Granada Retreats, Andalusia, southern Spain

WELCOME to our environmentally-friendly Andalusian cortijo, dedicated to ecotourism. Bordering on Castril Natural Park, we are right in the heart of Granada Geopark, a land full of dramatically opposing landscapes: from turquoise lakes, rushing waterfalls and lush pine forests to desert dunes and rugged red ridges. Enjoy an unforgettable green vacation, carefully curated just for You, with your personalized activity schedule planned before you arrive!

LOCATION
The Corralon holiday house, the perfect retreat for family and friends, is ideally located only a few minutes´drive from amenities and services (bar/restaurants, supermarket, petrol station…) and Castril village.

RURAL ACCOMMODATION
This lovingly restored 150 year old farmhouse has been turned into FOUR charming self-catering fully-equipped apartments (each sleeps 6) to rent separately, or you can rent Corralon farmhouse as one complete holiday house. There is also a shimmering large family pool and private carpark for the farmhouse guests.

OPTIONAL - RETREAT VENUE HIRE
Alternatively, you can rent our amazing venue, with an enormous yoga/pilates 100m2 studio or conference room, the ideal space to host your green retreat, workshop, nature immersion or conference. It has huge picture windows looking out onto breathtaking panoramic views. Sleeps 26.

YOUR HOSTS
Here your bilingual hosts, Alison (experienced language and yoga teacher, also masseur) and Julian (nature monitor, yoga teacher. masseur and adventure sports enthusiast) closely coordinate with local expert guides to offer you an unforgettable holiday.

ACCOMMODATION PRICES INCLUDE:
- Rental of self-catering private apartment in Andalusian cortijo with pool and carpark for all the farmhouse guests.
- Mobile app with useful information plus downloadable routes
- Coordination with local guides and design of personalized itinerary based on your needs and interests, organized before your arrival.

NOTE: We also arrange for catering companies to provide meals for groups attending workshops, retreats and conferences.

No worries – your hosts, Alison and Julian will arrange everything, so just focus on enjoying your stay!

ACTIVITIES FOR EVERY-BODY:

ECO FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES led by Alison, your hostess or other qualified guides/teachers:
(i) Spanish conversation class with key phrases and useful vocabulary to practise during your stay.

(ii) Yoga/movement session for Every-body in nature, or in our spacious lounge with enormous picture-windows overlooking breathtaking views.

(iii) Revitalization chill-out session with wild swimming in amazing natural pools and cascades nearby.

(iv) Relax and recharge session of forest bathing in the magnificent pine woods, surrounded by spectacular scenery in a natural paradise.

(v) Reconnect with nature in an unforgettable mindfulness session, watching wildlife at the breathtaking Corralon bird sanctuary.

(vi) Prize-winning organic wine and extra virgin olive oil tasting plus educational tour of vineyards and olive groves.

PRICE: 25€, p/p min 4 participants,

GUIDED ACTIVITIES by local guides:
Adventure and mountain sports excursions include: rafting paddlesurfing, kayaking, horse-riding, canyoning, rock climbing, caving, electric/moutain biking, 4x4 segway etc.

NOTE: The final price of your trip will vary according to guests´ personal choice of activities. Your itinerary will be organized according to your requirements.

SELF-GUIDED ACTIVITIES include:
- Village cultural visits
- Visits to Castril Nature Park
- Local walking routes
- Wild swimming in lakes and fountains
- Swimming in Castril Municipal lake

FOOD
Indulge in delicious tapas in quaint cafés, bars and restaurants, and savour the gastronomical delights of traditional home-made Andalusian cooking. Enjoy mouth-watering slow food sourced from the freshest local ingredients, accompanied by exquisite wines. Great quality at very affordable prices!

SURROUNDINGS
The sun shines almost every day of the year and at the Corralon, we get surprisingly beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Enormous old pines give shade to eat and chill outside. Breathtaking views surround the house of the Sierra Nevada at the front, and of Castril Natural Park at the back and the Corralon Ridge bird sanctuary, habitat of native griffon vultures, golden eagles, mountain goats and deer.

HAVE FUN IN NATURE!
In this breathtaking scenery, there are an abundance of awe-inspiring routes to explore, adventure, wellness and cultural activities to do on excursion for quality time with friends and family, and let´s not forget the gastronomic delights!

Attend a Spanish class to set you up for the holiday. Take time out to lie back and relax, releasing tensions with a soothing massage or a yoga class. Treat yourself to a relaxing yoga class, or magical moments on excursion. Go forest bathing, birdwatching, or simply revel in peaceful nature walks, soak up the sun, bathe in our sparkling pool, and gaze in awe at the Andalusian starry night. Have great fun on numerous hiking routes, go wild swimming in natural pools, lakes and waterfalls.

