Car Hire Aguilas - Mini guide to Aguilas

Aguilas is a delightful port city that is a favourite holiday spot for many Spaniards and its relative inaccessibility has allowed it to keep the big package tours out, enabling it to maintain its unique Spanish character. With over 30kms of coastline and wonderful average temperatures of 25C, Aguilas is the perfect destination for beach lovers in the Murcia region.

A range of outdoor activities is on offer here, from mountain climbing and hiking to swimming and diving. On the cultural scene, Aguilas offers art exhibits, conferences, concerts, artisan demonstrations, theatre and much more. The town is famous for the annual Carnival de Aguilas, which has been celebrated for the past 200 years.

In Aguilas town centre, which is compact and easily explored on foot, it is worth visiting the Plaza de Espana's beautiful gardens full of rubber plants, the City Hall and the parish church of San Jose, where the image of the patron saint is housed. At the top of the old town, standing on a promontory, is the castle-fortress of San Juan de Aguilas. Below it sits the port with its characteristic black-and-white striped lighthouse, in operation since the mid-19th century. The town's Food Market and the railway monument are other places of interest.

Strolling around town is fun, but for beach and ocean lovers there are more treats here. By car, it is easy to reach and explore the many solitary coves and beaches such as La Higuerica, La Carolina, Mar Menor or Calabardina with their crystal clear waters. In fact, this area is one of the best areas on the Mediterranean coast for scuba diving, especially on Fraile Island and in the area around the rock of Cape Cope.

Aguilas is situated approximately midway between the airports of Alicante and Almeria and, thanks to major road improvements, is about one and a half hours drive from either one.