Short answer: Monte Mayor is a gated villa estate of more than 330 hectares in the hills of Benahavís, with a single guarded entrance, many new luxury villas and the beach about 12 minutes away. Marbella Club Golf Resort lies next door: a golf and equestrian resort around an 18-hole course by Dave Thomas, with villas and the apartments of Marbella Club Hills. Choose Monte Mayor for privacy, nature and views; Marbella Club for golf and club life. In October 2026 villas in both cost roughly €1.8 to €12 million.
Leave the coast of Marbella and Estepona behind and drive into the hills of Benahavís, and you enter another world. No crowds, just oaks, pines and views to Gibraltar and Africa. Here lie two neighbours that are often mentioned together: the Monte Mayor villa estate and Marbella Club Golf Resort. idealista even counts them as one zone.
Our office is in Monte Mayor, so we write this guide from experience. You'll read what life is like there, how the two differ, what living and building cost and what to watch out for. Want to see what's for sale straight away? Take a look at villas for sale in Monte Mayor and property in Marbella Club Golf Resort.
Monte Mayor and Marbella Club Golf Resort at a glance
| Monte Mayor | Marbella Club Golf Resort | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Privacy, nature, spectacular views | Golf, equestrian centre, clubhouse |
| Size | More than 330 hectares, 54% green | Resort around an 18-hole course |
| Properties | Mainly detached villas, plus a hamlet of townhouses | Villas, plus apartments in Marbella Club Hills |
| Security | One single entrance, guarded 24 hours a day | Gated, access control and cameras |
| Prices (October 2026 listings) | Villas approx. €1.8 to €8 million | Villas approx. €3 to €12 million, apartments from €840,000 |
| Golf | Own course closed since 2011, Marbella Club and Villa Padierna close by | Own course (Dave Thomas, 1999, par 72) |
According to Fotocasa, the average asking price in the Montemayor-Marbella Club zone was €5,816 per m² in October 2026, compared with €5,602 for Benahavís as a whole in September (idealista).
Life in Monte Mayor
Monte Mayor lies in the hills of the Serranía de Ronda, about 2 kilometres from Benahavís village. The estate has more than 23 kilometres of private roads, and the villas are spread over plots of at least 2,000 m², with building on about 12% of each plot. That's what makes it so quiet: you barely see your neighbours, but you do see the valley, the sea and, on clear days, the African coast.
There is a single entrance, guarded day and night. The owners' community runs that security, the upkeep of the roads, the lighting and the communal pools, and shares the costs according to each owner's share, usually every six months. Social life is relaxed: owners meet every month for drinks and play an annual golf day at Marbella Club.
Inside Monte Mayor there is also a small Andalusian hamlet, The Village, also called La Heredia: townhouses around little squares and patios. Note that this is a different place from the area La Heredia on the road to Ronda.
Life in Marbella Club Golf Resort
Marbella Club Golf Resort is part of the world of the Marbella Club Hotel on the Golden Mile, about twenty minutes' drive away. The course opened in 1999 and was designed by Dave Thomas: 18 holes, par 72, with elevated tees and views over the coast. Because a maximum of about 80 players a day are allowed, it is never busy. The course is open to residents, guests of the Marbella Club Hotel and Puente Romano, and a limited number of visitors.
Besides golf, the resort has a clubhouse and an equestrian centre. Around the course are villas on plots that are often 4,000 m² or more. Next to the course, Marbella Club Hills is being built, with apartments, ground-floor duplexes and penthouses from €840,000 and completion planned for December 2027.
Nature, golf and the beach
Above Monte Mayor stand the remains of the Castillo de Montemayor, a tenth-century fortress at 579 metres that fell to Castile in 1485. The PR-A 165 trail takes you there from Benahavís. The canyons and footpaths around the village start close by too.
The Monte Mayor golf course, opened in 1989 to a design by Pepe Gancedo, has been closed since 2011. Golfers still have a front-row seat: Marbella Club Golf is next door and the Villa Padierna courses are close by. Benahavís has eleven golf courses.
