It is the biggest municipality of the Axarquía, 50 kilometres from Malaga.
The town lies in the wide valley of the River Vélez from where its main resources are found. These are agricultural products of vines, olives, sugar cane and vegetable and salad crops. Good quality olive oils and wine are produced here. There are also many garden nurseries growing and selling a wide range of plants, trees and seeds.
At the moment Velez tries to be the motor head of the local development, fundamentally because it is the capital of the Axarquía, as far as situation, inhabitants and wealth of municipality.
The best way to get to Vélez-Málaga by road is by taking the Autovía del Mediterráneo in the Motril direction and turning off as signposted. But it is also possible to reach this huge municipality by sea and by air.
The municipality is dotted with towns and villages. The largest of these is the town of Vélez-Málaga itself, just a few kilometres inland, while the resort of Torre del Mar is on the coast, as is the port of La Caleta de Vélez. the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I, which links the town centre with Torre del Mar.