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| Getting there | No-frills airlines and BA to Malaga Airport (47 miles then to Benahavis) or BA to Gibraltar (41 miles) or Seville (180 miles) then a hire car from the airport.
Drive from the UK via Brittany Ferries Plymouth/Santander (684 miles to Benahavis from Santander)
Channel ferries from Portsmouth to Bilboa (632 miles), Caen (1200 miles), St. Malo (1150 miles). The driving is virtually dual carriageway all the way.
New toll road from Malaga nearly to Gibraltar eliminates the old traffic problems of the N-340 in this region along the coastal towns. | | | | | Access | Benahavis is located some 4.5 miles the end of the M-547 road from the N-340 main coast road at Guadalmina (between Marbella and Estepona). | | | | | Benahavis Village | | | | | Location | The village is about 350m up the hill via the various passages and stairs to the road. One estimate is that there are some 30 restaurants and bars in the village, 2 banks (with ATM’s), butcher (Carniceria), baker (Panaderia), 2 small general stores, 3 real estate agents, art galleries, Rastro (craft market), pharmacy (Farmacia), jewellery, police station, etc. Small supermarket at the petrol station at the junction with the N-340 coast road. | | | | | Layout | Two main commercial village streets, the main road and a parallel street. Most of the restaurants, bars, shops and banks are located on these two streets | | | | | | The main street is linked to the other street by small cross streets | | | | | Bars | Located throughout the village and each have their own aficionados, some larger ones frequented by visitors from the coast.
EL MOLINOS, In the main street on the right towards the end opposite the building site. Real cuisine, beautifully prepared and charmingly served.
EL MESÓN, Between the square and Chico’s. Chargrilled meats a speciality.
LA CAÑAS VIEJAS, In the village square on the corner. Great seafood and Andalucian specialities, reasonably priced.
BIG PANDA, A Chinese restaurant with a huge terrace, in the main street. Open for lunch and dinner. Take-Aways.EL RINCON DEL ABUELO, Opposite Chico’s for inexpensive snacks, coffee, etc.
ABANICO’s, Next to Chico’s. For that special meal, great service. Booking advised.
LA ESCALERA, owned by MANOLO ESPADA: Great food, charming staff and life music on Mondays.
Also AMANAHAVIS HOTEL & RESTAURANT and the new GRAN HOTEL BENAHAVIS with its bars, restaurants and spa. | | | | | Shopping | Apart from the jewellers and the art galleries the good bargains can be found in EL RASTRO run by Micheal. Examples of local craft work and pottery. Unique sculpted metal furniture and accessories in David Marshall’s Galeria | | | | | Market Days | Benahavis Market- Tuesday mornings on the road upto the village.
Estepona Market – Wednesday mornings.
San Pedro Market – Thursday mornings.
Estepona Craft Market – Sunday mornings in the Port area.
Markets also at Puerto Banus (Saturday mornings) and further afield at Manliva and Sabinillas | | | | | Places to Go – Things to do Apart from sitting in the sun or in the shade with a cool drink or playing golf there are numerous activities and places to go on the Costa del Sol for the holidaymaker. | | | | | Beaches | Easy access to many sandy beaches from the coast road in the 100miles between Malaga and Gibraltar, many with umbrellas and loungers to hire with the benefit of a beach bar/restaurant. | | | | | Sightseeing | The white mountain villages of Casares, Gaucin, Ubrique and of course the photogenic town of Ronda with its renowned gorge that splits the town. Granada and the Alhambra are only 2 hours away by car. A visit to Gibraltar with the opportunity for tax-free shopping. Africa in the form of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and Tangier in Morocco are only a short ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar. Organised day and longer trips are locally available. | | | | | People Watching | Sit in a café in Puerto Banus or anywhere with a “café solo” or “con leche” and watch the world pass by. | | | | | Serious Shopping | El Corté Englés in Puerto Banus for a supermarket par excellence and a department store with everything. | | | | | Walking | Many walks are possible around the village, including along the river, up into the forest, through the village into the hills or for the energetic, a climb up Monte Mayor to the Arab castle ruins. | | | | Benahavis - History | Benahavís is one of the most mountainous villages in the western end of the Costa del Sol, which accounts for its name, the Moorish origin of which means “Sons of the Abyss” in English. The municipality extends to 14,575 hectares, more than seventy percent of this area officially classified as being of environmental interest. One of the most beautiful parts of the area is Las Angosturas, rich in wildlife and vegetation and ideal for rural tourism, trekking and cycling right through the year. There are, besides, six golf courses in the municipality, with three more being built, and taking the large number of sporting facilities in private housing estates in the area into account, the result is a very pleasant and entertaining place to spend a holiday or purchase a second home.
