• Hacienda la Buena Vida is located in Algarinejo, a municipality in the province of Granada. It has about 3029 inhabitants. Algarinejo is centrally located between the various major cities. The town is typically Spanish. If you drive through it, it initially looks like a town but if you look a little further, it has a beautiful center with several bars and restaurants. Algarinejo has a rich history. It used to consist of 2 parts: the part called La Vina y Fuentes, which was inhabited by Arabs who dedicated themselves to the jewelry industry. The other part was inhabited by Christians. Narrow streets, dating back to the Muslim era, lead to a series of caves that served as a refuge for the population. Nowadays, the tourist office is located there. In the caves you can get a guided tour. There are some monuments including the Santa Maria La Mayor church and the Pesquera tower, a former fortification. From the castle of Cesna you have a beautiful view over the swamp of Iznajar on the edge of the river Genil. The chapel of Santo Cristo is another attraction. Algarinejo is located between the mountains and has several hiking and cycling routes including a beautiful route along the waterfalls. Algarinejo is a 10-minute drive from the Hacienda.
  • Montefrio is a 25-minute drive from the Hacienda. Montefrio is in national geographic’s top 10 of cities with the best views. In addition to the beautiful view, Montefrio has much more to offer: the castle with its rich history, several historic buildings and in the active center there are many bars and restaurants. There is a shuttle train that passes by all the sights.
  • 5 kilometers from Montefrio are The Penos De Los Gitanos: a number of caves that used to serve as a shelter for the Neolithic inhabitants.
  • Rute is a city known for its chocolate and sugar factories. Rute in itself is not a beautiful city but the sugar, chocolate and anise museum are fun to see.
  • Antequera is an hour’s drive from the Hacienda. The city is located 47 km north of the city of Malaga, at the foot of the El Torcal and El Arco Calizo Chimenea mountain ranges. The city is dominated by the large Moorish fortress on top of a small hill. The city itself consists of a maze of streets with mainly white buildings. The fort overlooks the “Indian”, a limestone rock in which you can see the contours of a resting Indian head. This rock is also called the rock of the lovers. Officially, the rock is called the Pena de los Enamorados. Antequeara is a large city with many restaurants, shopping streets, historic buildings and authentic bars.
  • El Torcal nature reserve is one of the most beautiful and impressive geological natural parks of Andalusia. Because of the unique limestone formations, it almost gives a surreal and creepy feeling. There are several hiking trails through El Torcal. You can reach El torcal within 1 hour and 30 minutes by car.
  • Caminito del Rey, or the king’s little road, is a 1 hour and 30 minute drive from the Hacienda. It is a hiking trail of 7.5 km long through the desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge. El Caminito once bore the name of the most dangerous hiking trail in Europe. It is still spectacular after the renovation. Tickets must be booked in advance.
  • The Lobopark at 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Hacienda is a wolf park. It was founded in 2002 by a German couple and has been open to the public since 2004. The different wolf species that live in the park are used to humans but have not been trained by them. There are 4 different species of wolves.
  • Iznajar is 30 minutes away. In the lake, with accompanying beach, you can swim. There are sun loungers for rent and you can also go windsurfing and sailing. The lake is 33 kilometers long. On different days of the week it is possible to make a trip with the tour boat. On the beach are some restaurants. Iznajar, with its narrow streets with a legion of blue flower pots, has a castle that can be visited. Scattered around the city are walking routes that also lead past the restaurants and bars.
  • Granada is 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive from the Hacienda. Granada is best known for Alhambra, a complex with several beautiful palaces and gardens. You will also find the old Arab quarter El Albaicin, the cathedral, the royal burial chapel “Capilla Real”, the gypsy district Sacromonte, the bathhouse ël Banuelo, monastery la Cartuja, the basilica de San Juan de Dios and the grand bazaar La Alcaiceria.
  • Ronda, the city separated by a gorge, is a 2-hour drive away. The gorge gives a spectacular view. On one side of the gorge you will find many shopping streets and restaurants, on the other side of the gorge you will find the old town with old palaces and beautiful monuments. The bridge is the meeting point of all tourists.
  • Cordoba is a beautiful historic city at 1 hour and 30 minutes drive with the most beautiful highlights being the mosque Mezquita, Alcazar de los Reyes (the palace of the Christian monarchs) with its beautiful gardens, the Jewish quarter Juderia, the Roman bridge the Puenta Romano, the Medina Azahara excavations, the palace of the Marquis of Viana, the synagogue of Cordoba, Torre de la Calahorre (a tower with museum in it on the left bank of the Guadalquivir) and many more beautiful things.
  • Los Sierras Natural de los Montes is a natural park located 1 hour and 40 minutes’ drive away.
  • Priego de Cordoba is a beautiful suburb of Cordoba. It has many historic buildings including a castle, beautiful parks with many impressive fountains.
  • In Valle de Abdalajis it is possible to climb a mountain. You are there in about 50 minutes from the Hac
  • Fuentes de Piedra is a 1-hour drive away. This is a beautiful lake where flamingos live and can be viewed from several spottert spots.
  • Subbeticas Natural Park (1 hour and 12 minutes drive) consists of a protected nature reserve and some towns that each have something special: Almedinilla: a rcheological site of Roman villa, Molinos street and waterfall “el Salto del Caballo”. Benameji: leaning out of a rock crevice, baroque-style buildings. Goat: mountain viewpoint, hermitage of Virgen de la Sierra, medieval cerro district. Carcabuey: heart of the natural park, rock castle, calvary. Doña Mencià: castle, medieval quarter, famous wines, ethnographic museum, converted train station. Encinas Reales: houses with hanging flower pots. Tojar fountain: winding streets and stairwells, municipal history museum, known for its colorfully dressed dancers performing on May 15. Iznajar: castle, lake, streets with flower pots. Lucena: It is said that Don Quixote wrote by the light of a luncentian candle, known for furniture industry, palace houses, Malpasillo reservoir and the village of Jauja. Luque: oldest city of the region, located more than 600 meters above sea level, an old fortress, lagoon of “El Conde” or “El Salobral”. Palencia: almond trees, is part of 2 provinces, namely Cordoba and Malaga, architecture of classic grids and high and low beams, sulfurous lakes in forest park. Priego de Cordoba: castle, churches, fountains and springs, palaces and stately houses, archaeological museum. Rute: anise distilleries, anise museum. Zuheros: castle carved out of the rock, museum with local finds, cave with 700 steps.
  • Restaurants in Algarinejo:
    Restaurant Casa Piolas: exclusive restaurant, book in advance
    The Gastrobar Footprint
    Algasol Plaza
    Restaurant Meson Paquita
    Restaurant Baby Coffee Club
    Restaurant La Hoyabuela