El Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas is a luxury 7-room Mediterranean hideaway set within the spectacular Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Andalucía’s largest protected coastal area of wild beaches and striking volcanic landscapes.

This boutique hotel offers guests a luxurious escape set amongst tranquil countryside that reaches down to captivating Mediterranean coves, each giving its name to one of the property’s seven signature rooms and suites. Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas has two additional self-contained ‘villa’ apartments, one with a private plunge pool.

Guests have also enjoyed the small restaurant, offering homemade Mediterranean breakfasts, and chef-prepared evening dinners paired with local and national wines, writes Andrew Forbes (The Luxury Editor).

Head East

Almeria is the easternmost province of Andalucia, one of Southern Spain’s least discovered regions, which offers spectacular nature and charming sun-splashed villages.

If you drive east from Malaga airport, taking the new motorway that follows the coast, you will pass through extraordinary scenery, including views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the highest peaks of mainland Spain. This natural barrier blocks the moist air from the Atlantic, so from here it is a cinematic, semi-arid land where pine-clad mountains give way to desert lands, punctuated with the distinctive silhouettes of towering Agave flowers.

Amongst these wild, rugged, and soul-stirring landscapes, Sergio Leone made his spaghetti westerns with a young Clint Eastern, beginning a boom in filmmaking that continues to this day.

Luxury & Tranquillity

For me, the draw of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is the tranquillity and the overwhelming feeling of space. When driving here the only traffic you might encounter will be a few campervans meandering along the lanes, and when out in the countryside you’ll be pretty much alone apart from a few hikers or bird watchers. Yet staying here has usually always been a question of simple, boho guesthouses.

Now, Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas is pioneering luxury accommodation in the Cabo de Gata natural park, bringing the sophistication of an urban hotel to the wilds of Almeria.

This rural farmstead was once at the heart of an estate made rich from the region’s agriculture and once-active silver and gold mines. Held within the same family for generations, and in the past enjoyed for private summer holidays by the sea, the property has recently been beautifully reimagined as an elegant Boutique Cortijo hotel, with luxury elegance enhanced by authentic, homespun family-style hospitality.

Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas is found in the heart of the Rodalquilar Valley, an ancient volcanic caldera, that today affords panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, down to the azul waters of the Mediterranean.

Accommodation

Each room and suite at the Cortijo are beautifully designed with natural materials, and bespoke furniture, and furnished with 5-star amenities.

We stayed in El Carnaje, a beautifully appointed suite with a private furnished terrace, a separate living room with a seating area and mini bar, with sliding doors that opened to a dressing area, and onto the main bedroom, with a feature fireplace. The space has all the style and quality of a luxury hotel, yet with the charm and authenticity of a rural bolthole.

The bathroom is a delight, with a huge two-person soaking bathtub, and walk-in shower, as well as high-quality monogrammed towels, and luxe amenities

Each room name echoes those of seven secluded coves that mark the nearby beautiful coastline, including ‘El Playazo,’ the spectacular bay that dominates the views from the property. This unspoilt beach of broad sands and crystalline waters is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkelling.

During our stay, we started each morning with an epicurean breakfast on the terrace, with cured meats, cheeses, and freshly prepared eggs.

Destination Delights

Days would then invite you to relax and rejuvenate, reading on the private terrace, sunbathing, or taking a hike to one of the delightful coves.

The nearby village of Rodalquilar is an artsy, boho community with a gourmet store and some cute little bar restaurants. It has a fascinating mining history, and you can explore the nearby deserted goldmines.

Alternatively, head for the beach for a day under the Andalusian sun or take to the water aboard a skippered yacht for a nautical perspective of this amazing coastline.

As each day drew to a close, it would be time for a sundowner on the Chill Out roof terrace, before dinner under the stars, with home-cooked Mediterranean and international dishes prepared by the chef.

Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas is the ideal for a relaxing break, combined with nature pursuits, and exploring the local villages, like the potteries and artisan ceramic boutiques of Nijar.

The province of America is Europe’s sunniest (and driest) region, so whatever the season, you are pretty much assured plenty of sunlight. So, take a road trip east, for sun-kissed days of boutique luxury at this unique hideaway overlooking the sea.

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