
Finca El Tossal
, Serra de Benicadell, 2, Bolulla.
Finca El Tossal is a quiet, adults-only little hotel built originally as a small italianate country house in the mountains, not far from Altea. It seems hard to believe that you can be just 5 miles from the Costa Blanca coastline, yet buried amongst pinewoods and orange groves with breathtaking views of the valleys, the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.
The gardens of Finca El Tossal provide a retreat where you can lounge alongside the large swimming pool, sip a cooling drink under a shady tree on the patio, or sunbathe on the lawn and gaze up at the palm trees. Indoors, the house is decorated in a simple yet colourful blend of rustic and moorish style that is timeless.
The seven large guest rooms faces south with views right down to the sea. Each has its own sitting area and is equipped with a full bathroom, satellite television and DVD player.
The hotel is located 300m up in the Algar Valley, with mountains on three sides rising to 1800m and the fourth direction facing down towards the blue sea of the Mediterranean. The countryside around is predominantly native pine woods with cultivated terraces of oranges, lemons, avocados and almonds. The Algar Waterfall is within easy distance of the hotel and the little village of Bolulla is just 3 km away.
Meals
Breakfast is a generous buffet of cereals, homemade breads, cakes and pastries, cheeses, cold meats and homemade yoghurts, freshly squeezed juices, teas and coffee.
A 4-course set dinner is offered 5 nights of the week. Guests can also choose to eat out in Bolulla (3kms) or in one of the profusion of restaurants and bars that line the waterfront in Altea.
Out and About
Walking: Directly from the house you can start several walks of various grades of difficulty, from easy strolls to more challenging hikes. In the area close to the hotel there are many marked hiking paths. The hotel can provide maps and advise you about suitable walks.
Beaches: The Mediterranean Sea is just 8 km away and offers a variety of beaches, ranging from broad sandy ones to hidden pebbly coves, and from lively seaside resorts to total seclusion.
Scuba diving: There are several good diving spots in the region, as well as diving courses and organized tours.
Windsurfing, Sailing, Kitesurfing.
Mountain-biking: The countless tracks of the surrounding countryside invite you to explore the area by mountain bike.You can ride for hours without seeing anybody, just mountain goats, ruins of old farmhouses and lots of nature.
Cycling: Bolulla is often the venue for one of the stages of the "Vuelta de España" - Spain's equivalent of the Tour de France. The village is the starting point of a mountain stage up to the Coll de Rattes with its breathtaking views and spectacular winding roads. The relatively flatter coastline roads are also very popular with cyclists of a less masochistic disposition. This variety of excellent biking terrain (together with the weather) is why this area is chosen as a training location by many professional teams from around the world.
Golf: This area is one of the biggest golfing regions in Spain, with 7 courses in operation and 2 more to be finished soon, with the benefit of the fine climate in which golf can be played in comfort all year round. If you want to improve your game, the hotel will find you a coach who speaks your language. If you want to enjoy playing in a variety of settings, they can arrange for you to play on 5 different local courses during a 7 day stay. If you like, they will even take you to the course.
Places to visit:
Algar Falls. A waterfall on the Algar river, just at the bottom of the valley from the hotel.
Bolulla
Guadalest. Spectacular castle perched high on a rocky outcrop.
Altea (8 km). A former fishing village which has a beautiful old quarter with the main plaza high above, dominated by a church with a blue Byzantine-style dome dating back to the Moorish era. This small town has become well-known for its large number of artists from all over Spain and there are many exhibitions and galleries. It also has one of Spain's finest performing arts centres and the University of Alicante has recently opened an arts campus there.
Terra Mítica theme park. This theme park is one of the largest and best in Europe, being both a true "theme" park and a collection of exciting rides. It shows the Mediterranean civilisations at the height of their power and influence. There are replicas of Egyptian pyramids of extraordinary size and a Roman coliseum that could almost be the real thing. All this, plus all the latest high-tech whizz-bang attractions.
All rooms are of a "junior suite" type, with a floor area of approximately 34 m2, full en-suite bathroom, central heating, Mediterranean-style rustic furniture, TV with satellite system, DVD player, hairdryer and safe.
Each room faces south with breathtaking views of both mountains and sea.
Reviews from Little Hotels Travellers:
Perfect peace in wonderful surroundings at this beautifully appointed finca in the mountains, with views down to the coast. We enjoyed 5 days here on our second visit and were welcomed by Sonia and Thursten, who are the most amazing hosts. Nothing is too much trouble and they even provided rice milk and vegan options for dinner, at very short notice. The breakfast is very plentiful, with lots of freshly made bread, a variety of cheeses and cold meats, eggs, cereals, yogurts, fruit and pasties. There are a wide variety of wines and other beverages at the courtesy bar and Thursten will advise on the best wine for you. We especially enjoyed sitting in the various terraces and seating areas in the garden and relaxing under the stars in the hot tub. The rooms are tasteful and of the highest standard, with hot powerful shower and comfortable beds, and a large TV screen. What more do you need for a reviving break away from it all? |
This was a wonderful place to retreat and rest - the hosts are gracious and welcoming. Rooms are stylish and are set in charming gardens. The pool and lounge area were relaxing and peaceful. An extensive breakfast was served on a terrace with a magnificent views from the mountains down to the coast. And delicious creative dinners were served by the talented chef himself. Fantastic! |
Just arrived back from 10 days at Finca el Tossal. This is a very nice place to stay where much thought has gone into ensuring that guests have a relaxing and welcoming stay. Fantastic views over the coast with Benidorm away in the distance, the Finca offers a friendly and comfortable home from home to relax by the pool or walk in the surrounding mountains. The road to the Finca is not for the faint hearted, especially at night in an underpowered hire car! But it is all part of the rural Spain experience and I would certainly recommend for a few days relaxation. |
We stayed at Finca El Tossal on 26th and 27th May 2010, What a wonderful find! A fabulous location, so peaceful and quiet. Thorsten and Sonia were very helpful and friendly and they have created a really great place to stay. We will certainly recommend it to our friends. |
We (3 friends and I) stayed at this fabulous hotel. We enjoyed our stay enormously and would highly recommend it. |
The visit at the wonderful hotel of Sonya and Torsten really met all our expectations - we had a wonderful time and a really looking forward to return one day. |
Stayed at Finca El Tossal for 4 nights in April 2008. Helpful pleasant owners. Lovely hotel in very peaceful quiet area well off the beaten track. Super fresh breakfasts, changing slightly each day. Highly recommended. |
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We Say
Just five miles from the coast, this hotel is so tucked away that they come out to collect their first-time visitors. Yet once you find your way, you have the choice of seclusion in the mountains, peaceful beaches, or livelier resorts (though lovely Altea is far-removed from the excesses of Benidorm). This is a delightful little retreat of rustic beauty and comfort, and excellent value.
A Word from the Owner
We are so lucky to be in the midst of nature. From all our guest rooms you can see the blue horizon of the Mediterranean in the distance and although you can easily imagine the busy life of beachside tourists in high rise hotels down there, here you are able to relax in a peaceful natural setting.