Area guide
For a detailed information, please download our area guide (PDF 964 KB) 
Benahavís
A picturesque little village in the hills north west from San Pedro de Alcántara, famed for it's many restaurants.
To many Andalucíans, native and expatriate alike, Benahavis is synonymous with food. It has the highest concentration of high class restaurants in the region and draws visitors by the thousand who come simply to savour the cuisine.
Casares
To the west of Marbella, a littlebit past the village of Estepona, the scenery changes drastically. In the Bay of Casares one leaves the big resort hotels and enormous urbanisations behind and reaches a more natural, rural environment. The western Costa del Sol offers wide beaches and endless and untouched countryside.
San Pedro de Alcántara
San Pedro de Alcántara is in an ideal situation, just 10 kilometres west from all the glitz and glamour of Marbella, yet just a few minutes drive away from the natural beauty of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range and 20 km from the town of Estepona. An ancient farming community, once famous for sugar cane, today San Pedro is a refreshingly unspoilt pueblo with an appeal all of its own.
Estepona
Estepona is an authentic Spanish village and is known for its great fishrestaurants. The golffreak doesn't have to bother: numerous golfcourses are situated in the neighbourhood of Estepona. If one wishes to look up the crowds, one can go to for instance Marbella, the centre of this mondain city can be reached within 15 minutes. Estepona is situated at about 50 minutes (by car) from Málaga International Airport.
Manilva
To the west of Marbella, past the village of Estepona, you find the port of La Duquesa. Nothing is as attractive as living in and around a port. People embarking and disembarking from enormous sailing yachts, facilities such as shops, restaurants and cosy bars are at hand. In short: a lively ambiance for those who find Marbella and Puerto Banús to hectic. La Duquesa also offers a beautiful 18-holes golfcourse and is situated at 50 minutes from Málaga International Airport.
Marbella
The motto of Marbella is 'A Way of Life' and, certainly, this luxurious resort seems to have it all and is a favourite location for the rich and famous. From Guadalalmina to Cabopino, the Marbella coastline stretches along some 26 kilometres of sunny beaches bathed by the Mediterranean. With perfect weather almost all year round, Marbella is a perfect place!
Mijas
Situated at 20 minutes from Málaga International Airport you'll find the small, picturesque village of Mijas. The small alleys, de beautifull squares, fountains and authentic white chalked houses are the characteristics of the villages at 425 metres above sea level. The beach of Fuengirola can be reached within 7 kilometres of Mijas. Cities like Marbella and Málaga are within easy reach of this small village.
Mijas-Costa
The Mijas municipality covers an impressive 148 sq. km and includes two major urbanisation?s, Sitio de Calahonda and Riviera del Sol. The former is informally known as the English village in Spain and the place to come for karaoke, second hand shops, British doctors and dentists, Indian restaurants, imported foods and, naturally enough, a plentiful choice of pubs.
Monda
A pretty village located north from Marbella up in the mountains towards Coín. Monda is a tiny town with a population of less than two thousand, beyond Ojén along the C-337 road, crouching in a mountain valley at a height of 1200ft. Marbella is only 15 minutes by car away.
Ojén
A pretty mountain village located north of Marbella towards Coín. Ojén has roughly the same population as Benahavis - 2000 - but it has not attracted the attention of wealthy expatriates as the latter village has done and, like Istán, has somehow conspired to remain relatively unspoiled in spite of its accessibility and the madcap whirl around it. Its name is derived from an Arabic word, 'hoxán'.
Interesting to the visitor is the old part of town which spreads down the mountainside on the other side of the road. Here the cobbled streets are narrow and well served by welcome drinking fountains. But Ojén used to be famous for something a little stronger than water. The production of the anise liqueur, aguardiente, which many Spaniards take each day with their morning coffee, once played a major part in the town's economy.
Sotogrande
Sotogrande is the luxury resort estate on the Mediterranean coast 15 minutes from Gibraltar and an hour from Malaga. Except Easter, July and August the estate is a very quiet and peaceful place to relax. At these times many Seville and Madrid families visit the estate relishing in its equipped beach restaurants, comfortable accommodation and privacy. The estate has a 24-hour security service. There are local supermarkets, the nearest town is Estepona to the east and La Linea to the west.