INTERESTING VILLAGES TO VISIT
It is easy to retreat, recover and reconnect with self, family and friends in this natural paradise where time really does stand still. Deep in the authentic Andalusia, the fairytale whitewashed village of Castril still conserves its traditional lifestyle intact. Free from pollution, this pure, mountain air is filled with music from goats´ bells at twilight, and there are abundant waterfalls, rivers, natural pools and streams for wild swimming under the trees. This village has a 11th century Nasrid castle and Renaissance church with fascinating history of Moorish and Christian heritage. There is a spectacular walking route over the river, and the charming artesanal cobbled streets are full of colourful flowers and pretty fountains.

GRANADA GEOPARK
The unique Granada Geopark landscape impresses the eye, varying greatly within a small radius, from Castril´s mountains, evergreen forests and crystalline waters, to the the desert dunes and badlands of nearby villages. Here you can discover the village of Galera´s fascinating Ibero-Roman necropolis and archaeological museum, and in Orce the paleontological museum houses fossils and animal remains, even part of a human skull pertaining to the first European settlers, 1.5 million years ago.

Transport: Equidistant between the airports of Murcia and Granada, and a scenic drive away from the airports of Malaga and Alicante, car hire is cheap and logistical support / minibus transfer service is available. Just ask us, we will help!

EXAMPLE ITINERARY OF GUIDED OR SELF-GUIDED ACTIVITIES
Day 1
Arrival, welcome meeting and introduction to useful mobile app with downloadable route maps to follow offline. Chill at the family pool surrounded by enormous centenarian pines with spectacular views of the nature reserve and the bird sanctuary behind your farmhouse holiday home. Stroll through the woods, perfumed by phytoncides from pine, rosemary and thyme, or hike nearby. Savour delicious tapas and fresh homemade slow food recipes at the popular family-owned restaurant, just four minutes away! Wine and dine on the terrace, under the stars.
Day 2
Early morning Spanish class to set you up for this Authentic Andalusian experience. Take an exciting family hike in neighbouring Castril Natural Park full of magical moments including a wild swim in a hidden canyon under a cascading waterfall. Book a delicious paella at the mountain restaurant. Then set off back at your own pace for a yoga class in the beautiful 100m2 studio with enormous picture windows as the sky is filled with a symhony of colour as the sun goes down before dinner at your self-catering apartment or nearby restaurant.
Day 3
Treat yourselves to rafting, paddleboarding, kayaking, 4x4 segway, ebiking or horse riding routes with expert local guides in surprisingly beautiful scenery. Have lunch at a local restaurant, or picnic lunch in the shade of magical lush green forest and swim in its natural pools. Back at the cortijo, enjoy the skyburst reds and yellow sunset, before your moonlit dinner, happily reminiscing over the days´ events.
Day 4
Castril nature and cultural immersion – an unforgettable family adventure along a stunning suspended wooden walkway, jutting out from a rock over cascading waters. Have fun across a hanging bridge, through a tunnel next to steep waterfalls, then return to the village. Enjoy coffee or drinks at a quaint café in the main square, overlooking awesome views. Visit the majestic recently restored Nasrid Castle with breathtaking 360º vistas. Have lunch at one of the local restaurants, swim in the enormous lake and nap under its garden trees. Chill back at your apartment or dine out to explore more mouthwatering dishes – excellent quality local produce at very affordable prices.
Day 5
Take a picturesque trip to the unique troglodite village of Galera to see its archeological museum, and Ibero-Roman ancient Tutugi city necropolis. Lunch on a sunkissed Galera terrace next to its peculiar cave houses, or at neighbouring Orce village´s crystaline natural spring pool chiringuito. Swim with the fishes, then siesta under the trees, and continue on to see Orce´s majestic seven-towered fortress, and its fascinating paleontological museum with fossils from the first European settlers from 1.5 million years ago. On your return, relax, wine and dine under the starry sky.
Day 6
Revel in an organic wine and olive oil tasting morning, but first, spoil yourselves on an early-morning hike to catch a good look at the magnificent griffon vultures gliding overhead in the cool air currents. Next stop, the local vineyards and olive groves, to indulge in prize-winning wine and olive oil, as a delicious pre-lunch snack. Lunch at a local restaurant terrace near San Clemente Lake, then go wild swimming in crystal clear natural pools and waterfalls close by. Savour your last moonlit dinner at your favourite restaurant or in your apartment.
Day 7
Relish a leisurely breakfast mindfully absorbing the sights and sounds around the cortijo and wander around capturing last-moment pictures of magical sights. Hasta la vista, your hosts hope to see you back soon!

Other suggested excursions: guided relaxation session in nature, and for the more daring at heart, try Geopark 4x4 adventure route through the desert with the experts. Also available: canyoning, rock climbing and caving guided excursions.

TRANSPORT
Car rental to and from the airports of Málaga, Granada, Murcia and Alicante is relatively cheap, with good roads and no tolls and the drive up to Castril is extremely picturesque and easy driving. Local transport is scarce so unfortunately you need a car.
Please note: some activities may be climate dependant, subject to availability or to a mínimum number of participants.

