Area info

There are a whole host of things to do in and around the Benahavis area. Whatever suits your mood, there is plenty of choice!

You can enjoy the stunning natural surroundings with a gentle walk along the nature trails. You can walk straight out of Capanes del Golf, cross the road and start the Benahavis River walk. A round trip usually takes around an hour.

The pathway and bridge that have been built alongside the river gorge will also provide you with a route further up into Benahavis Village. You can grab breakfast, luch and then walk back down from the village. There are more pathways around the back of Benahavis village going past the lake and into the hills. Its very beautiful.

Other sports such as cycling and golf are very popular in the Benahavis area. There are a large choice of golf courses in Benahavis and the surrounding areas that suit all levels.

Maybe you simply want to unwind and relax. If so, there are a few local spas, or you can spend a day at one of the beach bars.

Check out our beach guide for the best ones in the area.

For a yummy lunch or dinner, there are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from in Benahavis Village and the local area.

If your are looking for more local area info, then contact us at Capanes Luxury Living and we point you in the right direction!

GOLF COURSES

EL HIGUERAL GOLF COURSE
Capanes del Golf is surrounded by the 9 hole El Higueral Golf Course soon to be extended into an 18 hole golf course. Tel.: (+34) 951 896 052, [email protected] , www.elhigueralgolf.com
If you are looking for a luxury golf holiday rental in Benahavis, or you want to buy a property on a golf course, then this municipality is rich in fantastic courses to play.  

COSTA DEL GOLF
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, there are so many to choose from. In the immediate area are Marbella Club Golf Resort, Monte Mayor, Atalaya Golf & Country Club and Los Archeros Golf. Also within a short drive are El Campanario Golf & Country Club, El Paraiso Golf, Guadalmina Golf and Los Flamingos to name but a few!

RESTAURANTS

There are some fabulous restaurants in Benahavis ranging from Café’s to Gourmet. So many in fact for such a little village, that it has become known as the gastronomic centre of the area.

All the restaurants in Benahavis village get very busy especially on a weekend. We recommend that you contact them in advance to book. Some also close one day a week and don’t open in the winter months.

If you are looking for traditional Andalucian cooking this is definitely the place to visit. There is a variety of tasty tapas, meat and fish dishes. Often these are based on traditional old recipes cooked by their Abuela (Grandma).

Many of the restaurants in Benahavis village are located down a small alleyway which leads to a pretty square. Most of our customers love dining here especially in summer. It’s a really lovely, atmospheric place to spend an evening. Below we have included some of our favourite restaurants in the Benahavis area. All of these are close for anyone staying or living in Capanes del Golf.

HOTELS

If you are looking to purchase a property in Capanes del Golf, then you may wish to stay in one of the many great hotels near Benahavis. From your hotel you can explore and get to know the area at your own pace. There is a wide choice of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.

Amanhavis Restaurant and Hotel is in the centre of Benahavis Village. It is a small boutique hotel built in the Moorish style. Also located in Benahavis is the Gran Hotel Benahavis spa hotel, a 4 star hotel which is a very popular wedding venue.

BEACHES

There are so many beaches near Benahavis, it’s sometimes hard to choose! As a guide, the closest and best beaches from Capanes del Golf are those of San Pedro de Alcantara and Puerto Banus. San Pedro has a huge long promenade, with beach fit gyms and beach bars and restaurants dotted along it.  

Puerto Banus has soft golden sand, and some more exclusive beach clubs.  Travel West towards Estepona and you will find some more hidden gems, such as the lovely beach of Costalita, Heaven Beach Bar, and El Velerin.  Some great places to eat and soak up the rays.

THE VILLAGE

Benahavis village has so much to offer and is only 5 minutes drive from Capanes del Golf. The village is nestled in the hills, just 7km from the coast. It is surrounded by mountains and a stunning river gorge, all of which can be explored on foot.

Situated between Marbella, Estepona and Ronda it is in a prime location for those seeking peaceful surroundings not too far away from amenities.

Benahavis village is known as a centre of gastronomy on the Costa del Sol due to its many renowned restaurants. It also has a Culinary school for students, the “La Escuela de Hostelería de Benahavís” who occasionally open their doors to test their skills on the public.

La Zagaleta, an exclusive gated residential estate and country club overlooking the village, lies within its municipal boundaries. The estate contributes to Benahavis’ status as the richest municipality per capita in Andalucía.

However, a real draw for visitors is the natural parkland surrounding Benahavis village. There are many nature paths for walkers and hikers. Also, if you like an adventure, you can try out canyoning in the stunning river gorge.

