Crystal Lagoons, the real estate giant responsible for building the world's largest outdoor swimming pool in Chile, is going to repeat their astonishing feat with Europe's first "megapool" in Casares at the Costa del Sol. The company will be spending in the region of 121 million euros to create a luxurious resort with 450 homes scattered around the new megapool.
The swimming pool in Chile measures 11 football pitches in size and is a haven for water sports fans and swimmers. In Casares, one of the most beautiful settlements among the historic white-washed hilltop towns at the Costa del Sol, the 1.5 hectares of the Alcazaba Lagoon will be surrounded not only by the 100 already built holiday homes that have stood there since 2009, unsold, but by an additional 350 new properties still to be constructed.
The enormous swimming pool area will take at least 8 months to be build and the new water sports mecca and resort will be close to a development earmarked for a Spanish Disneyland.
Will Crystal Lagoon succeed where other Developers have failed?
The real estate giant hopes to capture the imagination of wealthy European tourists, especially from the Costa del Sol's traditional tourism markets Britain, Netherlands and Germany. Using Crystal Lagoon's revolutionary technology, so explained the company's regional director Sebastian Pillado, it is possible to bring a laid-back beach lifestyle to anywhere in the world. The company hopes that the interest in the empty, unsold properties in the Casares area will be reactivated. So far there was little hope to ever sell these homes, as Casares lies further inland and typically, foreign demand is for seaside property.
Casares is located just a 35-minute drive from Marbella, but seems a world apart. Here tourists are presented with a perfect picture-postcard idyll of white-washed houses that cling to steep hillsides, winding cobbled streets that lead to a castle on top of the hill and gardens filled with colourful flowers.
Given that Estepona, Marbella and Mijas property markets have had a fabulous year with 376 million euros of investment so far, Casares should benefit eventually, as demand directly at the coast outstrips local supply and buyers have to move further inland with their property search.
One of the Costa del Sol's most picturesque hillside Towns
With a population of ca. 3,000 souls, Casares is one of the Costa del Sol's most beautiful towns. Connected to the coastal road N340/A7, the town lies near Torre de la Sal, between Estepona and Sabinillas, approx. 15 km inland. Overlooked by a medieval Arab fortress perched high above the town, Casares has magically avoided being included in the coach tour circuit, thus retaining much of its traditional feel and appearance.
At its heart lies the Plaza de España, from where steep footpaths lead up to the castle. The tourist office is located at Calle Carrera, 15, and has ample information about local attractions, such as the Iglesia de San Sebastian, which lies near the square, or the castle, which can best be reached via the Puerta Calle Arrabal. There are also numerous signposted walks of interest leading into the hills surrounding this small town. The nearest beach is probably Playa de la Sal, a dog-friendly, well-kept beach ideal for family holidays. One walk along the River Genal leads to Manilva.
Casares is well-known for its festivals, starting in May, when the Pilgrimage of Virgin de Rosario del Campo takes place. The image of the virgin is taken by a procession from the church of Sant Sebastian and to hermitage of Rosario del Campo, an 11-km route for the procession.
Provided the Costa del Sol property market continues to perform as well as it has done so far in 2105, the towns and villages in this area should see quite a few properties sold to foreign buyers in the near future. Casares, Gaucin and Manilva are popular choices for house hunters, as they offer alternatives to the seaside resort life in Marbella, Fuengirola and Estepona, where beaches can get rather busy in summer.