Active holidays on the Costa del Sol: Estepona – a haven for runners and swimmers

Just before seven, the sea at Costalita is so calm that the first swimmers barely make a ripple. On the promenade towards Marbella, joggers and cyclists take turns; the light is still soft, and the air is a pleasant twenty degrees. In two hours’ time, this stretch of coastline will belong to the beach towels – for now, it belongs to those who start the day with some exercise. Right in the middle of it all, just a few minutes from the beach: THE FLAG Costa del Sol.

What makes this stretch of the Costa del Sol so ideal for active people is its reliability. With over 320 days of sunshine a year and mild temperatures even outside the height of summer, Estepona is a training destination that knows no off-season – whilst autumn back home might leave your running shoes gathering dust, here you can clock up the kilometres along the seafront promenade in twenty-degree weather. The paths along the water’s edge are flat and ideal for long, gentle runs; those looking for elevation gain will find it in the hinterland: the Sierra Bermeja begins just a few minutes’ drive inland from the coast, with cycling and hiking routes that’ll really put your endurance to the test. Free hire bikes are available at the hotel – the start of the coastal loop is right on your doorstep.

After a run comes the water, and there are two types here. The sea for open-water swimmers who do their laps parallel to the beach in the mornings. And the heated seawater pool in the hotel’s tropical garden for anyone who wants to train or recover in a controlled environment – even on days when the Mediterranean is a bit chilly. Aqua fitness is part of the daily changing programme of classes, as are yoga, Pilates, HIIT and sound healing. The sessions are free for hotel guests, and the mix has been carefully chosen: intensity, flexibility and relaxation alternate, rather than competing with one another.

THE FLAG does not see itself as merely a sun holiday destination, but structures your stay around a longevity concept based on five pillars: diagnostics, nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health. In the gym, you can work out with a sea view, either with a personal trainer if you wish, or as part of the Stay Strong programme, which combines strength, endurance and flexibility with a personalised training plan. For recovery, there’s a sauna, cold and red-light therapy, and oxygen training – facilities more commonly found in performance centres than on a beach in Andalusia.

The rest of the day fits seamlessly into this picture too. At the ‘Seven M.’ restaurant, healthy, light cuisine is served, perfectly suited to an active lifestyle. And the 78 studios and suites, each with a kitchenette and terrace – many with sea views – make even longer stays hassle-free: Estepona is a destination where a week’s training can quickly turn into a month’s training.

You can find full details of the programme, fitness facilities and location in the hotel presentation for THE FLAG Costa del Sol on bestfitnesshotels.com.

Perhaps that’s the real discovery about this stretch of coastline: the Costa del Sol can be both – a sun lounger for some, a training camp with sea views for others. Those in the second group have found a place in Estepona where summer never really ends.