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Puerto de la Duquesa
Duquesa
Puerto de la Duquesa really is one of the Costa del Sol’s best marinas. Although within easy reach of the airports of Malaga (60 minutes) and Gibraltar (45 minutes). La Duquesa seems like a thousand miles away from the throng of the holiday resorts.
La Duquesa enjoys an advantageous location to the west of Marbella sometimes called “the Other Costa del Sol”. The area retains a vast amount of unspoiled natural scenery and authentic local character – while sharing the fantastic climate and all the excellent services and infrastructure of the rest of the Costa del Sol. Duquesa is an ideal balance of relaxed living with easy access to every imaginable amenity.
The beautiful port of La Duquesa offers full Marina services for boating enthusiasts as well as a myriad of attractions for those with no aspirations to take to the water. For those that do a number of companies offer Jet Ski, Wake Board, Boat trips and Scuba Diving. The attractive promenades encircling the port offer a variety of restaurants, intimate bars and cafes in which to while away the days.
CAFE AND BARS
On the east side (Muelle de Levante) a number of cafe bars face the Marina and due to the afternoon sun it makes a very pleasant place to have a snack or a drink and watch the world go by.
In the main complex there are a number of bars. Leisure Lounge, Ryders, Cork Tree, Kinsale, Mirror Mirror, Penguin to name just a few.
RESTAURANTS
The vast choice of eating options include French, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Thai and of course Spanish with its fresh local fish. Here is a selection: La Traviota (Grill Bistro), Tim’s (Fish and Chips), La Macues (Mediterranean Cuisine) Chilli (Indian) Sabor Toscano (Italian), Parapiro (Italian), Victor Grill (Argentinian), Kinnaree (Thai), Griffins, Kinsale.
NIGHTLIFE
Many of the bars and restaurants mentioned offer a variety of live music.
TOURIST MARKET
In the summer on Thursday evenings the port, hosts a unique Crafts Market, popular with the lo cal residents as well as visitors.
SERVICES
Business Centre, yachting chandlers, ATM’s, laundry and dry cleaners, hair and nail salons, barbers, florist, mini supermarkets and newsagents.
EQUIPMENT HIRE
Bikes, Mobility Scooters, Baby Equipment, TV Box & Wifi, Golf, and Boat Trips.
BEACHES
On both sides of Duquesa Marina there is a beach with Chiringuito’s (Beach Restaurants) Playa de Las Gaviotas and Playa Del Castillo to the west with Chiringuito Las Gaviotas open in the summer. On Playa Sabinillas to the east is a beach bar called Cubanga which offers live music on Sundays.
PARKING
There is generally ample parking in one of the three open free car parks or in the street at the back of the shops. In the summer underground parking in the Mikonos building will be worth the minimum 2 euro investment!
TOURIST OFFICE
Manilva Town hall operate a tourist office (Tel: +34 952 89 74 34) at the entrance to the port open all year Mon to Fri 08.30 to 20.00 and Sat 08.30 to 14.00). The marina is run by a company called Marinas del Meditarraneo and the port office is in the Torre de Control at the end of the west pier (Muelle de Poniente). This is where the recycling depot is located. They offer a wifi service for a fee as well as many of the bars.
EXCURSIONS
A short walk to the west of Puerto de La Duquesa is the little fishing hamlet of Castillo de La Duquesa from which the marina gets its name. The castle built in 1767 can be visited and is often used for local exhibitions. Nearby are largely excavated Roman ruins. In the hamlet are a number of bars and restaurants.
A short walk to the east is the fishing village of Sabinillas. A seafront promenade makes a pleasant walk.
Rising virtually from the beaches, in the mountains are the famed white villages of Manilva, Casares, and Gaucin which are all within an hours drive.
Cosmopolitan life can be found only twenty minutes away in the “jet-set” city of Marbella with its shopping experiences ranging from the El Corte Inglés and to the sprawling La Cañada centre to the infinite variety of small shops and boutiques lining the cobble-stoned streets of Old Marbella.
GOLF
La Duquesa Golf and Country Club boasts an 18 hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Monte Duquesa
Monte Duquesa
Monte Duquesa, a desirable location with its pretty square. Situated in the square you have a selection of bars & restaurants, Montes known for its fantastic steak, The Flying Squirrel serve amazing tapas, Finos Wine bar quiet and quirky serving you wine & Gin, or fancy a full English breakfast then why not visit Kellys Bar. Just a short walk away is the stunning Marina with an abundance of fine bars, excellent restaurants, shops and beaches. We are also situated next to Duquesa Golf course.
