Sotogrande News

Sotogrande News

A round up of news items of interest to visitors and residents of Sotogrande. Latest news added to the top, older items archived for future interest.

Carol Service in Sotogrande Church

A popular Carol Service in English is held in Sotogrande Church on Sunday 14th December 2025 at 12.00 hrs in place of the usual Sunday service by the Anglican Chaplaincy on the Western Costa del Sol. The Carol service was attended by nearly 250 last year. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served afterwards.

Nativity scenes - Belén Viviente

The San Roque Belén Viviente traditionally takes place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025 from 11.00 to midnight (Saturday) and 22.00 (Sunday) near the parish church of Santa Maria La Coronada in the Plaza de Armas. This nativity scene is organised by the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora del Rocío de San Roque. It includes nativity figures with animals, craftsmen, merchants and Roman soldiers.

A Belén Viviente is more than a Nativity Scene. To understand more read our page about the renoun Arcos de la Frontera Belen Viviente.

Lighting of the Christmas tree

Celebrate the festive season at Ribera del Marlin in Sotogrande Marina on evening of Saturday 6th December 2025 with the official ceremony of the lighting up of the 6m tall Christmas tree. Sing along to Christmas carols with the choir of Sotogrande International School.

Christmas Fair at Hacienda Almoguera

Hacienda Almoguera Christmas Fair in Los Barrios on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025, 11 am to 6 pm. Enjoy mulled wine, mince pies, gourmet treats, and an artisanal market, alongside festive fun for all ages, from tractor-trailer rides to pony rides and face painting. Since 2007, this Christmas Fair has been a local institution, combining seasonal cheer with community spirit in a countryside setting. The fair supports local charities; donations of non-perishable goods are accepted on the door. Located on the Carretera Vieja de Los Barrios (CA-9202) at km 4. Parking available.

Final of the Gold Cup of the International Summer Polo Club Tournament 2025

The Final of the 54th International Polo Tournament, organised by the Ayala Polo Club, will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 30th August 2025.  More about Polo Tournaments in Sotogrande >

Small step forward in the Gibralmedina dam project on the River Guadiaro.

A small step forward has been made in the project to build the Gibralmedina Reservior on the upper reaches of the River Guadiaro, which lies on the border between the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz. The regional government has announced the completion of the construction project documents, which cost €2.3 million alone, and the drafting of the environmental project documents. The execution of the project would normally be the responsibility of the central government.

This project was declared of general state interest over thirty years ago, but has been stalled ever since. The River Guadiaro is the only large uncontrolled river on the coast. In other words, a reservoir serves not only to provide drinking water, but also to regulate river flow, ensuring that precious fresh water is not wasted by flowing out to sea during the inter-monsoon months.

With a projected capacity of 100 cubic hectometres when full, the reservoir would primarily serve the Campo de Gibraltar and, if necessary, supply up to 15 hm³ per year to the western part of the Costa del Sol.

The reservoir would be created by constructing the Cerro Blanco dam, a project which has also received strong opposition from environmentalist groups.

LIV Golf Andalucia at Valderrama 2026

LIV Golf has announced that it will return to Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande next year for the LIV Golf Andalucía tournament, which will take place from 5 to 7 June 2026, a month earlier than the 2025 edition. This will be the fourth edition of the Andalucía tournament. The tournament will feature the Fireballs GC team, led by Sergio García, and the Legión XIII team, led by Jon Rahm. About the 2025 edition.

Ayala Polo Club Tournament 2025

The 54th International Polo Tournament, organised by the Ayala Polo Club, will begin with the Bionesta Pharmaceuticals Bronze Cup, which will be played from Monday 28th July to Saturday 2nd August 2025. This will be followed by the Terralpa Silver Cup, which will take place from 4th to 16th August, and will conclude with the Gold Cup, which will take place from 18th to 30th August.

The tournament features 23 teams divided into three categories: High Handicap (20–22 goals), Medium Handicap (12–14 goals) and Low Handicap (6–8 goals). Matches will take place on the Ayala Sede Los Pinos in Sotogrande and Ayala Polo Club pitches San Enrique de Guadiaro.

Spectators can enjoy the facilities of 'The Last Chukker', located between fields 3 and 4.

Sede Los Pinos. This area will include shops, a weekend market, food trucks, a Croft-sponsored bar, and three free concerts. Admission to all the polo matches is free.  More about Polo Tournaments in Sotogrande >

Virgen del Carmen - 16th July

The procession of the Virgen del Carmen takes place every year on the 16th of July, starting at 19:00 hrs from the small church Iglesia del Carmen on Calle Iglesia in the fishermen's quarter of Torrequadiaro next to the 'new' (1796) watchtower. The procession goes down to the control tower on the outer breakwater of the Sotogrande Marina where the Virgen de Carmen is carefully loaded onto a barge that sails around to the 'Ensenada de Torreguadiaro' where the icon of Virgen del Carmen is transferred onto the beach. The procession returns to the church via Avenida del Mar. About Virgen del Carmen processions.

LIV Golf Andalucia at Valderrama 2025

LIV Golf will return to the Valderrama Golf Club from 11 to 13 July 2025. This will be the first LIV Golf tour event in Europe of the 2025 season. The event also provides an opportunity for 19 players to fine-tune their performance ahead of the Open Championship, which will take place at Portrush in Northern Ireland the following week. More>

Suzann Pettersen Appointed Global Ambassador for Sotogrande Golf Academy

Sotogrande has announced that Suzann Pettersen, a former Solheim Cup player and captain, and two-time major champion, will serve as the Global Ambassador for the new Sotogrande Golf Academy. The academy is scheduled to open in August at the SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort.

