Those who push a little further upwards from Nueva Andalucia will come to La Quinta, an exclusive community in Benahavis. Positioned in the heart of the Costa del Sol’s golf valley, with wide-open roads lined with lush green palms and manicured gardens, expansive golf and country club, plush five-star hotel, and beautiful Andalucian-style villas behind high gates, La Quinta is fast becoming one of Marbella’s most sought-after and prestigious addresses.

Only 10 minutes from both Puerto Banús and San Pedro de Alcántara, and only a 55-minute ride from Malaga Airport, La Quinta is set far enough back from the hustle and bustle of the coast to enjoy peace and tranquility, but not too far away so that it is isolated or inaccessible. Truly the jewel in the crown of Marbella’s many urbanisations.
The 27–hole par 72 golf course afforded to La Quinta stretches some 5,193 metres, and is designed by renowned Spanish golfers Manuel Piñero and Antonio Garrido, former Ryder Cup player. The 27 holes stretch over three nine-hole golf courses, which have been carefully integrated with the surroundings to ensure La Quinta retains its natural beauty. The narrow fairways roll towards the fast greens, which are dotted with enough trees, water hazards and deep bunkers to keep even the most experienced golfer on their toes. The golf buggies at La Quinta come with GPS systems already installed, so golfers won’t waste precious time in the rough searching for lost balls. With panoramic views over the entire coast, the Mediterranean Sea and – on clear days – the distant mountains of northern Africa, La Quinta Golf Club has everything local residents could ever possible need to enjoy Andalucia’s most treasured game, including Pro shop, International golf academy, paddle tennis, squash courts, driving range, and three putting greens.
The International Golf Academy at the club offers tuition to players of all skills, and is run by Manuel Piñero himself. On offer are five-day intensive courses, weekend courses, or more relaxed private lessons throughout the week. The academy also provides tailor-made courses for children, the elderly, and groups of friends.
Social life in La Quinta generally centres around the Clubhouse, in which there is a restaurant, cafeteria, and bar – the perfect way to unwind after a particularly challenging game on the course. There’s also a convention centre and a selection of private meeting and congress rooms, which can be hired out for business meetings or private functions. Several weddings have even taken place inside, as the amenities and surroundings are so accommodating here.
Those visiting La Quinta can stay in the prestigious five-star Westin La Quinta Hotel, adjacent to the golf course. Featuring 172 rooms, of which six are suites, the in-house Kaede Japanese and Los Arcos Mediterranean restaurants, the Alhama lounge bar and El Mirador poolside bar, fitness room, sauna, beauty centre and three outdoor swimming pools, the Westin La Quinta is arguably one of Marbella’s finest hotels. The resort is surrounded by lush green gardens, with intoxicating pink Bougainvillea spilling over onto the pathways during the summer months, and a rooftop terrace on which guests can relax with a cool refreshment and take in the views.
Those who live in the 1.6 million-square-metre La Quinta area are even more fortunate than those who stay in the hotel, with each villa seemingly more beautiful than the last. Guarded by security 24/7, its also one of the safest urbanisations on the coast.
Plans to open the La Quinta Spa make the area all the more alluring. The spa will boast therapy pools, separate therapy rooms, Turkish baths and sauna, showers, and cold area, all to be managed by a team of highly trained professional therapists. In all, there will be a choice of more than 30 different types of massages and therapies to help residents and visitors relax and rejuvenate. Those living and staying in La Quinta will find that they no longer need to go to the coast to pamper themselves, particularly useful in the summer months when the coast is gridlocked with traffic. In fact, many will be upcoming up to La Quinta to escape and enjoy all that the spa has to offer.
A proposed Kids Club will finish off La Quinta perfectly, and make it an ideal area for families. Here children will be able to enjoy all their favourite activities and hobbies, play games, watch TV, and socialise with others their own age. Parents will be able to drop their children off for a couple of hours while they relax in the spa or enjoy a round or two on the golf course, safe in the knowledge that their children are being properly looked after by professionals.
While the golden city of Eldorado may not have yet been found, La Quinta is certainly the next best thing.