The Costa del Sol has not been excluded from the upsurge in recent years in health and beauty tourism. No wonder, Málaga has been a pioneer in many aspects of this segment, as is shown by the centres devoted to improvements in health and to the care of the body that are to be found almost anywhere in the province. Facilities ranging from historic hot spring resorts to the most modern thalassotherapy and hydrotherapy centres, and including innovative spas and internationally renowned clinics, make up an offer that has made the Costa del Sol a unique destination in this respect.

In the Guadalteba region, a little more than fifty kilometres from the city of Málaga, is the Balneario de Carratraca (Carratraca hot springs resort), whose thermal waters had already made it in the nineteenth century one of the most famous summer resorts in the entire world. Along with its small El Príncipe hotel, whose construction was ordered by King Fernando VII, the small facility forms a self-contained complex in a beautiful village in a mountain setting at more than five hundred metres above sea level.

Also about fifty kilometres from the city of Málaga, but in this case in the Sierra de las Nieves range, is the Balneario de Tolox (Tolox health resort). Since its opening in 1871, it has been in uninterrupted operation, although throughout its existence it has undergone numerous improvements and renovations both to its infrastructure and furnishings. This facility, which is especially suitable for respiratory illnesses and is famous for ranking first in the world in terms of infant occupancy, has a hotel on the premises.

These are not the only municipalities in Málaga with curative waters, however. Other places in the province, such as Perriana in La Axarquía, also have water that possesses such properties. The resources in that village were discovered in ancient times, but it was not until the early nineteenth century that the so-called Baños de Vilo (Vilo baths) were resurrected to their former splendour. A few years ago, the Town Hall took them over and committed itself to the work necessary to turn the ancient Arabic baths into a modern resort that will also offer lodging and restaurant services. 

On other places on the Costa del Sol, such as Casares, efforts are also being made to derive tourism benefits from waters with apparent therapeutic properties. The latter case concerns the La Hedionda baths, where construction is planned for a combined clinic and spa and some public baths that will allow the village to continue using this historic spring. 

Health and beauty tourism in the province of Málaga is not confined to historic spas and hot spring resorts, however. Private initiative, always attentive to market demands, has been carrying out projects for several years that help diversify this offer that has become a supplement of the greatest importance to a large number of the visitors who are drawn to the Costa del Sol by any of its excellent attractions.