Sotogrande lifestyles

In an earlier article we described some of the most exclusive and desirable residential areas in Sotogrande, comparing the established appeal of life near the beach and marina to the up-and-coming hillside locations overlooking golf courses and open countryside all the way to the mountains and the sea.

But these are not the only options and lifestyles available in Sotogrande, which covers an area the size of Marbella and is made up of a great variety of landscapes and settings. Among these are two smaller residential zones that border the famous ‘Kings & Queens’ area extending towards the sports and beach clubs that front the Sotogrande shore.

Not as well known and a little below its famous neighbour in terms of price and address appeal, these are nonetheless first class residential zones that offer many of the same – typically Sotogrande – virtues, including peaceful leafy streets, luxurious homes on sizeable verdant plots and close proximity to all the services and attractions not just of Sotogrande, but of the surrounding region.

Leafy streets of the A Zone
The area just south of the coastal road, referred to as the A Zone as the street names begin with the letter A, was one of the original residential zones developed within Sotogrande, and development here dates back to the mid 1960s. As a result, this is a well-established area with luxurious villas lining broad, leafy streets bathed in tranquillity and is a more affordable part of Sotogrande Costa compared to the Kings and Queens, since the plots are smaller and not quite as easily accessible to the recreational areas of the beach, marina, golf and tennis. However with low levels of transit traffic it is very a peaceful zone ideal for private living.

Plot sizes range between 1,300m2 and 2,000m2, averaging around 1,500m2, and while many of the villas either have been updated or are in the process of modernisation or even rebuilding, they stand alongside grand villas that have stood the test of time very well. Typically, these homes are kept within families for over more than a generation and offer reasonable private gardens, with some of the most desirable bordering on their western side the now protected cork forest reserve of Guadalquiton. The A Zone also offers its broadly international inhabitants very convenient access to the different parts of Sotogrande, as well as the motorway that runs to Gibraltar and Marbella.

For an example of villas  for sale with Holmes Sotogrande in the A Zone visit:

This family home in Sotogrande Costa

Charming villa on double plot

El Rio Polo Area
Technically part of Kings and Queens, this area dates back to the 1970s yet prices here are more economical than the rest of the Kings and Queens but still extremely conveniently located. Not that this isn’t a desirable location in its own right – after all, who wouldn’t want an address near the polo? – but here we have similar sized plots as well as developments of town houses and apartments.

When we say apartments, we mean ‘apartments Sotogrande style’ – stylishly designed, luxurious and set within spacious subtropical gardens. These urbanisations are white-plastered gems surrounded by their own greenery and that of the polo club, whose grounds extend from here towards the banks of the Guadiaro River.

Developed from the 1970s onwards, the area also comprises compact modern villas on plots of between 2,000m2 and 3,000m2, and is that little bit closer to the social hub of Sotogrande, the marina. Planted with a different mix of trees – as is the case in each of Sotogrande’s distinct areas – its streets are also peaceful enough for a leisurely stroll, a jog or children to ride around on their bicycles, with most roads leading to a very pleasant focal point: the Santa María Polo Club. There aren’t a lot of places that can say that!