• Table of contents
• 1.- Introduction
• 2.- The history of Guadalmina
• 3.- Sectors in which Guadalmina is divided into
• 4.-Las Bóvedas de Guadalmina: the impressive Roman baths by the sea.
• 5.- Gastronomy in Guadalmina
• 6.- Hotels
• 7.- Leisure and sports in Guadalmina for the whole family
• 8.- The Natural Jewel of Guadalmina: the gorge of Las Angosturas
• 9.- Schools
• 10.- Situation of the real estate market in Guadalmina

Guadalmina is anyone’s dream: an area full of villas, chalets and small residential areas. Very close to the sea. Ideal for those who are looking for exclusivity and tranquility. This dream has an architect, Norberto Goizueta, a businessman from Navarre who bought in the 30’s of the last century all of Guadalmina and transformed extensive fields into what it is today: one of the most luxurious areas in which to live on the Costa del Sol.

Hacienda Guadalmina was part, in the 19th century, of the properties of the agricultural colony of San Pedro Alcántara. The last owner of the farm, the Compañía General Azucarera de España, decided to divide it into plots and sell it in 1915 and in 1934 it was acquired by the Navarrese businessman Norberto Goizueta Díaz. In its beginnings, the Hacienda maintained its agricultural character until, with the beginning of the tourist expansion, it was converted into an urbanization.

1959 was a historic year for Guadalmina Baja, as Goizueta built the famous Real Club de Golf Guadalmina and opened the Guadalmina Hotel. The formula could only lead to success: a hotel with a 9-hole golf course (the first on the Costa del Sol), and a swimming pool surrounded by bungalows that almost joined the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

From that moment until now, Guadalmina has developed quietly as an exclusive area of discreet villas on large plots, an environment of quality and luxury that has become a benchmark for the whole of Spain.

Guadalmina is synonymous with peace and privacy. It is located between the popular district of San Pedro Alcántara and the New Golden Mile of Estepona. It is divided into two areas; Guadalmina Baja and Guadalmina Alta. The Guadalmina Shopping Center is the intermediate point between the two areas and is located on the north side of the A-7 highway.

Guadalmina Alta

It extends north of the A-7 highway to the AP-7 freeway. Many foreign residents choose to reside here, as it is a discreet and relaxed area with very good connections to the Estepona area, Ronda, Sotogrande and the rest of the Costa del Sol. Owners of villas in this area enjoy a lot of privacy as the properties are spread over large plots of land in wooded areas. In addition, many gated communities are located within this area, which means even more privacy for those who live within them.

Guadalmina Baja

This is situated below the A-7 highway and slopes down towards the beach. This area is a particularly popular choice for families. It is a coastal area and is close to the services offered by San Pedro Alcantara and the Costa del Sol. This area not only has front line golf properties, but also front line beach properties. There is a wide variety of residential properties, ranging from high-end villas on large plots to smaller villas on medium-sized plots with sea views, traditional Andalusian townhouses and modern apartment complexes.

Located in These baths are a spectacular thermal building constructed in the 2nd century AD. It is a highly complex construction, both in architectural conception and functionality. Although it is unknown if it was the work of a significant figure or linked to an urban center, it is evident the ambition to achieve an original and surprising work, reflecting the power of the one who undertook the construction.

The Roman thermal complex has a central area surrounded by seven high-vaulted rooms. It has a very precise geometric floor plan, octagonal in shape, organized around a central open core with several niches acting as alcoves. Around this, in a radial manner, seven similarly shaped rooms are attached, leaving a trapezoidal area on the west side, possibly the entrance.

All rooms have high vaulted ceilings, and there is a higher level around the central room’s oculus, which is thought to have been a castellum aquae where the now-missing aqueduct would have been connected. It is remarkable how well much of the building has withstood the test of time, thanks to the variety of construction methods used, especially the systematic use of concrete structures throughout the complex, and the use of arches, vaults, and domes as architectural solutions for openings and roofs.

Guided tour hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

In Guadalmina there are a number of restaurants of great gastronomic level. In addition to several beach bars to consider for lovers of seafood.

El Ancla

A classic of Guadalmina. Located in a unique setting, its terrace and indoor lounges allow us to enjoy Andalusian cuisine throughout the year in front of the beach. It has two indoor lounges, for 100 and 50 people, and its outdoor terrace makes it the perfect place to celebrate any type of event.

Regarding its gastronomy, the aromas and flavors blend in a marine cuisine that stands out for the quality of its products and its careful elaboration.

