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Property in Spain: The seven most exclusive neighbourhoods on the Costa del Sol

A guide to the most exclusive neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol and the types of stunning homes for sale there, if you have deep pockets!

Published: 30 November 2020 13:21 CET
Property in Spain: The seven most exclusive neighbourhoods on the Costa del Sol
All photos: The Property Agent

One of the most beautiful stretches of the Costa del Sol lies between Sotogrande and Estepona. A less developed part of the coastline with a dramatic mountain backdrop and verdant landscape, this area offers stunning natural surroundings. It’s therefore unsurprising to discover that it’s also home to some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol.

Some enjoy proximity to the sandy coastline while others sit in the rolling foothills of the mountains. Magnificent views come standard as does some of the best property you’ll find in Southern Spain (and indeed, Europe). 

In this article, Celeste Alonso, manager of The Property Agent and an expert on real estate on the Costa del Sol, shares her guide to these sought-after neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol and the types of stunning homes for sale there.

Exclusive neighbourhoods Costa del Sol

La Zagaleta in Benahavís

When it comes to exclusive neighbourhoods on the Costa del Sol, La Zagaleta stands out ahead of all others. This secluded private estate (900 hectares), situated on the road to Ronda, about 13km from Marbella, is a select sanctuary of multi-million euro homes. Many belong to the world’s rich and famous, and all enjoy onsite amenities that are second to none.

What makes this area so exclusive? Its privileged location and absolute discretion – you may never know who your neighbours are.

On the market in La Zagaleta

This stunning new-build villa takes cutting-edge modern architecture to a whole new level. Set on an elevated plot with over 5,315 square metres to call your garden, the exclusive home comes with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms over a massive 2,000 square metres of built space. It also offers all the extras you’d expect at one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol including an indoor pool, spa, wine cellar, home cinema, infinity outdoor pool. Yours for €8,9000,000

Find out more about this property here.

Sotogrande

La Reserva in Sotogrande

At the far western end of the Costa del Sol lies the stunning private community of Sotogrande. The are has been synonymous with exclusivity since its inception. The luxurious residential development ranks among the best in Europe, and like La Zagaleta, offers privacy and discretion. Among the best neighbourhoods within Sotogrande is La Reserva set in the inland foothills. It has its own golf course (there are five in total in Sotogrande) as well as an inland beach club with a freshwater lagoon.

What makes this area so exclusive? The stunning countryside with world-class amenities on your doorstep.

On the market in La Reserva

Located above La Reserva Club, this modern villa offers possibly the best views on the western Costa del Sol – panoramic mountain and Mediterranean vistas are yours to contemplate from every corner in the spacious home. Set on a plot of 5,162 square metres with infinity pool and landscaped gardens, the villa includes six bedrooms (all with views) and nine bathrooms. Inside, you’ll also find an indoor pool, gym and spa. Yours for €9,000,000

Find out more about this property here.

Finca Cortesin

Finca Cortesin in Casares

Tucked away in a privileged location near the pretty white village of Casares, Finca Cortesin brings together all the elements of luxury living. Within the gated residential development are one of the world’s finest hotels resorts and one of the top five golf courses in Spain. Manicured to perfection and enjoying glorious views of the nearby mountain ranges and the Mediterranean and Gibraltar, Finca Cortesin offers world-class services to residents and guests.

What makes this area so exclusive? Its stunning location and low-density development.

On the market in Finca Cortesin

Modern contemporary style comes into its own in this spacious villa with a frontline location at the renowned Finca Cortesin golf course. One of 16 villas in a gated community, the property has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms plus open-plan living spaces that make the most of the beautiful views outside. Finishes meet the highest standards and include underfloor heating and feature fireplace. The 1,937 square-metre plot has a private pool and gardens.  Yours for €5,000,000

Find out more about this property here.

El Paraiso Estepona

El Paraiso in Estepona

One of the most established neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol, El Paraiso, enjoys an optimum location. Situated at the eastern end of the New Golden Mile, it lies within easy reach of Marbella and Estepona. Founded in the early 1970s around a golf course of the same name, El Paraiso offers beautiful sea and mountain views enjoyed by all the villas on the tree-lined avenues that rise up from the coast, just a few minutes away.

What makes this area so exclusive? Its well-designed layout and peace and quiet, all within very easy reach of Marbella.

