La Quinta | Benahavís
.IN SUMMARY
La Quinta is a luxury residential area set in the hills of Benahavís, centred around La Quinta Golf & Country Club, a 27-hole course designed by Ryder Cup winner Manuel Piñero. Just ten minutes from Puerto Banús and fifteen minutes from Marbella centre, it combines villas and apartments across gated communities such as El Herrojo, Los Arcos and Lomas de La Quinta, alongside the major expansion of Real de La Quinta, a low-density residential resort that has established the area as one of the most ambitious developments on the Costa del Sol.
More than a dozen prime residential communities are arranged around an internationally renowned golf course designed by a Ryder Cup champion. Two luxury hotels and a new social club beside a 35.000 m² navigable lake complete one of the most comprehensive residential areas in Benahavís.
La Quinta at a Glance
- What to expect: detached villas and apartments in gated communities arranged around a 27-hole golf course, with views of the sea, valley and Sierra de las Nieves.
- The lifestyle: golf, nature and 24-hour private security, just ten minutes from Puerto Banús and its social scene.
- What not to expect: street life or neighbourhood shops. La Quinta is purely residential and relies on Nueva Andalucía and San Pedro de Alcántara for everyday amenities.
- The market: from established villas in gated communities built in the 1990s and 2000s to high-end new developments, with Real de La Quinta currently driving much of the area's growth.
- You will fall in love with: the balance between protected nature, exclusivity and genuine proximity to the coast.
Location
Boundaries and accessibility
La Quinta occupies the hills north of Nueva Andalucía, within the municipality of Benahavís. It borders the Guadaiza river valley to the west and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, to the north. Access is mainly via exit 172 of the AP-7 toll motorway towards San Pedro de Alcántara, from where a secondary road leads directly to La Quinta Golf and the surrounding residential communities.
Although its elevated position places it physically away from the coast, La Quinta is only ten minutes by car from Puerto Banús and the beach, and just over fifteen minutes from Marbella centre. The combination of the toll motorway and well-maintained secondary roads means that, in practice, the area functions as a peaceful extension of Nueva Andalucía's Golf Valley.
| Destination | Driving time |
|---|---|
| Puerto Banús | 10 minutes |
| San Pedro de Alcántara | 10-15 minutes |
| Benahavís village | 12-15 minutes |
| Marbella centre | 15-20 minutes |
| Estepona | 20 minutes |
| Hospital Costa del Sol (Marbella) | 20 minutes |
| Málaga Airport | 45 minutes |
| Gibraltar Airport | 1 hour |
Lifestyle
Life in La Quinta revolves around golf, nature and a level of privacy that is difficult to match so close to the coast. A short drive, however, is all it takes to reach the restaurants, shops and social life of Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús.
Nature and surroundings
To the north, La Quinta borders the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, ensuring a protected natural setting with no planned new development in that direction.
Gastronomy
- La Quinta Golf Restaurant: the Clubhouse restaurant, with a terrace and golf-course views, designed for members and visiting golfers.
- Los Abanicos: a Benahavís village classic since the 1980s, now run by the second generation of the family, serving traditional Andalusian cuisine with a menu that combines roast meats, fresh fish and long-standing favourites.
For a broader international selection, Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús are only ten minutes away.
Clubs and social life
With its restaurant, bar and lounges overlooking the course and coastline, the La Quinta Golf Clubhouse remains a traditional social meeting point in the area and also hosts events and private celebrations.
Sport and wellness
- La Quinta Golf & Country Club: 27 holes divided into three combinable courses, San Pedro, Ronda and Guadaiza, designed by Manuel Piñero, three-time world champion and Ryder Cup winner. It also has a golf academy founded in 1990, one of the pioneers on the Costa del Sol.
- Los Naranjos, Las Brisas and Aloha Golf: located in Nueva Andalucía's Golf Valley, less than fifteen minutes away.
Hotels
The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa: integrated into the golf course itself, it is the area's long-established reference hotel, with a spa, gym and Mediterranean restaurants.
Real de La Quinta
The area's major expansion: a residential resort of more than 200 hectares integrated into the slopes of the Sierra de las Nieves, with its own ecosystem of amenities.
- El Lago Club: the resort's new social hub, centred around a 35.000 m² navigable lake more than 400 metres long, with a beach, non-motorised water sports, a six-hole executive golf course, tennis and padel courts, an indoor swimming pool and the Le Max Wellness Club.
- Saltao: the Grupo Azotea restaurant located at El Lago Club.
- Angsana Real de La Quinta Hotel: integrated into the resort masterplan, it will be the first hotel under this brand in Spain.
- Walking, running and cycling routes around the lake, along with children's areas designed for families.
