Hotel Los Castaños

My family and I recently had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Los Castanos in Cartajima, and I can confidently say it was an extraordinary experience.
A stay at the Los Castanos is rather like a stay at good friends, than a stay an ordinary hotel.

The family-friendliness of this establishment stood out from the moment we arrived. With only six rooms, this small hotel creates an intimate and welcoming atmosphere that truly feels like a home away from home. The big lobby is living room, dining room, playground for the kids, all at once.

Unlike traditional hotels with extensive menus, here you won't find one. Instead, the owner personally crafts a delightful menu for the guests each evening. Of cause he will pay attention to your personal preferences. It's like having a private chef, and the culinary creations are nothing short of exquisite.

The location of the hotel, nestled near Ronda, opens up lots of activities for guests. Whether you're a nature enthusiast looking to explore the picturesque surroundings through hiking, or you prefer exploring historical landmarks, Hotel Los Castanos provides the perfect base. Additionally, the proximity to both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic allows for diverse day-trip options. Famous cities like Marbella, Malaga, or Sevilla are at day-trip-distance.

In conclusion, our stay at Hotel Los Castanos was not just a typical hotel experience. We recommend it to everyone who is looking for some extraordinary and special experience.

My wife and I have just spent a week at the Hotel Los Castanos. We both felt an immediate vibe with the hotel as soon as we were welcomed by Frank the owner. Our comfortable en-suite room with a small balcony looked out over the lovely village of Cartajima and the surrounding sweet chestnut tree clad hillsides. As keen walkers we wanted to explore the area so followed some of the recommended routes Frank had prepared for us which we can highly recommend. Most linked the surrounding villages, each with their own distinct character, via easy to follow tracks through the woods. One exception was the Camanito del Rey (an hour’s drive away) which is a must to visit if you have a head for heights! Each night we had a three course meal beautifully cooked - no two meals were the same! - accompanied by a bottle of either red or white local wine. The homely lounge area, with both an honesty fridge and honesty bar, was great to relax in over a cold beer after a walk before dinner. Apart from this lounge area and your own small balcony there was also a large roof terrace with almost 360 degree stunning views of the area where one could relax either in full sun or a shaded area. The hotel itself, our attentive welcoming hosts, the stunning area and our fellow guests all made for a wonderfully memorable week. Julie and Ian Husband.

We spent three nights at this lovely small hotel in the pretty white village of Cartajima. Our room ( with balcony) was very clean , quiet and comfortable with moroccan style furnishings and a beautiful view over the mountains. The communal roof terrace has stunning view and is a great place to relax. Di and John were very welcoming hosts and we were lucky enough to have three delicious dinners cooked by Di. There are plenty of great walks in the area and we enjoyed exploring Ronda. We are looking forward to another stay.

Loved it! A real gem.
Frank the host is super friendly.

We had a great time

We have now stayed three times at this charming hotel, and each time find more to enchant us. The location is delightfully rural but just a short drive from Ronda, so one gets the best of both worlds. The welcome one gets from this friendly, interesting couple however far exceeds what one would normally find in either town or country! I adore the beds with their lovely big, squishy white duvets in particular but then there's the cooking (excellent), the view (romantically, dramatically Mediterranean), the spacious rooms, the log fire and - again - our hosts who seem to have a knack for attracting interesting, nice guests. Highly recommended! Now under new ownership but I'm sure it's good too!

An amazing hotel in a beautiful village in an an awesome landscape. I highly recommend to take dinner there if you stay, the food is fantastic, healthy and (if you want) also veggie-friendly. You can start great hiking tours starting from the hotel, which is located between townhall and church of the white village Cartajima.

A hidden gem in the mountains. Stunning location surrounded by absolutely beautiful scenery.
The host is outstanding, nothing was too much. Thank you Frank.

I booked the Happiness Holidays at Hotel Los Castaños looking for a place where I could hit the “reset button” and really do something good for myself. That is exactly what I got. It was a wonderful experience and I could not have wished for more!

I was able to choose my activities from a list with a variety of different options, which allowed for an individual and unique retreat designed around my preferences. From horseback riding, water-coloring in nature and gorgeous hikes, to yoga and breathwork sessions the Happiness Holidays offered me a variety of different amazing and meaningful experiences, some of which were deep and others perfect for just enjoying nature and relaxing. Altogether perfectly balanced.

The setting is gorgeous, as the hotel is located in the mountains near Ronda, with magnificent views. The hotel itself is unique, beautiful and luxurious, the perfect place to kick back, relax and just be completely comfortable.
The owner of the hotel, Di, does all the cooking herself and I felt completely spoiled by her meals. Her cuisine is absolutely DELICIOUS! - a wonderful experience in itself. Every breakfast and dinner was a real treat! She offers a wide range of different dishes and will also adapt to your dietary needs if you let her know.

Last but not least, the team Di, Emily and John, made this experience even more lovely and unique. They really put their entire hearts into what they do, which shows in every aspect of the retreat. Always there if I needed them and great people to talk to, these are just truly wonderful people and I am so grateful having had the chance to meet them.

So if you have looked into the Happiness Holidays and you are still unsure whether to book or not, I encourage you to just go for it. I am sure you will go back home with a full heart, like I did.

We stayed at Hotel Los Castaños over the Easter weekend. This is the 3rd time we have stayed and as usual, the welcome was warm, the room spotlessly clean and comfy, and the food delicious. We had dinner one evening and Di produced gourmet 3-courses for us paired with a lovely local wine.
Cartajima is an excellent base for walking in the area and discovering Ronda. Lots of fresh air, sunshine and fabulous views - just what we needed!
If you're looking for a lovely place to stay near Ronda, this is an excellent choice.

