Wander Off the Beaten Path in Southern Andalucía

There are so many wonderful places to explore in Andalucía that it can sometimes be difficult to decide where to set off once your plane has landed. Since Málaga airport transfers can take you practically everywhere in the region, they give you the chance to explore the more off-the-beaten-path rural settings. There are plenty of amazing gems to be found throughout Andalucía, from traditional rural houses to boutique hotels and stylish retreats.

Having driven keen holidaymakers around Andalucía for some time, and even holidayed in the area myself a few times, I can recommend the best hotels to stay in for an indulgent break away from the crowds.

La Almunia del Valle

Right at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, you can find this friendly and homely cortijo, a boutique hotel set in an area protected for its high environmental value. The views are simply stunning any which way you look, mountain peaks interspersed with gurgling streams and sturdy pine forests. The cortijo showcases a wonderful combination of traditional exteriors that blend into the background with contemporary décor inside the building, modern furnishings blending in with the rustic atmosphere granted by the dressed stone walls and terracotta-tiled floors.

During the summer, dinner is served on the rooftop terrace so that you can watch the sun setting and moon rising as you eat, while lunch is casually served by the pool so you can laze around and sunbathe whilst trying the delightful food on offer, all locally sourced. It’s hard to see how it can get better than this.

Barely 15 minutes southwest of Granada, La Almunia del Valle is comfortably close to some of the city’s architectural highlights, such as the Alhambra. It is a longer, two-hour drive from Málaga airport. Transfer services are the easiest, most comfortable way of making your way to this lovely hotel.

Casa Rural Las Chimeneas

Amongst beautiful scenery, on the eastern edge of La Alpujarra and just south of the Sierra Nevada, you can find this remarkable rural house. The tiny village of Mairena is essentially the definition of off-the-beaten-path: accessible only with a car, you will struggle to come across any tourists aside from your fellow guests at Las Chimeneas – and with only three rooms and three casitas, the number is fairly small! Rooms are modest but pretty and spacious, with traditional, wooden furniture and modern bathrooms.

Meals are served in the adjacent restaurant, where the food is as traditional as you would expect in a small town, but still coupled with surprising North African touches. Finally, there are plenty of activities on offer, such as cheese making with a local expert, organized visits to the local winery, and olive bashing in the winter months. Regardless of whether you choose to join in to all the activities or simply lay back and relax, you will end your visit feeling truly recharged.

Make sure you book a Málaga airport transfer to make the just over two-and-a-half hours’ drive comfortably, without worrying about Mairena’s remoteness.

Fountainhead

If you are looking for privacy in a peaceful setting accompanied by top-notch, personalised customer service, look no further. With just four guest suites and no communal sitting room, this retreat is the place to go to if you need to simply disconnect and recharge in order to once again enjoy the good things in life. A Zen garden is a constant, calming presence every time you walk past it on the way to your room. All the rooms are slightly reminiscent of Aladdin’s cave, and they each have a private terrace and plunge pool, from where you can take in the jaw-dropping sights.

The restaurant is, not only gorgeously decorated, but serves local produce almost exclusively, cooked to a marvellous standard. Moreover, owner Peter’s wine menu is to die for – including more than 60 Spanish wines from all over the country. Peter is always happy to help you choose and, what’s more, the prices are certainly reasonable! To top off your rejuvenating stay, go to Fountainhead’s Bath House and indulge in a relaxing bath of mineral salts and essential oils and other spa treatments.

Fountainhead can be found near the lovely village of Riogordo, which is less than an hour’s drive away from Málaga airport. Transfer services can be booked before your departure to ensure a smooth ride to your fabulous destination.

Going off the beaten path can sometimes feel like a scary experience, and the uncertainty of finding the right place to escape to without much, or any, local knowledge can be quite intimidating. Follow our recommendations and take a Málaga airport transfer service to any of these fantastic hotels, and you will find it hard to look back to the touristy holidays of old.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable Malaga airport transfer, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.