Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House
La Hoya de Carrascal, 04830 Velez Blanco Spain
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#2 of 2 guest houses in Velez Blanco
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At a thousand meters above sea level, Cortijada Los Gázquez is an 'off-grid' destination for creatively minded travellers high in the mountains of Andalucia.In the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez', this ‘eco-chic’ guest house and 47 acre farm resides within a place of extreme natural beauty, profound peace and tranquility and an awe inspiring wilderness, in one of Spain’s most dramatic alpine deserts. Cortijada Los Gázquez combines two of the principle ideas fundamental for people who love peace, inspiration and the natural world - ecology and creativity. As a guest house, Cortijada Los Gázquez has a benign influence on the earth making power from the sun and wind, cooking and heating with wood and recycling everything.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Restaurant
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
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HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Location
La Hoya de Carrascal, 04830 Velez Blanco Spain
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19Reviews0Q+A2Room tips
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I spent a week at Cortijada los Gazquez on their gastronomy course and it was fantastic all round. Simon and Donna are excellent hosts and managed to strike just the right balance between activities (cooking on site, visiting local producers / sites, eating at local restaurants) and down time which meant I could get in some much needed R&R. The food selection was very well thought out, covering some classics which you would expect to have in Spain (but usually with a local twist) through to dishes you would never find on the tourist trail and which were extremely tasty. Holiday wise it was exactly what I needed. The fact that, after using Trip Advisor for years, this is the first time I have ever posted a review really does show how strongly I recommend a stay here.
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Date of stay: October 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
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Helpful
A two and a half hour drive from Alicante into the mountains - if you like being 1000m up (high as Snowdon) and a wonderful drive down to the nearest village then this is the place for you! Superb location for artists and photographers and not to mention wonderful food and cookery courses too. Don't worry - you can buy alcoholic drinks here ... this is an eco guesthouse built by the owner. A fascinating place where you can meditate, draw, paint, photograph and eat and meet other chilled-out people of all nationalities.
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Date of stay: June 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Room Tip: All good! Double/single rooms which can also house bunk beds.
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Helpful
2 of my friends and I decided to take 7 days gastronomy course @ Los Gazguez. We went in with no expectations and ended up with one of the best experiences ever. CLG is in natural park so ~20 minutes drive from Velez Blanco down town. It is remote enough from civilization to give feeling of wilderness. If you are looking for few hikes and alone time this is the best place. Our hosts Donna and Simon were warm enough to make us feel really comfortable (and at home). They are artists and it is reflected in architecture as well as the decoration of the home (generally these are trivial things but adds up to the overall experience). As our course was more focused on food, we had longest and the most delicious dinners ever. (Tip: Save some space for the deserts. I found them better than some of the places I've visited on West Coast) Also as part of the course, we ended up doing some art (photos and painting). There were 2 other artists staying with us who presented their work. And a trip ended with a performance by local guitar artists. 1) Food: Delicious and very flavorful. 2) Rooms: Really clean. Very Comfortable futons. 3) Heating: Well maintained. 4) Hiking: Its inside natural park so you can find tons of hikes in entire valley. (Depending on weather terrain get bit muddy) Highly recommend this experience.…
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
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I travelled alone to Cortijada Los Gazguez in search of a little R&R, a place where I could do some soul searching and explore my creativity. Donna and Simon were so friendly, knowledgeable, professional and, frankly, happy that it was a pleasure from start to finish. Their house is incredible, full of beautiful artworks and books, relaxed and tasteful - and completely off grid! Donna's food is absolutely delicious and the week passed by like a dream, breathing in the cool mountain air and thinking about nothing except art and the natural environment around me. As a result of Simons exceptional tuition I am now studying Fine Arts full time, so the week was also a turning point in my life. I plan to return with my partner, perhaps as part of their excellent residency program, and I"m forever grateful that I had the courage to travel alone to such a wonderful place. Donna and Simon can be very proud of their achievements.…
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
My stay at Cortijada Los Gazquez was one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life (I write Lonely Planet guidebooks so I don't say that lightly) – I was utterly enchanted by the stunningly designed house, the beautiful setting, the region and the living creative project that the Beckmann family have embarked upon. We didn't do a workshop, rather just stayed as guests and spent our days exploring the immediate countryside on foot or striking out to various towns, national parks, historical sites and one big day trip to Grenada. We then returned each night to a delicious feast and convival table, and the silence and peace of the valley. It was a wonderful family holiday but also would be a romantic escape for a couple, or a relaxing, thoughtful retreat for a solo traveller. I've vowed to return to do a painting or drawing week and was thankful to have met the Beckmanns and to have discovered a beautiful, very untouristed, part of Spain I might not otherwise have visited.…
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
I've been to CLG three times––in summer, fall, and winter––and can't wait until I get there again during some future spring. I've stayed as both a volunteer and resident artist, years apart, and gotten to know the Beckmann clan well. I could think for days and never come up with anything negative to say about any of them or their business. Awe-inspiring scenery, great hospitality, fantastic, seasonal grub, endless honest entertainment options and learning opportunities . . . what else could one ask of a trip?
