Sotogrande Area Guide | Sotogrande, Costa del Sol, Spain: At the far western end of the Costa del Sol, Sotogrande was built as a millionaire’s retreat and as such, ranks among Spain’s most exclusive developments. Buyers come here in search of a quiet retreat. Where is Sotogrande? Guide to the luxury development of Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol, Spain, an area with many golf courses and excellent beaches. Sotogrande lies right at the western-most point of the Costa del Sol and the development is situated on both sides of the A7 highway. Malaga Airport is around 110km away – about an hour’s drive) – and Gibraltar Airport (an alternative for those travelling between the Costa del Sol and the UK) takes under 30 minutes to reach. The nearest town is Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro with a reasonable range of amenities, although those in nearby San Roque and Algeciras offer more choice. Sotogrande is a large development – there are some 2,500 villas onsite – and home to one of Spain’s most famous polo clubs, five golf courses, all of which rank among the best in the country, two shopping centres and a range of other amenities. Sotogrande prides itself on its tranquility and privacy and discretion are absolute among residents and holidaymakers here. Popular with Europe’s wealthy businessmen and nobility including royals, Sotogrande has few year-round residents and is almost deserted outside the summer season. However, the resort comes alive in July and August, although even then you’ll find it considerably quieter and much more low-key than other Costa del Sol resorts such as Marbella and Puerto Banus. The resort is divided into several areas: Sotogrande Alto – this part of Sotogrande lies to the north of the A7 highway and is home to two first-class golf courses including Valderrama Golf, host to the Ryder Cup in 1997 and the annual Volvo Masters. This area is characterised by its wide boulevards lined with luxury mansions, many the size of small palaces. Sotogrande Alto enjoys an essentially rural setting with rolling pasture and cork oak forests. Sotogrande Marina – centred around the stunning marina with numerous luxury berths and whose waterfront architecture in vibrant colours ranks among the most attractive in Spain, Sotogrande Marina has a good choice of restaurants, bars and boutiques. Sotogrande Costa – also known as Sotogrande Playa, this part of Sotogrande is essentially residential and like Sotogrande Alto, features wide boulevards flanked by large mansions in extensive grounds. Why buy in Sotogrande? Not everyone’s budget stretches to Sotogrande (although you may be surprised to discover that not all property here comes with a giant price tag), but this resort has big appeal for the following reasons: Exclusivity: A Sotogrande post code automatically confers the feeling of exclusivity and certainly this is one of the most select developments in Spain. Expect to rub shoulders here with millionaires, European royalty and nobility, and famous faces from the world of the arts. However, all residents choose Sotogrande for its reputation as a private retreat so social life and events are generally low-key. Peace and quiet: Along with privacy, buyers choose Sotogrande for its tranquility. This is a resort where life moves slowly and sedately with little more than a round of golf, a game of polo or private dinner on the social agenda. Sotogrande is considerably windier than other Costa del Sol resorts and as a result, the beaches here tend to be quieter than those further along the coast towards Marbella. Sporting opportunities: Golf and watersports rule in Sotogrande where there are no less than five golf courses – Valderrama and Real Club de Sotogrande Golf lie within the resort itself, La Reserva Golf Club and La Cañada Club de Golf are on the outskirts and Alcaidesa Club de Golf is just a short drive away. Sailing is of course popular and the marina offers plenty of opportunities to sail, kitesurf and scuba dive.