Benahavis village is located about 10 to 15 minutes inland from the main A7 / N340 motorway between Marbella and Estepona. Although you only travel a short distance inland and up a windy road, it is a hidden gem of the Costa del Sol.

Recently the main access road was slightly changed as a new road was built which cuts out some of the previous bends, making it slightly easier to get to the village.

As you arrive at Benahavis via a steep slope, the town is directly in front of you. A couple of years ago there were some major works carried out on the access road to Benahavis so it is a little bit better in terms of driving.

Driving to the town you will have already seen the breathtaking views and scenery on the approach road with the mountains and valley to your right. Along this approach you will also find another secret of the locals, the rock pools way down in the valley. The Benahavis Rock Pools attract hundreds of visitors each year and it is often the start point for canyoning groups. They are located just before the entrance to the main village, about 100 metres from the big roundabout at the start of Benahavis.

Benahavis is built on different levels, carved out of the mountainside and there are steep winding roads and streets throughout the whole town.

There are a lot of restaurants spread around Benahavis and it is the perfect setting to eat a typical Spanish meal such as suckling pig or even salt baked fish.

As well as a good number of restaurants there are some small shops and galleries where you can buy original artworks made by local craftsmen and women.

Benahavis is an ideal place to go for Sunday lunch with such a wide variety of restaurants on offer in a relatively small space. After your meal you can stroll around the town and maybe even stop off for a drink or two in one of the bars around the square.

Benhavis has an expat community living alongside the Spanish, who in many cases have lived on the village for many generations. Everyone in the village is proud of its beauty and take care to keep it clean and tidy.

Benahavis Reservoir

Another very popular spot is the reservoir just at the top of the village. Many people head there to walk around one of the many country trails as it is a beautiful and scenic spot.

Eating Out in Benahavis

One of the main restaurants in the town is Los Abanicos which has grown from a small establishment to one that now has a large dining area. It is by far one of the most popular restaurants and is always very busy so making a reservation is a must, especially for Sunday lunch.

From the A7 / N340 you take the Benahavis exit, which is the next exit as you have gone through San Pedro de Alcantara. It is signposted Benahavis and as you exit the motorway there is a large Repsol garage on your right. Go straight across the roundabout and head up all the way until you reach the town. The road is quite windy but good quality.

A word of warning though. This roundabout is a very popular point for the police to pull cars over and breathalyze the drivers as well as setting speed traps. The maximum speed heading up towards Benahavis is 50kph.

While we have given you lots of information about the village, we need to mention that Benahavis is a municipality with many very popular urbanisations and resorts.  Areas like Los Arqueros, Los Flamingos, La Quinta and La Alqueria are all now extremely popular places for property buyers.

Benahavis is also home to the exclusive and private resort of La Zagaleta where many of the world’s  elite own a property.

There are many things to do in and around Benahavis. A popular activity is canyoning down the river bed. This involves walking through the river until you get to the bottom. It is not too dangerous but care should be taken as there are many rocks to navigate on the way down. You will also need to swim a few sections of it.

There are also lots of country walks to explore. They are clearly marked and will take you through the countryside that surrounds Benahavis.