If you and your friends or family want to get right
back to nature, you'll find a variety of simple, rustic accommodation
around rural Andalucia. Usually the cabins are traditionally built
from wood or stone. For example in some natural parks, such as the
Sierra Norte of Seville, the Sierra de Aracena in Huelva province,
Grazalema National Park in Cadiz and Cazorla National Park in Jaen,
and even the snow-capped Sierra Nevada of Granada, you can stay
in secluded spots in log cabins and stone huts, or even an entire
stone village.
This rural accommodation is often beautiful situated in wild, dramatic
locations, near lakes and mountains, idyllic huts in totally undeveloped
areas where there's little other habitation. They're perfect for
lovers of the outdoors: hiking, bird-spotting, mountain climbing,
or just enjoying the tranquility of your surroundings, with the
only sounds the mountain breeze, birdsong and the jangling bells
of a wandering flock of mountain goats.
Mountain refugios, located in national parks, often
enjoy the most spectacular, isolated locations. The accommodation
usually offers only very basic facilities, such as beds, a toilet
and kitchen, sometimes hot water (not a problem in the hot summer
months, but on a snow-capped mountain in winter, cold showers aren't
much fun!) and a wood-burning stove. You bring your own food and
bedding. They are designed to accommodate mountain climbers and
hikers, and therefore are strategically located on the slopes of
popular peaks.
For example, in the Sierra Nevada National Park,
there are eight refugios. These include: near the summit of Veleta
(2392m), in the western part of the mountain range near Granada
city, Refugio Cariguela; on the way to Alcazaba (3366m) and the
Sierra's highest peak, Mulhacen (3482), is Refugio de la Caldera;
just to the south of these peaks is Refugio de Poqueira. To the
north, at the foot of Picon de Jeres (3088m) is Refugio Postero
Alto. In the eastern part, conveniently located between Puerto de
la Ragua San Juan (2786m) and Chullo (2612m) you'll find Refugio
de la Ragua; Almirez (2517m) has two refugios, Refugio-Vivac El
Doctor and Refugio Piedra Negra. And close to the peak of Polarda
(2253m) you'll find Refugio Penon de la Polarda. There are also
refugios outside the protected national park area: two refugios
to the south-east, north of the village of Laujar de Andarax.
For more information about the national parks where
much of this type of accommodation is situated, click
here.
To learn more about the flora and fauna you might
encounter on a rural holiday in Andalucia, click
here.
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