Area Information

Marbella Puerto Banús Nueva Andalucía San Pedro/Guadalmina Estepona Duquesa/Manilva Sotogrande Rio Real/Los Monteros/El Rosario Elviria Calahonda Benalmádena Málaga Mijas Alhaurín Coín
Marbella World famous as a holiday destination since the 1960's, Marbella is regarded as the Costa del Sol's jewel in the crown. Its unique allure has produced a style and character quite distinct from other coastal towns. Marbella offers both the quintessentially Spanish qualities of its "Old Town", alongside the modern landmarks of designer labels and contemporary infrastructure.

Marbella is 50km from Málaga Airport and is well served by the local highway (the A-7) or the toll motorway (the AP7-E15). The town has a permanent population of about 100,000 people but this figure increases dramatically during the summer months. The protection of La Concha mountain in the Sierra Blanca right behind the town, affords Marbella its own micro-climate, which guarantees sunny weather most of the year, with the exception of mild winter conditions from November to March.

Marbella's Old Town centres around the Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square), which features a wide variety of traditional and modern restaurants. The narrow streets which meander around the Square are full of eclectic shops selling everything from Moroccan rugs to summer sandals. Venture out onto Marbella's main street, Avenida Ricardo Soriano, and designer names such as Versace, Gucci and Escada are to be found.

The Marbella coastline enjoys some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol. Many a local resident enjoys a morning walk, or even jog, along Marbella's Paseo Maritimo (promenade), where many traditional Spanish restaurants are also located. The nightlife in Marbella is equally vibrant, ensuring those who visit have much to enjoy in the evenings, in addition to the alluring sun during the day.

Puerto Banús

Heading west from Marbella, you travel along the famous "Golden Mile", so named because of the many palatial beachfront villas, and the famous Marbella Club and Puento Romano Hotels. At the end of the Golden Mile is the world-renowned Marina of Puerto Banús, with its wide selection of designer shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, where you can sit for hours watching the world go by.

Property in Puerto Banús, either for sale or for rent, is in high demand due to its prestigious location. Set along the beach between Marbella and San Pedro, and only 30 minutes from Málaga Airport, Puerto Banús is the epitome of luxury and elegance on the Costa del Sol. This is the place to be pampered yachtside and ogle those fabulous luxury yachts, while sipping a drink at one of the many open air restaurants and bars. The setting is close to ideal, with its impressive mountain backdrop and ocean views.

Since its inception some forty years ago, the Port has steadily grown and now features a casino, commercial shopping centres, a Corte Inglés department store, and a multi cinema with the latest films shown in English. Nightlife buzzes at Puerto Banús, with your choice of alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos, while during the day this is a window shopper's dream, with several of the world renowned fashion houses featured here, in addition to small, interesting shops and boutiques.

Nueva Andalucía

Situated just north of the prestigious Marina of Puerto Banús, within the boundaries of "the Golf Valley", Nueva Andalucía has grown to become one of the most sought after residential areas of the Costa del Sol. With a superb infrastructure packed with amenities for all ages, the area has become a definite favourite for residential tourists.

Its nickname of the "Golf Valley" is due to its five championship golf courses - Aloha, Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, La Quinta and Los Arqueros, as well as other smaller courses, including the floodlit La Dama de Noche course. All have wonderful Club Houses with fabulous views from their terraces, and you do not need to be a member to enjoy a drink or a meal at any of these, for very reasonable prices.

You will find here a variety of some of the best restaurants on the coast, many sport and leisure facilities, and the area has a wide selection of luxury real estate in all price ranges, due to its close proximity to Puerto Banús and Marbella.

WEST OF MARBELLA

San Pedro/Guadalmina

San Pedro de Alcántara is situated just 10 kms. west from Marbella, a few minutes drive away from the natural beauty of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range, and 20 kms. east from Estepona. San Pedro is a first-class tourist resort, home to a number of luxury housing complexes, golf courses and excellent beaches, while still retaining features of its colonial past, and is home to many local Spanish who work in the area, and so there is a wide range of local good value bars and restaurants to choose from.

Guadalmina is a custom-built, beachside community, which is located about 15 minutes from Marbella and 60 kms from Málaga Airport, right next to San Pedro, and 10 minutes to Estepona.

Guadalmina has its own golf course, simply named Guadalmina Golf. It is cited as being one of the best on the Costa del Sol. The area also has a host of other facilities. There are three international schools nearby; Calpe College, Kings College and Swans Primary School. The Guadalmina Commercial centre provides a range of services including supermarket, banks, and furniture stores, along with numerous cafes and restaurants.

Estepona

Estepona, traditionally a small Andalucian fishing port, is now one of the fastest growing and most popular destinations on the Costa del Sol. Despite its recent growth, Estepona has managed to preserve its peaceful town atmosphere. Estepona Marina was built in 1977 and is equipped with all modern facilities. There are also a variety of sport amenities in the Marina, as well as dolphin spotting trips and fishing excursions. It also has a busy Sunday market.

