Things to do in Benalmádena: tours and activities around a Colomares visit

The half-day maths

Book the €9 Colomares tour in the morning (40 minutes guided, plus thirty minutes to wander and photograph). You're done by 11:00. That leaves a full morning or afternoon for something else. Self-guided entry takes 45–90 minutes depending on pace. Plan accordingly.

Mount Calamorro cable car — €18 (easiest add-on)

Ten minutes from Benalmádena town (Arroyo de la Miel), up the hillside. One-way or round-trip cable car (€18). Cabins hold about four people. At the summit: a café and a birds-of-prey show that reviewers mention repeatedly. Views over the coast. Karen: "thought it might be scary, felt safe, views amazing." John (with grandchildren): "cable car, then a bite in the café, then the birds-of-prey show — grandchildren loved it." Szymon and Marc both note the cabins are small. Georgia: "scary but great."

Note: the cable car is non-refundable, unlike every other option on this site.

Dolphin watching cruise — €20 (100 minutes, family option)

From Benalmádena marina (Puerto Marina). 100 minutes on the water. Wheelchair accessible (folding wheelchairs only, not electric). Swim stop on some sailings. Snacks and drinks sold on board. Crew named in reviews: Carlos. Joanna: "seeing dolphins then swimming in the sea." Djamila (honest): "the dolphin was too far away, but the atmosphere was great." Megan: "staff helped with the pram, plenty of room, snacks reasonably priced." Stacey: "a bit choppy, which added to it."

Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed. Several reviewers note dolphins were distant. The experience is the boat, the water, the effort. Think of it that way and it is worth €20.

Sea Life Benalmádena — €21 (rainy day, young kids)

Small aquarium. Walk-through tunnel, sharks, turtles, otters, mini-golf next door. Wheelchair accessible. Reviewers are honest: Mateusz: "worth a visit, don't expect more than an hour." Mitchell: "small-scale but nicely arranged, his daughter loved it." Donna: "the tunnel with fish swimming overhead."

Frame it what it is: a rainy-day or young-family option, not a headline attraction. Rating 4.2 from 451 reviews, the weakest on the site. An hour and done.

Full day inland: Ronda day trip — €39 (10 hours)

The Ronda day trip departs from Benalmádena. Ten hours. Setenil de las Bodegas (a town built under a cliff) plus Ronda (a clifftop mountain town with a gorge walk and an optional paid tour). Live flamenco show in an air-conditioned venue. Roughly four hours free time, ninety minutes visiting, two-hour travel blocks. Reviewers flag the heat and tight dinner time. Kevin: "Ronda is beautiful, guide helpful, transport efficient." Katie: "would have missed half the viewpoints without the guided option; very hot, wishes she'd known more about timings." Isabelle: "the flamenco show is the highlight and the venue is air-conditioned, but there wasn't enough time for dinner."

How these pair with Colomares

Morning: the €9 Colomares tour (40 min), free time to explore (30 min). Afternoon: any of the above. Calamorro is closest (ten minutes away) and quickest (1–2 hours total). Dolphins and aquarium are at the marina (fifteen minutes by bus or taxi). Ronda is better as a full day on its own. But if you're in Benalmádena for a long weekend, do Colomares one morning and pick one or two others across the trip.

Getting around Benalmádena: three places with one name

Benalmádena Pueblo (the old village, 600 m uphill, where you park). Arroyo de la Miel (the town below, shops and restaurants). Benalmádena Costa (the beach and marina). The Calamorro cable car departs from Arroyo de la Miel. The marina (dolphins, aquarium) is on the Costa. Visitors mix them up constantly.

See also: full-day tours from Málaga, all Benalmádena and Colomares tours.

Frequently asked questions