Yes, it’s true – there is so much more to the Costa del Sol than just Marbella or Puerto Banus. Many who think about buying property on the Costa del Sol will assume Marbella is prime real estate and the best place to be. There is no doubt that Marbella is beautiful and offers up some of the best property deals on the Coast. But, there are several other areas throughout the coast that go un-noticed, which is a shame considering many offer beach front or golf front properties in majestic locations.
The area of Atalaya
Situated on the outskirts of Guadalmina and El Paraiso, the area of Atalaya offers the perfect location for holiday makers, future expats and golf enthusiasts. Atalaya has some of the most gorgeous parkland landscapes in its classic golf course. The Atalaya Golf & Country Club features some of the best fairways on the coast, with its tall beautiful trees and lush green landscapes.
Probably one of the best things about the area of Atalaya is how it doesn’t have an over abundance of apartments like some other areas of the coast. This is because the golf course was built in a time when land was still freely available. Therefore, the area retains its classic charm and is surrounded by stunning greenery and plenty of space.
Exploring Atalaya
The course is located north of the coastal road and you’ll find a residential area on the south side that runs towards the luxurious Atalaya Hotel on a private stretch of beach. Atalaya is an area dominated by villas, but the area also has a good share of townhouses and apartments as well. These townhouses and apartments are mostly found in very attractive and private complexes that feature Andalusian-Moorish architecture, all set in tropical communal gardens that include swimming pools.
Atalaya is a great place to buy property because it’s got everything you could possibly need. This includes shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and also sports and social clubs, as well as supermarkets and of course the golf club, with its old and new courses. The clubhouse forms a social hub for golf lovers of many nationalities, while the nearby commercial centres provide open-air shopping and socialising venues.
Even now Atalaya is becoming more popular thanks to new development opportunities and other contemporary builds underway.
The area of Estepona
Located at the western end of the Costa del Sol between Marbella and Manilva, you will find the seaside town of Estepona. Unlike other resort seaside towns on the Costa del Sol, Estepona maintains the typical Andalusian ambiance and the municipality stretches for over 21km along the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
For far too long Estepona has stood in the shadow of Marbella, mainly due to the cities appeal to the rich and famous. However, Estepona has been extensively upgraded in recent years and now ranks as one of the prettiest resorts on the whole of the Costa del Sol. Not only is it pretty it is also one of the newest property hot spots on the coast as well.
Estepona boasts impressive scenery as well, including the Los Reales mountain range to the North, and the highest peak resort rises to 1,449m above sea level, one of the highest in the province. Many of the streets are pedestrian and flanked with white-washed houses decorated with colourful geraniums.
Estepona’s seafront promenade stretches for several kilometres, providing a pleasant walk-way next to the town’s blue-flag beaches. In the west end of Estepona is the Marina, home to the fishing fleet, plenty of shops and restaurants plus a Sunday market. The town has plenty of amenities and facilities including health centres, private hospitals, schools and sports centres.
When it comes to Estepona properties, the west features several low-rise residential developments including Valle Romano and Costa Galera. You will find some of the resorts best hotels, like the Hotel Fuerte and Thalasso Spa Elba, as well as the naturist resort of Costa Natura.
In the east, which is situated between the town centre and San Pedro is the area known as the New Golden Mile – a stretch of coastline that is home to high-end developments like Alcazaba Beach, Los Granados del Mar, Dominion Beach and Mar Azul. On the New Golden Mile, you’ll also find luxury hotels like the Kempinski Hotel Bahia, Healthhouse Las Dunas and Senator Banus Spa plus world-class beach clubs. Many of the hotels and residential developments in this part of Estepona boast front-line beach positions, with many providing communal facilities that are top notch.
Exploring Estepona
Estepona might be small, but there are plenty of things to do and it’s a great holiday destination for the entire family. Topping the list of attractions has to be the beaches and of course the scenery. On a clear day you can see Africa on the horizon.
One of the best things to do is simply take a stroll around the town centre, where you can explore the maze of narrow streets and squares. One of the most attractive is the central Plaza de la Flores, which has traditional facades and fountains plus a huge abundance of flowers. Estepona is also home to 30 giant murals depicting a range of topics from abstract to everyday themes.
Besides the murals, Estepona also features an extensive collection of sculptures that are showcased around the town. There are over 25 in different locations and range from the life-like Monument to the Tourist on the seafront promenade to the unusual Dragon in the Sunshine in the Calvario Park.
The area of Benahavis
This amazing white washed village only 7km from the coast is by far the most popular location to buy property. The reasons, as you will find out, are more than just simple investments or holiday homes. Benahavis property is highly sought after because of its prime location, and exceptional beauty, but even more so, because Benahavis is a getaway that’s not miles away.
Benahavis is a place of natural beauty, situated just south of La Serrania de Ronda mountain range, surrounded by forests and crossed by 3 rivers; the Guadalmina, Guadaiza, and Guadalmansa. It is also the richest area in Andalucia per capita, mainly due to the presence of the highly exclusive golf and residential development of La Zagaleta located within the local vicinity.
Exploring Benahavis
Benahavis village is laid out in typical Moorish style, with narrow cobbled streets tightly packed with Andalusian white houses, small shops and an incredible array of restaurants. Because of its high concentration of restaurants, in such as a small area, Benahavis is also known as ‘the dining room of the Costa del Sol’. The village offers a diverse landscape and some amazing places to visit. The area is renowned for its scenery and outdoor activities which include hiking and mountain bike treks, hidden rock pools and inland waterfalls and of course Golf at some of the most acclaimed courses in Southern Spain. For example, like Los Arqueros, Guadalmina Golf course, Atalaya Golf & Country Club, La Quinta and Marbella club golf resort all fall within the Benahavis municipality.
In addition to the renowned golf resorts, the area is also home to some of the most exclusive residential real estate in Southern Spain: La Heredia the popular modern Andalucían village, further elevated towards Benahavis you will find La Zagaleta, El Madonal and now the new Benahavis Hills Country Club.
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