Among its dishes are delicious grilled sardine skewers, juicy anchovies in vinegar, superbly cooked seafood. The client can delight with fried anchovies with lemon, puntillitas, squid. Taste sea bream, grouper, monkfish, sole cooked in salt, baked or grilled. In addition to savor the best rice dishes and the best fish of the day. In short, the best seafood products prepared with the utmost delicacy.

Asador Guadalmina

Located in the Guadalmina shopping center, this Asador is another must for lovers of traditional gastronomy. It is one of the best options to eat quality meat in the province of Malaga. From its menu stands out the incredible T-bone steak, entrecote, sirloin steak, peppers stuffed with oxtail, etc.

The owner, José Eugenio Arias-Camisón, prints all his personality to this classic restaurant specialized in Basque cuisine.

El Cortijo de Ramiro

In the heart of the Guadalmina Baja urbanization is the restaurant El Cortijo de Ramiro, an icon of Mediterranean cuisine. The familiar treatment that Ramiro himself gives to his clients, recommending as a rule the most suitable flavors for each client, is a virtue that differentiates the restaurant El Cortijo de Ramiro.

The Salad with goat cheese prepares you before geniuses brand of the house as the Duck to the orange and the Sirloin with Pedro Ximénez, the stewed oxtail, the wild fish of the day, and homemade desserts such as apple Struddel and chocolate croquettes.

On Friday nights you can enjoy live jazz and the following day, Spanish guitar. The restaurant El Cortijo de Ramiro also has a large outdoor area and organizes the best celebrations. There are special menus for companies, weddings, communions and any type of celebration.

Guadalmina Hotel

It is one of the oldest hotels on the Costa del Sol and is currently under construction as it is in the process of increasing its category to 5 Star Grand Luxury.

Hotel Barceló Marbella

Located in Guadalmina Alta, the Barceló Marbella hotel is a cozy colonial style hotel characterized by the tranquility of the surroundings, the spaciousness and brightness of its rooms and, for lovers of relaxation, the hotel also has a wellness center with gym, sauna, Turkish bath and large solarium with Balinese beds.

In its Gastrobar La Santa María, guests can enjoy a new gastronomic concept that combines the best of international and local cuisine in a wide range of “traveling tapas”, with which each diner can travel the world through the palate, in addition to the possibility of enjoying live cooking in the buffet restaurant.

To complement the gastronomic offer, guests can savor delicious snacks in our food truck, a space on wheels, where they can find a more informal menu while enjoying the pool.

Golf in Guadalmina

Guadalmina Royal Golf Club

Do you want to play golf on the edge of the beach? On the Costa del Sol you can only do it at the Real Club de Golf de Guadalmina.

After 60 years of history, this sports and social institution of Marbella is one of the great Golf Clubs of the Coast. It has 2 18-hole courses and among the 1800 members of the Club there are 22 different nationalities, being predominantly Spanish, English and Scandinavian.

The Guadalmina Golf Club has hosted important tournaments such as the Spanish Championship in 1965, the qualifying rounds of the European Tour School in 1995 and 1996, and the Spanish Professional Championship of the APG (Association of Professional Sports Managers) in 1998.

The Real Club de Golf Guadalmina manages the two golf courses that exist in both Guadalmina Alta and Baja. The club also has a tennis court and a paddle tennis court to enjoy. There is also a swimming pool that can be used by members of the golf club. The club also houses a Golf School where you can learn this sport from beginners to professionals; they also offer classes for people of all ages.

Cablesky Las Medranas

This is one of the sporting attractions of Guadalmina. This equipment located in the beautiful lake of Las Medranas is currently closed due to the low water level due to the drought but it is an attraction to take into account when it opens its doors.

Opened in 1993 and located in the natural park of Las Medranas, in Guadalmina Alta, Wakeboard Center is the southernmost facility in Europe and has an area of 2,690 feet, with a CABLE 5.0 facility, which allows 9 people to ski at the same time.

The Cable-Ski system helps you to practice and train for water skiing in an easier, simpler and more economical way. Due to its 5 pulleys, it is a low-difficulty cable compared to conventional 2-pulley cables. After the reforms and innovations that took place during 2013, Wakeboardcenter is considered one of the best facilities in Europe, trying to improve every year by incorporating better modules and additional services.

Specialized instructors are available both for learning and for advanced and professional level.

Guadalmina Shopping Center

Guadalmina has its own shopping center, a small complex consisting of two two-story blocks. The upper floor is more focused on services, such as agencies, dentists, real estate agencies, beauty and massage centers, etc. While the first floor is focused on hospitality and stores such as pharmacies, bars, real estate, bank branches, supermarket, etc..

Las Angosturas means narrow space between two mountains. The Guadalmina River, in its middle section, is a real jewel for those who enjoy bathing in the river beds. Just after leaving the town of Benahavís on its way to the sea, the Guadalmina has formed a gorge, the Angosturas, which attracts thousands of bathers every summer, attracted by its pools, and canyoners who cross its limestone guts.