Rami Badr, CEO of Sotogrande S.A., commented on the collaboration, stating, “She is the perfect ambassador for our new Golf Academy – a world-class athlete with an astonishing resumé in the game, and with a dedication to the sport that is an ideal representation of the Academy. She is also a fantastic role model to inspire those beginning their golfing journeys with us here in Sotogrande.”

Pettersen expressed her views on the partnership, noting, “I’m honoured to join the Sotogrande team and be part of this project. This new facility is outstanding, and unlike anything else in the region. I look forward to spending time at the Academy and helping shape it into one of the best coaching facilities in the country.”

As part of her role, Suzann Pettersen is expected to work with the Academy’s teaching professionals to develop training programs that incorporate her strategic approach to golf. She will aim to integrate her coaching philosophies throughout the facility to provide consistent instruction for golfers of various skill levels.

Sotogrande Night Market

Sotogrande Summer Night market is well worth a stroll. Alongside the shops along La Ribiera del Marlin, near the Marina. Good for costume jewelry, modernist paintings, homewear, clothes, polo shirts, trendy lifestyle items, seasonal gifts and Panamanian hats. Opening Times will be Wednesday and Thursday summer evenings from 19.00 to 00.00 hrs from 2nd July to 28th August 2025. More about Sotogrande Markets.

San Roque celebrates its 319th anniversary

From 23 to 25 May 2025, San Roque will celebrate the 319th anniversary of the municipality's foundation, with the Plaza de las Constituciones at the heart of the festivities, as promoted by the Town Hall. The event will feature institutional traditions, international gastronomy courtesy of food trucks, and musical performances.

Friday 23rd May:
21:00 h - D'Dulce, flamenco pop group from Alcalá de Guadaíra
23:00 h - Antonio Albadalejo, with his rumbas
01:00 h - Los Singles, 80s and 90s cover band

Saturday 24 May
21:00 h - La Marabunda, a group from Algeciras with a street style and canalla
23:00 h - Calle Botica, a group from Huelva with rumbas
01:00 h - KM 90, a tribute to Spanish pop-rock from the 80s to the 2000s

Sunday 25 May (especially designed for families):
18:00 h - DJ Andy Duo (Algeciras)
19:30 h - Children's musicals
21:00 h - Yohan Monkey, Brazilian rock singer

Chemists / Farmacias

There are five different Chemists/Farmacias in or around Sotogrande. They are open mornings and afternoons Monday to Friday and on a Saturday morning. The five operate a 'farmacia de guardia' / night duty rota between them so that there is always a farmacia open 24/7 within a short drive from Sotogrande. The rota is explained on our Farmacies page.

Easter Sunday Church Service

The Anglican Church of Sotogrande will celebrate its Easter Sunday service at 12 midday in English with a choir. The service will include three special Easter readings and the lighting of the Easter candle. The Nuestra Señora de la Merced church in Sotogrande is located at Calle Bellota 305.

LIV Golf return to Sotogrande in 2025, but not Andalucia Masters

Dates for the diary. LIV Golf return to Sotogrande in 2025. The LIV Golf returns to Valderrama Golf Club from the 11th to 13th July 2025. About the LIV Golf Valdreama 2024. However the Andalucía Masters is absent from the DP Tour schedule in 2025. As the schedule closed the DP World India Championship in New Delhi was added to the Andalucía Masters slot between 16th and 19th of Octubre de 2025. Real Club de Golf Sotogrande was venue in 2024 and 2023 and before that annually at Valderrama for decades except for 2012 to 2016. There has been no comment nor explanation from the title sponsors Estrella Damm nor principal sponsors Andalucia tourist board. The masters had been played in Sotogrande 25 times since 1988. 

River Guadiaro water level monitoring

In Spain, there is a real-time monitoring system of river levels and flows called the Automatic Hydrological Information System (SAIH). It is primarily a tool for the Hydrographic Confederations for the management of water resources and the forecasting and control of floods. It should be monitored by civil protection organisations. After the floods in Valencia in October 2024, it became clear that citizens need to be aware of this resource and monitor it themselves when there are storms in their area. The residents and vistors to Sotogrande will be pleased to know that the Guadiaro is one of the rivers being monitored.

On this link one can monitor in real time the upper reaches of the River Guadiaro in four places for current water level in metres and flow in cubic metres per second, compare current levels to maximum historic one and also see if a One, Two or Three warning level has been reached.
#9 - Río Hozgarganta at Jimena.
#11 - Río Guadiaro in San Pablo de Buceite
#13 - Río Genal in Jubrique
#103 - Rio Guadiaro in Cortes de la Frontera

Collect Corner now offers a secure key holding service.

Collect Corner in Sotogrande now also offers a secure key holding service. Emergencies happen at any time; locked out of your house or car, left the keys behind. Collect Corner make the keys available 24/7. Lodge an unmarked set of keys with at Collect Corner and upon digital code request we make them available to any persons designated.

Collect Corner Sotogrande is principally a parcel collection pick-up point - clients have their package sent to the address, knowing that someone will receive and safely store it; they can then pick it up when it is convenient. Unreliable deliveries mean we often stay in unnecessarily waiting for a package, which can disrupt our plans. With this service, the client decides when to collect their parcel. Collect Corner is located at Centro Comercial Mar y Sol, local 3.9. More info at collectcorner.es

Sotogrande News Archive - 2024

Sotogrande News Archive - 2023

Sotogrande News Archive - 2022

Sotogrande News Archive - 2021