A swim camp La Cala de Mijas trip combines a newly built 50-metre pool with a beachfront four-star hotel on the Costa del Sol. La Cala de Mijas lies just a few kilometres from Marbella and Fuengirola, and it is a calmer alternative to the bigger resorts.
Here is what coaches need to know before booking.
Swim camp La Cala de Mijas at a Glance
Here are the key facts for a swim camp La Cala de Mijas trip, so you can compare it quickly with other training camps:
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel
- Training: 50 metre pool indoor
- Meals: Full board
- Accommodation: You will be staying at a 4**** hotel called VIK Gran Hotel Costa del Sol, which is just a stone’s throw from the beach in La Cala de Mijas. The pool at the hotel has sea views as do the balconies of the rooms. The rooms at the hotel have a very bright interior with parquet floors. All rooms at the hotel have satellite TV and free Wi-Fi.
- Training: Training takes place in a newly built swimming pool with a 50-metre lane in La Cala de Mijas, just a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
- Price: on request, depending on dates, group size and room types
Why La Cala de Mijas?
La Cala de Mijas has a very fine sandy beach and a wide choice of shops and restaurants. The famous Nikki Beach is only about ten minutes away.
From Málaga airport the transfer takes around 40 minutes by bus, so travel days stay manageable for youth groups.
VIK Gran Hotel Costa del Sol
The group stays at the four-star VIK Gran Hotel Costa del Sol, a stone’s throw from the beach. The hotel pool has sea views, as do the balconies of the rooms.
Rooms are bright with parquet floors, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi. All meals are served in the hotel restaurant, which offers international and Mediterranean cuisine, as part of full board.
Training in a Newly Built 50-Metre Pool
Training takes place in a newly built swimming pool with a 50-metre lane in La Cala de Mijas, about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. A modern long-course pool is a great environment for pacing work and race preparation.
The walk to the pool also works as a natural warm-up and cool-down, and it means the group does not depend on buses.
Between Sessions
The beach in front of the hotel is perfect for short, relaxed breaks. Marbella and Fuengirola are close by if the group wants an outing on the lighter day of the week.
Budgeting and Booking Tips
A swim camp is a big investment for most clubs, so it pays to plan the budget early. Prices depend on travel dates, group size, room types and pool time, which is why most offers are given on request rather than as a fixed price.
- Book early to secure lane time and the best flight prices.
- Compare room options: larger shared rooms often reduce the cost per swimmer.
- Check exactly what full board includes and whether drinks are extra.
- Plan fundraising activities months ahead so that every swimmer can join.
- Ask about travel guarantees and insurance before paying a deposit.
Transparent planning keeps parents on board and makes it easier to repeat the camp next year.
Making the Most of Long-Course Training
For many clubs in northern Europe, the biggest benefit of a swim camp abroad is simply time in a 50-metre pool. Long-course water changes the rhythm of a set: fewer turns, more strokes per length and a much clearer picture of each swimmer’s pacing.
Use the camp to test pace over 50s, 100s and 200s, to film strokes from the deck, and to rehearse starts and finishes in race conditions. Swimmers who usually train short course often discover where their stroke breaks down in the second half of a length, which gives clear targets for the season.
Mix this with technique blocks and relay practice, and the camp becomes both a fitness boost and a learning experience.
How to Structure a Week at a Swim Camp
Most clubs get the best results from a camp when the week follows a clear rhythm rather than simply stacking up kilometres. A common pattern is two water sessions a day on the first three days, a lighter half-day in the middle of the week, and then another block of quality work before travel home.
- Day 1: an easy aerobic session after travel, focused on feel for the water and long-course turns.
- Days 2-3: a morning endurance set and an afternoon technique or kick session, plus short dryland work.
- Day 4: one session only, followed by team time, recovery and a group activity.
- Days 5-6: race-pace sets, starts and relays while swimmers are adapted to the pool.
- Final day: a short, sharp swim and a coach debrief before departure.
Keep a shared training log so that every swimmer can see their volume and the coach can adjust the load if fatigue builds up.
Setting Goals for Your Swim Camp
The clubs that get the most out of a training camp decide in advance what the week is for. Is it an aerobic base block early in the season, a technique camp for younger groups, or a sharpening week before a championship? The answer changes how every session is written.
Ask each swimmer to set one personal goal for the week, such as holding a stroke count over 50 metres, improving a turn or completing a key set. Write the goals down and review them on the last evening.
Clear goals also help parents understand why the programme looks the way it does, and they give younger swimmers a sense of progress that lasts long after the trip.
Recovery, Food and Sleep During Training Camps
Double sessions in a 50-metre pool are demanding, and the gains from a swim camp come only when swimmers recover between workouts. Full board makes this much easier, because the group eats at set times and nobody has to search for food after training.
Encourage swimmers to eat a real breakfast before the morning session, refuel within an hour after each swim, and drink water throughout the day, especially in warm climates. A short nap or quiet rest after lunch is worth more than an afternoon on the beach in full sun.
Sleep is the most underrated part of any training camp. Agree on a lights-out time, keep evening activities short, and plan the lighter day of the week so that the group can catch up on rest without losing momentum.
More Training Camps and Sports Camps
If you are comparing destinations, take a look at our overview of swim camps in Europe. Clubs that travel with several teams can also explore our football camps and other sports camps. Related guides:
- Swim Camp Torremolinos: Roc Flamingo and 50-Metre Pools
- Swim Camp Calella: Olympic 50m Pool Near Barcelona
- Swim Camp Paphos: Aliathon Resort and a 10-Lane 50m Pool
Swim camp La Cala de Mijas: Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the pool from the hotel?
About a 15-minute walk.
How long is the transfer from the airport?
Around 40 minutes by bus from Málaga.
Is the pool new?
Yes, training takes place in a newly built pool with a 50-metre lane.
Is the hotel by the beach?
Yes, VIK Gran Hotel Costa del Sol is a stone’s throw from the beach.
Final Thoughts
A swim camp La Cala de Mijas week gives your group the right mix of quality facilities, full board and a destination that athletes remember. Request a tailored offer with your dates and group size, and start planning a training camp that moves the whole club forward.