By Chris Chaplow
Sotogrande is the ideal spot for wellness, thanks to the warm, sunny Mediterranean climate, with mild winters, stunning outdoor spaces, and excellent facilities – perfect for practising your favourite sports, discovering new ones, and indulging in serious relaxation. Whether you prefer solo sporting pursuits or more sociable group or team activities, there are endless ways to incorporate healthy and enjoyable habits into your day-to-day life.
Start your day like the locals with a morning run along the marina or explore the area’s rolling hills and parklands by hiking or cycling. Golfers can enjoy the world-renowned courses, while tennis, padel, and horse-riding add to the range of outdoor pursuits. For water enthusiasts, swimming, sailing, and water sports like SUP, surfing and eFoiling – both on inland lakes and in the sea – offer options for both gentle exercise and adrenaline-filled adventures.
For a more holistic approach, Sotogrande’s luxury spas and wellness centres provide yoga, meditation, and Pilates, helping to reduce stress and boost your mood. Whether your goal is fitness or relaxation, whether you seek to challenge or nurture your body, Sotogrande provides everything you need to embrace wellness.
TENNIS and PADEL
Sotogrande’s first hotel, the Hotel Sotogrande, now known as Hotel Encinar de Sotogrande, opened in the 1960s. Boasting two tennis courts, which were still unusual at the time, it was officially called Hotel Tennis Sotogrande. While its courts are not in use today, the Racquet Centre at La Reserva Club with plenty of courts available is nearby.
Racquet Centre at La Reserva Club. The club has four clay tennis courts and five padel courts including a multiuse court for five-a-side football, basketball, volleyball or pickleball.
You can book individual tennis or padel lessons for adults and children, with sessions ranging from 45 minutes to two hours. Group classes for two to four people are also available, lasting one hour, and a 10-class voucher for those looking to commit to regular training. In addition to the racquet sports facilities, the centre features a dedicated beach volleyball court.
The experience is further enhanced by a cosy café and chill-out area, providing a relaxing spot to unwind, catch up with friends and watch the courtside action.
GOLF
Andalucia is known as one of the best golfing destinations in Europe, with superb courses and perfect weather.
Real Club Valderrama. This world-famous course was the first outside the USA and UK to host the Ryder Cup in 1997. It was also home to the Volvo Masters and Andalucia Masters 24 times between 1988 and 2022, and is now the home of LIV Golf Andalucia. The course is renowned for its immaculate fairways and greens, beautifully framed by majestic cork oak trees.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1964, this is one of Spain’s most prestigious golf courses. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean, the course features wide fairways, strategic water hazards, and perfectly manicured greens, all framed by towering pines, palms, and eucalyptus trees. Host of the Andalucia Masters since 2023.
Almenara Golf Course. This course was remodelled in 2021 under the direction of Manuel Piñero. It has announced plans for a cutting-edge golf academy with training facilities at the par-three nine-hole Alcornoques Course.
La Reserva Club. This modern course, meandering through two picturesque valleys and with magnificent views down to the Mediterranean Sea, opened in 2004. Since then, it has become one of the area’s most prestigious golf clubs.
SO/ Sotogrande hotel guests can sample the Sotogrande lifestyle with a golf experience package that includes rounds at all four courses. More info at sotogrande.com
HORSE-RIDING
For a serene yet revitalising wellness experience, horse-riding in Sotogrande offers the perfect blend of nature and luxury. Equestrian centres in Sotogrande and nearby San Enrique cater to all levels, with bespoke courses and guided trails.
Riders can explore lush woodland routes, enjoying the area’s natural beauty and tranquillity. For seasoned equestrians, off-season beach rides along Playa del Bunker provide an exhilarating coastal escape.
Whether a peaceful woodland ride or a thrilling beach gallop, horse-riding in Sotogrande captures the essence of wellness, rejuvenating both body and mind.
SAILING
Sailing also has a tremendous positive impact on wellbeing and mental health. Many people positively state that sailing boosts self-esteem, improves confidence, and reduces tension and stress. Another benefit of sailing and water sports is as a form of mindfulness. The UK Royal Yachting Association confidently talks about the mental health benefits of, in their terms, “being by the blue.”
Real Club Maritimo in Sotogrande has a full programme of activities and a sailing school for yachting and dinghy enthusiasts and holds several annual regattas. Like those organized every Thursday for members and residents of La Reserva, as well as for guests of the SO/ Sotogrande hotel.
