Costa del Sol opens an inland beach between Marbella and Benahavís

A day at the beach no longer necessarily means heading to the Mediterranean. Between Marbella and Benahavís, the Real de La Quinta residential resort has opened El Lago Club, a new leisure destination built around a navigable lake that brings a coastal-style experience into the mountains.

The complex is centred on a body of water covering more than 35,000 square metres and measuring around 400 metres in length. Beside the lake, visitors will find a beach and swimming area, a jetty and several ways to enjoy the water, including kayaking, paddleboarding and pedal boats.

A beach surrounded by nature

The project’s most distinctive feature is the opportunity to spend a day beside the water without being directly on the coast. The setting combines sand, vegetation and views across the mountain landscape between Marbella and Benahavís.

The inland beach is the heart of El Lago Club, although the concept extends well beyond swimming. The venue has been designed as a place where visitors can combine relaxation, physical activity, dining and contact with nature.

Guests can follow trails for walking or running, play racket sports or take part in non-motorised water activities. The aim is to offer a recreational experience connected with the landscape and wellbeing, while providing the services expected from a holiday club.

Sports both on and off the water

Alongside the jetty, swimming area and water activities, the facilities include tennis and padel courts, children’s areas and a six-hole golf course.

This combination makes the venue suitable for different types of visitors. While some may prefer to relax beside the lake, others can practise sport, explore the natural surroundings or take part in family-friendly activities.

The complex therefore brings together experiences that would usually be found across beaches, sports clubs and wellness centres.

Peruvian cuisine beside the lake

The gastronomic offering is led by Saltao, a Peruvian restaurant located within the new club. Its contemporary menu combines Peruvian ingredients, techniques and flavours with a presentation suited to the character of the resort.

The restaurant completes the lakeside experience and positions El Lago Club as a place not only for activities, but also for spending a longer day enjoying food and the surrounding scenery.

The venue also includes Le Max Wellness Club, equipped with a gym, spa, sauna, Turkish bath and heated swimming pool. This adds a stronger wellbeing element to the project and allows the facilities to be used throughout different seasons of the year.

The new social centre of Real de La Quinta

El Lago Club forms part of Real de La Quinta, a residential development covering approximately two million square metres. More than 400 homes have already been built, and the project is now around halfway through its planned development.

According to information provided by the developer, 223 homes have already been delivered, while a further 116 are expected to be completed between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. The long-term plan includes approximately 1,000 properties.

The new lake has been created as one of the development’s main meeting points. Its opening is intended to bring together residents, sports enthusiasts and users of the resort’s different services, reinforcing a residential model in which leisure plays a central role.

A future hotel will expand the tourism offering

The development also plans to add the Angsana Real de La Quinta hotel, following an agreement with Banyan Tree Group. Its arrival will expand the resort’s tourism dimension and strengthen its international profile.

The future hotel will complement the lake, restaurant, sports facilities and wellness centre, creating a broader offering focused on residential tourism and premium experiences.

With this new inland beach, the Costa del Sol adds an unusual attraction to its leisure map. The Mediterranean remains the province’s main draw, but El Lago Club shows that visitors can also enjoy water, sand and aquatic activities in the mountains, just a few kilometres from the coastline.

Information sources: La Opinión de Málaga and Cadena SER Málaga.