Casa Rural Las Canteras

Pilar cooked us delicious homemade dishes from Extramadura, and Francisco was a wonderful storyteller. Meeting them was a pleasure: both were welcoming and helped us feel at home, with all the information we needed. There’s plenty of room for families, friends, or groups, and dogs are welcome. Our room was spacious and very clean. It’s a lovely place to unwind and watch birds or stars, with a special view and sunrise. You can also arrange a packed lunch or dinner. I’d absolutely recommend it.

Once it got dark, Francisco showed us the planets, and we looked through his telescope. With no light pollution and a great telescope, Mars and Saturn were easy to spot, and the moon seemed close enough to touch. He’d also told us about the area, Spanish history, and plenty of other things over dinner, which we’d arranged in advance. The food was wonderful, and Tronco was happy to be petted. We came in July, outside the usual season because of the heat. Francisco advised us to keep the windows and blinds shut until after sundown. The buffet breakfast the next morning was simple but beautifully presented. He said early spring is peak season for him, when the countryside looks a bit like Ireland. Storks and other birds nest just feet from the house, drawing bird watchers from around the world. In high summer the land looks scorched, but still has a vast beauty of its own.

A wonderfully peaceful spot for birdwatching. We brought our dog, who made a friend of the owners' dog. Waking up surrounded by nature was a pleasure. We'd love to return, and highly recommend it for a break from Madrid.

This family-run guesthouse is handy for birding and exploring nearby. There are around 14 bedrooms, including two in a converted building next door. The owners are friendly, and the food was mostly adequate. Evening meals can be arranged. We saw storks, hoopoes, bee-eaters and cuckoos on most days, along with plenty of other species.