ALMÁCHAR is a quintessential Spanish village with picturesque white painted houses climbing up the sun-drenched mountainside. With the spectacular mountain formations embracing the village, the view from the terrace of the hotel is undoubtedly one of the most scenic in the entire Axarquia area. A silent, late afternoon, somewhere in the distance a guard dog is barking. The sky is ever blue as always. A slow growing clutter from footwear, the silence is broken by a lone hiker with plenty of time and no stress, walking by on the warm, cobblestone streets. The 200 square meter living space contains five double rooms, two living rooms, a large ten-seat dining hall, a kitchen spacious enough for five chefs, two bathrooms (one with shower, one with a bathtub) and a guest restroom. The sleepingroom at floor three has airconditioning, the other ones have fans. Altogether, the balconies measure 70 square meters. All bedrooms are airy and beautiful with rustic windows facing either the street or the balconies. One family room, with enough space for at least three beds. You will probably find a parking lot next to the church 75 meters from the house, where you at least can drop of your luggage. Complicated parking for some people, charming for others.

After making over forty trips to Andalucia in ten years, I decided to purchase a small hotel in the place I always find myself coming back to. Running, biking, and hiking are some of my greatest interests. From Almáchar, it is possible to make day trips cycling, running, or hiking in all directions without making your way through tourist resorts or heavy traffic which are otherwise very common when vacationing in Andalusia. On Fridays, the local flamenco club at the big square serves tapas, beer and wine at shamelessly low prices. This big square has a central role in the village. Sit down on a bench to look at interesting people passing by. Even during the winter street life is lively at the square. Five gentlemen with canes kill time together. A tractor carrying livestock arrives. A cargo truck carrying melons stops. The farmer exits, drinks a glass of Anise Liqueur at bar Lopez, and then enters his truck again and drives away. There are no high rise buildings or tourists here, nor tourist shops. Yet you feel very welcome. As a visitor, you certainly stand out, and the reward for that is some extra service. That´s what I want to share with you.

Ten restaurants and cafes serve meat, fish and vegetarian food with low prices. 10 Euro for one main course and a glass of wine is standard. Gazpacho, the cold tomato soup made of garlic, breadcrumbs, olive oil, water, vinegar, tomatoes, salt, peppers, and cucumber is perfect on a hot summer day. The village has everything you need: two butchers, two bakeries, several grocery stores, two seafood stores, a market square where farmers sell vegetables and fruit, and several general stores selling everything ranging between washing machines and candy. Almáchar is situated between two rivers, located in a green and fruitful farmland with vineyards and plantations. “Tranquilo” (calm), is the most common description of this authentic Andalusian village. The winding streets, illuminated by the yellow glow of antique black metal lamps, invite to explore Almáchar by the evening light. Approximately 2000 people call Almáchar home. The fact that most streets are too narrow for cars makes the village even more peaceful. Many farmers use donkeys for transportation in the village.