This hiking proposal is suitable for all audiences and involves enjoying the pools before and after the Angosturas: the Charca de las Mozas and La Playa. In addition, it adds a plus: to cross part of the centenary irrigation ditches that fed with water, even today, the crops of the fertile lowlands of the Guadalmina.

In this case, our starting point is the bridge of the golf course El Higueral. After crossing it we are attentive to our right to take the marked path of the irrigation ditches. Very soon we start walking along the irrigation ditch on a perfectly adapted path. We do some stretches over a metal grate.

After a few hundred meters we begin a small ascent that brings us closer to the Park of the hermitage of the Virgen del Rosario, where on Sundays a flea market is held.

We can already see in the distance the end of the Angosturas gorge with its characteristic wooden bridge that crosses the river at the top.

We continue along a pedestrian path next to the road and, before reaching the bridge we are attentive to a green gate on our right that we must cross to go down to the riverbed.

We arrive at the area known as La Playa: the southern mouth of the gorge has formed a large pond next to a sandy area. We have the bridge right above us.

It is time to take our first dip. If we enter the pool about fifty meters, on the left hand side we can climb on some rocks from where it is inevitable to jump into the water because in this area is about 3 meters deep. As a rule we must always check that the water covers enough in the place where we are going to jump to avoid an accident.

We can enter swimming towards the interior of the gorge, after passing a bend of the same one we will see to about 50 meters the dam that delimits the end of the routes of canyoning in the Angosturas.

After refreshing ourselves in La Playa for a while, we choose to retrace our steps back to the road. We approach the bridge to enjoy the views to the north and south.

Without crossing the bridge we continue along the pedestrian path next to the road. We will walk the 1.5 km distance to the next objective: the Charca de las Mozas. In this section we have spectacular views of the cliffs that form the Angosturas.

Soon we see part of Benahavís in the background. We take an entrance to the river on our right and flow into the Charca de las Mozas. It is time to enjoy this spectacular natural pool. Sliding down the natural slide or jumping over the rocks to the right of the pool. In the weeks that still remains of heat to take a bath in the Charca de las Mozas is a luxury, especially if we go during the week because hopefully there will be few people.

San José School

Colegio San José de Guadalmina is a private and bilingual school that covers all stages of the Educational System: Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Compulsory Secondary Education, National Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, developing a model supported by almost two centuries of history in which a series of values and personal qualities that promote the emotional and intellectual growth of students are encouraged.

Teamwork, concern for culture, curiosity for knowledge, critical thinking and international mentality are goals whose scope is the hallmark of Colegio San José.

Currently, more than 1,300 students from a wide area ranging from Mijas Costa to Algeciras study at the school, attended by 180 teachers.

Guadalmina, both Alta and Baja, is an area where villas on spacious plots are the norm, responding to the spirit of seeking privacy and tranquility of those who live in this corner of the Costa del Sol. There are also real estate developments focused on apartment complexes and townhouses, both near the beach and in the northern part of Guadalmina.

Guadalmina Baja is a particularly attractive area due to its proximity to the sea. Depending on the location of the villas, their proximity to the sea and other factors, the price can vary quite a lot. An example: a villa of 800 square meters on a plot of 2,500 square meters can cost 4.5 million euros. There are other examples of villas of between 600 and 800 square meters built on plots of between 1,500 and 3,000 square meters with prices ranging between 3.5 and 6 million euros.

If what you are looking for is a house in an apartment complex, a 250 square meter house with 5 bedrooms costs just over 1 million euros on the second line of the beach. On the first line of the coast the price becomes more expensive, since an apartment of 260 square meters and four bedrooms is sold for 1.8 million euros.

Regarding Guadalmina Alta, it is possible to find a townhouse of 240 square meters with five bedrooms for 1.2 million euros. Also in a residential complex it is possible to find, at a more economical price, a three-bedroom apartment with 120 square meters for 760,000 euros.

Similarly, Guadalmina Alta is a territory full of villas. Depending on the location and size of the plots, it is possible to acquire a villa for between 3 and 8 million euros.

In short, both Guadalmina Alta and Baja are very attractive places in which to buy a home as a first or second residence or as an investment. Tranquility and easy access to one of the quietest beaches on the Costa del Sol is guaranteed. Golf lovers have one of the best golf courses in Spain. Connections to places like Marbella, Sotogrande, Gibraltar, Ronda or Malaga are easy and very close. In short, Guadalmina is the perfect retreat for those seeking peace, discretion and a place to raise a family in tranquility and luxury.