overview
Set in three hectares of olives groves and unspoilt cork oak forest in the rugged wilds of southern Spain, this holiday offers an escape into rural Andalucía; a back-to-nature holiday for eco-chic romantics in the unspoilt Grazalema mountains.
There's more to camping than roll mats and sleeping bags. If you just can’t face the struggle of pitching a tent, or sleeping badly on bumpy ground, this is the place for you. The Hoopoe Yurt Hotel in Andalucia provides a level of comfort not usually associated with sleeping out under the stars, with cosy double beds on proper wooden floors in extremely spacious, individually designed yurts, each set in an acre of private meadow with its own seating area and hammock slung between the giant cork trees. Inside, wicker baskets, ethnic furniture and sheepskins on the floor create a rustic Central Asian theme enriched with vibrant colours that decorate the walls and ceiling.
Book in for a full body massage, a reflexology session or some invigorating yoga, or simply relax on a sunbed beside the pool and watch the sun go down behind the mountains. And once or twice a week Hoopoe even hosts a a film night for their guests who can lie back on a sunlounger with a cocktail, under the stars, and simply be entertained.
Dining is ‘al fresco’, serving tasty homecooked three course dinners with plenty of wine, under a pergola lit by Chinese lanterns. All the food is from the kitchen garden or locally produced. Breakfasts are continental with honey made from local hives and homemade marmalades, and Hoopoe will gladly make packed lunches for guests making day trips to explore the nearby national parks and towns.
The local area has plenty to offer. Ride out into the countryside from the neighbouring stables, walk in Unesco natural parkland with its rugged limestone landscape of cliffs, gullies, caves and gorges, visit ancient caves with paleolithic paintings, go on a birdwatching trip, or take a tour of one of several sherry bodegas in Jerez.
Only a five-minute drive from Hoopoe and sandwiched between two natural parks is the town of Cortes de la Frontera. Overlooking the sweeping Guadiaro valley below, with the spectacular Serranía de Ronda mountains as a backdrop, Cortes de la Frontera is a typical Andalucían white village, with narrow streets, a smattering of bars and restaurants and plenty of local colour.
If you visit in June, don't miss the town's two colourful pilgrimages; at the beginning of the month is the Romería de la Virgen del Rosario, where the Virgin of the Rosary statue from the church is paraded through the streets, and the Romería del Caballo held in mid-June, which is dedicated to horses. And the town's annual summer fiesta, the Feria de San Roque and San Sebastián, is a riotous occasion celebrating the town's patron saints on 23-27 August. The most exciting event is the release of a bull (known as the toro del aguardiente) into the streets, as well as a cattle fair, dances and contests. For flamenco aficionados, there is a fandango named after the town: the fandango de Cortes.
Cortes used to be one of the richest of Andalucia’s ‘white towns’ because of its cork production and evidence of this wealth can still be seen today in the grand 18th-century mansions lining the main street. Cortes has a good selection of restaurants, bars and bodegas where you can sample local fare. Try the Cortes speciality of veal, ternera cortesana. In the autumn, look out for fresh game such as jabalí (wild boar) on menus in the town's restaurants and there are some delicious locally produced cheeses, honey and cured ham.
The walled town of Ronda, with its Moorish baths and dramatic gorge, is only a 30-minute drive away and en route you can escape the heat, by literally plunging underground at the Cueva de la Pileta with its ancient cave paintings and underground galleries with giant stalactites and stalagmites, and the Cueva del Gato, where icy cold water pours out of the mountain into a rock pool - very refreshing in the heat of the summer!
Gaucín, one of Andalucía's most picturesque white villages, is just across the valley. The town lies beneath an outcrop of rock dominated by the tenth century Castillo del Aguila. The view from Gaucín is fantastic, and a clear day you can even see the faraway Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
And if you are interested in birds, spend the day with local bird expert Peter Jones who will take you into the mountains for a bit of twitching, or combine your stay with a visit to the National Park of Donaña on the shores of the Guadalquivir river. Its beaches, dunes, wetlands and pine forests are home to a rich variety of birds and other wildlife, including the almost extinct Iberian lynx and Spanish Imperial eagle.
Tarifa, Europe's kitesurfing capital, and the southernmost point in Spain, is two hours' drive away and its beautiful long sandy beaches and dunes are well worth a visit. You could even do a day or overnight trip to Morocco with ferries leavig every hour from Algeciras.
There is so much to see and do in the area but you may of course find that the peace and tranquiltiy of Hoopoe makes it very diffcult for you to tear your self away! It is the perfect way to unwind, relax, and soak up the sights and sounds of nature right on your doorstep. Fall asleep lulled by the sound of goats' bells and crickets and wake to the sun filtering through the trees. Lounge in a hammock in the shade of a giant cork oak tree or take a dip in the pool, surrounded by blue mountains and the beauty of nature.
Do as much or as little as you like… the choice in entirely yours.