Los Sentidos. Fuente del Gallo

Looking out to sea from the roof terrace at Los Sentidos, you can be forgiven for thinking for a moment that you are sitting somewhere more tropical than the Costa de la Luz. The lush vegetation below (it’s a special garden) and the palms and araucarias that frame your view of the sea and the perfect lines of Atlantic surf queuing to break on the sand just a short walk away are perhaps more akin to a section of the Costa Rican coast. But refocusing on your immediate surrounds, the Moroccan pots and Andalus tiles, possibly a glass of fino on the table, will quickly remind you that you can of course be nowhere other than this magical corner of Spain, from which the North African coast is no more than a stone's throw

In true moorish tradition, Los Sentidos is full of surprises and a delight for the senses. From the road you see nothing, but the old Moroccan frontgate gives a hint of things to come. Modern and old contrast and complement throughout the house: the woodwork, the furniture, the tiles. Terraces on every level and in every corner provide spots for relaxing in the sun or shade. The outdoor kitchen with its own courtyard may persuade you to spend less time in the main kitchen, or not….for the main kitchen is quite something too! And then the garden, a mix of hardy mediterranean aromatic plants, hostas and other big leaves in the shaded areas, palms and cactuses in old tinajas, and a couple of beautifully maintained larger palms, all terraced into three levels that finish at the pool.

Following a major refurbishment in 2022, four en suite bedrooms accommodate guests in comfort, with sumptuous double beds and large walk-in showers. Two of these suites are on the ground floor, the master suite is on the first floor (with sea views), and the larger “guest” suite has independent access via the courtyard. The main living areas (sitting room, dining room, and kitchen) are open-plan but at the same time separated. This makes for easy holiday living, but there are still three distinct atmospheres, in fact four because the TV area is neatly separated from the rest of the sitting room. The latter has a snug wood-burning stove for the cooler winter nights, but for most of the rest of the year you will leave the big glass doors open to have easy access onto the large covered terrace and garden and pool beyond. There is a home office (complete with bathroom) in an independent building in the corner of the garden, far enough away to provide some peace and quiet but also with the best views of the garden.

It is a 400m walk down to one of the best beaches on the Costa de la Luz, which stretches 11km south to the lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar. On the way to the beach there is a local bar/restaurant, which stays open all year, and along the beach itself there are a number of bars and restaurants, some of which (including the famous La Fontanilla) also stay open through the winter, and others (like Feduchy Playa), which only open for the summer months. It is a 2.5km walk into the centre of Conil, with its daily food market, supermarkets, and wide choice of bars and restaurants.