WATERSPORTS
Blua Blue Watersports Centre, located at The Beach, La Reserva Club, enjoys a 17,000m2 sports lagoon purpose-built for water sports, with rentals (and some lessons) of kayaks and SUP (stand-up paddle boards). For more thrills, try an electric jet ski, jet board, or eFoil (a lighter surfboard lifted out of the water by an electric-powered hydrofoil wing).
SURFING
In winter, with the Levante winds blowing and the tides low to medium, Sotogrande becomes an ideal spot for surfers of all levels. The moderate swell is perfect for beginners and intermediates, especially at the popular Torreguadiaro Beach.
For more experienced surfers, the mouth of the River Guadiaro offers a greater challenge, with shifting sandbars and stronger currents.
Whether you’re learning or seeking a new adventure, Sotogrande’s winter waves are right on your doorstep.
SPA AND WELLNESS CLUB, SO/ SPA
This superb facility offers 3,500m2 of wellness, including a spa and 24/7 gym, hydrothermal circuit, exercise classes, and an infinity pool.
The wellness centre, with Mediterranean views, features eight treatment rooms, a serene Yoga Pavilion, Hamman sauna, steam room and boutique. Here, you can experience a curated collection of body and mind therapies, blending cutting-edge science with holistic healing, all set within a tranquil, bohemian atmosphere.
Unwind by the indoor pool, find peace in the relaxation area, or rejuvenate in the sauna and Hamman. Advanced recovery treatments include cryotherapy, flotation therapy, and physiotherapy, offering a complete wellness experience designed to restore balance and vitality.
There are three membership levels for the Spa and Wellness Club with memberships available from one month to annually. And residents and visitors to Sotogrande can enjoy a rejuvenating escape with the spa day pass, perfect for those seeking a tranquil retreat.
HIKING AND CYCLING
There are numerous walking, hiking and cycling trails in and around Sotogrande. From the marina to SO/ Sotogrande Hotel, an 11km walk or cycle, takes you across the resort. One of the best websites or apps to plan your route is Komoot.com, which features community-recommended circuits.
A clear popular 9km running or cycling route is the Paseo del Parque circuit. This circuit, which includes crossing the River Guadiaro estuary, starts and finishes at the car park by Real Club Maritimo. Many sporting enthusiasts extend this route by incorporating a second loop through Avenida del Paniagua. Popular cycle routes combine a route into Sotogrande Alta with a circuit round Avenida de los Cortijos and Carretera de Arenillas.
With so many routes to choose from, you can specify the distance, difficulty, and terrain you prefer, and Komoot.com will suggest suitable options with users’ points of interest, photos, and tips.
For more determined cyclists, try Sotogrande to San Martin del Tesorillo, San Pablo de Buceite, Jimena de la Frontera, and back again, an exhilarating 75km route with a 350m climb.
E-BIKE TOUR
For those wanting to enjoy the Sotogrande countryside car-free, and for a less strenuous experience, you can join the electric bike tours held on the last Saturday of each month in the morning. E-bike specialists Serendipity will rent e-bikes for a two-hour route starting and finishing at La Reserva Club. Reserve your place by emailing lareserva@sotogrande.com.
PILATES
Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on strengthening the body and improving flexibility through controlled movements. Pilates exercises often involve engaging the core muscles, essential for stability and balance. There are numerous Pilates centres in and around Sotogrande.
GYMNASIUMS
Regular gym visits can offer numerous benefits for your physical and mental health. From improving cardiovascular health and building muscle to reducing stress and boosting mood, the gym can be a valuable tool for achieving your fitness goals and enhancing your overall wellbeing. The ultra-modern gym at the Spa and Wellness Club at SO/ Sotogrande is open 24/7, offering a comprehensive fitness experience. It features state-of-the-art equipment, indoor and outdoor functional fitness areas, a cardio zone, free weights, a cycling studio, and much more. Guests can take advantage of a full schedule of diverse group classes, and personal trainers are available to create customised training programmes. Day passes and memberships ranging from one month to one year are also offered.
More information at https://so-hotels.com/en/sotogrande/wellness-club/fitness/.
You can see the enormous range of wellness activities available in and around Sotogrande – whatever your fitness level and interests, you’ll always be able to find an enjoyable way to keep your mind and body active all year round.