Located a short skip from the pretty town of Rodalquilar, in the heart of the Natural Park is this stunning casa rural. Owners Joaquin and Maite embarked on a long journey to transform their 300-year-old cortijo into the beautiful and intimate space it is today, comprising 7 rooms and 2 villas which they share with guests. No expense has been spared in creating a peaceful and welcoming house with all the luxurious elements expected of any top hotel, from bathrobes to soaking rain showers. The pretty yet minimal gardens allow you to focus on the property’s breathtaking 360-degree views, with the added benefit of a plunge pool in the form of a traditional alberca (water tank), and a large rooftop terrace with comfy seating – ideal for a sundowner or two.
Thoughtfully decorated bedrooms await, with gorgeous floor tiles, soft colours and wonderful beds. We particularly liked the Suite, with its cavernous space and enormous bath – worthy of Cleopatra! Days can be spent discovering the Cabo de Gata Natural Park and its stunning unspoilt coastlines, wild interiors and sleepy traditional villages, for a taste of an older time. Beaches, famous for their clear blue waters, are a must-see; the closest only a 15-minute walk from the house. There are bikes, snorkels and paddle boards to borrow too. Evenings can be whiled away at the cortijo or in the local town of Rodalquilar, offering any food lover a rich selection of great restaurants.
Highs
- Fantastic location, close to great beaches, restaurants and walking routes (it's just a 15-minute walk to El Playazo beach)
- Extremely comfortable rooms, with luxurious rain showers and plenty of space
- Homemade restaurant-quality dinners and fab breakfasts
- Lovely roof top terrace with honesty bar and long views to the beach
- Impressive sustainability practices, including solar and aerothermal energy, LED lighting, recyclable amenities, rainwater collection and drip irrigation in the gardens
Lows
- The house is situated along a dirt track that can be tricky to find, but the hosts send you detailed directions so its not a problem
- The pool is small, but who needs a large pool when you have the beach so close?
- You’ll need to drive to stay here
- No kids, a plus for many
Best time to go
July and August can be incredibly hot in this part of Andalucia, so we would recommend avoiding these times if you suffer in the heat, although the rooms all feature air-conditioning. Autumn and spring are ideal for walking and cycling, as is the winter! Expect lovely warm days and cool nights in the winter – Siete Calas has heating in all the rooms and they are beautifully cosy for the longer evenings.
Our top tips
Bring walking shoes and lots of suncream – this corner of Spain offers hikers some fantastic walking routes and the sun shines for upwards of 320 days a year. With far fewer tourists than other parts of Spain, this is also a great place to escape the rat race… bring a good book and totally switch off from the world.
- Boutique Hotel
- 7 rooms, 2 villas for 3-6
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- Over 16s only
- Open all year
- Plunge Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
- Electric car charger
Rooms
The 7 rooms and suites fan out from the main original house (the Villa). Each has its own private entrance and outdoor space looking onto the desert garden and traditional Era (ancient thrashing circle) and beyond to the wide open views of the coastline. All rooms feature comfortable queensize beds (which can be twins on request), rain showers, coffee machines, a small table and chairs, and an outdoor seating area.
Rooms are minimalist and airy, with vaulted ceilings, thoughtful lighting and locally inspired textiles in muted warm colours. We stayed in a Deluxe Room, which had a Moorish-influenced arch around the bed. The Junior Suite has an indoor seating area and a private rooftop terrace with sea views, while the Suite features a spacious sitting room and a sumptuous bathtub, along with a separate rain shower.
The main house can have a section split off to create Villa del Valle, which sleeps up to three in a double and a single, and features its own private terrace with views over the mountains and towards the town of Rodalquilar.
For larger parties, the main house can be joined with Villa del Valle to form one larger villa, Villa Amatista, which has two queensize bedrooms and an additional twin bedroom, sleeping 6 in total.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Central heating
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Radio
- Safe box
- Terrace/balcony
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
Siete Calas offers an extensive and delicious breakfast buffet – including fresh seasonal and exotic fruit, local hams and cheeses, breads, cereals and granola, yoghurts, several tea options, pastries and cakes, jams, juice and cava (if wanted) – plus eggs to order, served in the breakfast room.
Fantastic, chef-prepared set-price three-course meals in La Chisperia are also available to guests in the evenings. These vary by season, and menus rotate during the week (all dietaries catered for with a little notice). As we visited out of season, we dined in the main house's living/dining room, enjoying an exquisite three-course meal of Thai noodles with king prawns, a superb Bacalao gratin (Ajoblanco) followed by a delicious cheesecake tart washed down with great wine. In warmer months, you'll lunch and dine outdoors.
For those wanting to venture out, Rodalquilar, only 10 minutes away, offers a lovely selection of restaurants – our favourite, Lebeche, has a small but exceptional selection of local dishes and delights from further afield.
Features include:
- Bar
- Coffee maker
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Restaurant
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Relax on the hotel's expansive roof terrace or around the minimalist desert garden and plunge pool
- It's only a short walk (15 minutes) to El Playazo Beach, ideal for swimming and snorkelling (there are bikes, paddle boards, snorkelling gear, beach towels and sun umbrellas to borrow)
- Discover other famous beaches in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park including Playa Monsul, Playa Genoveses and Playa los Muertos
- You can organise kayak trips and boat trips through the hotel as well as off-road trips for the more adventurous
- Explore the local traditional white pueblos (villages) of the region such as Las Negras, San Jose and Agua Amarga
- The city of Almeria, with its rich Moorish history and bohemian vibe, has always enticed artists and musicians; its inhabitants also claim it to be the birthplace of tapas!
- Further afield, the Tabernas Desert is of interest to geology and wildlife lovers as well as film buffs (many spaghetti westerns were filmed here)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Snorkelling
- SUP
- Swimming
- Wildlife
- Yoga
Kids
No children under 16 are permitted; this is an adult-only hotel.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas is located just over 2km from the town of Rodalquilar, in the southern Spanish region of Almeria, set at the very tip of Andalucia.
By Air
Almeria (42km) is the nearest airport; otherwise try Malaga which has a much wider range of flights. From the airport, you'll need a rental car – see our recommendations.
By Train
You can get to Almeria by train from Granada (3 hrs), Seville (5hrs 30) or Madrid (6 hrs 30).
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Almeria 42.0 km LEI
- Malaga 271.0 km AGP
Other:
- Beach 1.7 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 2.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape