Area Guide Guadalmina

Guadalmina Area Guide

Though it is often described as a leafy, tranquil residential area traversed by the verdant fairways of its golf courses, Guadalmina is nonetheless very centrally and conveniently located. Situated just to the west of the lively little town of San Pedro de Alcántara, which retains an authentic Andalusian feel, this refined suburb is at the crossroads that put Puerto Banús (10 minutes), Marbella (15 minutes), Benahavís (15 minutes) and Estepona (20 minutes) right on your doorstep.

The figures above allow for a tranquil drive and some traffic, yet despite having all manner of amenities at its fingertips, a sense of peace and calm envelopes you as you enter Guadalmina. At the heart of it all are the two Guadalmina golf courses, known as the North and South courses respectively. Though both are part of one of the earliest and most prestigious clubs on the Costa del Sol, the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, each has a very distinct ambience.

Guadalmina Area Guide

Guadalmina’s Location

Thanks to the larger resorts of Marbella, Puerto Banús and San Pedro de Alcántara, Guadalmina benefits from a fantastic network of transport options.

Guadalmina is just over 50 minutes away by car from the Málaga-Costa del Sol International Airport (AGP), or just over an hour away from the smaller airport of Gibraltar (GIB). Both airports provide convenient connections to the US, UK and Europe, as well as internal flights within the Iberian Peninsula.

If you’re eager to explore Andalucía and beyond, Málaga’s Maria Zambrano rail station offers rail connections to a range of destinations around the country. From the historic streets of Seville, the majestic Alhambra in Granada, to the bustling capital of Madrid, the possibilities are endless when you use rail transport.

Marbella and the entire Costa del Sol are well-connected by modern motorways, including both toll and public roads such as the AP-7 and the more scenic N-340 (A-7), which runs along most of the coastline.

Guadalmina’s History

In 1933, Norberto Goizueta, a young affluent individual from Navarra, stumbled upon the towering sugar cane plantation of Guadalmina while sailing along the Mediterranean coast on his yacht. Captivated by the plantation, he decided to acquire the 350 acres of land from the Compañia General Azucarera de España with the intention of farming.

Having acquired the land for the sum of half a million pesetas (equivalent to 300,000€ today), situated between the Rio Guadalmina and Arroyo del Chopo, he erected the grand Hacienda Guadalmina—a sprawling ranch house fashioned in the Californian style, adorned with artefacts from the Seville Expo of 1929.

Eventually, he witnessed the burgeoning tourism industry along the Costa del Sol in the 1950s, and Norberto altered his original plans for the land. In 1959, he inaugurated the nine-hole Campo Sur Links Golf Course, now part of the esteemed Real Club de Golf Guadalmina. Subsequently, he also debuted the prestigious Hotel Guadalmina, nestled nearly beachside with a swimming pool and beach bungalows, quickly becoming a vibrant social hub for the local community.

However, it was during the 1980s that Guadalmina experienced a significant surge in tourism development, marking the era when most of its expansion unfolded.

Surprisingly, Guadalmina has managed to hold on to its historical roots and evidence of this can be found in various sites throughout the area. Near the Guadalmina River’s mouth lies the remnants of an ancient Roman Bath dating back to the 3rd Century, locally known as Las Bovedas (‘The Domes’). Comprising seven stone rooms built in an octagonal shape, this well-preserved relic, located close to the beach, awaits renovation by the Junta de Andalucia. While not currently accessible to the public, it can be observed from a distance by following the path at the end of Calle 3 in Guadalmina Baja.

Areas in Guadalmina

Guadalmina Alta

As Guadalmina straddles the A-7 coastal road, the area to the north of it is known as Guadalmina Alta (Upper Guadalmina). Quite distinct from its neighbour on the seaside of the road, this is a residential area that offers a good mix of villas, apartments and luxury townhouses, most of which are ranged around the North Course that was first opened in 1973. Its broad fairways form the main focal point for luxurious Guadalmina frontline golf villas, as well as some of the finest golf apartments in Marbella.

Though peaceful, Guadalmina Alta is the part closest to San Pedro de Alcántara, bringing shops, restaurants, tapas bars, cafes and also its international schools and beaches to within a ten-minute range. In addition, you will also find the Guadalmina commercial centre here, packed full of restaurants, offices, cafes, clinics, banks and a Carrefour supermarket that serves the immediate surroundings, along with such features as a driving range and a lakeside cable-ski club, complete with chill out lounge. For grill lovers, you must stop by the famous Asador Guadalmina, a traditional Spanish grill, located in the commercial centre. Packed with mouth-watering meat dishes from the Basque Country, this is a must-see restaurant in the area.

The views in Guadalmina Alta are dominated by the golf course, although it also includes the nearby mountain scenery and vistas of the Mediterranean – not more than a kilometre away. The properties for sale in Guadalmina Alta include a fine selection of frontline golf apartments overlooking the Guadalmina North course. Here you will find two and three-bedroom apartments as well as larger penthouses with expansive panoramic rooftop terraces, some with their own Jacuzzis, plunge pools, chill-out lounges and outdoor bars.

Guadalmina Alta also offers an excellent choice of villas in a variety of styles, sizes and prices, as well as some good opportunities for renovation and investment, while the suburb is also known for its range of medium to large townhouses, many of which qualify as compact villas.

Guadalmina Baja

Similarly distributed around a golf course – in this case, the opulent park landscape of the Guadalmina South course – Guadalmina Baja (Lower Guadalmina) is situated south of the coastal road. In effect, it is the seaside extension of Guadalmina and as such it has become the most desirable of the two. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most exclusive residential areas in Marbella, and besides being among its top addresses is also peaceful, secluded and very close to all amenities.

Leafy streets with little passing traffic dissect the large private plots on which established, mature gardens wrap around the large, and elegant villas. The properties here rank among the finest in Marbella, and while this is a zone dominated by villas, there is also a small selection of townhouses and beachside apartments in Guadalmina Baja. The latter is close to the elegant Guadalmina Spa resort hotel, which fronts a very peaceful and private stretch of beach.

You will also find Barbillon Marbella, a luxurious new beach club. As a high-end beach venue, Barbillon is the perfect spot to spend those lazy summer days. Take a dip in the pool or a brisk swim in the sea, and treat yourself to some cocktails, or a spot of lunch or dinner.

Lying on the sand here, overlooking the only links course in the Marbella area, it is hard to imagine that San Pedro de Alcántara and Puerto Banús are so close by. But it is exactly this convenient location, combined with the peace and serenity of one of the Costa del Sol’s most refined ambiences, that draws many to build, renovate and buy properties in Guadalmina Baja.

To find out more about Guadalmina and the frequently asked questions about Guadalmina, head over to our Why Buy in Guadalmina page.

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