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Date of stay: November 2013Trip type: Travelled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I have recently returned from my second art-driven week's course within 2 years. The vibe is always positive and up lifting. As a mentor, Simon has an instinct to lock into an individual's strengths and to coax, not impose. His methods can get some surprising and fulfilling results. The surrounding area is stunning and one cannot help but feel relaxed and focused to develop and practise your desire to paint, what ever level that might be. The hospitality from the family is both warm and friendly. The food is topnotch - Donna is a fabulous cook. I think it's safe to say that it won't be too long before I return for another dose of well needed Spanish alpine desert serenity:- A world away from the bustle of Londinium!
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
A few years ago myself and family stayed for 4 days with Donna and Simon as part of a tour around Spain...apart from the mosque in Cordoba this was the highlight! Peace,sunshine,stunning landscape,wonderful food....Donna more than rose to the challenge of us all being veggies.... cool and stylish accommodation and of course an ever growing eclectic art collection to enjoy. The relaxed , stimulating and loving company was a very special experience and i intend to go back very soon. Louise , Tim and girls...Bath , England
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Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
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Helpful
A holiday at Los Gazquez is refreshingly different and enlightening. This is the third time I have been back in 2 and a half years and it won't be my last - I feel this in itself gives an indication of how this wild place with its peace, ever- changing light and colour is the perfect place for creative exploration. Each time I have participated in a painting course, using watercolour and more recently egg tempera, guided and encouraged by Royal Academy artist Simon Beckmann. Not having painted for a long time before I went in August 2012, I felt I was risking it to embark on such a journey. However little did I know that my time with Simon and his wife Donna (also from the RA) and their artist guests and volunteers from all over the world would be such an enriching ecperience from so many angles and would be the start of something which has become so important to me. Five abandoned haciendas have been originally restored to create a living and studio space that is large enough and suitably well-positioned to be able to offer privacy when needed and companionship too. It is a place which is a living testimony to how it is possible to live according to your own values regarding respect for the environment and everyone's individual creativity. The food at lunch and dinner was just divine - a fitting ethno-mix of local produce and flavours and preceded in the evening by toasty moments of reflection on the day with a glass of wine and olives and almonds. In each course I have learnt something new, both about art and myself. Simon's teaching has provided me with the right balance of encouragement and challenge. I felt that he understood where I was at with my art and ultimately which direction I want to go in. This has been the case notwithstanding the presence of other artists following their own artistic paths. What more can I say? I live in Rome and have an ongoing love affair with Italy, never thinking a place would inspire me quite as much - Loz Gazquez and its natural environment, Simon and Donna and all the people I have met there have however done this.…
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Date of stay: February 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
My family has enjoyed the gracious, happy fruits of Los Gazquez during several exceptional stays. We will certainly return to this unique haven surrounded by mountains and almond trees again. The house itself, restored with sensitivity and vision, is sprawling and bright, full of color, art and design. It feels comfortable, sophisticated and luxurious. The food is equally special, with the same consistent attention to detail. Fresh local produce, dishes inspired by the region and interests of master chef, Donna Beckmann. Hosts Simon and Donna Beckmann are gracious, attentive, intelligent and warm. I have met a variety of travelers at Los Gazquez, always striking is the spirit of kindness, energy and passion for knowledge that seems to fill the air! Sunsets are an event at Los Gazquez, restorative and inspirational, can't wait to return for more!!!!…
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Date of stay: June 2013
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LOCATION
SpainAndaluciaProvince of AlmeriaVelez Blanco
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House
What are some of the property amenities at Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness centre during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Is Cortijada Los Gazquez Creative Retreat / Eco-Guest House accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.