Shopping
La Quinta does not have its own neighbourhood shopping area, so residents rely on Nueva Andalucía and, above all, Puerto Banús, where El Corte Inglés and Marina Banús shopping centre are around ten minutes away by car. La Cañada shopping centre in Marbella expands the choice further with a cinema and a wide range of shops.
Families and children
The combination of gated communities with private security, spacious gardens and swimming pools makes La Quinta a popular choice for families seeking tranquillity without moving too far from the coast.
Nearby schools
- Aloha College International School: in Nueva Andalucía, around eight minutes away by car, one of the leading British schools on the Costa del Sol, with pupils aged 3 to 18.
- Laude San Pedro International College: in San Pedro de Alcántara, less than ten minutes away.
- Swans International School: in Nagüeles, less than twenty minutes away.
For a more complete comparison of educational programmes, languages and admissions, you can consult our guide to schools in Marbella.
The Market
La Quinta combines an established residential market with two clearly defined areas of growth. El Herrojo Alto has become one of the most sought-after villa locations in Benahavís in recent years, with high-end new-build homes. Alongside it, Real de La Quinta is the major low-density expansion that now accounts for a significant share of the area's new-build supply. The result is a market with a broad price range, suitable both for buyers seeking an established villa and for those who prefer to invest in the latest developments.
Property profile
The offering ranges from detached villas in gated communities such as El Herrojo, Los Arcos, Lomas de La Quinta and Vega del Colorado to apartment and penthouse developments with views of the golf course, mountains or sea, including El Mirador, Altos de La Quinta and Buenavista. Plots tend to be generous for gated golf communities, and many villas feature private pools, 24-hour security and open views across the valley or Mediterranean. Older homes from the 1990s and 2000s sit alongside recently refurbished properties and the new-build projects of Real de La Quinta, giving the area a highly varied residential stock in terms of age and architectural style.
Supply and inventory
Marenco Real Estate currently has 71 active properties for sale in La Quinta. Most are villas, although the portfolio also includes duplexes, penthouses, apartments and townhouses spread across the area's different gated communities. This variety makes it possible to serve very different buyer profiles within the same setting, with inventory ranging from completed developments to phases still under construction, particularly in Real de La Quinta.
Prices and values
According to idealista's price report, the average property price in La Quinta stands at 6.145 €/m² in July 2026, representing an annual increase of 8,9% and a record high reached that same month. To put this figure into the wider municipal context, Benahavís as a whole stands at 5.413 €/m², with La Zagaleta as the most expensive district (6.891 €/m²) and Benahavís village as the most affordable (4.396 €/m²). La Quinta therefore sits firmly in the upper half of this range, above the municipal average.
New Build
Real de La Quinta accounts for most of the area's current new-build supply, with more than 400 homes constructed and 223 already delivered within a development covering over 200 hectares. Active projects include:
- Romero: a collection of just 28 residences, including two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, with generous covered and uncovered terraces, panoramic sea views, a gym, coworking space and on-site restaurants. Residents have direct access to the six-hole executive golf course, the beach and lakeside promenade, the Wellness Centre and the future Angsana Hotel.
- Mimosas: villa-style garden apartments on the ground floor and penthouses with solariums, arranged across low-density buildings with views of La Concha mountain, Istán Lake and the coastline. Each home includes a leisure area in the basement that owners can configure as a gym, cinema or games room.
Outside Real de La Quinta, the gated community of The Hills, on the La Quinta hillside, has become one of the area's most sought-after addresses for new-build villas: a development of only 17 contemporary homes with panoramic sea views, designed by Tobal Arquitectos.
Buyer profile
International buyers dominate the La Quinta market, with particularly strong demand from British purchasers, followed by Scandinavians, Germans and Dutch buyers. Most are looking for a second home or a lifestyle change in a quieter setting without giving up proximity to Marbella and Puerto Banús. Families form an important part of the market, attracted by the security of the gated communities and the proximity of international schools, while dedicated golfers remain the area's traditional buyer profile, as they have since the 1990s.
Origins
Late 1980s: the origins of a family project
La Quinta's origins date back to the late 1980s, when Tomás Pascual, founder of Calidad Pascual, the historic Pascual dairy brand, acquired land in the hills of Benahavís to develop a golf course and a series of associated property projects. Born in Segovia in 1926 and based in Aranda de Duero, Pascual had built his fortune in the food industry before diversifying into other businesses, including real estate on the Costa del Sol. The choice of Benahavís was no coincidence. By the late 1980s, Marbella's golf boom was already well established, with Los Naranjos, Las Brisas and Aloha Golf firmly positioned in nearby Nueva Andalucía's Golf Valley, making the area a natural choice for a new development of this kind.