On the market in El Paraiso

A stunning modern villa with equally stunning views down to the coast, this property forms part of the exclusive Kings Hills development. The 1,124 square-metre plot makes the most of its location, and the villa offers multiple terraces to showcase the views and the alfresco lifestyle that characterise the Costa del Sol. Inside are five spacious bedrooms and five bathrooms plus open-plan living. The villa also has landscaped gardens and private pool. Yours for €1,895,000

Find out more about this property here.

La Quinta Benahavis

La Quinta in Benahavís

Enjoying one of the best locations on the western Costa del Sol, La Quinta sits in the foothills to the west of Marbella in stunning surroundings. It offers an oasis of peace and quiet within a short drive of the bright lights of Marbella and Puerto Banús, just a few minutes away. Established around 30 years ago, La Quinta includes one of the best golf and country clubs on the Costa del Sol, the 5-star Westin Quinta hotel plus three excellent restaurants.

What makes this area so exclusive? Its elegant planning and privacy within easy reach of Marbella.

On the market in La Quinta

Crisp modern lines characterise this new-build villa boasting some of the best Mediterranean and mountain views in the area. Designed to make the most of the natural vistas, the villa sits on a 1,430 square-metre plot and offers open-plan living across its three levels. All the interiors are flooded with natural light and include five bedrooms, five bathrooms and an indoor pool. The landscaped gardens come in Mediterranean style with plenty of terrace space and another pool. Yours for €3,850,000

Find out more about this property here.

Exclusive neighbourhoods Costa del Sol

Los Flamingos in Benahavís

Located slightly inland to the east of Estepona, Los Flamingos nestles in a verdant valley complete with natural lake and panoramic views down to the Mediterranean. Conceived as a paradise for golf – Los Flamingos is home to three excellent golf courses – and renowned for its privacy, this residential area offers one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods on the western Costa del Sol. The area is also home to Villa Padierna, one of the best hotels in the world.

What makes this area so exclusive? Its development entirely in tune with the stunning natural surroundings.

On the market in Los Flamingos

It’s all in a name, and Los Flamingos Views already gives you a clue to what to expect at this cutting-edge modern villa. The Mediterranean vistas are exceptional and from all rooms in this spacious home on a 1,287 square-metre plot. The master suite on the top floor with private terrace is just one of the seven bedrooms joined by seven bathrooms, a wine cellar and cinema room. Add to this, landscaped gardens and an infinity pool, and you have one truly stunning property. Yours for €2,750,000

Find out more about this property here.

La Finca Sotogrande

La Finca in Sotogrande

Part of the upper area of Sotogrande, La Finca enjoys some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the area. Cork oak forests dot the landscape while magnificent mountains rise to the north and the Mediterranean sparkles in the south. La Finca has commanding views of them all plus the advantage of being just a few minutes’ drive from Sotogrande Marina and the local beach. Designed as an exclusive hideaway, this part of Sotogrande might be one of the most recently developed, but it already stands among the best.

What makes this area so exclusive? A secluded location but with easy access to Sotogrande amenities and communications.

On the market in La Finca

Just because it’s one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods on the Costa del Sol doesn’t necessarily mean a million-euro price tag. And this contemporary villa at La Finca makes a case in point. Designed over a spacious 245 square metres, the two-storey home includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms and floor to ceiling windows allowing maximum sea views. The terrace comes in at a giant 118 square metres plus there’s a private garden. The secure development also includes landscaped gardens, pools, a gym and paddle tennis courts for all residents. Yours for €780,000

Find out more about this property here.

This article has been written by Celeste Alonso, who runs The Property Agent specializing in real estate on the Costa del Sol. If you are looking for property on the Costa del Sol contact her for HERE. 

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LIFE IN SPAIN

EXPLAINED: How to buy a boat in Spain

Considering buying a boat to enjoy life to the fullest in Spain? Here's a breakdown of costs, legal requirements, financing options and useful tips to factor in before purchasing a bowrider, a day sailer, a yacht or any other 'barco'.

Published: 3 May 2024 12:18 CEST
EXPLAINED: How to buy a boat in Spain

Spain has around 8,000km of coastline, and access to the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Bay of Biscay. For boat enthusiasts, you’re spoilt for choice in Spain.

But it’s not just as simple as picking out a boat, buying it and setting off into the ocean.

There are several decisions you’ll need to make first, rules to follow, administrative hoops to jump through, and then maintenance costs on top of that.

Types of boats

The first thing you’ll need to consider is the type of boat you want to buy.

Generally they can be split into two broad categories: motor boats and sailing boats.

