Living in Spain: A Stay in Andalusia

Depart the U.S. on a transatlantic flight to Málaga. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and assisted with transfer to Marbella and your apartment-style hotel, located on the famous Golden Mile, just steps from the Mediterranean. Transfer time from the airport to the hotel will be approximately 45 minutes. Your Smithsonian Journeys resident director will be available this afternoon and throughout the program to help with personal sightseeing arrangements, restaurant reservations, shopping suggestions, and any other assistance you may require. Each traveler will also receive a customized welcome package containing general information about the Costa del Sol, as well as a map of the town. This evening, meet fellow travelers for a welcome reception followed by dinner at the hotel. (R,D)

After a buffet breakfast, get acquainted with the lovely seaside town of Marbella, your home for the next three weeks. On a walking tour, delve into its labyrinth of cobbled streets and discover beautiful plazas and well-preserved churches and public buildings. Stroll the colorful Plaza de Naranjos in the city center, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Your afternoon is at leisure.

This evening, meet for a walk along Marbella’s seaside promenade, taking in views of the town’s main beaches, El Fuerte and La Fontanilla. Cap off the day with dinner at a seaside restaurant. (B,L,D)

Travel inland to discover the traditional "white villages" of Gaucin and Casares, which date back to the era of Al-Andalus, when the Moors ruled Spain. Nestled in the mountains and often protected by medieval fortifications, these villages are known for their picturesque, whitewashed houses and narrow lanes. During your excursion, enjoy a lunch of local specialties. Return to Marbella and take advantage of free time in the afternoon. Early this evening, gather with new friends in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for refreshments and conversation about your recent discoveries. (B,L)

Immerse yourself in the rhythm of daily life in Marbella during a day at leisure. Those who have opted for the Language track will walk to the nearby Spanish language school for an orientation tour, a placement test, and your first Spanish class.

Participants on the Food and Traditions track embark on an interactive tapas tour in Marbella’s Old Town. During the excursion, learn about the history and culture of the town and explore its interesting nooks and crannies. 

• Optional Language Track 1 of 7: Placement test and Spanish class
• Optional Food and Traditions Track 1 of 4: Old Town tapas tour

Set off on an excursion to Ronda, an ancient town built on a cliff high above a deep gorge known as El Tajo. Examine layers of history as you tour the twisting streets of its historic center, learning about its Roman occupation and discovering its distinctive Moorish influence. See a fascinating amalgam of architectural styles at the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor, commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1485 but not completed until centuries later. Visit the Plaza de Toros, Spain’s oldest bullfighting ring and one of its most architecturally beautiful, and admire local art and handicrafts at the superb Casa don Bosco. Continue to a nearby vineyard for lunch and wine tasting. 

Return to Marbella in the late afternoon and gather for a presentation on the history of Al Andalus, the Moorish kingdom that ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. (L)

If you have opted for the Active Discovery track, embark on your first guided walk today. Travel to the Natural Area of Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, where you’ll follow the famous Caminito del Rey, an aerial pathway that crosses over a breathtaking gorge. 

The day is free for those not taking part in the Active Discovery track.

• Optional Active Discovery Track 1 of 2: Guided walk in Desfiladero de los Gaitanes and Caminito del Rey

Venture to Gibraltar, a strategic British Overseas Territory first settled by the Moors and later ruled by Spain. This slice of Britain in Spain holds a fascinating history that dates back to the ancient Greeks. Trace its significance through Homeric tales through 20th-century World Wars as you travel to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. From the summit, 1,400 feet above the sea, take in views (weather permitting) across the famous Strait of Gibraltar to the coast of North Africa. You'll have the remainder of the day at leisure in Marbella.

In early evening, join fellow travelers in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for lively conversation. Afterward, dine together at a local restaurant. (D)

Those pursuing the Language track meet this morning for a first day of Spanish language immersion. Otherwise, enjoy a leisurely morning in Marbella. You might stroll past the yachts moored in Puerto Banus or visit one of Marbella's wonderful small museums.

In the early evening, gather for a presentation on the Arab roots of flamenco. Then continue for dinner with your expert and fellow travelers at a restaurant in town. (D)

• Optional Language Track 2 of 7: Spanish class 

Spanish students will meet for Language class this morning.  

After lunch on your own, journey to Málaga, a coastal city that is currently undergoing a cultural renaissance, with a flourishing of cuisine, music, and the arts. At the Museo Picasso Málaga, dedicated to the city's native son, take a guided tour of a collection that spans Picasso’s various periods. Enjoy time on your own to discover the city, then meet up to attend a flamenco performance at a tavern in Málaga. Return to Marbella for dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

• Optional Language Track 3 of 7: Spanish class 

A scenic drive brings you to Granada, the final stronghold of the Moors in Spain. Explore the legendary Alhambra, the fortified palace complex that overlooks the city. Built by the Nasrid Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, the hilltop site is a maze of stunning courtyards and arcaded walkways, filled with gardens, fountains, and stunning Moorish architectural details. Sit down to lunch at the Parador de Granada, set within the complex. Return to Marbella in the late afternoon (L)

Those on the Language track will attend a morning Spanish class. 

If you have chosen the Food and Traditions track, head out with a guide to explore the municipal markets of Marbella and sample regional food and drink specialties as you go. Meet local vendors and learn about the traditions of the marketplace. If you are not participating in the optional track, enjoy the full day to explore Marbella and its environs as you wish.

In early evening, gather for a presentation by a local expert on the Kingdoms of Iberia.

• Optional Language Track 4 of 7: Spanish class 
• Optional Food and Traditions Track 2 of 4: Marbella markets tasting tour

Embark on an optional two-night weekend getaway to Carmona, Seville, and Córdoba (at additional cost). Or stay in Marbella and take advantage of a weekend at leisure to live like a local, enjoying the beach, spending time at a café, and practicing your Spanish.

