El Cortijo del Pino

We came back to El Pino Retreat for a second stay within a year, which says a lot. It’s a lovely old farmhouse, carefully renovated by the owners, Maria and Christian, who are passionate hosts and wonderful cooks. Breakfast each day was generous and delicious. The setting is a quaint village between Granada and the coast, a great base for exploring Andalusia while still having a chance to relax. We’ll definitely return soon.

The views were probably some of the best I’ve ever seen, and there are lovely walks and hikes right in the surrounding nature. We also met kind people from different parts of the world, which made the stay more interesting. The hosts paid close attention to the little things. Once they found out I was vegetarian, they made a vegetarian meal for me even though the dinner menu was already set. The next morning Maria surprised me with cake and cava for my birthday, which she must have noticed on my identity card. Such a lovely home. I highly recommend it!

The setting felt wonderfully peaceful and relatively undiscovered compared with some of the busier villages around the Sierra Nevada or Costa Tropical. In March we could see the snowy peaks without feeling surrounded by them, and spent time wandering among orange groves and almond trees, looking for fossils and reading. We drove around a little, but the area near the hotel turned out to be the most charming. El Pino retreat gave me a great mix of privacy and peace, like a self catering rental, with the food and service of a high quality hotel. Maria and Christian took care of everything. The place was very clean, tastefully decorated, and had commanding valley views, with good walks starting right there or a short drive away. Breakfast and dinner were generous, delicious, and made with local ingredients, and our rooms were tidied and cleaned every day. We had a glorious time and will be back.

Our family of four had such a good stay that we wished we could have stayed longer. The resort and its location are breathtaking and peaceful, with lovely attention to detail. Maria-José and Christian were so kind, welcoming, and helpful that we immediately enjoyed their company, and we liked spending time with the other guests too. Breakfast and dinner were fresh and scrumptious. We’ll definitely come back!