At the southern tip of Almeria province, looking south towards Algeria, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is often described as Spain's last truly wild coast. And rightly so. It's an other-worldly landscape of deserted beaches, sun-warmed seas, wind-hewn rocks, white-washed villages, pirate forts and exotic desert plants - such as the spiky agave, after which this 4-bedroom guesthouse is named.
You'll find several of these, as well as spreading fan palms, whispering pine trees, vivid bougainvillea and carpets of orange mesembryanthemum, in the shady gardens around the house. Plus several friendly pets (2 dogs and 1 cat at the last count), some shy chameleons, an outdoor hot tub (October to mid May), a star-gazing dome, and inviting hammocks and terraces. Best of all, there's a 10-metre outdoor pool built into a curve of the hillside: perfect for cooling off in that near-guaranteed sunshine.
Step inside and find an airy living room packed with guidebooks and artworks, from which 4 simple but lovely guest bedrooms fan out. Expect comfy double beds, tiled floors, ceiling fans, gleaming showers and a chic grey-on-white palette. Owners Ben and Neil, who moved here from the UK, have poured their heart and soul into the project - and it shows. Their unstinting helpfulness has already won them a loyal clientele of appreciative guests from around the world. So if you're after a warm welcome, affordable rooms, amazing beaches and outdoor living in year-round sun, there can be few better places in Europe.
Highs
- This is a truly tranquil, off-grid escape, a perfect place to slow down to nature's rhythms
- Views - especially at sunset - are wild and wonderful: grab a chilled wine from the honesty bar and watch the mountains turn ochre
- With just 4 rooms, and no pretention or fanfare, this place has a lovely, laid-back, intimate vibe
- Super-friendly service from Ben and Neil, plus plenty of affection from their pets - Arthur, Beetle and Peggy!
- A short drive from some of the finest unspoilt beaches in Andalucia, with spectacular coastal hiking and biking too
Lows
- No children under 16, except by arrangement when taking all 4 rooms
- No meals are served, apart from a simple but yummy breakfast, and no catering facilities; you'll need to drive out for most meals
- The house is solar-powered, so air-con is time-limited, and hairdryers are low-voltage (but rest assured, there is a back-up generator)
- Limited phone signal, but WiFi is available throughout the property
- It can get very hot in summer: come prepared
Best time to go
We think this is a perfect spring or autumn destination, thanks to warm sunny temperatures: typically 20-25 C in May and October, or 18-22 C in April and November, with at least 10 hours of sunshine per day! Even in winter, it rarely dips below 15 C by day, with just 1-2 rainy days per month - so if you want a top-up of vitamin D, or some energetic hiking and biking, November, December and March are your months (the guesthouse is closed in January and February). In July-August, temperatures can reach 30-40 C, so come prepared. Of course the pool is a godsend in these months, and all rooms have a ceiling fan and limited-use air-con.
Our top tips
Cinema buffs can visit several iconic film locations in this area. The Mex-Tex-look desert of Tabernas was the backdrop for spaghetti westerns including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as well as episodes from Doctor Who and Game of Thrones. Monsul beach was the scene of the bird flushing in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, while the beaches of El Palmer and Los Escullos feature in James Bond's Never Say Never Again and Almodovar's Talk to Her. And older readers might recognise El Algarrobico beach from Lawrence of Arabia. Even if you don't recognise any of these, you'll still appreciate the timeless filmic beauty of these land- and seascapes.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 16 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Peaceful location, lovely pool with plenty of areas to sit around the grounds. Both Ben and Neil were fabulous hosts, very helpful with recommendations for beaches and restaurants of which there were many choices and they really went above and beyond. We stayed in room 4 which was fabulous with its own sitting area inside as well as a garden area with table and chairs outside. The shower was really nice and a bonus for us was environmentally friendly toiletries and indeed the whole environmentally friendly ethos. We chose Little Agave because of its exclusivity (only 4 rooms). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.
Outstanding hospitality, wonderful place to relax and unwind, would definitely book again!
From the minute that we booked our stay at Little Agave, Ben was superb in his communication with us - sending map co-ordinates and details of where to find them, along with restaurant recommendations for our journey from the airport. The accommodation is absolutely wonderful - very simple and all the better for it, as it creates a really peaceful and relaxing oasis amongst the backdrop of Cabo de Gata. Ben & Neil's knowledge of the local area was really useful - they recommended great restaurants and beaches for during our stay, as well as giving us prior notice of the presence of Wild Boar in the area and the chameleons nestling in the trees in their garden! The room was spotlessly clean and comfortable. The breakfast basket is a lovely idea, and was a great way to start the day - and the honesty bar works well. We loved every minute!
Nice and warm atmosphere and a lovely hotel to stay in. At the village Isleta del Moro, is a very good fish restaurant - Restaurante La Ola.
Our room was very thoughtfully designed - both aesthetically and practically (the lamps had charging points). The tin tub outside the room was a lovely touch and it was absolutely lovely sitting outside and stargazing. Breakfasts were a treat especially as they are delivered to your door at a time of your choosing. Ben and Neil are the fabulous hosts and were extremely hospitable. They helped book restaurants and were very knowledgeable about the area. They couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly. Ask Ben and Neil about when the best time to go to some of the beaches are especially in August. Some of the most popular beaches close for part of the day during peak holiday season and they are very good at giving you alternatives.
Ben and Neil are very good hosts: efficient and kind.
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