The exclusive urbanization of La Zagaleta stands as one of the most prestigious gated communities in Europe, embodying the essence of the Marbella luxury lifestyle. Its development commenced in 1991 as a private hunting estate, encompassing 900 hectares of protected woodlands and verdant valleys.

Presently, the gated community comprises approximately 250 properties, with additional plots still available that could significantly increase this number. La Zagaleta has the capacity to accommodate up to 420 properties, aligning with the vision set forth by one of its founders, Enrique Perez Flores, in the 1990s.

In contemporary times, this elegant residential estate merges independence, privacy, and tranquility with an enchanting environment, along with luxurious facilities and services that have reached an unparalleled standard. Residents enjoy exclusive access to 50 km of internal roads winding through its valleys, as well as leisure and sports amenities, including two golf courses, two clubhouses, an equestrian center, a tennis club, and a concierge service. Additionally, there is a helipad available for private arrivals. La Zagaleta transcends being merely a location; it has evolved into a lifestyle that epitomizes what luxury brands refer to as ‘silent luxury’ — a harmonious blend of privacy and opulence.

Origins of La Zagaleta

In 1990, Enrique Perez Flores, along with a consortium of investors, acquired a 900-hectare plot in Benahavis, which was privately owned by Saudi multi-millionaire Adnan Khashoggi and was previously known as La Baraka, his personal hunting estate. Mr. Perez envisioned the development of a private estate harmoniously integrated with nature, featuring 420 residences situated within the foothills of the Serranía de Ronda. The construction of the initial golf course, internal roads, and homes commenced in 1992. By 1994, the old clubhouse was officially opened.

La Zagaleta, along with additional hectares, was originally part of the estate that belonged to Thierry Roussel, a French multi-millionaire. Roussel bequeathed the land to his family, which included what is now known as El Madroñal, La Zagaleta, and La Reserva de Alcuzcuz, totaling 1,500 hectares. The property began to divide into three sections when Saudi multi-millionaire Adnan Khashoggi became enamored with the estate and proposed to purchase a portion from the Roussel family.

Khashoggi subsequently named the northern section of the estate La Baraka, where he constructed numerous opulent villas and hosted private events and parties that reflected the glamour and allure of Marbella during the 1980s.

In 1991, a consortium of investors led by Enrique Perez Flores purchased Khashoggi’s estate and rebranded it as La Zagaleta. This marked the beginning of the development of the gated community and private plots across 900 hectares of land. Khashoggi’s former residence was transformed into what is now the clubhouse and restaurant of the La Zagaleta Golf Club.

La Zagaleta is situated within the municipality of Benahavis, which is among the most desirable municipalities in Malaga for residence. It is ideally positioned near Marbella, just a short drive from its various amenities and beaches.

The center of Marbella is located 20 km from the South entrance, approximately a 25-minute drive.

Puerto Banus is 12 km away, taking around 20 minutes to reach by car.

San Pedro de Alcantara is 9 km distant, requiring less than a 10-minute drive.

Benahavis town is 14 km away, which is about a 20-minute drive.

The nearby town of Estepona is 27 km away, taking less than 30 minutes to drive to.

The most straightforward route to La Zagaleta is by driving along the A-397 towards Ronda. This route provides convenient access to La Zagaleta’s two entrances: the Northern and Southern entrances. The Southern entrance, which is the nearest to all amenities, is situated west of the A-397. It is important to note that only residents are permitted to enter the urbanization through the Southern entrance. The Northern entrance is located 4 km further along the A-397 and serves as the primary access point for residents, visitors, and workers. At this entrance, security personnel verify the identities of all individuals entering the urbanization who are not residents or do not have prior authorization for entry.

For those arriving from abroad via Malaga AGP airport, the journey takes approximately 45 minutes via the AP-7 motorway, covering a distance of 71.8 km. If you are traveling from Gibraltar airport, the trip takes about an hour along the main coastal road, which is a distance of 72.4 km.

La Zagaleta also features a private helipad for those who prefer helicopter travel. The flight to Malaga Airport takes around 15 minutes, while a 10-minute flight will take you to Ronda. Additionally, it is a 40-minute journey to Sevilla and a 45-minute flight to the Sierra Nevada.

La Zagaleta is located within a historic hunting estate that spans 900 hectares (2,223 acres) of valleys, forested hills, and unspoiled Andalusian nature.

The private roads of La Zagaleta extend for almost 50 kilometers, meandering through the hills and linking the villas, clubhouses, and amenities throughout the estate. This vast network enhances the feeling of space and seclusion that characterizes the community.

