LUXURY VILLA RENTAL
IN GUADALMINA

The Costa del Sol is synonymous with sandy beaches, and sun worshippers have the pick of 24 of them along Marbella’s 27km coastline. To the east of the river is Playa Guadalmina, a 1.5km stretch of pristine beach between San Pedro de Alcántara and Estepona, lined with large villas whose lush gardens extend almost to the sand. This quiet stretch of beach, which year after year has retained its Blue Flag, is frequented mostly by locals and clients of the Hotel Guadalmina Spa & Golf Resort, its shallow, tranquil waters making it an ideal beach for families. Playa Guadalmina sits to the west of Playa Linda Vista where you can visit the ruins of the 3^rd century Roman baths Las Bóvedas and the 16^th century watchtower, as well as the 4^th century Paleo-Christian church and necropolis La Basilica de Vega del Mar.

Beach Club bliss

Marbella’s beach clubs are a thriving tradition, providing entertainment and outstanding facilities day and night. The Guadalmina Hotel Beach Club is no exception, with two swimming pools overlooking the sea (one for children), a poolside lounge bar and seafront restaurant. The Macaao Beach Club towards Playa Linda Vista is known for its “cosy and joyous” vibe, with welcoming personal attention from the owner and his wife and exceptional quality food and wine; and Chiringuito Sol excels in fresh seafood cooked over an open fire. El Ancla on Linda Vista beach is a tranquil, family-friendly place where you can relax on loungers facing the sea, swim in the huge saltwater swimming pool, or enjoy tasty freshly caught seafood on the large terrace with sweeping views of the sea. Just a stone’s throw from El Ancla is the newly-opened Barbillón Marbella, 4,000 square metres of classy beach club, pool bar and restaurant where you can lounge away the day and enjoy exquisite local and international cuisine.

Andalucía is famous for its vibrant cultural scene which honours the region’s deep-rooted traditions. Marbella and Málaga hold many local and international events throughout the year, including concerts, theatre, art exhibitions, sporting events, and food fairs. In October, San Pedro de Alcántara puts on its annual week-long celebration in honour of its patron saint San Pedro with parades, processions of horses and horse-drawn carriages, music and dance, fireworks and children’s activities. Just north of Guadalmina, the charming village of Benahavís hosts a varied calendar of cultural events, including the five-day Benahavís Fair in mid-August, the Andalusian Show Jumping Championships in early September and the annual pilgrimage honouring its patron saint, Our Lady of the Rosary, in October.

As an established and exclusive residential area, Guadalmina has all the shopping staples on its doorstep. The Centro Comercial Guadalmina just north of the coastal road in Guadalmina Alta has a comprehensive choice of professional services, alongside cafés, top-notch restaurants and food shops. Nearby San Pedro de Alcántara boasts everything from fashion boutiques to furniture stores, sporting apparel shops to luxury car showrooms. There’s also a wonderful street market every Thursday, well-known for its huge variety of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables. A 10-minute drive towards Marbella brings you to Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile for more luxury boutiques than you can shake a stick at! And if you prefer to shop under one roof, just off the marina there’s the biggest El Corte Inglés in Europe – 6 floors of department store dreamland.

If you look at Guadalmina on an online map, you’ll see the characteristic rivers of green snaking around and through the landscape that hint at the goldmine of golf clubs in the area. Opened in 1959, Real Club de Golf Guadalmina boasts two of Marbella’s oldest golf courses, which meander down from Guadalmina Alta, under the A-7 coastal road all the way to the beach behind the Guadalmina Hotel. Just to the west of the river are two more – Atalaya Golf & Country Club and El Paraíso – while to the north, forming a green crown above Guadalmina are El Higueral, Los Arqueros, Los Naranjos and Las Brisas, and the cherry on top just northeast of Benahavís is the prestigious La Zagaleta Golf and Country Club. These championship golf courses created by world-renowned designers are considered some of the best in Europe, and their harmonious integration into the stunning Andalusian landscape, first-rate facilities, and a full calendar of social events and tournaments, attract amateur and elite golfers alike.

It’s not just the golf or the sun-soaked beaches that draw people to Guadalmina, although they obviously add to the appeal! The area’s natural heritage and stunning landscapes fulfil a growing need to switch off from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with the great outdoors. Just taking in the views with the Serranía de Ronda mountain range providing a majestic backdrop to the shimmering Med can be enough to rejuvenate and reset. But those who enjoy sports and activities in nature will find plenty to do here, from water and racquet sports to river and mountain adventures.

Tennis and padel players can take their pick of the courts at the Guadalmina Hotel, Club de Padel Alhambra del Golf or Guadalmina Club de Padel. Or you could take a short drive to the Nueva Alcántara Club (NAC) in San Pedro de Alcántara, chosen as the “Best Club in the World for 2023” at the 9th edition of the Padel Spain World Padel Awards for its outstanding facilities, including 16 padel courts, the M3 Padel Academy, and a state-of-the-art Normobaric chamber.

