Motorhome route with kids around Málaga from Torrox

A good motorhome route with kids around Málaga isn't about moving somewhere new every night, but about leaving the motorhome at a base by the sea and heading out on short trips. From Torrox-Costa, in a week you can combine the beach, the Cueva de Nerja, Frigiliana, the Caminito del Rey (from age 8), El Torcal, the Parque de las Ciencias in Granada and Bioparc Fuengirola without spending more than an hour and a half at the wheel on any single journey.

This plan is designed for families with primary-school children, but it's easy to adapt for younger ones: just swap the Caminito day for a beach day. Below you'll find the day-by-day plan, the minimum ages and opening times worth knowing, and a few tips from people who see motorhome families come and go all year round.

Why a fixed base works better with kids

With kids, packing up the motorhome, emptying the tanks and finding a new spot every day eats up half the day. A fixed base has clear advantages:

• The kids always sleep in the same place with the same routine.
• You can leave the awning, chairs and toys set up.
• Long day trips alternate with beach days without getting behind the wheel.
• If you bring a car, motorbike or bikes, you can get around the villages without hunting for parking for a large vehicle.

Road safety with kids in a motorhome

Before setting off, the most important thing: in Spain, children under 135 cm tall must travel in an approved child restraint system suited to their height and weight and, as a general rule, in the rear seats. The DGT recommends using one up to 150 cm. Not using one, or fitting it incorrectly, is a serious offence. You'll find the details in the DGT campaign on seat belts and child restraint systems.

In practice, in a motorhome this means children travel in the seats approved for use while driving, with their seat belt or child seat, never on the bed or in the dinette if that seat isn't approved for travel. Check your vehicle's technical documentation to see where child seats can be fitted.

Motorhome route with kids: the 7-day plan

The order is only a guide. Ideally, alternate a long day with a quiet one and keep the hottest days for the beach.

Day	Plan	From Milucar	Suitable ages
1	Torrox-Costa beach and promenade	Beach less than 100 m away	All
2	Cueva de Nerja and Nerja town centre	About 11 km, 15 min	Children who walk well (lots of steps)
3	Frigiliana and an afternoon on the beach	About 12 km, 20 min	All
4	Caminito del Rey	About 113 km, 1 h 45 (north entrance)	From age 8
5	Rest day on the pitch and the beach	–	All
6	Parque de las Ciencias, Granada	About 100 km, 1 h 20	All; there's a room for ages 3 to 10
7	El Torcal de Antequera or Bioparc Fuengirola	About 98 km, 1 h 25 / about 87 km, 1 h 10	All

Day 1: the beach and Torrox-Costa

No driving on the first day. Torrox-Costa has several kilometres of beach and a flat promenade, perfect for bikes and scooters. To choose a beach to suit your children's ages, see our guide to the Torrox beaches.

Day 2: Cueva de Nerja

It's the trip that most impresses children: huge chambers, columns of stalactites and a route of about 50 minutes. Bear in mind the visit has 458 steps and several changes of level, so with babies a baby carrier is easier than a pushchair. According to the official website, it's open all year except 1 and 6 January, 15 May and 25 December, with longer hours in summer, at Christmas, Easter and on bank holiday weekends. Buy tickets online and check opening times and prices there before you go.

Parking at the cave is charged by the minute. You'll find all the practical details about the visit in Cueva de Nerja. In the afternoon, head down to Nerja town centre and the Balcón de Europa for an ice cream.

Day 3: Frigiliana

Frigiliana is a white village of cobbled streets, steps and flowerpots, about 20 minutes away. Children love climbing up and down the Moorish quarter looking for hidden corners. Go in the morning, before the heat, and keep the afternoon for the beach. Park in the lower part of the village and walk up: the streets aren't made for large vehicles.

Day 4: Caminito del Rey

Only if the children are 8 or older: that's the minimum age, and at the entrance you have to prove it with an official document (ID card or family record book). The full route is 7.7 km, of which 2.9 km are boardwalks, and it takes between 3 and 4 hours including the access paths and the shuttle bus. You're given a helmet, which you hand back at the exit in El Chorro.

• Tickets only on the official website, by day and time slot; book ahead in high season.
• The shuttle bus between the exit and the car park isn't included in the ticket and doesn't take cards.
• Bring water, a cap and closed shoes. Check the official FAQs before you go.

