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DEWhat is El Madroñal?
El Madroñal sits on the hillside above Benahavís, at around 400 metres elevation with views down to the coast. It's part of the historic estate that once belonged to the Parladé family and was later owned by French businessman Roussel and Saudi billionaire Adnan Kashoggi before being split into three urbanizations: La Zagaleta, El Madroñal and La Reserva de Alcuzcuz. Today it holds roughly 150 villas spread across about 223 hectares, and it's generally positioned as a quieter, more accessible alternative to its immediate neighbour La Zagaleta, with Puerto Banús around 10 minutes away by car.
Plots run from about 2,600 m2 up to 15,000 m2, with an average close to 3,000 m2 (a handful of the smaller plots sit near the original entrance, where sizes were set lower than the rest of the development). Because the land was subdivided and built out over a long period rather than in a single phase, the architecture is mixed: some of the earliest villas are classic Andalusian-style builds, while more recent plots have been developed with contemporary designs. There's no single build era that defines the community.
Access is controlled through six separate gated entrances around the perimeter, each covered by 24-hour security patrols and camera monitoring, rather than one central gatehouse. The buyer base is largely international, drawn by the combination of large plots, privacy and proximity to Marbella and Puerto Banús without the price level of La Zagaleta itself.
El Madroñal in 2026
El Madroñal has more villas for sale than any other estate on the Benahavís mountain, which is the practical difference from La Zagaleta next door. At the time of writing (October 2026) we have thirteen listings tagged to El Madroñal: twelve villas with four to eight bedrooms from about 2.55 million to 10.8 million euros and one residential plot at about 1.35 million, on our Benahavís property page. There is no new development inside the gates; the Benahavís projects are on our Benahavís new developments page, and the nearest master planned estate is Real de la Quinta across the valley, where the Angsana hotel is under construction and the El Lago Club opened its lake and six hole course in July 2026, in our Real de la Quinta post. Golf is at Los Arqueros, the Ballesteros course a few minutes down the road, 80 to 110 euros a round in 2026, and at La Quinta's 27 holes, with every course in our golf courses guide. The estates around it each have a guide: La Zagaleta above, El Herrojo and Los Arqueros below, Real de la Quinta and La Quinta across the valley, Monte Mayor up the Ronda road, and the municipality in our Benahavís guide.
Where is El Madroñal?
Who lives in El Madroñal?
Buyers who want a large private plot and real security without La Zagaleta's price tag or scale — international families and second-home owners who value quick access to Puerto Banús and Marbella over being directly on the coast.
What can you do in El Madroñal?
Eat & Drink
Sport & Fitness
Wellness
Kids & Family
Property for sale in El Madroñal
€3.5M
Villa · El Madroñal
€4.4M
Villa · El Madroñal
€1.35M
Residential Plot · El Madroñal
€4.75M
Villa · El Madroñal
€10.8M
Villa · El Madroñal
€2.55M
Villa · El Madroñal
All property for sale in Benahavís →
Looking for a new build instead of resale? See new developments in El Madroñal →
New developments near El Madroñal
See all new developments in Benahavís →
Frequently Asked Questions
How big are the plots in El Madroñal?
Plots range from around 2,600 m2 up to 15,000 m2, with an average close to 3,000 m2. A few of the smaller plots sit near the original entrance, where sizes were set lower than in the rest of the development.
Is El Madroñal a gated community?
Yes. The urbanization is accessed through six separate gated entrances, each covered by 24-hour security patrols and camera monitoring.
How far is El Madroñal from Puerto Banús?
About 10 minutes by car.
What are the community fees in El Madroñal?
Fees vary by plot size and villa, and we don't have a reliable published figure — ask Santina's team for the current fee on any specific property before you buy.
When were the villas in El Madroñal built?
The land was originally part of a large private estate later split into La Zagaleta, El Madroñal and La Reserva de Alcuzcuz, and villas have gone up over several decades since — the mix ranges from classic Andalusian-style builds to recent contemporary homes, rather than one single construction era.
How much does a villa in El Madroñal cost in 2026?
In our stock, from about 2.55 million euros for a six bedroom house to 10.8 million for an eight bedroom one, with most of the twelve villas we list between 3.5 and 5.5 million. A residential plot is listed at about 1.35 million. That is roughly half of La Zagaleta’s entry price for a comparable plot size.
El Madroñal or La Zagaleta?
La Zagaleta if privacy and its own golf and clubhouse are the point and the budget starts above 5 million euros. El Madroñal if you want the same wooded hillside, a gate and large plots from about 2.5 million, and are happy to play golf at Los Arqueros or La Quinta a few minutes away. The drive to Puerto Banús is the same from both.
Is there new build in El Madroñal?
No. El Madroñal is an estate of individual villas on private plots and the only way to get a new house is to buy a plot or an old villa and build. The nearest new build on the mountain is Real de la Quinta, where apartments resell from about 850,000 euros and the developer still sells plots and later phases.
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