Professional guides take you downstream, jumping off rocks into the river, swimming through the cave-like part of the gorge and abseiling. A great way to experience nature, and suitable for most ages as long as you are fairly agile and a good swimmer.

When you buy a property in Capanes del Golf in Benahavis, you are sure to benefit from this beautiful area. It is also an ideal place for couples wanting a romantic break, or for a fun family activity holiday. Capanes Luxury Living are taking bookings now!

SHOPS

Shopping in Benahavis itself is small but varied. There are some good local artist and sculpture studios, some boutique clothes shops, and a great bric a brac shop like Aladdin’s cave.

In the summer, the village comes alive with night time markets and music events in the village square.

A short drive away from the village is a fantastic Organic Supermarket in the Monte Halcones shopping centre on the Ronda Road. Also for your food shopping in Benahavis / Guadalmina area you will find all the big supermarkets. For example discount stores like Aldi and Lidl, as well as well known Spanish supermarkets Mercadona and Supersol.

If you venture further afield from Capanes del Golf, and head over to Puerto Banus you will discover El Corte Ingles. This is a large department store with everything under one roof.

We also highly recommend a visit to the old quarter of Marbella. Here you find some pretty little cobbled alleyways full of boutique shops, and some quaint bars and restaurants. The square in the middle, full of Orange trees, is a very popular place to stop and have lunch.

And finally, just on the outside of Marbella Town is La Cañada, a shopping mall which has all the high street shops and brands. Zara, Mango, H&M to name just a few.

BARS

There are plenty of local bars near Benahavis, or in the village itself. From Capanes del Golf you can drive or take a taxi and within 5 minutes you will be either in Benahavis village. We also recommend the Boulevard of San Pedro de Alcántara. This is a lovely place to have an evening stroll and enjoy a drink.

If you want a bigger night out, then head for the famous Puerto Banus. There you can stroll around the luxury harbour and have a drink overlooking the super yachts. Then you can head on to the late bars open til 4am on the second line of the port, or on to one of the nightclubs, such as Pangea, Tibu or Aqwa-Mist.

Puerto Banus is about 10 minutes drive from Capanes del Golf, in Benahavis. Or, travel about 15 minutes and you reach Marbella, and its beautiful old town of pretty cobbled lanes. Here you find more of an old school glamour, with lovely boutique shops and excellent restaurants. Stroll down to the beach front promenade, and there you find the small port of Marbella, with a buzzing scene of more bars and restaurants. Marbella has a very international feel, but still maintains a lot of traditional Spanish charm.

NIGHTLIFE

If you are looking for nightlife near Benahavis, there are plenty of bars and clubs in the Puerto Banus and Marbella areas. In the village itself, there are also a number of small local bars that stay open til around 2am in the summer months. Maybe you are looking for a more lively, glamorous night out. In which case you should head to Puerto Banus, playground of the rich and famous. Expect to spot a few football players and TV stars! The port is packed with bars and nightclubs.

For a different kind of scene, Marbella town has an eclectic mix of bars and clubs dotted around the old town as well as the small port. We like it here, its not quite so “bling” and there are some really funky small bars and clubs with a more mixed international crowd. Wherever you choose, the nightlife near Benahavis is said to be one of the best in Spain.

ACTIVITIES

The area of Benahavis is ideally situated, surrounded by countryside and mountains, but close to the beach and town life. This means there is a wide range of different types of activities in Benahavis itself, as well as within easy traveling distance. Here are some of the activities that we at Capanes Luxury Living recommend. The list we expect will never be finished, as we are always adding to it! We’ve broken it down into groups – Cultural, Relaxed and Active. Depending on your mood, there is something for everyone!

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Wine Tasting – Bodegon Wine Gallery
Located in the heart of Benahavis, Bodegon is great place to taste wines from the region, as well as the rest of Spain. They also serve local cheeses, meats and olive oil, and you can eat in the restaurant.

Historic Visit – Marbella Old Town
Take a walk around the pretty lanes of the old town in Marbella. As well as some lovely restaurants and boutiques, there are also some really interesting and beautiful historic landmarks. These include the ruins of a 9th century Moorish castle and the 16th century City Hall (Ayuntamiento) located in Plaza de Los Naranjos (called Orange Square due to its abundance of Orange Trees). Just off this pretty square is the Capilla de Santiago Apóstol (Chapel of Saint James the Apostle), a former Hospital Bazán and the massive La Encarnación Church. All of which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Finding these sights down the tiny alleyways of the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) of Marbella is a great way to cool off and see a more cultural side to the Costa del Sol.

