Cortijo de la Media Luna

This is a rustic, beautiful hotel in an amazing location, with distinctive interiors and a huge mix of styles. The owners work hard and are there within minutes if you phone for service. It’s definitely a good choice if you want total tranquility. We weren’t shown where the facilities were when we arrived and were taken straight to our room. The next morning, we didn’t know where breakfast was served or where the restaurant was for dinner.

Cabo de Gata is a fantastic area to explore. I’d highly recommend visiting Geoda de Pulpi, but book well ahead, and going snorkelling. The property itself has plenty of charm: it’s an old house that’s mostly been refurbished. The difficulty is how uneven the rooms are. Some are lovely, almost like 4-star apartments, while others are very basic, closer to hostel standard. You don’t know which you’ll get at check-in, so it feels like a lottery instead of paying based on room category. I paid €175/night and got one of the basic rooms, which was disappointing and poor value. It’s deep in the countryside and peaceful, but road construction nearby is making access difficult right now. Getting there should be easier once that work is finished.

We arrived late in the evening at the last minute, but Lourdes went out of her way to prepare us some late food. She was an amazing hostess during our stay.

Off the beaten track, this stunning hotel and restaurant has sweeping views of the mountains and sea. The hosts were wonderful, and the food was amazing.