Almazara Gardens, Cerros del Lago: a new build surrounded by nature in Istán
Three-bedroom apartments and penthouses set in greenery above Marbella, with large terraces and a show home. Puerto Banús is 12 minutes away, completion October 2027.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
About Almazara Gardens
A twelve-minute drive from Puerto Banús, and yet you wake up among pine trees at 281 metres above sea level. That is the promise of Almazara Gardens, in the Cerros del Lago urbanisation in the municipality of Istán. The development sits at the foot of La Concha mountain, close to the Sierra Blanca Country Club, in the natural surroundings of the Sierra de las Nieves. It comprises 49 apartments, spread across small clusters built into the hillside.
Our data includes two homes, both with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 109 m² built. The first-floor apartment costs €555,000 and has a 41 m² terrace. The second-floor penthouse costs €630,000, and for that you get a 118 m² terrace and a solarium. According to the project information there are also 2-bedroom versions, but they are not in our current data. Every home has a parking space and a storage room, and the buildings have a lift.
The complex is gated and spacious, with wide internal roads, visitor parking, landscaped gardens and walking trails through the woods. There is a communal pool set among native planting. According to other sources, this is a later phase of a larger development. There is a show home, and completion is planned for 15 October 2027.
Amenities
- Communal pool
- Woodland walking trails
- Landscaped gardens
- Visitor parking
- Secure complex with lift
- Parking space and storage room per home
- Solarium with the penthouse
- Solar panels
- Show home
Almazara Gardens in figures
Outdoor space is the standout figure here. The median outdoor space is 73% of the built area, the highest in our comparison, and the penthouse has a 118 m² terrace for 109 m² of living space. You pay a median of €5,436 per m². That is 29% more than the median for new builds in Istán (€4,215), although that comparison covers only 2 developments, so it says little. For the €555,000 apartment you pay around €627,160 all in: €55,500 VAT, €6,660 stamp duty, €3,300 notary and €6,700 lawyer. Completion is 12 months away, against a median of 6 months in the municipality.
| Price | € 555.000 |
| VAT (IVA) 10% | € 55.500 |
| Stamp duty (AJD) 1.2% | € 6.660 |
| Notary and land registry (estimate) | € 3.300 |
| Lawyer 1% + VAT (estimate) | € 6.700 |
Around 13.0% on top of the price in total. All purchase costs explained.
Terrace, solarium and garden combined, as a percentage of the living area (median). That is more than 100% of new developments in Istán. Largest outdoor space: 118 m².
Planned completion October 2027. For half of the new developments in Istán, completion is within 6 months.
Calculated by Imagine Marbella on 20 October 2026 from the current supply of 2 new developments in Istán. Costs are an estimate; we will prepare an exact calculation for you.
Location
Cerros del Lago lies in the hills above Marbella and Nueva Andalucía, on the road to the village of Istán. The Istán reservoir, the Embalse de la Concepción, is nearby, and the Sierra de las Nieves, with its hiking and mountain-bike trails, literally begins behind the development. It is green and quiet here, and the mountain air is fresher than on the coast. The white village of Istán is small and authentic. For shops, schools and restaurants you drive to Marbella or Nueva Andalucía.
A car is essential. Puerto Banús is a 12-minute drive away, and so is La Fontanilla beach. You can reach Marbella's old town in 17 minutes. Swans International School is 15 minutes away, Recoletas Salud Marbella hospital 16. Gibraltar Airport is 68 minutes away, Málaga Airport 55.
We will send you the exact location and the address of the sales office when you request Privé access or book a viewing.
Distances, measured by us
Measured from Almazara Gardens along real roads and footpaths, not as the crow flies.
| Destination | On foot | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest beach (Playa de la Fontanilla) | 9.2 km, 12 min | |
| International school (Swans) | 10.9 km, 15 min | |
| Hospital (Hospital Recoletas Salud Marbella) | 11.5 km, 16 min | |
| Marbella old town | 12.0 km, 17 min | |
| Puerto Banús | 9.1 km, 12 min | |
| Málaga airport | 64.6 km, 55 min | |
| Gibraltar airport | 75.5 km, 68 min |
Calculated with OpenStreetMap routes without traffic, on 20 October 2026. Walking times over an hour are omitted.
Sun, light and views
Here the sun rises at 7:01 on 21 June and sets at 21:41, giving 14.7 hours of daylight. On 21 December you still have 9.7 hours, with the midday sun at 30° above the horizon. Almazara Gardens sits at around 281 metres above sea level.
Sea views are not confirmed for either home in our data. The project information mentions views over the bay of Marbella or the woods and a south-east orientation; we check for each home what you will really see.