We stayed in Hotel Los Castanos for a weekend and we left with the promise to come back as soon as we can. This place, hidden in a quiet small village in the mountains south of Ronda, is pure therapy for the soul and a delight for all senses. The views are spectacular, the house is a beautiful cozy jewel, the rooms are clean, comfortable and beautifully decorated, the village is peaceful and the people are friendly. But it’s the hosts that are bringing the experience to perfection. Both Di and John are the most friendly and warm people - we couldn’t ask for more. The dinner Di prepared for us was, by far, the best we had in any of the places we have stayed. The taste, presentation and attention to detail were remarkable.
The evening we spent on the roof top terrace, with a glass of good house wine, was a deep dive in peace and relaxation. Even the cat Lyla, who joined us, was so cute, friendly and talkative 😊
The entire experience was unforgettable. Thank you Di and John, we highly appreciated your perfect hosts skills and we plan to return soon to recharge our batteries.

My mom and I just spent the Christmas holiday at Los Castaños and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was an inclusive package with 8 other guests where every detail was thought through from the slippers and robes in the rooms to the incredible hospitality. Di and John have thought of everything to make this getaway as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Di's food was great, not only Spanish cuisine but a mix from other countries along with their wine selection was perfect.
We enjoyed being able to connect with the other guests and plan walks to the other villages.
The location is very secluded, you can definitely unwind and appreciate the nature and solitude in the mountains. It was a good break from the city buzz.
We rented a car but the roads were a bit narrow for us. John helped us out immensely with parking!

The perfect escape. I spent five nights at Los Castanos on a solo trip hiking the local area and visiting Ronda. I felt very safe as a solo female traveller and the hosts were amazing - very friendly and accommodating, with so much local knowledge. Di’s cooking is incredible (I’ve stolen some ideas to try and recreate back home) and John can rustle up great drinks! The Hotel was very peaceful and comfortable, with lots of little special touches from being an independent Hotel. The getaway I needed.

Beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting. Di and John are wonderful hosts and nothing is too much trouble for their guests. Di prepared the most amazing mezze platter with home made dips which was accompanied by a nice bottle of cava. Breakfast the following day was also fantastic. The rooms are very well equipped with lots of little touches that you don't get in Spanish run hotels, the main one being a kettle, cups, tea, coffee etc! Would highly recommend!

We spent three nights here, mid-November, and were very reluctant to leave. A beautiful building, with amazing views over the mountains of the Serrania de Ronda. Our room was very comfortable, with totally controllable heating/cooling (and not many hotels can say that!) plus a really good shower. Di and John are great hosts, with lots of advice on places to visit, walking routes, etc., while Di's cooking deserves a full 5 star review of its own. We'll definitely be back!

We absolutely loved this place. We are so glad we stayed in peaceful, beautiful Cartajima instead of a more touristy place like Ronda. And Hotel Los Castanos couldn’t have been more perfect. The roof terrace alone is worth the trip, looking over the beautiful countryside, with the babbling of the fountain. Our room was very comfortable and had lots of good information about the area. We enjoyed the cocktail hour, visiting with Di and John and another two guests. Dinner was delicious, one of the two best dinners we had in two weeks in Spain. Di and John are perfect hosts. They couldn’t have been more welcoming and went way beyond basic hosting by managing to get my favorite jacket that I had foolishly left behind to our last stop in Madrid. I would definitely recommend this wonderful place, but don’t make the mistake we made of staying only one night.

very nice & quiet place, nice furnished and renovated village house, kind owner, tasty breakfast

Absolutely loved this charming place. Di and John are amazing and we fell in love with it. The food was the best we have had in Spain thus far, and dinner with Di cooking should not be missed. The rooms and ambiance were great, and I spent my evenings on the roof top terrace reading with a bottle of wine. Rhonda was only 15 minutes. We really debated whether to stay in Rhonda or not, and we're so happy we choose not to. Highly suggest doing a hike or 2 between the White Towns. John and Di even have little direction sheets for the hikes, which we useful and incredibly thoughtful. Highly recommend staying here!

A wonderful hotel in every way. The location - a quiet ancient town in the mountains but only 15 minutes from Ronda. The hotel - beautiful and spacious, a brilliantly designed place with six or seven perfect rooms. The food - highest quality prepared by an award winning culinary expert. Last but by no means least the hosts - the lovely Di and partner John, friendly and helpful, full of fascinating stories: one feels like a guest in their home while enjoying when desired complete privacy.

We truly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Los Castanos. Di and John are so nice and friendly. We were so glad that we saved 2 nights staying here in our busy 2-week travel in Spain. It's a true village inside a mountain which is exactly what we were looking for. It's just a short scenic drive to the near villages and larger town whichever you would prefer. Sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine and seeing the sunset makes you feel you are part of the beauty.

What a find! Having spent two nights at Los Castanos I can thoroughly recommend. It feels more like being a guest in a beautiful home than staying in a hotel. This stunning hotel has risen like a phoenix from 3 dilapidated old properties. What a good job she has made of it, Di made us really welcome - nothing was too much trouble and our evening meal and breakfasts were lovingly prepared. Lovely rooms, lovely views, peace and quiet and easy access to other little villages with stunning scenery on the way. As we drove along the winding roads we were treated to vultures flying so close we could have reached out and touched a couple! And a majestic eagle thrown in for good measure too! If you want to visit this area search out this gem.