The beach in Estepona, named La Rada, is one of the best on the Costa del Sol and has been awarded the Blue Flag Award, in recognition of the beach's cleanliness, safety and facilities. There is also a quiet cove named Playa de Cristo, which is ideal for children due to its shallow, safe waters.

Estepona is approximately an hours drive west from Málaga Airport and is easily accessible by the A-7 dual carriageway, or the toll road. The town planners have successfully combined modern architecture with old, and there is a central "Old Town" area full of local bars and restaurants.

Duquesa/Manilva

The village of Manilva is 97 kms west from Málaga Airport and 45 km. from Marbella. Its setting is magnificent, backed by the wonderful Sierra Bermeja mountain range, and with open views to Gibraltar and Africa. It is also just over an hours drive to Jerez Airport, from where Ryanair operate frequent cheap flights to and from the UK.

There are three distinct areas here: Manilva, Sabinillas and la Duquesa. These are aside from the various tourist urbanisations. Manilva has a fascinating history which dates back to Roman times and still today, there are some well-preserved Roman archaeological sites in the area.

Next to Manilva is an district called Casares. There is a huge amount of investment currently going into this area, including a 6 star Hilton hotel, several championship status golf courses, and many sports and leisure facilities with the aim of making this area the 'La Manga' of the Costa del Sol. The village of Casares is a 15 minute drive inland up into the hills. According to tradition, Julius Caesar ordered it built, in gratitude for being cured bathing in the Hedionda Baths here. In 1978, Casares was declared an Artistic and Historic Village, and currently is considered one of the most beautiful pueblos in Spain, with panoramic views out to sea.

Sotogrande

Sotogrande is custom built to cater for some of the world's most luxurious seafarers. Consequently the Marina here is possibly the best on the Costa del Sol. Far removed from the mountain pueblos of Andalucía and the bustle of other coastal towns, Sotogrande is the resort to relax in and enjoy - the glorious weather and beautiful surroundings make it a real pleasure. Sotogrande is regarded as prime real estate, and as a result some of the coast's most exclusive developments are located in this area. The beaches in Sotogrande are secluded and offer a peace and quiet that is often difficult to find on the Costa del Sol.

Sotogrande is located south west of Marbella, approximately an hour's drive from Málaga Airport, and less than 15 minutes drive east of Gibraltar, where the Airport has recently opened up to allow a wider selection of flights. The Marina was built in 1987 and is equipped with the most up to date modern facilities for all berths, such as electricity, telephone, fresh water and television. It currently has 548 berths but there are plans to extend this number to 1052.

Sotogrande offers a variety of outdoor sports including horse riding, tennis, paddle tennis, and sailing. There are also four championship golf courses - Almenara Golf; Sotogrande Golf; San Roque Golf, where the Spanish Open is regularly held; and the world-renowned Valderrama Golf Course, where the Ryder Cup was hosted in 1997, and the Volvo Masters has been held annually. Sotogrande is a small town and is relatively quiet throughout the year. It is a popular destination for Spanish holiday-makers and is therefore busier in July and August. Despite its small size, there is a good selection of quality restaurants in Sotogrande, serving international and native dishes.

EAST OF MARBELLA

Rio Real/Los Monteros/El Rosario

These areas - within easy access to Marbella in one direction and to the Airport in the other - offer some of the coasts most sought after real estate. With some of the best beaches along the coast, it is easy to see why these areas have become so popular, and so exclusive, over the years.

There are various championship status golf courses along this stretch of the coast line, as well as excellent commercial facilities. There are several first class international schools in this area, and various sports clubs, including tennis and bowling.

Local health services are provided by the coast's state-funded hospital, Hospital Costa del Sol, which is situated in Los Monteros, and is known as one of the best state hospitals in Europe.

Elviria

Elviria is a small community located about a fifteen minute drive east from Marbella, and 40 kms west from Málaga Airport. This is one of the coast's most prestigious residential locations, and is therefore well equipped with services, amenities, and entertainment facilities. Many homes in Elviria have been built within walking distance to the beach, which is well known for its natural sand dunes and clear waters. If not close to the beach, other properties are walking distance to golf, many with panoramic sea views.

There are two golf courses here, Santa Maria and Elviria Hills. Santa Clara, Marbella Club, and Rio Real are all golf courses within a ten minute drive towards Marbella. The El Casco Tennis Club is five minutes drive away and is fully equipped with modern sports facilities, as well as a popular restaurant and bar.

Cabopino, the coast's smallest and quaintest Marina is close by, with one of the best family beaches on the coast, and some excellent eateries and cafes.

Calahonda

Calahonda is 33 kms west from Málaga Airport, half way between Marbella and Fuengirola. This is a well established urbanisation which is very popular due to the range of local facilities, as well as its own road train service for those who prefer not to have a car. It is regarded as a prime real estate area due to its proximity to all major towns along the coast, whilst managing to preserve the atmosphere of a small town.

