The region of La Axarquia is located at the most eastern part of the province of Málaga to the east of the capital. It has an area of 1.023 km2 and its population exceeds 202,325 inhabitants. It is composed of 31 municipalities: Alcaucín, Algarrobo, Almáchar, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Arenas, Árchez, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, El Borge, Canillas de Aceituno, Canillas de Albaida , Colmenar, Comares, Competa, Cútar, Frigiliana, Iznate, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo, Nerja, Periana, Rincon de la Victoria, Riogordo, Salares, Sayalonga, Sedella, Total, Torrox, Vélez-Málaga and La Viñuela, and 67 districts, or smaller population units that convert this area of the province of Malaga to a real map spotted with enclaves of population impregnating the whole region and being Vélez-Málaga the head of itself.

The farming tradition of the region and the difficulty of communications led to the creation of small size population centers inland the region. This area covers 694 km2, 26 small-sized municipalities and 49 dependet minor small-sized centers. At the same time, it has got the most scenic and environmental interest, the richest historical and artistic legacy and the most dependent on an increasingly marginal agriculture.

The 5 municipalities left and their 18 dependent population centers are placed at the coastal areas, covering an area of 331 km2, where the main population is concetrated on , as well as business activities of the region. These centers include the main number in population and activities and the most significant agricultural capacity.

However, there are clear differences  between theirselves. It is pointed up the municipality of Vélez Málaga that takes in 15.32% of the total area of the region (with 157 km2) and 37.5% of its population (53,816 inhabitants). This enclave has been traditionally considered as epicenter where the rest of the municipalities have been gravitating to from the point of view of social and economic relations. Algarrobo and Torrox villages still keep on maintaining  (except for their small coastal line) an important agricultural component related to fruit and vegetable production and their inland olive groves and vineyards areas. Regarding Nerja, it began its own touristic boom helped by external circumstances that set up Nerja as the real motor of service sector in the east with  5,745 hotel beds and 146 camping sites. On the other hand  is Rincón de la Victoria, that because of its closeness to the capital and the improved connection infrastructures is gradually increasing its  population as dormitory town, keeping, however, important rural characteristics in its inland territory.

The topography of the region rises from the sea level in the south to 2.068 meter peaks inland. It is limited by the mountain range of Sierra Tejeda Almijara and Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs to the north and east respectively, which separates it from Granada Province. It shows a unique landscape with large pits, deep gorges and high peaks, dominated by traditional crops: olive groves, vineyards and almond trees. Southern the Mediterranean Sea borders it along 50 km of coastline where cliffs, coves and wide beaches are inserted in. We find the mountain range and the wide valley of Malaga  to the west. Finally, the center of the region is composed of a large valley formed by Vélez, Benamargosa and Guaro rivers. This area is rich of irrigated crops (early horticulture due to the climatic characteristics of the area) and fruit trees: avocado, mango, lemon and orange trees. Therefore, we find a great variety of landscapes: mountains, valleys, beaches and wetlands.

La Axarquia climate is basically Mediterranean, with a subtropical microclimate in some areas, which ensures mild winters and warm summers. The annual average temperature is about 17 º -18 º and it counts with more than 320 sunny days a year.

The Region presents a clear dichotomy between inland small-sized towns where the irrigated agriculture and livestock dominate and coastal places or those that are influenced by the closeness of towns like Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Torrox or Nerja, which have been developed rapidly as a result of a more technical and recent irrigated agriculture, thanks to tourism and construction. This aspect must be considered when economic studies are made because their socioeconomic situation is quite different to the ones inland due to wide economic and social projections. Both coastal and inland centers as the spread population maintain their main functional relationships with Velez-Malaga, the capital of the region, which has strengthened its role by incorporating new features such as the basic system of healthcare, the regional agricultural office ... It is only the towns located at north and west (Colmenar, Comares, Riogordo, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo and Rincon de la Victoria) that prioritize its direct links with the capital  rather than with Velez-Malaga. Not from the point of view of territorial identity but  from the administrative perspective.

The traditional economic activity has been based on  the agriculture and livestock, which have gone through times of crisis, which has allowed coastal development linked to tourism and construction. This change involved the desertion of much of the inland population that came to settle in the coastal line  or outside the region. In some areas it is becoming to reduce this inclination due to the development of second homes, which has led to the incorporation of new settlers, mainly from European countries.