, trekking, fell-running and climbing in all conditions throughout the UK, all of which has left him with a passion for walking and cycling in the mountains where he has made his home. Around this he has built his business in Spain and with formal orienteering and Red Cross medical training he is equipped to offer you an exciting day exploring the Axarquia. You choose... from a relaxing stroll around the many famous little ‘white villages’ to tough climbs and exhilarating downhills for those seeking thrills... or anything in between. He has high spec bikes to rent (bring your own if you’d rather) and vehicle back-up. In the summer he can offer you an gorgeous, cool river walk (can be adapted as a family day to suit children of 12 and above)... or even a river-canyoning’ day for the toughest and most active who seek serious adventure. He would be happiest if you checked and extended your own holiday insurance before you leave home but could offer you a day policy if you need it.

All our guides love the mountains and forests around the Axarquia and are very knowledgably about tracks and trails. They will help you choose your route according to your fitness level, ability and inclination and will talk you through what you need to take with you before you set off. They all ask that you be properly shod and equipped for your chosen activity. They are all well-acquainted with prevailing local weather conditions (rain and mist do happen – sometimes – and can descend unexpectedly), are fully are equipped with GPS, two-way radio or mobile and speak enough Spanish, thus able to alert the National Park wardens and rescue services... which, incidentally, are very good in Spain. Times and prices are based on a door-to-door trip which makes it easy for you – and with transport if required.

If you like the idea of planning active time while you are in Spain, email or call for an idea of costs... or to ask for an email address so that you can contact one of the guides directly to find out exactly what they offer... bike specs etc.’For each one, Guiding is a major part their lives and each one books clients in advance... and each one of them, we know, would be a sorry to have to disappoint you. We know them all and can recommend them! If you’d rather take a chance and not be so organised, risk it and ring when you get there... phone numbers are in the house.