1990: opening of the golf course
La Quinta Golf & Country Club opened in 1990, designed by Manuel Piñero, a three-time world champion and member of the European team that won the Ryder Cup in 1985, together with golf-course architect Antonio García Garrido. Designed above all with player comfort in mind, the 27-hole layout is divided into three combinable nine-hole courses and makes use of the natural slopes of Marbella's Golf Valley. The same year saw the creation of the La Quinta Golf Academy, one of the pioneers on the Costa del Sol and still operating more than three decades later.
1990s and 2000s: residential consolidation
Over the following two decades, the different gated communities that now make up La Quinta were gradually developed, including El Herrojo, Los Arcos, Los Balcones, El Mirador and Lomas de La Quinta. This established the area as one of Benahavís's most sought-after residential golf addresses. Its growth mirrored that of Marbella's wider Golf Valley, which during those years became an international reference point for golf tourism in Europe and attracted British, Scandinavian and Central European buyers seeking second homes connected to the sport.
21st century: Real de La Quinta is born
With the next generation of the family at the helm, and Borja Pascual as CEO of La Quinta Grupo Inmobiliario, the project moved to a new scale with Real de La Quinta: a residential resort of more than 200 hectares integrated into the slopes of the Sierra de las Nieves, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Unlike the denser growth seen in other parts of the Costa del Sol, the development adopted a low-density approach from the outset, prioritising the preservation of its natural surroundings.
2026: opening of El Lago Club
El Lago Club opened in July 2026 as Real de La Quinta's new social and leisure hub. Centred around a 35.000 m² navigable lake more than 400 metres long, with a beach, water sports, executive golf, spa and dining. According to the developer, the project had reached approximately 50% of its total development by that point. Reinforcing La Quinta's position as one of the most ambitious residential projects on the Costa del Sol.
Fun Facts
A course designed by a Ryder Cup champion
La Quinta Golf was designed by Manuel Piñero, a member of the European team that won the Ryder Cup in 1985.
Three courses in one
The golf club combines 27 holes across three nine-hole courses that can be played in different combinations. Multiplying the possible layouts available to members and visitors.
A 400-metre lake in the mountains
El Lago Club at Real de La Quinta has brought a beach-style experience to the hills of Benahavís with a 35.000 m² navigable lake stretching more than 400 metres.
Neighbouring a Biosphere Reserve
La Quinta borders the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park to the north, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Spain's first Angsana
The future Angsana Real de La Quinta Hotel will be the first establishment under this hotel brand in Spain.
A family name with history in the area
The name of Tomás Pascual, the original driving force behind La Quinta, remains present in the development through Avenida Tomás Pascual, one of its main access roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is La Quinta located?
Administratively, La Quinta forms part of the municipality of Benahavís in the province of Málaga, although its proximity and lifestyle is often associated with Marbella. It lies only ten minutes from Puerto Banús and just over fifteen minutes from Marbella centre.
What types of properties are available in La Quinta?
The offering ranges from detached villas to apartment and penthouse developments with golf, mountain or sea views. This is complemented by new-build projects in Real de La Quinta, including Romero and Mimosas.
What are the approximate property prices?
According to idealista, the average price in La Quinta stands at 6.145 €/m² (July 2026), representing an annual increase of 8,9%. This is clearly above the average for the municipality of Benahavís (5.413 €/m²), although still below the level set by La Zagaleta (6.891 €/m²).
Is La Quinta a good area for families with children?
Yes. It combines 24-hour private security, spacious gardens and swimming pools. Times of between eight and twenty minutes to some of the leading international schools on the Costa del Sol. Including Aloha College, Laude San Pedro and Swans International School.
What is Real de La Quinta?
It is the area's major expansion: a low-density residential resort of more than 200 hectares, with more than 400 homes built. Its standout feature is El Lago Club, the resort's new social hub centred around a 35.000 m² navigable lake, which opened in July 2026.
Can you play golf at La Quinta without being a resident?
Yes. La Quinta Golf & Country Club is open to non-resident players and also has its own golf academy, founded in 1990.
What sets La Quinta apart from other golf areas in Benahavís?
Compared with other golf communities in the municipality, La Quinta combines a established market with over three decades of history.. This gives it an unusual investment profile: established villas alongside large-scale new development within the same setting.
Living in La Quinta means choosing golf, nature and privacy without giving up proximity to Marbella and Puerto Banús. The combination of established gated communities and the recent momentum of Real de La Quinta makes this one of the most complete residential areas in Benahavís. With options for buyers seeking an established villa as well as those who prefer to invest in the latest developments.
At Marenco Real Estate, we know La Quinta in depth and can guide you throughout the entire process, from the first viewing to completion.
Discover our selection of properties in La Quinta or contact our team at marencorealestate.com for personalised advice.