The beach is about 12 minutes' drive away, Estepona 15 minutes and Marbella 20 minutes. For restaurants you head to Benahavís village, which is known for its many restaurants.
New-build villas and building your own
There is a lot of new building in Monte Mayor, and it is almost always exclusive luxury villas. A well-known project is Vitae Villas: five sustainable villas with green roofs, aerothermal energy, a lift and an infinity pool, priced from about €3.25 to €4.6 million. In October 2026 two were still available. Designers also build turnkey villas, from finding the plot to handover, and there are off-plan villas for sale with a build time of about two years.
If you build yourself, the estate rules apply: a plot of at least 2,000 m², building on about 12% of it and architecture that fits the landscape. Allow a few months for the building permit from Benahavís town council. If you buy off-plan, the developer must secure your deposits with a bank guarantee or insurance. Also read buying a new build and legal checks when buying.
What does living here cost?
On top of the purchase price, a resale villa carries 7% transfer tax in Andalusia, and a new build 10% VAT plus 1.2% stamp duty, plus notary, land registry and lawyer. You'll find a full calculation in buying costs.
Every year you also pay the estate or resort community fees, the municipal property tax (IBI), insurance and the upkeep of garden and pool. Ask for the latest statements for every property. If you don't live there permanently, you also pay tax on deemed income; see tax on a second home.
Who is it for?
- Monte Mayor suits people who value privacy, nature and views more than a walk to the beach, and who want to buy a modern villa or build their own.
- Marbella Club Golf Resort suits golfers and riders, and anyone looking for a new apartment with a garden in a secure resort.
- In both you need a car: shops, schools and beaches are on the coast.
How we help
We live and work in Monte Mayor. We know the streets, the best spots for sun and views, the projects and builders, and the villas that are sold discreetly without ever going online. We plan your viewings, show you the differences with Marbella Club and the rest of Benahavís, and guide you all the way to the notary.
Want to see Monte Mayor or Marbella Club Golf Resort for yourself? We'll show you the villas that match what you're looking for, including those that aren't online.
Book a viewingSend us a WhatsAppRead also: villas for sale in Monte Mayor, property in Marbella Club Golf Resort, living and buying in Benahavís and buying a villa with a pool.
Frequently asked questions
Are Monte Mayor and Marbella Club Golf Resort next to each other?
Yes. Both lie in the hills of Benahavís and idealista counts them together as the Montemayor-Marbella Club zone. Monte Mayor is a large villa estate; Marbella Club Golf Resort is all about the golf course and the equestrian centre.
Is Monte Mayor safe?
Monte Mayor has a single entrance guarded 24 hours a day, paid for by the owners' community. The estate is gated and the villas are spread out over large plots.
How far is the beach from Monte Mayor?
About 12 minutes' drive. Estepona is about 15 minutes away and Marbella about 20 minutes.
Can I play golf in Monte Mayor?
Monte Mayor's own golf course has been closed since 2011. Marbella Club Golf is next door and the Villa Padierna courses are close by; Benahavís has eleven golf courses.
How much does a villa in Monte Mayor cost?
In our October 2026 listings, detached villas cost roughly €1.8 to €8 million. Fotocasa recorded an average of €5,816 per m² for the Montemayor-Marbella Club zone in October 2026.
Sources
- Monte Mayor, owners' community (montemayorbenahavis.com) and estate (montemayorspain.com), consulted October 2026
- Fotocasa, Montemayor-Marbella Club price index, October 2026; idealista, Benahavís price report, September 2026
- Marbella Club, Golf (marbellaclub.com) and 1golf.eu, Marbella Club Golf Resort
- where2golf, Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club (closed since 2011)
- Sierra de las Nieves, Castillo de Montemayor (tenth century, 579 m)
- Project information on Vitae Villas and off-plan villas in Monte Mayor, October 2026
Written by the Imagine Marbella editorial team. Updated October 2026. Prices and availability change quickly; feel free to ask us for the latest listings.
