Casa Rural El Colmenero by Isla Bonita

We stayed for a week at the end of January and had a wonderful time. The house is clean, comfortable, well maintained, and nicely laid out, with incredible views and a very peaceful setting. The main amenities aren’t too far away, though you do need a car.

The quiet and seclusion were what made Casa El Colmenero such a dream place for me. It’s a great retreat for anyone who wants peace away from the city, and the green mountains behind it, with trees rustling in the wind, make the spot feel wonderfully calm. From the terrace by the pool, you get a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean. On calmer days, it’s a lovely place to sit or lie in the sun and take a refreshing dip. It’s a large, beautiful terrace with everything needed to relax, but I did wish there were a dining table there. The house has the feel of an older building, which I found charming rather than a drawback. Aside from a few small things that could easily be fixed, it has just about everything for an active holiday. The bathroom is well designed and has all the amenities, and both bedrooms are very nice, clean, and well kept. I used the room with the large double bed. The bed and furnishings seemed quite new and were excellent quality. The spacious living and kitchen area has everything you could wish for too, though the kitchen equipment is basic. It was perfectly adequate for me. At the back, the generous covered entrance area has an attractive barbecue spot and a built-in table with a stone bench. That table isn’t very practical, though, since it’s much too high. The chairs from inside are far too low to fit it. You also can’t see the sea from this seating area, as the high terrace with the pool blocks the horizon. A car is essential, and there’s a driveway at the house. I’d happily recommend this secluded place to city dwellers who need a peaceful break. One request for future guests: please look after the little ginger cat who started visiting me for cuddles from the second day. It’s incredibly relaxed, so give it a pet and something to eat!

It’s in a peaceful spot with plenty of excursions to choose from, and the views from the pool are stunning. The house is very well equipped, and the owner was helpful whenever we had questions. I highly recommend staying here.

El Colmenero has everything we needed for a week, including a washing machine, toilet, stovetop, oven, fireplace, TV, and barbecue. We were very happy with our stay and appreciated the owner’s hospitality. There’s a supermarket and gas station about a 10-minute drive away, while the observatory and some beautiful scenery are half an hour away. Plan your route carefully, as there are lots of curves around Garafía. Our only gripe was the lack of a microwave.