Tracing it's recent history back to the late 18th century and once Manilva's poor cousin, the collection of fishermen's huts and sugar factory worker's cottages that was San Luis de Sabinillas (normally abbreviated to just Sabinillas), is now the commercial heart of Manilva.

With its large concentration of banks, shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and offices, San Luis de Sabinillas is a lively little town which also boasts a number of recreational areas including two new parks - Parque El Duque and Parque Villa Matilde - a recently refurbished central square - Plaza Vicente Espinel - and the ever popular promenade (Paseo Maritimo) which runs along the town's blue flag beach.

Despite the difficult economic conditions, investment continues to be made in local infrastructure in Sabinillas such as the recently opened health centre, designed to cope with the areas growing population, as well as the local sports centre currently being constructed at the eastern end of the town which will include indoor swimming pool, paddle and tennis courts, squash court, all-weather 7-a-side football pitch and sports hall, and much needed underground parking.

Despite this recent boom, San Luis de Sabinillas still has a working fishing community who you can watch launching their boats from the beach (the bigger boats operate out of Puerto de la Duquesa) and then returning with that day's (or night's) catch of fish and shellfish, you will often see some of the restaurateurs on the beach choosing that day's menu!