Parque de la Paloma

La Paloma opened in 1995 on the hillside above Benalmádena Costa and is the Costa del Sol's biggest urban green space: a lake with small rowing boats, cactus and succulent gardens, play areas, cafés and a population of peacocks, ducks, swans, rabbits and tortoises wandering free, with emus and mouflon in enclosures. It opens at 9:00 every day and stays open into the evening, later in summer, and admission is free. Parking is on the surrounding avenues; the beach is 700 m downhill.