Motor boats are the most popular type of boat sold and offer the greatest variety of options because they include pretty much everything from smaller more affordable power boats to huge luxury yachts.

As such, you could get a smaller motor boat, say for day trips of fishing on the coast, for as little as €10,000, whereas yachts, as you can imagine, can cost millions, depending on the size, power, design and quality of the boat.

According to several Spanish maritime sources, buying a used boat that you can live on in Spain can cost anywhere between €13,000 and €150,000.

Spanish website topbarcos.com has hundreds of boats listed for you to get an idea of what’s available in the second-hand market, as well as a page for new vessels.

Sailing boats are the more environmentally friendly option and require the most skill to sail, and include light sailboats, catamarans and trimarans. Again, prices vary from €5,000 to over a million, depending on the size, type of sail, material and quality of the boat.

Once you’ve decided on the type of boat you want and found one you’d like to buy, you’ll need to consider any potential legal requirements.

A woman sits next to a yacht in Puerto Banús luxury marina in Marbella. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

What are the legal requirements when buying a boat in Spain?

  • The correct nautical qualifications for the type and size of the boat you want to buy. There are different types of nautical licences to sail different boats in Spain, such as the PNB (Basic Navigation Skipper), the PER (Recreational Boats Skipper), the PY (Yacht Skipper) or the CY (Yacht Captain). Each has specific limitations in terms of length, power, distance from the coast and the type of sailing you can do.
  • Compulsory civil liability insurance that covers possible damages that you may cause to third parties with your boat.
  • Have all the necessary documentation for the boat, such as the certificate of seaworthiness and (essentially an MOT for the boat, showing that it’s in working order) and the navigation permit.
  • You’ll also need to pay the corresponding taxes on the boat purchase, such as VAT (21 percent), the special tax on certain means of transport (12 percent) or the transfer tax (4 or 6 percent, depending on the region).

READ ALSO: How do I get my boat licence in Spain

What other factors should you keep in mind before buying?

Think about what type of navigation you want to do, how often, with how many people and what your budget is. 

Don’t go with the first boat you see. Search and compare different models, brands, prices, conditions etc and don’t forget to keep an eye out for scams.

It’s a no-brainer but try the boat before you buy it, don’t just rely on photos or descriptions. Request a test ride to check the condition and navigational operation of the boat. 

If you do not have much experience or knowledge of nautical matters, it’s advisable to hire a professional to accompany you throughout the purchasing process. It could help you avoid possible legal, technical or administrative problems that arise.

They will also assist you with checking the condition of the boat’s interior: the carpentry, the engine, the electrical installation, the tanks, bilge, kitchen, bathroom and other compartments.

Here is a list of dozens of Spain-based brokers (as they’re called) or nautical companies that can assist you. 

Crucially, they will also be able to give you an informed assessment of what price you should be paying for the boat you’ve chosen. 

How can you pay for a boat?

Unless you have enough disposable income to pay for it cash, you probably want to know what kind of financing is available to you. 

There is the nautical mortgage (hipoteca náutica), which mimics the system for property mortgages, including the need for a down payment and embargo conditions in non-payment situations. 

Nautical credits (Créditos náuticos) also exist, which again are not too different from regular loans, including fewer notary costs than nautical mortgages and fixed interest rates. 

And lastly, nautical leasing is also an option, which is when a company acquires a boat and rents it to a customer for a certain period of time (normally between 4 and 15 years) and usually with an option to buy at the end of the contract.

Don’t forget the upcoming maintenance costs

If you manage all that and buy the boat, you’ll need to maintain the boat and pay costs to do so. These include:

The mooring: ie. the place where the boat is left when it is not in use. The price of mooring depends on the size of the boat and the location of the port. It can range from around €100 per month to several thousand.

However, be warned, in Spain these aren’t easy to come by. The Association of Industries, Commerce and Nautical Services (ADIN), estimates that Spain has only 107,894 moorings for 229,000 boats.

You’ll also need to pay for periodical technical checks that must be carried out on the boat from time to time to check its condition and operation. Again, the price depends on the type and size of the boat and the services contracted. It can vary from around €200 euros to several thousand.

Regularly cleaning the boat to avoid dirt, rust, algae, and parasites damaging the boat can also be quite costly. It can vary from as little as €50 for smaller boats to several hundred for bigger ones, and most experts recommend it should be done every 4-6 weeks.

READ ALSO: How to live on a boat in Spanish waters

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