Flamenco – La Antigua Restaurant
Throughout the summer months, this beach front restaurant located about 10-15 minutes drive from Benahavis has a weekly flamenco show. It’s best to pre-book and check the show is on first, but its a lovely setting, with good food and service. The show is very lively, with musicians, singers and dancers. A lovely family friendly evening out.

Historic Visit – Ronda
Ronda is located within an hours drive of Benahavis, heading inland from the coast. It has a long and at times violent history, dating right back to Roman times under the reign of Julius Caesar. It’s most impressive feature that people go to see is the Puente Nuevo (“New Bridge”) which spans a deep canyon. It took just over 40 years to build and was completed in 1793. The bridge is a vertigo inducing 120 metres (390 ft) above the canyon floor!

Ronda also lays claim to having the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain. So with its long bullfighting heritage, stunning architecture and beautiful countryside, it’s no wonder the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent their summers here. On visiting you can see how Ronda was a real source of inspiration for both writers.

RELAXED ACTIVITIES

Torre de la Leonora Park, Benahavis
A picture perfect little park at the foot of Benahavis village. These gardens are a joy to wander around, although it doesn’t take long, it’s not very big. There is an old tower and a little amphitheater. People often go with their children and have picnics there. No dogs are allowed, which we suppose does help keep it so pristine.

Orchid House, Estepona
Even if you are not in to gardening, the Orchid House is an interesting place to visit if you find yourself wandering around Estepona for the day. The state of the art recently built “Orquidario” has a 30 metre high central glass dome, with 8000 different species of orchid on display. You follow a pathway through the various planting areas, and on to a 17 metre high waterfall that you can walk behind.

Thalasso Spa, Barcelo Hotel, Estepona
About 10 minutes drive from Capanes del Golf is we believe the best spa in the area. It is part of the Barcelo Hotel in Cancelada, which is on the road going to Estepona. It is for adults only of 17 years+. Uniquely, the water in the spa comes straight from the Mediterranean thus providing a diversity of vitamins, calcium, iron, protein and minerals. The spa circuit includes a Dynamic swimming-pool with a counterflow system; Active swimming-pool with more than 20 rest spots; beds from air to water, gooseneck, bank of bubbles, cascades and massage jets, cold contrast pool, pebble path, Finnish sauna, hammam, aroma bath, ice fountain, different showers, and a relaxation area with jasmine tea. You come out feeling so relaxed and cleansed, it feels like you are floating on air!!

ACTIVE ACTIVITIES

Costa Cycling Experience, Benahavis
The beautiful surroundings and year round warm weather make cycling one of the more popular activities in the Benahavis area. Whether you’re a beginner, or more experienced, Costa Cycling have all your needs covered. They arrange accommodation, cycle hire, guided tours, training camps and more.

Canyoning, Benahavis
Flowing around the base of the village of Benahavis is the Guadalmina River. Over the centuries it has cut a deep river gorge, which eventually finds its way out on to a flood plain, before reaching the coast. With the winter rains (yes it does rain here occasionally!) the river surges through the cutting, bringing rocks and boulders down with it. However, come spring, the river level drops which enables people to explore in safety. There are a number of professional companies that will take you down stream, and they provide safety helmets and wetsuits. You don’t need to be super fit to do the canyoning in Benahavis, you just need to be a little brave, and a good swimmer. A little brave, because first they get you to jump off some rocks in to a clear water pool. Next you get lead down the river bed, scrambling and sliding across the rocks. Then you get to swim through the canyon itself, which is like an open topped cave, with its massive high walls. It really is quite stunning. Then further downstream there is steep drop which they provide you with equipment to abseil down it. Its not massively high, but high enough not to jump it! After about a 2.5 hour journey, you’ll be glad to put your feet up, but with a real sense of achievement and wonder at nature.

X Life Tours, Estepona
This tour company is just 5 minutes drive down the road from Capanes Del Golf in Benahavis. They offer a number of tours, one of which is a Buggy adventure. These little 4 wheel open sided vehicles are built for going off road, so they are great for a bit of fun and seeing the scenery. Depending on how many hours you book, your guide will take you on a journey through mountain trails and across river beds, to visit castles, see scenic spots and maybe stop for a picnic. You need a driving license if you are the driver, but anyone above 4 years old can be a passenger.

Sur Walks, Benahavis
This is the best way to discover hidden Andalucia. On foot, explore the beautiful hills and mountains that are just a few minutes drive inland away from the hubbub of the coast. Sur Walks offers lots of different hiking tours and holidays, to suit all levels. One of her tours leads you up the valley of the Guadalmina River to the remains of the Moorish castle of Montemayor. From Montemayor there are magnificent views over the coast, the water reservoir, and Benahavis village. The tour ends with some traditional tapas in Benahavis village.

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