The village itself began life sometime back in the end of the 11th century, when the Moors established a fortification to defend themselves against attack on their western flank. Due to its strategic position, this fortification played an important role in the different battles between the various Taifa de Al-Andalus factions. From the castle walls one can see more than a hundred kilometres of Spanish coastline and the African coastline facing it. The Christian era began in Benahavís in January of 1485, when Ferdinand and Isabel entered Marbella to receive from Mohammed Abunefa the keys of the town. Benahavís became independent of Marbella in 1572, the year King Felipe II awarded it its "Carta Puebla". The castles of Montemayor and Benahavís played a key role in the fight against the invading French in the early 19th century. These days, despite the advent of tourism to the town, it remains a typical Andalusian mountain village with a rich historical past.
La Torre de la Reina (Tower of the Queen) is part of Montemayor Castle, built in the 10th century, and still conserves some remains, including an old well. There are various other towers too in the municipality, all built for defence. The best-conserved of these is the Torre de la Leonera, situated at the access to the Guadalmina river basin. It is believed that once the main fortification was built, the defenders established a series of lesser fortifications all around the town, some of the remains of which are still visible as sections of ruined wall close to the urban centre. Another important tower is the Daidín, named for its cubic shape. It is situated in the lower part of the Alcuzcuz finca. In the town itself, of particular architectural interest is the Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, built with a single nave and subject to numerous modifications through the years.
One of the most beautiful areas around Benahavís is the narrow canyon carved out by the centuries of flow from the river Guadalmina. It has recently been declared a Monument of Natural Interest. Amongst the great variety of flora and fauna the more common animals and birds to be seen here are rabbits, partridges and sometimes eagles. One may also see, with luck, a rare deer species called the Moflón del Atlas in Benahavís, the only place outside Africa where this animal lives wild. Other animals here include the deer, fox, genet and mountain goat. The mountain landscape is also a perfect habitat for various birds of prey. The region is heavily wooded, with plenty of oaks, chestnut trees, pines, cork trees and arbutus, along with the typical Mediterranean herbs like rock rose, thyme and rosemary. On the more southern areas of land, closer to the coast, one can see vineyards, palm trees and cereal plantations. Here too is the Charca de las Mozas, or Charca de los Novios, as it is sometimes called, where the water runs fast and creates whirlpools. Legend has it that a bride-to-be once bathed here and was sucked into the whirling waters. Her boyfriend jumped in to save here and he too was drowned.
The annual Romería in honour of the Virgen del Rosario takes place on October 6th and 7th, when the people of the village accompany the image of the Virgin along the streets. The festival in honour of the patron saint takes place in August, beginning with a mass in which various flamenco groups participate. Another favourite festival in Benahavís is the Gastronomic Day, celebrated in June and in which the restaurants of the place offer samples of their best dishes at the entrance to the village. And to maintain local culture and tradition, there is a cultural week with photography, flamenco dancing and singing and other activities and competitions organised.
Benahavís is famous all over the Costa del Sol for its cuisine, and has a wide selection of restaurants, some of them among the best in Andalucía. The selection of food is wide, but the specialities of the place are pork products, lamb and game. Steaks are prepared here in many different ways, and in the local restaurants one can eat a wide variety of meats and fish, all with one thing in common: well prepared and well cooked.
With six golf courses in the municipality and three more being built, there is little doubt about which sport is most popular in this area. Part of the success of the game of golf in Benahavís is the wonderful landscape surrounding the courses. The area is also very good for the practice of trekking and fishing.
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