La Zagaleta was inaugurated in 1991 and is considered one of the most exclusive private residences in Europe, accessible only to residents, their families and guests.
This residential building offers unparalleled views of the surrounding mountainside, the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar and the North African coast. The construction density is low, with a volume of around 32% and a maximum of 420 homes in the development, which offers luxury single-family homes on spacious plots.
What makes La Zagaleta unique is that only a third of the estate has been reserved as a residential area for 420 luxury villas, while the rest is a nature reserve with lakes and forests. In La Zagaleta the construction of apartment complexes or townhouses is not planned or zoned. In addition to this exclusivity and the incredible views offered by its elevated location, as it is a private residential area, the interior roads are private and only residents and authorized personnel have access to them.
Sport: golf courses and other facilities
La Zagaleta has two championship golf courses offering 36 holes. The original course, known as the old or members course, was designed in 1991 by Bradford Benz and redesigned by Marc Westenborg in 2016. The stunning views from the clubhouse along the Old Course integrate perfectly with the fauna and vegetation of the area.
The second golf course, designed by Steve Marnoch, opened in 2005 and was a challenging project that shaped the course and landscape design. In these exclusive fields there is no tee time, and members have access at will.
In addition, La Zagaleta has other sports facilities, such as tennis courts and an equestrian center with Arabian and Spanish horses, as well as rental ponies for younger guests and boarding services for residents who have their own horses or ponies.
Members and residents can also enjoy outdoor leisure activities such as cycling and hiking along numerous trails and paths in the stunning natural environment.
On the other hand, La Zagaleta also has a private heliport for its owners and guests, and operates a helicopter service for personalized private pick-ups or transfers, perfect for arriving at your destination on time or enjoying excursions.
The residence also offers a full-time property management company called La Zagaleta Services. These services are home laundry, garden and pool maintenance, catering and entertainment services, chauffeur and secretarial services, babysitting, insurance and banking services.
Property type in La Zagaleta
As we have mentioned previously, the properties in La Zagaleta are some of the largest houses in southern Spain. They are magnificent villas and mansions with stunning views of the Sea of Gibraltar and North Africa from their elevated position in the municipality of Benahavís.
The plots of the urbanization range between 3,000 m² and 10,000 m², each one separated from the next by 10 meters of green area. This not only ensures the level of privacy of the residents, but also allows the local fauna greater freedom of movement, thus protecting the natural environment.
When La Zagaleta began to develop in the early 90s, the trend then was to build beautiful Andalusian style mansions in a modern rustic style. In the last ten years, the trend has been to build modern and contemporary houses designed by some of the best architects in the world. These mansions are equipped with all the extra features that buyers demand.
Properties in La Zagaleta have evolved to offer the most exciting innovations and latest technology available in smart homes, energy savings and sustainable homes.
Current house prices in La Zagaleta
In 2024, the cost of homes in La Zagaleta ranges, in general, between 4 and more than 20 million euros, which reinforces its status as the most expensive real estate market in Spain.
Currently, plots cost from 2 million euros, while those located in privileged locations reach 6 million or more, especially those with direct access to the golf course or panoramic views of the sea.
The starting price for an old home of at least 700 square meters built will be around 5 million euros and up, which would require renovations. For those who prefer modern homes already built, prices for luxury villas in La Zagaleta can skyrocket to 40 million euros, and some properties never officially go on the market.
Typical residents of La Zagaleta
From the beginning, La Zagaleta targeted the elite customer and attracted senior managers from multinational companies, especially from Switzerland and Austria. That is, the type of client who prefers to remain anonymous, who values their privacy and expects discretion.
The residents of La Zagaleta come from all over the world and are a diverse international group. Recently, the residents are younger, especially from the technology sector and start-ups, and they work or have already sold their companies, and they move here looking for a better climate to live all year round.
The nationalities that predominate in the area are from the United Kingdom (30%), Germany (30%) and northern European countries (30%). The remaining 10% is distributed to Spanish, Arab and other nationality owners.
La Zagaleta is, without a doubt, the safest private urbanization in the south of Spain and Marbella. Entry to this 900-hectare estate is only possible through two strictly controlled and monitored entrances; You can only enter with invitation and identification. The entire property is fenced and has cameras located along the road, and routine patrols monitor 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Privacy in this gated community is guaranteed. Each house is located on its own land, with large green areas between each property. Owners can rely on complete discretion, as staff are expected to maintain a strict code of silence regarding the residents of the development.
