Manilva is situated on the eastern end of the Costa del Sol. Some 12 kms east of Estepona and 35 kms from the Marbella. However although it is found only a stones throw away from these bustling towns it has remained mostly unaffected by large scale tourism and the property boom that has in some cases overridden its larger more affluent neighbours.

Although tourists are now starting to discover this charming village it still remains inherently a typical Spanish pueblo. It is the fact that Manilva remains simple and unpretentious this it often gets overlooked by tourists passing by heading south toward Gibraltar or north to its more well known neighbours.

The municipality y of Manilva covers several communities which includes the white washed village of Manilva itself located a few kms inland , San Luis de Sabanillas ( known simply as Sabanillas locally ) a coastal fishing village and the Puerto Duquesa a beautiful and peaceful yachting marina with its surrounding residential area which includes a golf course. Slightly to the west is the fishing community of Castillo de Duquesa , named after the castle which can still be found in the area and further west along the coast the area known as Punta Chullera with its low scale tourist and residential developments.

The mainstay of Manilva is fishing, agriculture and increasingly tourism. The muscatel grape is grown here in abundance producing some fine wines such as the famous Malaga sweet wines.