The municipality of Manilva lies on the coast at the Southwesternmost edge of the Province of Malaga on its border with the Province of Cadiz.
The landscape consists of small hills separated by small rivers and valleys with a large limestone ridge lying behind the town itself.

There are three main centres of population, these being the main town of Manilva which is approx. 2 km inland; the coastal village of San Luis de Sabinillas (referred to as Sabinillas); and the small fishing village of Castillo de la Duquesa (referred to as Castillo) about 1.75 km to the west. Apart from these are numerous developments and urbanisations including the marina of Puerto de la Duquesa which are turning Manilva into a medium size coastal town.

To the east lies the municipality of of Estepona with its traditional town and fishing port, and to the north the municipality of Casares with its Moorish cliff-hugging town and spectacular scenery. The whole area is dominated by the Sierra Bermeja mountains including Pico de los Reales which at 1,452 metres is 109 metres higher than Ben Nevis!
Manilva's coastline runs in a Northeast/Southwest line and it's 7.8 kms of beaches rang from rocky coves to wide sandy expanses.