Dark sand, an almost 1,200-metre stretch of the Senda Litoral and a coastal watchtower with Arab origins give Chilches a distinctive character. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Chilches, first consider whether the beach, the walking route or the town’s history will shape your stay. These highlights reveal different sides of the destination: a spacious beach, a named section of the coastal route and buildings with specific historical and architectural features.

Playa de Chilches and its three sections

Playa de Chilches is a very spacious beach with dark sand and moderate surf. It is divided into three sections: “Estación”, “Puerta de Hierro” and “El Cañuelo”. The names give the beach a clear structure and make it easier, when planning, to focus on a particular section rather than only on the beach as a whole.

If you make the beach the focus of your stay, you have three specific place names and a concise picture of its natural features: its size, sand colour and surf. You can treat the beach as a distinct part of your stay or combine it with Chilches’ cultural and landscape features.

A local section of the Senda Litoral

One section of the Senda Litoral connects Arroyo Chilches with the El Cañuelo residential area and is almost 1,200 metres long. Both endpoints and an approximate length are therefore specified for this stage. In the western part of the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, the Senda Litoral also includes a section connecting Benajarafe and Chilches with the municipality of Rincón de la Victoria.

This information shows two different scales: a specific stage almost 1,200 metres long and the wider context of the Senda Litoral in the western part of the municipality. If you are interested in the route, you can distinguish between a single named section and the connection that extends beyond the local area. A route length does not automatically translate into a walking time; for your plans, what matters is which part you actually want to include.

Coastal tower and church: history in different forms

The Torre de Chilches has Arab origins and was rebuilt after the conquest of Granada in 1492 to improve coastal defences. As a coastal watchtower, it has a truncated-cone shape and is built of stone and brick. Its historical context explains the purpose of the rebuilding; its form and materials describe the building in architectural terms.

Another historic building is the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Chilches, built in the 17th century. The simple, single-nave church has a wooden roof. Four niches on the sides contain images of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Joseph, Saint Pancras and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Two of these religious dedications are also reflected in the Feria de Chilches: the traditional festival is held in honour of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church and festival can thus be linked through specific names they share, while the tower and church show different aspects of the town’s history.

Feria de Chilches and regional dishes

For the 2026 Feria, tastings of sardines, gazpacho and ajoblanco were planned for the traditional Moraga popular. The Asociación de Mujeres de Chilches was responsible for preparing the food; the offerings may vary from one edition to another. A solemn procession is also part of the festival programme, which may vary in its exact details.

If the Feria is important to your stay, check the dates and specific programme in advance. The religious dedication describes the character of the festival; the dishes listed for 2026 give a specific glimpse of its culinary programme, but are no guarantee for future editions.

Getting there and planning your trip

Two points of reference are useful for road directions: Chilches is close to the N-340 and connected via the Autovía del Mediterráneo. Take these routes into account when planning your journey. Whether the beach, the Senda Litoral, the town’s architectural history or the Feria is the deciding factor for you, you can compare your preferences with the place’s specific features.

Discover more destinations: Almayate Alto, Mezquitilla, Benajarafe, Trapiche, Almayate, Torre Del Mar.

For the main travel overview: Vélez-Málaga.