Cave Hotel in Southern Spain
Alhama de Granada in Andalucia for Cave Bedrooms and Arab Baths
For a weekend break, this cave hotel in rural Southern Spain offers a unique combination of traditional Spanish food, relaxing Arab bathing and outdoor activities.
El Ventorro Hotel nestles in the Sierras de Alhama, 80 km (50 miles) north of Malaga in Andalucia, Southern Spain. Newly created, the 8 en-suite rooms are scooped out of the mountain, with high domed ceilings and large comfortable beds. They may be caves but all rooms have TV and heating.
Arab Baths
The cave rooms face onto an Andalucia styled sunny courtyard which has yet another door leading to Arab baths. In the reception area clean soft towels are given out and a locker key on a plastic bangle which fits around the wrist.
Women go to the left and men to the right, to change into swimming costumes, tuck hair into bathing caps, and slip rubber sandals onto feet. Clothes are folded into lockers and the experience begins through another door where there is a large room softly lit, with the sound of falling water echoing off the ornately tiled walls. There are three pools and a steam room.
It may not be as authentic as the Arab baths in Granada, and it may be a bit like spa meets Arab baths, but it is a taste of relaxation unlike any other. A dozen people at a time slide into the warm or cold pools.
Discreetly shielded from view is a room with masseurs undoing the tension from the backs of 2 people. After 15 minutes, these 2 take a warm shower to remove the massage oils, and then glide into the warm water pool and appear to fall asleep with their heads resting on the edge of the baths.
The water is lit from below with a changing spectrum of blues and greens, whilst the water in a Jacuzzi pool bubbles almost in unison with softly playing Arabic music.
Traditional Spanish Food
After the baths, lunch can be enjoyed in the hotel restaurant. With its traditional Spanish menu it is well patronised by locals and tourists alike. Main courses start at under 10 euros (US$ 15). Local wine, Vino de Alhama Aranzada, costs less than 3 euros (US$4.50) a glass.
After lunch, for the energetic, the restaurant provides a map of a walking trail through the beautiful countryside which takes about 2 hours to complete.
Birds of Southern Spain
There is also, rather incongruously just beyond the parking area, a bird watching hide. The Alhama river has been dammed, creating a lake which provides the perfect habitat for a dozen different water birds as well as herons, cormorants and ibis.
It is a 5 minute drive into the village of Alhama de Granada which has stunning views into a natural gorge. The village itself is rather lacking in charm apart from the church and the village square which sports an unusual fountain.
- A cave room at the El Ventorro Hotel costs 60 euros (US$92) a night for 2 people.
- Massage and use of the Arab baths must be booked in advance according to an appointment schedule. The baths open at 10 in the morning and cost 12 euros (US$18) for 1 hour 45 minutes. A further 12 euros will pay for a 15 minute massage.
- Other facilities include shooting, fishing, paint-balling, climbing and hiking. Prices for these activities vary according the size of the group and the season.
Tel. ++34 958350438 and ask for someone who speaks English.
