Self catering cottage in Alpujarras, Spain

COUNTRY:
Spain
LOCATION:
Puerto Juviley, Alpujarras, Granada, Andalucia
See map here
PRICE:
From €250 - €300 per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
MORE INFO:
Price is per week for each cottage. The price is the same throughout the year. La Posada del Puerto costs 250 euros per week (sleeps 4). There is space for up to 2 children at no extra cost. If stay is under one week, (minimum 4 days) €40 per day. Over one week,, 250 plus 40 euros per extra day. Casa Pepe, 300 euros (sleeps 4), a single bed and cot can be provided too. If stay is under one week, (minumum 4 days), 45 euros per day. Both cottages can be rented together, at a discount.
LATE AVAIL:
The cottage is available for the month of June - cheaper flights, not too hot, avoid the crowds.
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Self catering cottage in Alpujarras, Spain

Self catering cottage in Alpujarras, Spain

How this vacation makes a difference

Environment

When we first saw this house and fell in love with it, Antonio the shepherd was living in it. He lived in a very simple way, without running water, a cooker or a toilet, no kitchen or bathroom as we would recognise it. We have tried to keep the cottage exactly as it was, but you can now enjoy both its simple rustic charm and some creature comforts! Some of the floors are still lime plaster, one of the ceilings is painted with ochre coloured earth, the open fire where Antonio cooked has been preserved.

It is basically as it was a hundred years ago. We have done the least possible to our ancient houses which have stood the test of time being made of stones and earth or lime cement, with roofs of clay and bamboo.

Solar powered lighting is the biggest boon! There is no street lighting (no streets!) so please bring a torch. There is no mains electricity or water, drainage or rubbish collection.
We separate and recycle everything possible and are very conscious of waste products in general. We also maintain the spring fed water supply ourselves and make sure that waste water is put to good use. If in winter we need to use a petrol generator to top up the power, we wash clothes, charge laptops and watch a video and play the electric guitar and use machinery all at the same time so as not to waste energy.

We have facilities locally for recycling bottles, plastic, tetrabriks and we burn all paper and cardboard that has no other uses. Our neighbour Expira has even taught us how to reuse a burst balloon and a holed bucket!

We limit the number of adult guests to diminish the impact on the life of the village and on the facilities. We welcome children and find that they (and most of our adult guests) respect and are interested in the local way of life. Speaking Spanish helps, but smiles and friendly gestures go a long way! If you choose to experience a simple traditional way of life you can do so here, in relative comfort.

Community

There are no shops or bars here (nearest 10mins by car) and our neighbours have been mostly self sufficient for years, but we have to buy a lot more, as do our guests. Living here makes you more aware and you can’t just pop out to the shops, but need to fit shopping into other trips.We use local shops and businesses as much as possible and encourage our guests to do likewise. We buy local fresh produce daily, especially vegetables and fruit.

We try to be good neighbours and fulfil our social obligations, taking an active part in organising fiestas and maintaining communal facilities such as the track and irrigation channels. I work as a volunteer at a charity shop run by the local women’s association, to which we donate all surplus toys books and clothes, and which is a centre for recycling everything from batteries and cooking oil, to old X-rays and mobile phones.

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Story of the accommodation provider

When we came to live in the Alpujarras, after living in Sevilla for a few years, we already spoke a bit of Spanish and knew what we liked. We took to our neighbours straight away! We did a deal with a local famer, Cayetano, who was retiring, to buy his house and land, but when the deal was done we discovered that we had two houses! The "extra " house, became our first guest cottage, when Antonio, the shepherd, moved out. Later our neighbours, Pepe and Expira, also retired and we bought their house, this became Casa Pepe, in memory of our dear neighbour who is no longer with us.

Accommodation provider no: 1064

The entrance to La Posada del Puertp

Self catering cottage in Alpujarras, Spain

Reviewed 01 Apr 2012 by Susan Clack4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


Breakfast or lunch on one of the terraces in the sun... listening to the water below.

Wonderful walks (hikes) in the mountains... From Haza del Lino through the cork oaks to the top of Cerra Salchicha... up the river from Trevelez... locally from Puerta de Jubiley up the river in both directions... walk from Bubion to Capileira and back... Circular from Mecina Fondales... miners walk from just outside Orgiva (but make sure you go up the right way according to the route advised which we did not but even so it is a hard slog) and many more.

Also a trip to Granada is a must. The Alhambra was impressive but very very busy. The best trip was up to Sacromento past the Albaicin and the Cave Museum in Sacromento was very good.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


When walking have a GPS and the best map possible. Some of the paths are quite overgrown and difficult to follow. We had Jeremy Rabjohn's book "Vacation Walks in the Alpujarras" but did not look at the website updates before we went. That might have helped us on one or two occasions as we did get a bit lost. There was also a copy of this book at the house and John and Cathy provided us with local maps, however, they are not as easy to follow as our Ordnance Survey maps but better than nothing. You can get more information from the tourist centre in Pampaneira but we did not get there early enough to be of help.

