The Village
The village of Benahavís, as its name suggests, is an original Moorish stronghold set in the mountains of the Sierra Bermeja. Blessed with a plentiful supply of fresh water springs, Benahavís is located just 7.5kms from the main coast road and to this day remains unspoilt by passing traffic – you leave by the same road by which you arrived!
The Benahavís road follows the path of the Guadalmina River as it meanders its way to the coast carving through a spectacular gorge which provides a popular spot for rock climbers and adventurous ‘coasteering’ groups who use the river for corporate sporting events.
Benahavís is an Andalucian ‘pueblo blanco’ which is overlooked by its very own ancient Moorish castle perched high on the mountain of the same name, ‘(Castillo) Monte Mayor’
Amongst others, Natural Interest Monuments such as ‘Las Angosturas’, ‘Fuente del Moro’, ‘Charca de los Novios’, and Charco de las Mozas are favourite historic locations for both visitors and Spaniards alike.
Benahavís has made its name not just for its rich historic value, but also for the village restaurants which have made Benahavís famous as ‘El Rincon de Gastronomía’ (Gastronomic Corner) This is the Andalucian kitchen at its best, using the local ingredients indigenous to the area. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, baby lamb and suckling pig to name just a few. These dishes are infused with the wild herbs which grow in the mountains, and whose scents remind mountain walkers that they’re in Southern Spain!
For nature watchers, the bird life in the mountains of Benahavís is exotic and plentiful – eagles, hawks, kingfishers, bee-catchers and a vast variety of African birds which need only cover a distance of some 20 miles from the African coast to arrive on the shorelines and mountains of Andalucia.
The trees and plant-life which cloth the mountains sides of Las Apretaderas, Sierra Palmitera, Sierra Bermeja and the Sierras de Ronda, range from Junipers, Mediterranean Spruce, Cork Oak, almond trees: the valleys are filled with citrus groves and avocados to name just a few.
The favourite sport of golf is catered for in the municipality of Benahavís which boasts five major championship golf courses: La Quinta, Los Arqueros, Los Flamengos, Monte Mayor, La Zagaleta, and Marbella Club Golf which also provides stabling and a spectacular horse riding experience in its equestrian centre.
Just drive five minutes west of Puerto Bánus, and immediately after the turning for Guadalmina Golf Course, take the next road to the mountains using a patrol station as your landmark. Follow the road for 7.5 kms
