Casares

Casares wears its history openly. The story goes that Julius Caesar himself gave the settlement its name after being cured of a liver complaint in the sulphurous springs of the nearby Baños de la Hedionda, Roman baths that still exist in the valley below the village and remain open to bathers today. The Moorish castle, built in the 9th century, still dominates the skyline, and within its walls stands the 16th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación, now the Centro Cultural Blas Infante. That name matters here: Blas Infante, regarded as the father of Andalusian nationalism, was born in Casares in 1885. His birthplace on Calle Carrera now serves as a museum and tourist office, and the local primary school bears his name.

The village's steep, narrow streets and intimate plazas remain genuinely lived-in. Plaza de España, the social heart of Casares, is anchored by the elegant Carlos III fountain dating from 1785 and lined with traditional bars and restaurants. La Bodeguita de en Medio, a family-run favourite on the square, is the kind of place where you'll find locals sharing plates of chuletitas de chivo (young goat chops) alongside visitors who've made the pilgrimage up the hill. The pace here is resolutely unhurried, and the permanent population of around 6,000, predominantly Spanish, ensures the village retains its authenticity year-round.

The drive between the coast and the village is an experience in itself. The MA-8300, known locally as the Gastronomic Route, is lined with ventas, traditional roadside inns, each with its own character. Venta Victoria offers home-cooked Andalusian fare with views across the valley, while further up the road, Restaurante Arroyo Hondo, run by a Japanese-British couple, serves Mediterranean dishes with subtle Asian influences that have drawn a loyal following for almost two decades. Restaurante Sarmiento, closer to the village, specialises in Andalusian grill cuisine with views stretching to the mountains and the sea. This concentration of quality dining along a single rural road is genuinely unusual for the region.

Down on the coast, Casares Costa offers a different but complementary lifestyle. The beachfront is divided into several distinct stretches: Playa Ancha, the widest, holds Blue Flag status and is popular for paddle boarding and kayaking. Playa de la Sal is quieter, favoured by those seeking sand and solitude in equal measure. Playa Chica is accessible only on foot, lending it a secluded feel. And Playa Piedra Paloma, at the Estepona boundary, is one of Andalucía's few designated dog-friendly beaches. Chiringuito La Sal and Bahía Beach provide beachside dining, while the Finca Cortesín Beach Club, with its 35-metre infinity pool overlooking the sea, caters to those seeking something more refined.

“From a distance, it looks almost unreal: a cascade of whitewashed houses clinging to a limestone crag, crowned by the ruins of an Arab fortress, with griffon vultures circling the thermals above.”

Casares's claim on the international sporting map was cemented in September 2023, when Finca Cortesín hosted the Solheim Cup, the first time the prestigious women's team golf event was held in Spain. The resort's 18-hole championship course, designed by Cabell Robinson and set across rolling terrain with views to the Mediterranean and the African coast, had previously hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship three times. It is consistently rated among Spain's finest courses and features the Jack Nicklaus Academy for those looking to sharpen their game.

Two further courses sit within the municipality. Doña Julia Golf Club, an 18-hole par-71 course designed by Antonio García Garrido in 2005, is beautifully integrated into the natural landscape between the mountains and the sea, with generous greens and panoramic views that make it a favourite among both residents and visiting players. Casares Costa Golf offers a more compact 9-hole layout, ideal for a shorter round, with the Brasserie restaurant and spa facilities on site.

Beyond golf, the area caters to an active lifestyle. Finca Cortesín provides tennis and padel courts alongside a well-equipped Technogym gym. Equestrian enthusiasts will find riding centres in the surrounding countryside, while the Sierra Crestellina, the dramatic limestone ridge that forms Casares's northern backdrop, offers waymarked hiking trails with genuinely spectacular birdwatching. The griffon vulture colony here is one of the most accessible in Andalucía, and peregrine falcons and kestrels are regularly spotted from the village itself.

No account of Casares is complete without acknowledging the transformative presence of Finca Cortesín. Opened in 2009 across 215 hectares of what was once barren valley, this five-star resort has become one of the most acclaimed hotels in southern Europe. Its signature restaurant, REI by Finca Cortesín (formerly Kabuki Raw, which held a Michelin star from 2017 to 2019), serves avant-garde Asian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine under head chef Luis Olarra. Don Giovanni, overseen by Sicilian chef Andrea Tumbarello, has earned two Repsol Suns for its innovative Italian cooking. El Jardín de Lutz completes the fine-dining offering with traditional Spanish cuisine. The resort's spa features an indoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna, and a distinctive snow cave, a rarity on the Costa del Sol.

Casares is well served by road, sitting just off the A-7 coastal highway with easy access to the AP-7 motorway. Gibraltar Airport is approximately 35 kilometres to the southwest, around 45 min by car, making it particularly convenient for those with UK connections. Málaga Airport lies roughly 75 kilometres to the northeast, typically around 74 min depending on traffic. Estepona is 20 minutes east along the coast, Sotogrande 18 kilometres to the west, and Marbella reachable in around 30 minutes.

Public transport is limited: an L-77 bus service connects Casares village to Estepona and Marbella twice daily, so a car is essential for daily life here. This is part of the area's character rather than a drawback: Casares appeals to those who value space, privacy, and natural surroundings over urban convenience.

“Families will find a well-regarded state primary school in Casares village, CEIP Blas Infante, which also covers the first three years of secondary education.”

Families will find a well-regarded state primary school in Casares village, CEIP Blas Infante, which also covers the first three years of secondary education. For international schooling, Sotogrande International School (IB curriculum) is a 15-minute drive west, while Queens British Grammar School and Atlas American School are accessible near Estepona. Further options including Aloha College and Swans International lie within comfortable reach towards Marbella.

Healthcare is anchored by the Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol near Marbella, a major public facility that received a significant new extension in March 2025. The private Hospitén Estepona provides closer emergency access, and local health centres in Casares and the surrounding area handle day-to-day needs.

Casares marks the calendar with celebrations that feel genuinely rooted rather than staged for visitors. The Romería de la Virgen del Rosario in May sees the patron saint's image carried 11 kilometres from the Iglesia de San Sebastián to the countryside hermitage, a procession accompanied by horses, traditional dress, and picnics in the fields. The Feria de Casares in August, with origins dating to 1813, fills the village with music, dancing, and horse parades. And on the night of San Juan in June, the beaches of Casares Costa come alive with bonfires and the burning of the traditional júas.

Casares is not for everyone, and that is precisely the point. It suits those drawn to authentic Andalusian village life without complete isolation from the coast, buyers who want to wake to the sound of birdsong rather than traffic, who value a Sunday lunch at a country venta over a beach club brunch, and who appreciate that the nearest world-class golf course happens to have hosted one of the sport's most prestigious international events. The growing residential developments along Casares Costa offer a coastal alternative for those who want proximity to the sea, while the countryside between village and shore provides scope for larger fincas and country estates with the kind of space and privacy that is increasingly rare this close to the Mediterranean.

It is a place of contrasts (Moorish ruins and Michelin-quality dining, griffon vultures and infinity pools, centuries-old ventas and contemporary resort architecture), but the contrasts feel natural rather than forced. Casares has evolved without losing itself, and that quiet confidence is perhaps its greatest appeal.