We first came to Nerja in the winter of 2017. Rented a house for six months, invited family and friends, and honestly, I was hooked from day one. I couldn’t stop posting photos—sunny skies, beach walks, tapas, all of it. A few people got inspired and made the trip out. Some stayed with us for a few days, others rented their own places for a week or two.

The next year, two friends joined us for a couple of weeks. By the third year, four couples came for a whole month. They got their own apartments and had the best time. We spent our days exploring, eating, laughing—a lot of wine was involved—and I kept sharing our adventures on Facebook. By the fourth winter, those same four couples came back, stayed for three months, and brought even more friends. Now, every winter, over 20 of our friends head to Nerja. It’s basically turned into a Canadian invasion (the fun kind).

And I don’t think this trend is slowing down. More Canadians seem to be looking toward Europe for their winter getaway, especially with things being a bit shaky with our neighbours to the south. The Costa del Sol is a fantastic alternative. Sure, it’s not quite as hot as Florida or Mexico, but most days are sunny and in the high teens—not bad at all. Plus, the European vibe really works for us. Life’s a bit slower, the food and wine are amazing, and there’s always something cool to discover.

That said, the area’s getting busy. You hear English everywhere now. It makes me wonder how much of the original Spanish culture will stick around as more tourists and expats arrive. I hope it stays real, because that’s part of what made us fall in love with this place in the first place.