Weekend Getaway Day 1: Travel inland across the Andalusian plains, stopping for a visit to the ducal town of Osuna to see its impressive 17th- and 18th-century buildings. Arrive in Carmona in time for lunch and a walking tour, and take the rest of the day to discover the town on your own. Spend the next two nights at the Hotel Alcazar de la Reina in the city of Carmona. The city is built on a ridge overlooking the central plain of Andalusia with the Sierra Morena to the north and the peak of San Cristobal to the south. Carmona is known for its thriving trade in wine, olive oil, grain and cattle. (L)

For those remaining in Marbella, the day is free to follow your own path.

Weekend Getaway Day 2: Spend a full day discovering the delights of Seville, the cultural heart of southern Spain. Explore the Alcazar palace, the cathedral, and La Giralda clocktower—which together make up a World Heritage site. Return to Carmona for an evening at leisure. (B)

For those remaining in Marbella, the day is free for independent pursuits.

Weekend Getaway Day 3: Depart Carmona for Córdoba. Stroll beneath the striped arches of the beguiling Mezquita, an immense mosque with a cathedral built right at its center. Explore the city’s World Heritage-listed historic center before returning to Marbella this afternoon. (B)

For those remaining in Marbella, the day is free for independent pursuits.

The majority of the day is free to follow your own path if you are not enrolled in an optional track.

Spanish students will meet for a morning Language class. In the afternoon, gather for a presentation with a local expert on contemporary Spain.

Food and Traditions participants will meet at noon today in one of the most charming villas in Marbella for a lesson in Andalusian cooking. Try your hand at making paella with the villa's owners and enjoy a tasting of olive oils produced at their century-old, family-run farm. Then savor a paella luncheon paired with Spanish wine in a beautiful setting.

Late this afternoon, join a local expert for a presentation on contemporary Spain

• Optional Language Track 5 of 7: Spanish class 
• Optional Food and Traditions Track 3 of 4: Andalusian cooking class and olive oil tasting including lunch.

Spanish students will meet for a Language class this morning.  

You'll have another opportunity to experience the many cultural offerings of Málaga during an afternoon at leisure in the city. Choose to visit Picasso's birthplace or admire Andalusian art at the Museo de Carmen Thyssen, set within a 16th-century palace. Browse Málaga's art galleries, visit the cathedral, or take a stroll among exotic plants in the botanical garden. Gather back in Marbella this evening for dinner at the hotel with fellow travelers. (D)

• Optional Language Track 6 of 7: Spanish class 

This morning, travel east to the seaside town of Nerja, famous for subterranean caves that stretch for almost three miles. Venture into these underground chambers to see the largest known stalagmite in the world. Next, visit Frigiliana, poised on the slopes of the Sierra Almijara with breathtaking views of the Costa del Sol. Venture to the upper village, known as Barrio Mudéjar for its Moorish architecture. Stroll narrow alleys past whitewashed houses adorned with blue trim and bougainvillea, and learn about the town's cultural heritage and cuisine. After lunch on your own in Frigillana, drive back to Marbella to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Meet up in early evening for a drink and lively conversation in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner.

A Spanish language class is scheduled for this morning. If you have not opted for the language track, enjoy a free morning in Marbella.

This evening, those who have selected the Food and Traditions track will unveil the secrets of Jerez wines, one of the oldest fortified wines in the world at a unique wine-tasting session in one of the most exclusive bodegas in Marbella Old Town. Discover how sherry is made and enjoy different varieties paired with local specialties. Learn about the traditions and lore of Marbella, and trace the history of a wine that has been evolving for more than 3,000 years.

• Optional Language Track 7 of 7: Spanish class 
• Optional Food and Traditions Track 4 of 4: Sherry tasting experience

In the afternoon, step back in time among the megalithic tombs of Antequera. Here, the Menga Dolmen and the Viera Dolmen are set among fantastic rock formations just outside of the medieval town. These 5,000-year-old vestiges of Iberia’s earliest inhabitants were recently declared a World Heritage site, and the Menga Dolmen is considered the largest burial mound in Europe. Continue to the town itself for a walking tour along its picturesque medieval streets. Visit the Alcazaba, a hilltop Moorish fortress, and see some of the many churches and cathedrals that dot Antequera’s historic center.

Back in Marbella this afternoon, enjoy free time to pursue your interests. Join fellow travelers this evening in the Travelers Corner before dining independently. (L)

Those who opted for the Active Discovery track will set out today on a leisurely hike in the foothills of Sierra Blanca, following gentle trails that overlook the Costa del Sol. On this 3- to 4-hour hike, take in views of Marbella and its scalloped beaches, the neighboring town of Estepona, and, if skies are clear, even Gibraltar and the Moroccan coast. Stop at several viewpoints along the way, and take a break for lunch at a former hunting lodge.

If you did not select the Active Discovery track, enjoy a full day at leisure in Marbella.

• Optional Active Discovery Track 2 of 2: Costa del Sol hike including lunch.

Spend your final day in Marbella enjoying the seaside and Andalusian way of life. Pay a final visit to your favorite spots in town, or take a last walk along the lovely seaside promenade. Gather this evening with your fellow travelers to celebrate your Spanish sojourn, and all you have experienced and accomplished, at a festive farewell reception and dinner. (R,D)

Depart Marbella and transfer to Malaga Costa del Sol International Airport for your flights home.

Note: Itinerary sequence and/or scheduled events may change due to operational considerations. Both included excursions and optional enrichment tracks often involve an element of walking, standing and climbing steps. All enrichment tracks as well as the optional two-night excursion to Carmona, Seville, and Córdoba are at an additional cost.