Homes and finishes
All homes in our data have an A energy rating. There is ducted air conditioning, hot water from aerothermal energy and an LED lighting package. Kitchens come fully fitted with appliances. Solar panels help with energy consumption. As there is a show home, we recommend judging the finishes there first. We then check whether the building specification in the contract matches what you saw in the show home, and how payments up to completion are secured.
Payment schedule
As with most new builds on the Costa del Sol, you pay in instalments: a reservation deposit, a portion on signing the purchase contract and during construction, and the balance at the deed signing. Every payment before completion must be covered by a bank guarantee. We will send you the exact payment schedule for Almazara Gardens through Privé.
Available homes in Almazara Gardens
A selection, as of 20 October 2026. More homes are available than shown below; request the full price list.
| Type | Beds | Baths | Living area | Terrace | Garden | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment | 3 | 2 | 109 m² | 41 m² | – | € 555.000 |
| Penthouse | 3 | 2 | 109 m² | 118 m² | – | € 630.000 |
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Our honest verdict on Almazara Gardens
Strengths
- Plenty of outdoor space: the penthouse has a 118 m² terrace for 109 m² of living space.
- Puerto Banús and the beach 12 minutes away, yet you live surrounded by nature.
- Show home available, so you can see the finishes beforehand.
- A energy rating, aerothermal system and solar panels.
- 3 bedrooms for €555,000 in the Marbella area.
Points to consider
- Sea views are not confirmed in our data.
- Without a car you won't get anywhere: shops and schools are in Marbella.
- Málaga Airport is a 55-minute drive away.
- Completion in October 2027; you will be paying instalments for another year.
- The price per m² is 29% above the Istán median, based on just 2 developments.
Who is Almazara Gardens right for?
Almazara Gardens suits nature lovers, walkers and cyclists who still want to live close to Marbella. It is also a good fit if you work from home and want peace and quiet. The penthouse is appealing if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Less suitable if you want to live without a car, be close to Málaga Airport or are looking for a lively setting.
Similar new developments
Completed sooner
Why buy through Imagine Marbella?
With us you pay exactly the same price as buying direct from the developer. Our fee is paid by the seller, not by you. What you get on top is what makes the difference.
- Independent. We are not tied to any development. We compare the entire market and tell you honestly when a project is not right for you.
- Stronger at the negotiating table. Whenever there is room to negotiate, on price, payment schedule, finishes or a parking space, we know the market, the sales figures and the developers. We defend your interests; the seller defends theirs.
- Free extra services. We check licences, bank guarantees and specifications, provide legal support in your own language and plan viewings around your travel dates.
- Beyond the handover. We follow the construction, the handover and the after-sales with you, so you are never on your own.
Imagine Privé
As a Privé member, you receive the current price list and availability, floor plans, the building specifications, the payment schedule and our comparison with other new developments, in English, French, Dutch or Spanish.
Free and without obligation.
Off market: what you will not find online
Not every property on the Costa del Sol ends up on a website.
Owners who want to sell discreetly, a last penthouse that has not yet been released, a villa that only comes onto the market when the right buyer appears: part of the market changes hands without a single advert. Already know the market and looking for something you cannot find online? Tell us as precisely as possible what you are looking for. If it exists, we will find it for you.
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Frequently asked questions about Almazara Gardens
How far is Málaga Airport from Almazara Gardens?
By our measurement, Málaga Airport is a 55-minute drive away. Gibraltar Airport is 68 minutes away. So expect a slightly longer drive than from Marbella itself.
How far is Almazara Gardens from Marbella?
Marbella's old town is a 17-minute drive away, Puerto Banús and La Fontanilla beach 12 minutes. You live in Istán, but in practice your life is in the Marbella area.
Is there a show home at Almazara Gardens?
Yes, there is a show home. That is useful because you can see the finishes, the terraces and the natural light before you sign, even though the homes will only be completed in October 2027.
What does an apartment at Almazara Gardens cost all in?
For the €555,000 apartment you pay around €627,160 including VAT, stamp duty, notary and lawyer. That is 13% on top of the purchase price.
Do I pay more if I buy Almazara Gardens through Imagine Marbella?
No. You pay the same price as buying directly from the seller. Through us you also get independent advice, legal guidance and aftercare.
What costs come on top of the price of a new-build home?
In Andalusia, a new build carries 10% VAT (IVA) and 1.2% stamp duty (AJD), plus notary, land registry and lawyer's fees. For the most affordable home in Almazara Gardens, that adds up to around 13.0%.
About the author
Geert Eeckeleers, Managing Director of Imagine Marbella. Since 2018 he has guided buyers on the Costa del Sol, in English, French, Dutch and Spanish.
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