Buggy in Mijas: what you need to drive one

You need a driver's license. And original

It's the number one reason someone stays on the ground on the day of the activity. To drive a buggy in Mijas it takes Type B driving licence in forceAnd we have to introduce him physically on tour day.

On the minimum age, the operators do not agree. Most of them set it at 18 yearsbut some operator in the area takes it up to 21. If the driver has between 18 and 21, it should be confirmed with the specific operator before booking.

A temporary or practical permit does not serve on several operators. And no expired license is allowed.

The price is per buggy, not per person

This is where most comparisons fail. The buggies are from two or four places, and the usual thing is that the announced rate covers the whole vehicle.

That changes the accounts a lot: a two-seat buggy for a couple comes out at half the price per head of what looks at first sight. And one of four places, for a family, changes the calculation completely.

Before comparing two offers, check whether the price is per vehicle or per participant. He's not always in the same place on the tab.

Can children go?

Yeah, like passengers. Mijas operators usually admit children from the age of 6 to 7, with a minimum height around 1.20 maccompanied by an adult driving and having the type B permit

Not driving. That's why you have to be of age and have a license.

If you go to several adults and children, the four-place buggy is what makes the family plan viable.

Routes of 1, 2 and 3 hours: where they differ

Almost all operators in the area offer the same three durations, and the difference is not just a mile.

• 1 hour. The shortest and most intense. The mountains of Mijas are crossed by stony river beds, shallow channels and forest areas. No stops.

• 2 hours. Follow the old commercial routes and the livestock roads of Mijas, with some stops for the guide to explain the fauna and flora of the area.

• 3 hours. The same tour of the historical routes but with many more stops and time for the views. It usually includes a stop in a traditional sale for a drink.

If it's your first time and you go with kids, an hour is short of content but there's plenty of excitement. The two and three hours are more enjoyed if you are interested in the landscape as well as driving.

What the price usually includes

The usual thing about Mijas' guided tours is that the rate covers the vehicle, the fuel, Sure., prior training and safety talkthe protective equipment (helmet or glasses, according to the operator) and the guide throughout the tour.

Which normally No. enter: the drinks of the stop on sale, and the transfers from the hotel, which some operators offer apart from the area of Marbella and Torremolinos.

It is also appropriate to ask for the relief in case of damage. Several adventure operators apply it and some allow it to be reduced by paying a supplement on the same day. Not all of them indicate it in the booking form.

How to go dress up

This looks smaller and it's not: You're gonna end up full of dust.. The routes cross dirt roads and river beds.

• Clothes you don't mind stained. Nothing clear or just bought

• Closed footwear. The chanclas are not allowed on most operators

• Sunglasses, although they usually give protective glasses

• In winter, one more layer than you would have on foot: in motion and in the mountain refreshment

Arrival before the hour

The operators of the area ask to be at the meeting point about 30 minutes before of the reserved time. This time is not courtesy: it is used for safety talk, check cards and basic vehicle management training.

If you get there right, the group leaves without you.

Where they are made and how the land is

The routes run through the Mijas sawin the upper part of the municipality, above the coast line. The tour combines dirt tracks, river channels, Mediterranean forest sections and some panoramic road section.

From the high points are Mijas, Fuengirola and, on clear days, the coast to Malaga.

The exit points are spread over Mijas Costa and the surroundings of Fuengirola. Each operator has his own, so the exact address comes in the booking confirmation. It is worth looking at on the map the day before: some access is on unmarked rural roads.

Book in advance

The number of buggies of each operator is limited and in high season the bands of tomorrow are exhausted. It is not an activity that can be reached without reservation and wait for square.