OUR RESPONSIBLE – SUSTAINABLE ECO-TOURISM POLICY
Policy - to create and maintain sustainability through responsible travel, in order to benefit the surrounding rural area, so that the small family-owned businesses can thrive and avoid the pitfalls of emigration and so that clients learn to appreciate and protect our natural environment, and learn about the culture and integrate as much as possible in the local community. We do this, offering eco-friendly adventure, cultural and wellness activities. We also offer rural accommodation in a recently renovated farmhouse where we used recycled materials to rebuild and refurbish. This accommodation is eco-friendly.

REDUCING CARBON EMMISSIONS
We encourage responsible travellers to mindfully reduce, reuse and recycle, just like we do. Corralon farmhouse has been renovated conserving its traditional architectural design as much as possible. Building materials such as the wooden beams on some ceilings have been lovingly restored, windows and doors have been recovered from former constructions and reused.
Interiour decor such as furnishing has been attentively revamped to receate a typical Andalusian ambiance.
At our cortijo, we use cotton bed linen, biodegradable cleaning products are used, plastics are avoided, optimizing use of natural resources. We use solar panels and low consumption lighting, water usage is conscientiously reduced and we have an organic wood pellet stove. Shopping is done in bulk as infrequently as possible so as to reduce using the car, to local markets with fresh products, recycled shopping bags are available to be reused and rubbish is appropriately separated into different containers for disposal. As the Corralon farmhouse is surrounded by magical evergreen pinewoods, hills and valleys, bordering on Castril Natural Park, there are many opportunities to enjoy hiking routes suitable for all the family, without having to use the car thus stepping lightly or our Earth. Another way to reduce the carbon footprint is to organize airport transfers thus reducing use of the car.

APPRECIATING AND PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY
Here at Corralon Holiday House, there is no light pollution, so the night sky is full of stars and the majestic Milky Way can be easily spotted. Local tour guides offer a star gazing excursion for all the family that we highly recommend, as one way of appreciating the awesome beauty of a pollution free night sky.
We advise guests to book up for local excursions to the Natural Park behind us and to go hiking, biking, wild swimming, or maybe canyoning, activities that do not contaminate but do educate clients to appreciate and protect the natural environment.
There is no noise pollution either, in fact total peace all around, except for the odd lamb and mother sheep, goat or night owl. We enjoy chrystaline mountain water and pure mountain air, free from any contamination too!

RECONNECT WITH NATURE
All excursions available at the Corralon inspire us to deepen one´s connection to Mother Nature, to enjoy quality time with friends and family and also have fun. Available wellness activities, such as yoga to awaken the senses to the clean air we breathe, to the aromas from the pine trees, Rosemary and Thyme, that recent research has found, strengthens our immune system and aids wellbeing. Visits to natural pools for wild swimming turn into unforgettable memories. Nature´s sounds, shapes and colours come alive before us, as we marvel in awe at this natural paradise.

CULTURE AND EDUCATION
Local eco-friendly adventures led by qualified guides are not only fun, but also educational, and awaken one´s appreciation to the natural environment, and the wonderful flora and fauna around us. When we learn to appreciate nature, we automatically care for our natural environment and look after it.
Providing local benefits from tourism, especially to the marginalized
Responisble tourists are keen to learn about socio-cultural aspects of their holiday destination, and we at the Corralon farmhouse are eager to inspire our guests to integrate as much as possible in village life and consume local produce.
Our Spanish conversation classes offer useful phrases and vocabulary to help you connect and interact with the locals from day one! We believe that teaching responsable tourists about this Andalusian culture that is so different from their own is one key to becoming ecologically friendly. Here in Castril, we endeavour to facilitate this type of culturally-rich experiences, offering educational activities such as excursions to local prize-winning organic farming at vineyards and olive groves where the owner takes us wine-tasting, and shows us how the crops are cared for and this exquisite prize-winning organic wine, and olive oil made.

SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a must for the Castril villagers who love their land and its people. It is so essential to support the economy we visit by consuming local produce thus generating sustainable livelihoods in the community. When tourists come to stay here, we need bars, restaurants, rural accommodation to provide their services to them, and cooks, cleaners, laundries, local guides, waiters etc., to care for them during their stay, creating employment, sustaining this fragile economy and keeping the locals off the unemployment list. Enjoying the local gastronomy, delighting in the local history or participating in traditions are some ways to keep these rural villages alive and thriving, thanks to tourists´generous contributions. So, thanks to responsible tourists, many native residents from these areas of unspoilt natural beauty manage to find ways to sustain this fragile economy, avoiding the traumas of emigration.
NB: Many Castril villagers find it impossible to find work, if it is not in sustainable tourism. Here we live off the land and are very grateful for the little tourism that we get. This area offers peace, beauty and eco-friendly, healthy activities in the Authentic Andalusia.