The drive down to Puerto Jubiley is a bit hair-raising but after a few up and downs is bearable, and it is also worth walking down to get the views. I am not a super confident driver but got the hand of the Z-bends. We do not really know what bends are in the UK!!! The drive in the dark put us off eating out at night but the cooking facilities were fine. Also the prices in the shops seemed to us to be very cheap compared to the UK - two coffees to be had for 2 Euros in the bars, a sack of oranges for 1 Euro. Lots of useful shops in Orgiva (and no tourist type shops).

It would be a good place for children from about 7 upwards but I think it would be quite difficult with very young or younger children. If you are thinking of walking up the river from Puerto Juviley one or two sticks would be essential. And even at the end of March the water was not too cold. We bought proper walking sticks from Bubion at much cheaper prices than in the UK.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?


I guess all of these. Most of the houses in the little village only seem to be occupied at the weekends or in the summer but even so there is still a lot of growing going on there and quite a bit of a community.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


A paradise of a place and we had a wonderful time and some real adventures.

Reviewed 12 Jul 2009 by Susan Quick4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


We drove across Spain and visited many beautiful areas. However, we parked in Seville and went across the road to get a drink. When we returned after half an hour our car had disappeared. All the other cars parked alongside it were still; there. We finally discovered that it had been removed because it was "illegally parked"; we were able to locate the compound several miles away and had to pay 140 euros to get out car back. On the return journey we were stopped for speeding despite being in a flow of traffic all traveling at the same speed. That cost 50 euros.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


The apartment was absolutely beautiful. However travelers should be aware that it is at the bottom of a very steep hill, access by unlit unmade road. We arrived mid-afternoon when all shops are closed, so we drove back into, Orgiva, the nearest town - about 10k - to buy food etc. We also stopped for supper and drove back about 9pm. However when we got to the top of the hill to our house it was pitch dark and the prospect of driving down the side of a hill with a precipitous drop in the dark was too much. We ended up driving back to Orgiva and booking into a hotel room. An expensive first night!

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, the drinking water was provided from a local source and everything about the housing blended in with the environment. All waste is recycled and the landlord and landlady and neighbours are all very welcoming. We were invited into homes and given a tour of the local farm. However visitors should be aware that access to the flat from the car park is very steep. Not an easy place if like me you are disabled.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


It was very restful. Nothing much to do except sleep and eat and lie in the sun naked! Perfect if like us you have just been very active and need to relax and recover. But don't go if you are looking for a rave! It's a long drive to the nearest towns, though there are many beautiful villages to visit. Also a long drive. Nothing within walking distance.

Read the operator's response here:

Thank you for your extremely informative and positive review. We enjoyed meeting you and the feedback re accessibility has been extremely helpful to us in developing our new apartment, which we hope will be available to a wider range of guests. We are glad that you had a relaxing vacation and look forward to welcoming you and your friends back in the future, when we hopefully will have got the permission and built the easy access route I told you about, which will access the apartment from above by a ramp. The isolation of the village and lack of shops, bars and other tourist facilities is something that we see as a positive aspect of vacations here, and we promote that cottage in that way. Your review will help others decide if that experience is what they want! I am sorry that your experience of the Spanish Police force has been less than positive - they do have a very fierce reputation and I don't think the police are popular in many countries, when they are issuing parking or speeding fines! The recognition of the international disability permit is something which I know that many organisations are campaigning for. I shall warn others in advance that their disability permit may not be recognised, and won’t give them special treatment.

Reviewed 23 Apr 2009 by Natalie Dodds4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


The location and the world class view from the upstairs balcony. Also the authentic feel to the cottage. My daughter-in-law who has lived in Spain for the past two years said she felt as though she had at last seen Spain. The proximity to the Ski resort was also a bonus.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Bring plenty of supplies with you and good walking shoes.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes. An escape from the 21st century.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


4 star rating. Wonderful three nights. Lovely log fire.

Reviewed 11 Jan 2009 by Margaret Cobble4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


A drive up into the high Sierra Nevada to the ski station and above- deep snow but main roads had been cleared almost to the Veleta. The same day we spent the late afternoon in warm sunshine on the coast at Salobrena.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


The accommodation is comfortable and quite easy to keep warm for a winter vacation. The kitchen is well equipped so you can self cater easily but the local hotel just a few minutes away will provide hot food cheaply almost any time of day. You do need a car in order to be completely independent but there are regular bus services from Torviscon. The views and surrounding countryside are wonderful and some great walks are possible both on the higher footpaths and in the river valleys. All the local people we met were very friendly and welcoming. Try to speak at least a few words of Spanish - they'll appreciate that you are making the effort.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


The house we rented in Torviscon is a restored village house close to the Spar supermarket. We shopped locally in the village and went to the weekly market in nearby Orgiva. As it gets cold (particularly after dark) in January we were glad of the woodburner. When my son was ill the local pharmacist rang the health centre in Orgiva and arranged for him to be seen and treated immediately even though it was late evening on the eve of a bank vacation. So most of the money we spent stayed in the local area and we behaved very much like the local villagers (at least locals who were on vacation and not having to leave each morning for work).

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


We had a wonderful week- we were only sorry that we had to return home before the village fiesta which takes place next week end and for which we would love to have stayed. Maybe next year?

Reviewed 08 Sep 2008 by Heather Watson4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


Great walk in La Taha area.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Really still too hot for lengthier walks at beginning of Sept.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Definitely benefited local people.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!

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The entrance to La Posada del Puertp
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