Directions
Directions
Monte Duquesa, a desirable location with its pretty square. Situated in the square you have a selection of bars & restaurants, Montes known for its fantastic steak, The Flying Squirrel serve amazing tapas, Finos Wine bar quiet and quirky serving you wine & Gin, or fancy a full English breakfast then why not visit Kellys Bar. Just a short walk away is the stunning Marina with an abundance of fine bars, excellent restaurants, shops and beaches. We are also situated next to Duquesa Golf course.
From Malaga airport to La Duquesa
Important note: There are small posts marking each km on this road. If you are happy following these signs – then you can skip most of these directions.
You are heading for km144 on the A7 / N340. Simply leave the airport and follow signs for Algeciras and Cadiz on the A7 / N340 for approx 1 hour and turn right at km144. Easy!
Your choices:
There are 2 ways to get to Duquesa:
1. Toll roads – the AP7 / E15 – cost about 8 euros – a blue labeled sign – approx 50 mins, or,
2. The coastal road – A7 / N340 – a red labeled sign (dual carriage way, more interesting) – approx 65 mins.
The roads merge occasionally and then split again. Where they merge there is no toll to pay. The toll road is well signposted with a “peaje” sign ie “Toll”.
Detail
Leave the airport taking the exit signposted Cadiz, Algeciras, A7 / N340. .
You will pass the San Miguel factory on your right soon after leaving the airport. KEEP RIGHT. DO NOT GO INTO MALAGA. After a couple of miles you will bear right sign posted Cadiz, Algeciras, N340 / A7. Do not miss this turning! Thereafter keep heading for Cadiz and Algeciras with the sea to your left.
You will climb a hill above Torremolinos and Banelmadena with great views of the coast on your left.
As you get closer to Fuengirola (20 mins from airport), you can choose between AP7and A7 / N340. Your choice.
The A7/N340 and AP7 merge again as the Marbella bypass (35 mins from airport).
After Marbella, you have another choice re AP7 and A7 / N340. You are still heading for Cadiz and Algeciras.
You then reach Estepona (50 mins from airport) where the AP7 and A7 / N340 merge again.
Take exit 153, sign posted A7 / N340 (roughly 50 mins from airport). You MUST take this A7 / N340 turn-off and not the A7 toll road. It is well sign-posted but crucial!
This road leads up to a roundabout from which you take the 3rd exit – A7 / N340 Cadiz and Algeciras exit. You are back on the A7 / N340.
The A7 / N340 hugs the coast on your left and after 10 minutes or so you will go under the under-pass at Sabinillas. Still A7 / N340.
Within 1 mile of exiting the Sabinillas underpass and still A7 / N340, and after the sign for km144, and opposite Rory’s Irish Tavern, there is a slip road to the right, sloping down (avoid the turning sloping up virtually at the same place), signposted Duquesa. There is a light pink / terracotta building on your right. (If you miss the turning, no worries, there’s a roundabout ahead to turn round. From the other direction Duquesa is well signposted.)
Go down the slip road, and back up again and after 150 yards turn right to go up the hill across the golf course. Bear left after 300 yards at the phone box where the road forks and Monte Duquesa Courtyard is 250 yards on the right hand side.
Have a safe journey.
From Gibralta airport to La Duquesa
Important note: There are small posts marking each km on this road. If you are happy following these signs – then you can skip most of these directions.
Your destination is Duquesa, km143 on the N340 / A7.
(From the airport, you are heading for the N340 / A7 road which runs from Malaga to Cadiz. This road is well signposted and is the main thoroughfare along the Costa del Sol. The only trick is to make sure you head towards Malaga and not Cadiz! Otherwise, it is easy! The N340/ A7 is approx 5 miles from Gibraltar)
Keep Gibraltar and the sea to your left, and leave La Linea (the scruffy but oddly endearing Spanish border town) via the coastal road. (Do not go into La Linea – it is the human equivalent of a rabbit warren!)
The road is coastal for the first couple of miles and you will cross a number of small roundabouts. You then drive through a little village and then after approx 3 miles from the border you will see Algeciras oil refinery on your left. The road becomes a fast dual carriage way after the crossroads by the refinery. 1 more mile, keep in the slow lane (ie on the right) and bear right joining the N340 / A7 towards Malaga (NOT Cadiz).
