This
walk will take you past many of the places of interest that Arroyo de
la Miel and Benalmadena Costa can offer the tourist. We will commence in
Arroyo as then the majority of the walk will be downhill. We start on
Avenida del Manantial which is the home of Tivoli World, a small and compact fun park. Immediately outside the parks entrance is the Teleferico (Cable Car), which will take you to the summit of Mont Calamorro. The resorts main market is held in Tivoli World car park on Friday mornings.
With
your back to the entrance of Tivoli, walk down the hill into Avenida del
Tivoli. Turn left and left again when you reach a roundabout into
Avenida de la Estacion. Follow this road until you pass the train
station on your left and cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Keep
walking along Avenida de la Estacion and you will see a pedestianised
street named Blas Infante. Turn into this and take the second turning on
the left. This will lead you into Fountain Square or Plaza Espana.
The
square has some fine restaurants including the supposedly haunted
Fountain Bar. Leave the square by the lower exit and on your right you
will see one of the original paper mills that was Arroyo's main industry
at one time. This has now been enlosed in a new Plaza named Tribuna.
When you reach the road, Calle de Andalucia, turn left and continue
until it reaches Avenida de Federico Garcia Lorca.
Turn
right into Avenida de Federico Garcia Lorca and cross the road at the
pedestrian crossing. Keep on the left hand side and walk down the hill.
You will then pass the new indoor swimming pool and ice rink on your
right. When you reach the Mercadona supermarket on your right, cross the
road at the crossing and continue down the hill. Just past a petrol
garage you will see the entrance to Paloma Park on your right. Have a stroll around this wonderful park, and if needed, refreshments can be obtained at one of the three cafes.
Leave
the park at the exit next to the thatched roof café / bar into Avenida
de Rocio Jurado. Turn right and walk a little way up the hill until you
reach the Selwo Marina on your left. Dolphin and sea
lion displays are held here daily. Now retrace your steps and go back
down Avenida de Rocio Jurado This will take you down to the main road,
(CN 340), and the seafront.
Cross the main road and slightly to your left you will see the famous landmark of Bil-Bil castle.
Walk past the castle and you will notice a slope going down to the
seafront. This is the start of the promenade, or paseo. You will now
stay on the paseo until you reach the far end, which is just short of
the marina. You will pass many bars and restaurants on the way if you
need something to eat or drink. Go up the steps, and at the top turn
right going past the Sealife Center until you reach Benalmadena’s jewel in the crown, the fantastic Puerto Marina.
One
warning before you start out! Benalmadena, like many other resorts in
Spain and the Canaries, is plagued by pests of the human species, Tout.
These people used to be called timeshare touts, but the new name is
Holiday Club. They may have changed the name of the product, but they
are still after one thing, your hard earned cash. They will approach you
and offer you a scratch card, which when checked, will always be a
major prize winner. You will then be asked to attend a presentation,
which will include a two to three hour hard sell session. These people
can earn £100 for just taking you to the presentation, and they are hard
to get rid of if you stop and engage in conversation. My advice is,
keep walking, unless of course you want to buy a share in one of these
properties.
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