La Zagaleta has around 250 homes ranging in size from 3,000 m² to 10,000+ m² plots. Although there are approximately 250 homes within La Zagaleta, the gated community still has plots available to develop new properties. When all plots are developed, La Zagaleta will be home to around 420 properties, as there are another 60+ plots available for future construction of villas, plus where a six-star luxurious hotel is planned to be developed with its own additional entrance. As the hotel will be constructed in a different sector within La Zagaleta, it will have minimal disruption to residents and already built plots and villas.

Regardless of your location, the vistas from La Zagaleta are stunning and indelible, as it is situated 450 meters above sea level. The panoramas extend over the picturesque Andalusian mountain terrain, featuring a rolling green expanse of golf courses, towards the beautiful coastline of Southern Spain, with the Mediterranean Sea glistening under the sun, the African coast alongside the Rif Mountains, and the two Pillars of Hercules that guard the entrance to Gibraltar. Even though you are perched high in the mountains, most residences within La Zagaleta offer sea views that are truly the stuff of dreams.

La Zagaleta epitomizes the highest standards of exclusivity and luxury. Naturally, the residences within this community embody these qualities. Each architectural design is timeless and unique, never to be duplicated. There are specific aesthetic, technical, and environmental criteria that the homes must adhere to, ensuring a harmonious flow among all properties. The community offers an impressive array of styles, ranging from traditional to ultra-modern villas, each featuring exquisite geometry, amenities, and stunning tones, textures, and landscapes.

Many of these residences showcase distinctive features that are rarely found elsewhere, including garages designed for extensive car collections with specialized lighting, private water slides that exceed the length of Olympic swimming pools, curated automotive spaces embellished with signed F1 memorabilia, rooftop cinemas, private bowling alleys, and indoor basketball courts — all seamlessly integrated into the architectural design.

Property values have experienced considerable changes in recent years. Five years prior, a house valued between €5–10 million was regarded as the pinnacle of the market. Currently, there are over ten ongoing projects, each priced above €20 million.

Land prices commence at just below €1,200,000 and can escalate to €13,500,000 or higher. The value is primarily derived from the views, orientation, and the presence of a final flat garden, rather than solely the price per square meter. Given that La Zagaleta is established on a mountainous terrain with steep land surfaces, it is not uncommon to encounter a 4,000 m² plot featuring a flat garden or a single large property situated on an 8,000 m² plot. The sizes of the land parcels range from 3,000 m² to approximately 15,000 m². There have been instances where landowners amalgamate several plots to form one extensive plot.

Owning a property in La Zagaleta does not guarantee membership. The La Zagaleta Country Club provides residents with a membership that grants access to all community amenities, which include unlimited use of two golf courses, a tennis club, an equestrian center, restaurants, and various other facilities. The cost of membership is €100,000, and it is not a requirement for property owners in La Zagaleta to purchase it.

If you wish to enjoy La Zagaleta’s amenities but are not a resident, the La Zagaleta Country Club offers a limited number of memberships to non-residents, allowing them to fully experience what La Zagaleta has to offer. However, priority for this membership is given to residents of the Club.

Golf in La Zagaleta

The distinctive Clubhouse features two golf courses comprising 36 Parkland holes, designed to harmoniously blend with the local wildlife and vegetation within an eco-friendly setting. Access is granted solely to its members and their guests.

The Old Course, an 18-hole layout crafted by Brad Benz in 1991 and later redesigned by Marc Westenborg in 2016, is a championship course that contours the landscape of the former hunting estate. This par-72 course typically takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes to play, covering a total distance of 6,000 yards.

Inaugurated in 2005, the new par-70 course was designed to integrate golf with the natural environment. This engaging 18-hole course has an average playing time of 4 hours and 30 minutes, featuring a variety of beautiful obstacles and doglegs. The total distance ranges from 4,300 to 5,300 yards. Construction commenced in 2002, taking five years to complete, with a development cost exceeding €21,000,000.

Many non-residents aspire to experience the exceptional courses offered by La Zagaleta. However, access to the Old Course is strictly limited to residents. The New Course, on the other hand, permits outside players for a few hours each day on select days. For information regarding rates and availability, please refer to the Zagaleta golf website.

La Zagaleta Clubhouse

The sophisticated Clubhouse, encompassing 5,000 m² of indoor space, is recognized as the social hub of La Zagaleta. It is abundant in activities and hosts glamorous events with elegance. The Clubhouse features an exceptional restaurant offering five-star service, a panoramic terrace boasting stunning views, a variety of bars and lounges, hospitality rooms, and a Pro Shop. It is available for private events, including parties, weddings, and celebrations. Additionally, there is a second, newer Clubhouse located in the northern area, which is smaller and more intimate, with significant plans for the near future.