After 7 miles or so, at the km 133 marker, turn right off this road to stay on the A7 / N340. It is well signposted (A7 / N340 costa – Torreguadiaro – Estepona – Marbella). Do not enter the toll road (E15 – “peaje” – AP-7). Do not miss this turning otherwise you end up on the toll road. You drop down to a roundabout, at which take the first exit, pass a ceramic shop and a couple of fruit stalls, reach another roundabout after 500 yards and take the second exit signposted A7 Estepona / Marbella / Malaga which goes over the hill – effectively the Torreguadiaro by pass.
Soon, the N340 / A7 road begins to hug the coast on your right. After some more roundabouts or about 4 miles, you will see Duquesa Golf on your left, an
ambulance station on your right and then a sign post for everything Duquesa on your right. It is a slip road into the port – not a roundabout and is after the km143 sign.
Go down the slip road, turn left at the T-junction (carpark in front of you, port on the right) and follow the road back under the A7 / N340. Bear left and after 50 yards turn right to go up the hill opposite the port and across the golf course. Bear left after 300 yards at the phone box where the road forks and Monte Duquesa Courtyard is 250 yards on the right hand side.
Have a safe journey.
Fiestas / Parties
Fiestas / Parties
Throughout the year there are many popular festivities. Each single city, town and village have there own festival of some kind which gets all the townsfolk out on the streets partying with their neighbours.
CARNIVAL
The carnival is celebrated for three days in February. The disguise and the music preside over the revelry of chirigotas and comparsas that sing “curious letrillas” about the most outstanding public events.
EASTER
Festivity celebrated in the month of April or May, which commemorates the Life, Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. Brotherhoods and fraternities organize processions that, day by day, run through the streets of our town.
SUAN JUAN
From June 23 to 24. Magic night and spell.The beginning of Summer. The traditional burning of the \ “júas \” on the beaches of Sabinillas illuminates the shortest night of the year. At twelve o’clock at night there are many people who take advantage to purify themselves, washing their feet and face in the sea water, while asking for three wishes; the most daring jump the bonfire, others throw into the fire the requests written on a paper or the bad things with which they want to end. Night that scares away evil spirits and helps love appear.
DAY OF VIRGIN CARMEN
On the evening of 16th July, in the fishing villages and towns up and down the coast, her much-loved effigy is paraded through the streets but also goes out to sea flower-adorned boat, accompanied by a flotilla of “jábegas” (fishing boats). Brass bands play, crowds cheer, rockets shoot off and fireworks fill the late dusk sky.
ST ANNES DAY
26th July a feast in Manilva in honor of its patron saint Santa Ana. In it, the residents of the town along with the tourists enjoy parades of floats, music, dances and musical shows until dawn.
Expand for Nearby airport info
Malaga airport is 60 minutes by car, Gibraltar 35 minutes and Jerez about 1.5hrs. These airports are readily serviced by international and some budget airlines including Thomson fly, Ryanair, EasyJet and Norwegian Airlines and British Airways. The flight time is approximately 2.5 hours. La Duquesa is accessible by main coastal roads or take the new toll road which will get you to your destination quicker. A car is recommended but not essential as all Duquesa amenities are within walking distance.
Airport (Malaga) 93.3 km ● Airport (Gibraltar) 33 km
for more detailed information regarding golf holidays, click below
About the Duquesa /Sabninillas Area
The La Duquesa area enjoys an advantageous location to the west of Marbella. The area retains a vast amount of unspoiled natural scenery and authentic local character whilst sharing the fantastic climate and all the excellent services and infrastructure of the Costa del Sol.
A short walk to the west of Puerto de La Duquesa is the little fishing hamlet of Castillo de La Duquesa from which the marina gets its name. The castle built in 1767 can be visited and is often used for local exhibitions. Nearby are largely excavated Roman ruins. In the hamlet are a number of bars and restaurants.
Alternatively, east from La Duquesa is the fishing village of Sabinillas. A seafront promenade connects all areas and makes a pleasant walk.
Duquesa is one of the Costa del Sol’s best kept secrets. Within easy reach of two international airports, Malaga (50 minutes) and Gibraltar (30 minutes) Duquesa seems a thousand miles away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday resorts.