I'm actually going back to the Costa Del sol(further down the coast) in march for 8 days(everything is booked) so I'm hoping to go up into the hills in a cable car. Like you, I want to visit some mountain villages.
Well, it was technically my third trip during the pandemic, as I went to Barcelona last March, just as it was starting, Amsterdam in August between the lockdowns and Málaga the week before last, so I haven't done too badly.
I'll post some pictures when I can be arsed. It's beautiful down there though and I was pleasantly surprised with Benlmàdena(which I visited for the day), as it has much more character than I thought it would considering how it's effectively a tourist spot. I suppose it depends on the time of year. It's better going to Spain in Spring or Autumn. You go to the beach and it was at like 10% capacity despite reaching 28 or so degrees.
I was also watching the sea one late afternoon and saw Orcas jumping! They weren't too far out either. I thought I was seeing things at first, then others started looking and pointing and then it dawned on me what they were.