Hotel Cortijo Barranco

Arcos de la Frontera

Just outside the popular and picturesque village of Arcos de la Frontera, you will find this old cortijo, amidst vast farmland.
The building itself dates back to the 18th century, and used to serve as a mill where olives grown in the area where turned into olive oil of the finest quality.
Nowadays, the building welcomes guests wishing to enjoy a well-earned holiday.
The first thing that strikes you as you walk in, is the enormous patio paved with cobblestone from a long gone past, which is covered by a roof of vine leaves to create some much-needed shade during the area's hot summers.
The 14 rooms have a simple decoration, but are neat and clean, and most have doors that open onto abovementioned patio. Most rooms also have their own private veranda. Instead of a room, you can also rent an apartment or a cottage here.
There is a large and well-maintained swimming pool, and you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel’s own restaurant.
If you are into horse riding, you can really indulge yourself here; you can go on long or shorter treks on horseback, even if you are a beginner.
You will never stop feeling that you are enjoying a true vacation at a Spanish farmhouse; very suitable for families, children will absolutely love this place.

Cons:
• Rooms are a bit basic, but certainly neat and clean
• Approx 6 km from the town

Pros:
• True cortijo feeling
• Spacious layout
• Good price/quality ratio

Hotel Cortijo Barranco

facilities

Hotel

- Lunch and dinner available at cortijo’s own restaurant upon request. This will incur an additional charge between € 18 and € 25 pp.
- Bar.
- Swimming pool
- Garden.
- Hotel has an internet connection (Wi-Fi) in the patio.
- Children are welcome.
- No rooms with wheelchair access.
- Pets are welcome.
- Library.
- Small shop with local products.
- Hotel has its own parking facilities (free of charge).
- There is a horse riding school near the Cortijo. The Cortijo is also a good base for walks in the surrounding area. The hotel offers a range of different excursions/activities.
- The hotel is in the countryside, at about 6 km from Arcos de la Frontera.

Rooms

Every room has air conditioning and heating. The hotel has a no-TV policy. There is only one small TV, in the salon.
The spacious bathrooms have a toilet, bath and hairdryer.
The hotel has 14 double rooms and 5 casitas for a maximum of 6 persons each.

Hotel Cortijo Barranco

rates, terms & conditions

Hotel Cortijo Barranco

surrounding area

Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos is one of Andalucía’s finest little towns; it often serves as a base from which to explore the pueblos blancos (white villages); its entire medieval centre has been declared a Historic Monument. In Arcos you should just stroll around its cobblestone streets, past small whitewashed houses, its many squares and its patios. Arcos’ oldest building is the Castillo, a dilapidated castle that is strategically situated on top of the hill. From the town walls you have a great view of the Guadalete valley. Other sights include the churches Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción, Iglesia de los Jesuitas and the Iglesia de San Pedro.
The town hall, the ayuntamiento on the Plaza de Cabildo, is also worth a visit because of its fine mudejar-style ceilings.
And Arcos is also well-known for its hand-woven tapestry.

Culinary
Pay a visit to a sherry bodega in nearby Jerez de la Frontera, the global capital of sherry production.

Cultural
Plenty of options for a cultural day out in nearby cities, such as Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz and Ronda (see below). And a tour past the pueblos blancos (white villages) is also a great option.

Family
You can head for the zoo in Jerez de la Frontera. This zoo is one of the best ones in Andalucía. It has over 400 animal species on show. The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is also a real must.
You can also go down to Cádiz and do its centre in a horse-drawn carriage. These set off from the Plaza de San Juan de Dios.
The Cortijo is also a good base for walks and trips on horseback in the surrounding area.

Nature
The Parque Nacional de Coto Doñana on the other side of the water can be reached by boat from Sanlúcar. This park is one of Europe’s largest swamp lands. This area is especially important for birds. Over 250 bird species have been spotted here, half of which come here to over-winter, such as the spoonbill, stork and the particular favourite of most visitors, the flamingo.
The best time of year to visit this park is winter or spring. In the summer and autumn the swamps are dry, although that is when visitors get excited about spotting deer, boar, buffalos and otters. With a good guide and some luck, you might even spot a lynx.
Between Arcos de la Frontera and Tarifa you will find the nature reserve Los Alcornocales. This area is made up by cork tree forests, easily recognized by the painted trees.

The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Jerez de la Frontera (33km; 40min):
Jerez is the sherry capital of the world. A tour of one of its bodegas (Sandeman, Pedro Domecq, Gonzalez Byass) is not only good fun, but you will also learn something. How to distinguish fino from amontillado or oloroso sherry, for example.
Jerez is also famous for its horse riding school, the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Escuestre. Apart from visiting a show here, visitors can also attend lessons and tour the stables.
Other sights include the inviting cafes on the Plaza Asunción and the old town hall from 1575, Casa de Cabildo Viejo. The San Mateo quarter is famous for its flamenco bars, and is also where you will find the official flamenco centre: Centro Andaluz de Flamenco.

Cádiz (65km; 55min):
The modern part of Cádiz is a busy port. A visit to this city would not be complete without a walk along the quays. The old town is contained by fortifications that rise up from the sea. Within the ring of walls and fortresses there are houses and palaces from the 18th and 19th century, side by side with run-down quarters and squares with plenty of bar and cafes.
The city’s sights include the Castillo de Santa Catalina, a bulwark right on the tip of the small peninsula. In the centre you will find the cathedral, Catedral Nueva, and the Museo de Cádiz on one of the city’s nicest squares, the Plaza de Mina. And then there are a number of interesting churches, the baroque church Oratorio de San Felipe Neri and the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva.

Ronda (86km; 1h25min):
Ronda has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Southern Spain. Due to this town’s unassailable location, it was one of the last standing Moorish bastions, which only fell in 1485, when it was conquered by the Christians. The town is split in two by a spectacular gorge, with the southern part being the classic Moorish pueblo blanco with cobblestone streets, small fences in front of the windows and whitewashed walls all around. The new town on the other side of the gorge contains the Plaza de Toros (bull ring), the cradle of bullfighting; it was built in 1785 and is one of Spain’s oldest. The bridge that connects the two parts of Ronda, the Puente Nuevo, spans the 100-metre-deep gorge and has become Ronda’s most famous feature, drawing in millions of visitors every year.
Apart from the Plaza de Toros, the Palacio Mondragón is another important sight; this is a palace decorated with original Moorish mosaics and plastering.

And you can, of course, head for one of these world famous cities for a day trip:
Seville (87km; 1h15min):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.

Córdoba (227km; 2h50min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.

Hotel Cortijo Barranco

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