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About
5.0
#1 of 1 small hotel in Alajar
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
4.9
Value
4.7
Posada San Marcos - A unique blend of comfort and sustainability in Southern Spain’s Secret Sierra. Discover Posada San Marcos, an eco-friendly B&B located in the picturesque mountain village of Alájar, Sierra de Aracena, Southern Spain. Our six-bedroom traditional whitewashed house offers a unique blend of comfort and sustainability, unrivalled in this truly idyllic region. Enjoy a child-free, laid-back haven surrounded by unsurpassed views of cork tree-clad hillsides, where authenticity meets modern comfort. All rooms offer geothermal underfloor heating/cooling and terraces or balconies overlooking lush gardens, well-stocked with native plants, including fruit trees, and an inviting salt-water pool. Start your day with our delicious locally sourced breakfast and gain insights from our resident expert on the fascinating area. Explore the neighbouring white villages with hilltop castles, historic churches and mosques, village squares for tapas and some outstanding restaurants, or actively hike, bike or ride the many scenic paths through hills, forests, oak groves, and along rivers. Or relax at our salt-water pool and tranquil garden with plenty of shade for those seeking it. Our guests never tire of the unspoilt views of surrounding forests and whitewashed buildings perched majestically on the hills overlooking the village or the sounds of nature, so abundant in our Mediterranean oasis. At night, indulge in our seasonal home-cooked dinner or discover the restaurants and bars just a short stroll away. Enjoy the clear night sky from your terrace and make unforgettable memories at Posada San Marcos. You'll feel so at home that you'll wish you'd booked for longer!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Calle Colon 12, 21340 Alajar, Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park Spain
Name/address in local language
Posada San Marcos
423 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
The other reviews say it all. This is a brilliant place to stay in rural Andalucia. Owners Angel and Lucy do an excellent job in making their visitors feel welcome and at home. Their enthusiasm for the area and all it has to offer is infectious and they couldn’t be more helpful in ensuring you make the most of your stay. If you visit, do join Angel’s guided walk, take part in the jamon tasting and sample Lucy’s cooking. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are one of the fundamental principles here. Breakfast toast spread with olive oil instead of butter, honey and freshly cracked walnuts was a revelation. Even the nutcrackers work better than those at home! Our room was simple, spacious, comfortable and clean, with doors opening onto a terrace overlooking the garden, pool and the wooded hills beyond. We stayed here as part of an Inntravel walking holiday, and were able to do all our walks from the front door of the Posada, with our hire car sitting unused throughout. The local footpaths were shaded by olive trees and cork oaks, bordered by wildflowers and scented by orange blossom, and the only sounds came from the birds and the occasional chime of a goat bell. We barely saw a soul while we were out walking. La Posada de San Marcos delivered all ingredients for our perfect holiday. Many thanks to Lucy and Angel who have created a very special place to stay.
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Date of stay: March 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola, Thank you for your brilliant review! Our enthusiasm for the area and commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients are indeed infectious. We're delighted you enjoyed the guided walk, jamón tasting, and Lucy's cooking. Our spacious rooms and the garden, pool, and sunbeds are perfect for relaxation. We hope to welcome you back soon for an even longer stay! Saludos from Alájar
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We love walking and selected La Posada as a base for exploring the region, and we're so glad we did. Lucy and Angel are perfect hosts and made us, and the other guests, feel very welcome. The rooms are clean and airy, and all have access to a terrace or balcony. We had dinner there on four nights, and Lucy's cooking is amazing - generous portions of local dishes, and wonderful organic red wine to wash it all down with. We had a guided walk with Angel which was very interesting - he is a mine of information about the area, flora and fauna, and made us appreciate our surroundings all the more. We also had the jamon and sherry tasting with him, and if you want to try some of the best jamon iberico I have ever tasted, this is the place to do it. It really does melt in your mouth. Lucy and Angel also provided us with details of all the local walks, most of which can be done from La Posada, as well as wonderful packed lunches - the tortilla and empanadas were out of this world! They have also done everything they can to minimise the impact of La Posada on the environment, and if more hotels did half as much as they do, the world would be a better place. We were genuinely sorry to leave, and have no hesitation in recommending La Posada very highly to anyone wanted to spend time in Alajar. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Lucy and Angel.
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Date of stay: October 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola, Thank you for the glowing recommendation! We are truly dedicated to making your stay enjoyable, from the amazing cuisine to the guided walks and jamon tastings. Our eco-friendly practices are a testament to our commitment to the environment. We can't wait to welcome you back for more wonderful experiences! Saludos from Alájar
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Alájar is a pretty rural village off the beaten track, we were lucky to have found this lovely little village and the Posada de San Marcos. The owners and hosts Lucy and Ángel are a wonderful couple, so friendly, welcoming and helpful. We booked with a little trepidation as Lucy told us that on the day of our arrival it was the annual fiesta or Romeria and that all the roads would be closed! We need not have worried, although there were road closures and it was busy, we managed to navigate through the narrow streets of the village.
