Hotel Snapshot
Not so much a hotel as a luxury eco-farm stay, with nine knockout bedrooms, 1,700 acres of Andalusian countryside, a 112-year-old cortijo serving organic estate-grown meals, and no front desk or TVs. The wines are natural and local, bathroom products are crafted from the medicinal garden, and activities range from bee meditation to donkey shinrin-yoku. It's also home to 100 Lusitano horses and a top-notch equestrian center. Finca La Donaira, a member of Relais & Châteaux, is a back-to-nature stay with a rockstar edge.
Design & Character
The property began as cow and horse sheds before an Austrian tech entrepreneur acquired it in 2005, spending six years transforming it under sustainable design principles. Traditional adobe and lime plaster coat the walls, while natural wood, rocks, and boulders are incorporated throughout. The result is a carefully curated tableau of contemporary art, vintage furniture, and found objects – antiques beside vases of wildflowers; old record players and photography books on handcrafted tables; stone, metal, leather, and weathered wood woven into the space.
The Rooms
The nine rooms each have distinct personalities. Some are in the cortijo itself, others tucked into outbuildings or standalone yurts. Interiors range from copper soaking tubs and stone fireplaces to mezzanine sleeping lofts with sheepskin chairs and handwoven rugs. Beds are made from 100% natural fibers and dressed in organic Portuguese linens. Bathrooms feature La Donaira's proprietary line of soaps, scrubs, balms, and sprays made from the garden produce, and available for purchase in the small shop.
Food and Drink
Operating on a seed-to-plate philosophy, head chefs Manuel Vargas and Nerea Ortiz de Urbina create colorful dishes from produce grown using permaculture and biointensive methods. Everything is estate-sourced – meat and eggs from the animals, olive oil from the groves, wine from chemical-free vines, honey from the hives. The menu changes daily but leans into rustic Spanish flavors with modern Mediterranean touches. Expect warm homemade bread and fresh ricotta as constants.
Meals are prepared in an open kitchen and served in the courtyard or by the grand piano and fireplace, plated on retro, mismatched crockery that suits the eclectic vibe.
Sommelier David Raya pours natural wines, with a focus on the Roca Viva Wines project – La Donaira's collaboration with Andalusian winemakers crafting natural and artisanal bottles from regional terroirs. Their Pneuma white, made from Jaén Blanco and Vigiriega grapes, is a standout.
Amenities
Activities span soap-making, mindfulness walks, rock climbing, and archery. The medicinal herb garden, designed by Gerhard Bodner and inspired by monasteries, has more than 300 plants that are used in both the kitchen and in spa treatments.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
The spa itself houses an indoor pool overlooking the mountains, a wood-fired sauna, a hammam, and a cold plunge pool. Massages and therapies take place in a converted stone outbuilding, while sunbeds are scattered around the spring-fed outdoor pool. Treatments range from holistic body work and yogurt-honey facials to deep tissue and Thai massage, all incorporating products from the estate's garden.
Signature experiences include restorative yoga with singing bowls, natural horsemanship training sessions, dressage, and hacks. Ponchos and rubber clogs are available for you to use around the estate.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
The town of Ronda is around 45 minutes away by car and makes the perfect day trip. The newly opened Gorge House overlooks the Tajo and the famous Puente Nuevo bridge, with four bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen. Host Andrés can arrange massages and mindfulness walks around the Old Town.
While in Ronda, book a cooking class with Miguel at El Golimbreo, or reserve a table at the two-Michelin-starred Restaurante Bardal for chef Benito Gómez's creative Andalusian cuisine.
Fast Facts
Location: Montecorto, Spain
The Vibe: Luxury ranch and eco-retreat in the heart of the Serranía de Ronda.
Rating: 5 Stars
Starting Nightly Rate: $900 per night
Room count: 9 rooms, suites, and yurts.
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The décor and overall style – part contemporary art gallery, part rock star’s retreat, part Spanish finca.
Amenities: 2 swimming pools, Spa and wellness centre, Non-smoking rooms, Airport shuttle, Restaurant, Free WiFi, Family rooms
Closest airport: Jerez de la Frontera (XRY), one hour / 63 miles.
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