If you’re longing to fully immerse yourself in nature, the Guadalmina river provides the perfect setting for a swim or paddle, and hikers and cyclists can follow the Sendero de la Acequia Guadalmina – a 4.6km circular trail along the irrigation channel – and then cross the suspension bridge over the Cañon de las Angosturas. If you’re keen on canyoning, Torre Leonera park southeast of Benahavís village leads to Charca de las Mozas, a four-metre-deep natural pool which marks the start of the 1,100m-long river ‘walk’ to Charca de los Tubos, passing through the narrow gorge walls. If you’re tempted by the idea of a challenging hike punctuated with refreshing dips in natural pools with hardly a soul in sight, don’t miss the two other rivers that flow down from the Serranía de Ronda into the sea: the 24km Río Guadalmansa to the west of Guadalmina, and the 22km Río Guadaiza which runs down to the east of the road from Ronda to San Pedro de Alcántara.

After all that exercise and fresh air, you’ll no doubt need to replenish those energy stores with some delicious local or international fare. Whether it’s chilling out at a chiringuito savouring super fresh seafood, or supping on posh nosh in stylish surroundings, there’s an impressive choice of eateries in and around Guadalmina. The Guadalmina Hotel has two restaurants: Taray, where you can savour Mediterranean cuisine on the seafront, and Cocoa, if you’re hankering for some Italian comfort food overlooking the Guadalmina South golf course. Not far from the hotel, El Cortijo de Ramiro is a charming locale serving elegant Mediterranean cuisine, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by Ramiro himself, who will ensure everything is to your total satisfaction.

Just across the A-7 coastal road, Centro Comercial Guadalmina is home to three terrific restaurants: El Pescador, which prides itself on its “no catch” cuisine where local products from land and sea remain the stars of the show; Asador Guadalmina, a steakhouse owned by the “maverick” José with a loyal local clientele who enjoy the rustic vibe, authentic tapas and first-rate meat from the Basque country; and Dajidali, a Japanese fusion restaurant, whose creative chefs blend traditional and contemporary techniques to produce unique flavours which tantalise the tastebuds. And just a few steps away is Panne & Cioccolato, an all-in-one café-bakery-deli where you can enjoy homemade goodies crafted with love and artisanal Italian cuisine.

Heading east towards San Pedro de Alcántara, Barbillón Marbella on Playa Linda Vista is a beach-club-bar-restaurant offering a chic and inviting open-plan space just made for leisurely lounging and sampling exquisite fusion dishes and local favourites. A stroll along the beach to Playa San Pedro brings you to La Pesquera de San Pedro on the seafront promenade, which excels in authentic Andalusian-style seafood and grilled meats. And just a couple of minutes’ drive away is Soul by Breathe, a versatile venue located in the NAC Nueva Alcántara Club, perfect for all-day dining, with its stylish glass-walled restaurant that blends seamlessly into the garden and stunning views beyond.

If you find yourself in the vicinity of Benahavís, make sure you stop to try out one (or several) of the first-class restaurants here, renowned for their culinary excellence and emphasis on local products and national and Andalusian specialities. Amanhavis, in the hotel by the same name, is an elegant rustic restaurant with a cosy living room ambience, where you can enjoy the chef’s creative Andalusian dishes which change with the seasons and make use of the freshest products from the local market. A short walk down the road, Los Abanicos is an excellent choice if you want delicious home-cooked Spanish food or a modern take on classic dishes with a convivial atmosphere. Just next door, La Escalera de Balthazar ticks all the boxes when it comes to traditional Andalusian comfort food and comfy surroundings, with staples such as gambas al pil pil (spicy prawns), gazpacho and roast suckling pig, as well as dreamy homemade desserts. Continue a little further down the hill and you’ll find something a little different: Escuela Hostelería Benahavís, a hospitality school training the next generation of chefs and waiting staff to the highest standards. Appetising surprise tasting menus keep things interesting and the quality of their dishes made with ingredients from Málaga in the Malagueño way is exceptional.

We are a luxury hospitality and real estate company in Marbella offering an unbeatable combination of luxury, privacy and discreet 7-star hotel service, tailored to satisfy your every comfort and need.

How can we help you?

Get in touch with us at Marbella Mountain Resorts and we’ll find the perfect luxury accommodation in Guadalmina for you. Or if you’d like to consider other beautiful locations in Southern Spain, check out our hand-picked collection of unique luxury villas in Marbella, La Zagaleta or Sierra Blanca.  Let us wow you with our first-class hospitality service and trust us to curate exceptional and immersive local experiences for a holiday to remember!

Your remarkable Guadalmina journey starts here.

Contact us at:

Email: tourism@marbellamountainresorts.com 

Phone:+34 609 18 46 46