Jardín Mandala Hotel Rural Los Tilos

The breakfast is a real feast, with fresh pollen, lots of different honeys, and everything organic. The vegetarian food is amazing, and we’ve been treated so kindly. Mandala Garden has a soul, and this was my second retreat here. A wonderful place to relax and look after yourself.

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here and had a fantastic stay. We were given a big living room and kitchen to gather in, and everything felt welcoming. The rooms and houses were just right. The surroundings looked lovely, though the bad weather meant I can’t really comment on them. Highly recommended.

Aurelio’s knowledge of the nearby mountains makes his suggested walks and routes excellent. He’s also an expert beekeeper and sells very good honey products. The hosts are very available if you have questions or problems, including about getting the hang of the heating, and they’re one of the main reasons I’m giving the stay five stars. The garden feels like a little forest, with charming corners and even a hammock. Rooms are very comfortable, some with en-suite bathrooms and others with separate bathrooms. There’s a small, very comprehensive library focused mainly on spirituality. The event room is another treat, with big windows over the Palencia mountain meadows, a reception area with a kitchenette for making tea, restrooms, and a shoe rack for leaving shoes before going in. One thing to know is that the kitchen is entirely vegetarian. I’d rate the food 9.5 out of 10, and even the people in our group who weren’t used to vegetarian food were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the recipes were. For anyone attached to ham, chorizo, steak, and the like, it could be a bit of a challenge. And Aru, the dog, is a sweetheart, quite a thing for a wolf-German shepherd mix. You can take him for walks, just watch that he doesn’t pick up stones because they’ll break his teeth. Throw him a stick to fetch and he’s the happiest dog in the world. Definitely a stay I’d repeat.

Aurelio and Cristina made us a delicious breakfast with homemade honey. The huge garden was great for the children to play in, and they had a wonderful time seeing the village cows and chickens. It’s a peaceful, pleasant place with beautiful surroundings.