La Zagaleta Tennis Club

The tennis club situated in La Zagaleta features one clay tennis court, one hard tennis court, and a paddle court, all located within the Old Clubhouse.

Professional tennis lessons are offered for both children and adults, with all instruction provided by qualified coaches and instructors.

La Zagaleta Equestrian Centre

The La Zagaleta Riding Club serves as an equestrian center featuring stables that can accommodate up to 20 horses, along with facilities dedicated to training, show jumping, and dressage. The club provides classes for individuals eager to learn about equestrian activities, housing 11 horses and ponies in its stables. Additionally, La Zagaleta boasts numerous trails for exploration.

Hiking in La Zagaleta

La Zagaleta, which spans 900 hectares of untouched land, offers an outstanding environment for hiking and cycling. Since the development is situated on protected natural terrain, visitors can relish an extended hike or biking route while appreciating the surrounding nature and observing the local wildlife and flora.

Fishing in La Zagaleta

La Zagaleta fully embraces the beauty of nature, featuring three fishing lakes on the premises where you can enjoy fishing. This presents a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family or to find a peaceful retreat to unwind and reconnect with the natural world.

La Zagaleta private heliport

Residents have the privilege of utilizing their own private heliport.

The helipad accommodates private arrivals from Malaga airport, located just 70 km away, which boasts outstanding connections to Europe.

Additionally, there is a partnership with local hospitals to address emergencies.

La Zagaleta serves as an exemplary location for family life. This is largely due to the urbanization’s unparalleled security measures designed to ensure the safety of its residents. Within the confines of this gated community, there are numerous areas for children to explore freely. Families can partake in a diverse array of sports and leisure activities, including golf, tennis, and horse riding. Additionally, there are academies available for learners of all ages. The amenities at La Zagaleta facilitate social interactions among families, allowing children to fully enjoy their day and engage in various fun activities.

While there is no school located within the gated community, La Zagaleta is conveniently situated within driving distance of some of the most prestigious schools along the coast:

• Atalaya Colegio Internacional in Estepona — 12.3km away, bilingual education in English and Spanish
• Laude San Pedro International School — 11km away
• Aloha College — 15km away
• Swans International School in Sierra Blanca — 20km away
• Sotogrande International School (boarding school) — 54km away

Who lives in La Zagaleta?

La Zagaleta features a stringent entry system and round-the-clock security throughout its premises, which gives an indication of the high-profile individuals residing there. Notable celebrities like Hugh Grant and Rod Stewart have previously owned properties in La Zagaleta. Additionally, there are rumors suggesting that Beyoncé and George Clooney also possess real estate in the area. Nevertheless, it is primarily business professionals, such as Hans Snook, the founder of the telecommunications company Orange, who inhabit these properties.

Historically, La Zagaleta attracted a more mature clientele from nations including the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Russia, along with some Spanish buyers. However, the demographic of buyers has evolved to become more international, now encompassing individuals from Austria, Norway, Hungary, Mexico, Nigeria, India, and the United States.

La Zagaleta Service Management offers a comprehensive concierge and hospitality service that caters to residents with a variety of customized management solutions aimed at simplifying daily life:

– Maintenance of houses and gardens
– Housekeeping and professional cleaning services
– Pool cleaning and preventive upkeep
– Shopping and delivery assistance
– Personal services, including language instruction
– Transportation and guest coordination
– Domiciliation services
– Management of household finances
– Accounting, tax, and legal services for businesses
– Labor consulting and complete property management
– Private chefs and catering options

This extensive support enables homeowners to concentrate on enjoying their residences, confident that essential tasks are managed by a committed team.

La Zagaleta offers an unparalleled level of security that its residents expect. The 9,000,000 m² area features comprehensive security and detection systems surrounding the urbanization’s boundaries. Non-residents are prohibited from entering the compound without prior authorization.

Security is of utmost importance. Daily, staff oversee approximately 1,500 vehicles entering the estate, excluding those belonging to residents. Access is stringently regulated, with security personnel permitted to carry firearms, underscoring the community’s dedication to safety and confidentiality.

Highly trained armed security professionals deliver exceptional 24-hour service, vigilantly monitoring both the South Gate and the North Gate while patrolling the internal roads in mobile security vehicles. An Israeli firm was engaged to construct a ‘high-tech electric fence’.

All residences are divided by a protected green zone where construction is prohibited, ensuring the highest level of privacy for owners and providing space for local wildlife to thrive.