For how to get there by motorhome and where to leave it, there's a complete guide: Caminito del Rey from the Costa del Sol by motorhome.

Day 5: rest

After the Caminito, a day without the car. Beach in the morning, lunch under the awning, a siesta and a stroll at sunset. It's also a good day to do some washing.

Day 6: Parque de las Ciencias, Granada

It's an interactive science museum with a planetarium, a tropical butterfly house, the BioDomo (a space with living creatures) and birds of prey workshops. For the youngest there's the Explora room, designed for children aged 3 to 10. According to the museum's website, it's open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00; it's closed on Mondays unless they're a public holiday. Some rooms close temporarily for works, so check the website the day before.

If you fancy it, you can combine it with the Alhambra on another day; Granada is just under an hour and a half from Torrox-Costa.

Day 7: El Torcal de Antequera or Bioparc Fuengirola

El Torcal is a landscape of limestone rocks in very curious shapes, with waymarked trails starting from the Torcal Alto Visitor Centre. Entry is free. The centre is open from 10:00 to 17:00 from November to March and from 10:00 to 19:00 from April to October. On very busy days (weekends and public holidays) access by private vehicle is restricted and you go up by shuttle bus, so it's better to go on a weekday. Information on the Antequera Tourism website.

Bioparc Fuengirola is an animal park organised into large tropical zones (Central and South America, equatorial Africa, the Indo-Pacific, Madagascar and South-East Asia) and is open 365 days a year. It's right in the centre of Fuengirola, so it's easier to go by car than by motorhome. Opening times and tickets on the official website.

Tips for travelling with kids on the Costa del Sol

• Start early on trip days. Visits with timed tickets (the Cave, the Caminito) are more pleasant first thing in the morning.
• Spanish hours. People here have lunch and dinner late. With kids, eating earlier and saving the siesta for the pitch works better than fighting the clock.
• Heat. In summer, from 14:00 to 17:00, stick to shade and water. In winter, on the other hand, midday is the best time for the beach.
• Documents. Bring the children's ID cards or family record book: they ask for it at the entrance to the Caminito del Rey.
• Book anything with limited places. The Caminito and the Cueva de Nerja sell tickets online; at Easter and in summer they sell out.

From Milucar: the base for the route

Milucar is a motorhome aire in Torrox-Costa, open all year round and run by Marcelle and Martijn, a family with children who live in the town. The beach is less than 100 metres away, there's a small supermarket 400 metres away and the centre of Torrox-Costa is about 2 kilometres away.

• Maximum 6 people per pitch; XL pitches for motorhomes up to about 12 metres.
• Picnic areas with tables, showers (including outdoor ones) and toilets in several spots.
• Professional washing machine and dryer, sinks and laundry tubs.
• Fenced site with a barrier, cameras and night-time lighting.
• Wi-Fi included, handy for checking tickets and opening times each evening.

Bear in mind it isn't a campsite: there's no swimming pool or restaurant, and tents aren't allowed. If you're travelling without a motorhome, Milucar rents out a motorhome and an apartment through its Casa sin ruedas page.

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum age for the Caminito del Rey?

8. At the entrance you have to prove the child's age with an official document, so bring their ID card or family record book.

Is the Cueva de Nerja suitable for young children?

Yes, but the visit has 458 steps and lasts about 50 minutes. With babies, a baby carrier is better than a pushchair, and with 3- or 4-year-olds it's best to take your time.

Where can children sit in the motorhome while travelling?

In the seats approved for travel, with a seat belt and, if they are 135 cm or under, in their child restraint system. Never on the bed or in areas without seat belts.

How many days do you need for this route?

With a week you can see the highlights at a relaxed pace. If you have less time, stick to the beach, the Cueva de Nerja and Frigiliana, which are all less than 20 minutes away.

What's the best time of year to travel with kids?

Spring and autumn are ideal: good weather and fewer people. In summer, do your trips first thing in the morning; in winter, the mild climate lets you do everything.

A week without moving house

The sea 100 metres away, seven different outings less than an hour and a half away and the same bed every night: that's how to travel stress-free with kids. If you'd like to do this route from Torrox-Costa, book your pitch at Milucar.