Why go
The eastern side around Nerja brings the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs and Mediterranean seagrass into view, while the western shore contains many of the larger resort towns. This contrast helps you decide whether to prioritise a rugged coastal landscape or a developed seafront, and it explains why a single beach day cannot represent the whole region.
The full story
The Costa del Sol is a Mediterranean shoreline centred on Málaga, with an eastern and a western half in common use. Different descriptions draw its outer limits differently, so the division is more useful for planning than a disputed kilometre count. West of Málaga are several of the best-known resort municipalities; eastward, the coast leads through Vélez-Málaga and Torrox toward Nerja and the cliffs at Maro-Cerro Gordo. The land also continues below the waterline. The waters support brown, red and calcareous algae, sponges, corals and meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a Mediterranean seagrass. Those meadows are especially associated with the waters by the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs. This makes the rocky eastern margin more than a scenic exception to a beach coast: it is part of a distinct marine setting. When comparing the two halves, look at both the form of the shore and the habitat it borders.