The amenities in Calahonda are all located within easy walking distance, it has no less than three commercial centres, which house supermarkets, banks, hardware and furniture stores, garden supplies, car hire, travel agencies, hairdressers, bars and more than forty restaurants.

There are at least ten golf courses located within 10 kms of Calahonda, four of which are in the immediate area. There is a large Sports Club with numerous facilities including gym and tennis courts, available to residents on a pay as you go basis, or an annual membership. Calahonda is five minutes from a picturesque Marina, Cabopino, with a super family beach where a wide variety of water sports take place. The excellent state funded hospital is a five minute drive. There are good educational facilities in the area, with a great selection of private nursery, primary and secondary schools, including the well known English International School, which is only a ten minute drive away.

Mijas

One of the jewels of the Costa del Sol is the beautiful little village of Mijas, which nestles comfortably on the side of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range, at 428 meters above sea level. It is a superb choice for either holiday or full time living. Of the 7,500 population, there are so many foreign and English speaking residents, in and around the Pueblo, that the Town Hall has a very helpful Foreigner's Department, which caters for the many needs of those who do not speak Spanish.

When you wander through the narrow cobbled streets of this Andalucian village, you can understand what has attracted foreigners to settle here over the years. Many artists and writers have made it their home, enjoying the benefits of an excellent all year round climate, without being part of the busier, more commercial coastal towns just 7 kms down the mountain side.

Despite its huge popularity with tourists, Mijas Pueblo has somehow managed to retain much of its traditional Andalucian way of life, the locals displaying their unabashed passion for all things festive and an unmistakable relaxed 'mañana' outlook on anything that can be put off for another day.

Benalmádena

Benalmádena is located 19 kms west from Málaga and just 9 kms from Torremolinos. It is another of the Costa's home-grown tourist resorts. The municipality is actually divided into three separate smaller towns. The first is Benalmádena Pueblo, which is located on the mountain side. It is a typical Andalucian village with heavy Moorish influences, characterised by winding narrow streets and white-washed homes. It has a wide variety of amenities including museums, a castle, sports centre, shops, bars and restaurants.

Arroyo de la Miel is the second town, and lies between Benalmádena Pueblo and Benalmádena Costa. This is where most of the population in the area live, and where the majority of businesses are located. It too has a wide variety of amenities including a sports complex, bilingual library, as well as a wide selection of bars and restaurants. The popular family theme park, Tivoli World, is also located here.

Benalmádena Costa is the third town. It was built specifically to cater for tourists and is therefore the most popular. It has an array of attractions such as its own casino, nightclubs, and golf course. Benalmádena Costa has 9 kms of coastline with beautiful beaches and coves. It also boasts a fully equipped Marina with more than 1,000 berths, and the Paseo Maritimo (promenade) is lined with small shops and bars.

Málaga

Málaga is the capital city of the Costa del Sol and the international airport here is one of the largest in Spain, and in a typical year can welcome up to 20 million visitors. Málaga also serves as a major port and an industrial centre for Southern Spain. Access is made easy by the excellent road network and the coastal rail service.

Málaga is a city steeped in more than 3,000 years of history. Excavations have discovered evidence of the Romans and the Moors. As a result, there is a large selection of historical monuments in this city. In fact, Málaga has so much to offer as a result of its history, that the best way to see it is by open top bus, where they give informative tours in different languages.

Málaga is also well worth a visit during one of its many festivals. The Fiestas here are numerous and each one is celebrated with the vigour that is synonymous with Andalucía. The main Fiesta is the annual Feria, which takes place in the middle of August.

INLAND

Alhaurín

Alhaurín el Grande is situated at the foot of the northern slope of the Sierra de Mijas mountains. The town opens up to the green valley of the Guadalhorce, where the landscape surrounding Alhaurín el Grande is rich with citric plots, fruits, vegetables, olive fields and cereals. The name Alhaurín el Grande dates back to the Moors, who originally named it Alhaurein (Garden of Allah). Like the Romans before them, they divided the area into two valleys, that of Alhaurín el Grande and Alhaurín de le Torre. Alhaurín these days is a typical working Spanish town, with an expatriate community who love the Spanish feel of living away from the more touristy coastal area, yet can still easily access those areas within a 20 minute drive.

Coín

Coín is quintessentially Spanish, a white-washed town nestling in the hills of the Guadalhorce Valley and overlooked by the Sierra de Alpujata mountain range. Thanks to the excellent climatic conditions surrounding Coín, and the abundance of water held within the Sierra, the landscape has a variety of vegetation. Cork and pine groves are commonplace and are in stark contrast to the equally abundant plots of orange and lemon trees. Where the water doesn't reach, the Coín countryside features olive groves and cereal plantations. Again this is a typical Spanish working town with a number of permanent and semi permanent expatriate residents, who want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the coast, but still have easy access to it.