Casitas Tía Carmen

Located in the fertile Mogan Valley, these two detached cottages are suited for couples seeking a rural retreat within easy reach of a good sandy beach. Casitas Tía Carmen stand within the grounds of a fruit farm roughly halfway between the traditional inland village of Mogan and its coastal offshoot, Puerto de Mogan, both of which are approximately 4 km away and thus easily reached using your complimentary hire car. Puerto de Mogan is widely considered to be the island's most charming beach resort, with a very picturesque marina, and old fishermen's quarter and a gently shelving sandy beach protected by a breakwater. Although boasting a good selection of restaurants and a decent range of shops, Puerto de Mogan has not been overdeveloped and retains a pleasantly relaxed ambience.

Just 4 km inland, however, you can experience an even greater sense of relaxation, as the setting of Casitas Tía Carmen amidst lychee, papaya, avocado, olive and citrus trees, as well as vines, banana plants and one of the island's oldest mango trees really feels like losing yourself in a secret garden. The two cottages keep a respectful distance from each other, and from the proprietors' own house, so that guests can enjoy a good degree of privacy. Tía Carmen's owner Juan and his daughter Paula are very friendly hosts, who usually manage to overcome any language barriers to make their visitors feel thoroughly at home. Naturally, you may at times find the family and their staff tending the orchard and harvesting their produce, and guests should also be aware that the family's young, large dog enjoys the run of the farm and often seeks to befriend guests staying in the cottages.

Each cottage has a shaded terrace, as well as its own garden area with a barbecue and a pair of sunloungers. Inside, the cottages are fairly compact and simply furnished and equipped, each comprising a sitting room with a sofa and a small dining area, an open-plan kitchenette with two-ring hob and fridge, a bedroom with a double bed and a shower room. Air-conditioning units provide both heating in the winter and relief from the peak summer heat, and each cottage has a radio/CD-player, although TV sets were deemed an unnecessary distraction. A laundry room with a washing machine is available for guests' use in a separate building near the owner's house. The cottages are cleaned at the beginning and end of each rental, and whilst there is no interim maid service, sufficient linen is provided for the duration of your stay.

Surrounded by a well-tended lawn and stocked with sunloungers and parasols, the finca's lovely swimming pool is also shared between the guests of both cottages and the owners, and makes the perfect place for unwinding and enjoying the views after a day spent hiking in the valley or exploring further afield by car. Those looking for stylish interiors or top-of-the-range accommodation may find the cottages a little too basic for their liking, but for those seeking a simple country retreat in an idyllic setting with an authentic ambience, Casitas Tia Carmen is an attractive option.