The Posada de San Marcos is a delightful place to stay with a relaxed friendly atmosphere, nice clean bedrooms with balconies overlooking the garden and the hills with their oak trees. Breakfasts are a simple affair with homemade delicacies mostly made by Lucy and good coffee! The whole Posada is very eco-friendly and Ángel was even installing some additional solar panels, love their story of how they have renovated the place and even installed ground water heat source pumps. Tranquil garden with a good pool and loved the honesty bar where you could indulge in a cold beverage after a hot walk!
Their passion for the area and local people and the environment and a genuine desire for their guests to get the most out of their stay is exemplary.
It's a great area for those who enjoy walking, as we do, and there are many walks starting from the Posada. Alájar itself is a very pleasant village to stroll around and it has a small range of bars and restaurants.
Hasta la vista!
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola Lo, Thank you for sharing your Posada de San Marcos adventure! We're thrilled to hear that we made you feel at ease even during the annual fiesta. Our commitment to eco-friendliness is a core value, and it's great to know you appreciated it. The tranquility of our garden and the honesty bar are indeed cherished by our guests. Come back soon for more exemplary hospitality and great walks! Saludos from Alájar
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We stayed at the Posada San Marcos for 4 nights in September/October 2021 to explore the Sierra and do some walking. We travelled independently and booked directly by emailing the Posada. We had a lot of contact with Lucy & Angel before our stay, via their monthly newsletters and with directions and other useful information via email which we found reassuring. Their website is also packed with useful information. Lucy and Angel are very welcoming and the Posada provided a comfortable and enjoyable short break. We did several walks around the village and to Linares and around Almonaster, all recommended by Lucy. We enjoyed the buffet breakfasts and three course evening meals cooked by Lucy and the pre-bookable packed lunches are great for those longer walks. My favourite part of the holiday was the time spent by the pool which was a little peace of heaven, surrounded by nature. We found the honesty bar to be an excellent idea with everything you need from a cup of tea to great organic wine. I would thoroughly recommend Posada San Marcos for your stay in Alajar.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola Anne, Thank you for recommending Posada San Marcos! We're delighted that you had a comfortable and enjoyable stay while exploring the Sierra. We are delighted you found our communication and website so helpful for planning your visit. Our pool, honesty bar, and the tranquil setting are perfect for relaxation. We hope to welcome you back for more peaceful moments in the future! Saludos from Alájar
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Lucy and Angel are friendly and helpful, however, be aware that the website and hotel pictures are not up to date. The garden is in need of serious attention and be careful not to stumble as there is a lot of planks / bed frames etc around in the lawn., ( they have plans apparently! …) If you are booking in warm weather again there is no air conditioning as stated on their website. The honesty bar is useful but beware they charge corkage at full bottle rate if you bring your own. Even if it is bought from the local shops. I agree with their ethics on buying local but that was a bit much. The pool was clean and very much appreciated after a long walk but again when on the sun beds you couldn’t see the pool as the grass was so long! Angels oil tasting was informative and good. Lucy cooked good tasty ‘mother in laws’ recipes. The restaurants recommended in the villages were super. The hotel is more rustic as it has aged, mattresses becoming worn, but it does have charm as Lucy and Angel absolutely have, but best to know what to expect- and that’s not shown on website and old photos.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Oct 12, 2023
Thank you for your honest feedback! We truly appreciate your kind words about Lucy and Angel. We apologize for any discrepancies between our website and the current state of the garden. We are currently working on a new website which will provide more recent photos of the garden and we will try to incorporate seasonal photos to give a clearer picture of what our guests can expect . It is correct that Posada San Marcos doesn't have air-conditioning per se, it has underfloor cooling and heating provided by heatpump and ground source energy, details which are found both on our web site and in the information books found in every room. The majority of our guests find this system more comfortable than air-conditioning as it provides a much more natural constant temperature throughout the building. We value your input regarding the corkage fee, however as we do provide an honesty bar and have a small wine list to accompany our meals we prefer guests not to bring their own. We think 7.50€ per bottle is a fair price (we sell house wine at 14€ per bottle). We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the olive oil tasting experience, Lucy's cooking and the pool. Due to the the unusual hot spell we are currently experiencing this October we decided to maintain the pool open for longer thus dedicating more time to pool maintenance than is usual at this time of year. We were aware of the need for the grass to be mown however due to the extra pool maintenance there was little time available to do this during your stay. We understand the importance of accurate representation and will strive to provide a more transparent portrayal of our hotel in the new website. We hope to welcome you back in the future for an even better experience. Saludos from Alájar
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This is the most amazing, quiet, and peacful getaway, that you can imagine. The accommodation is extremely comfortable with intriguing decor showing the history and stories of this area of Spain. The hosts Lucy and Angel, demonstrate what hospitality is all about. Catering to your needs in a family friendly way. Lucy's cooking of traditional meals is to die for..... absolutely delicious. If you visit, evening meals are a must try. There is also, many walks and experiences on offer in the area. Very highly recommend. 🙂
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Just try it, if you are looking for something really and truly authentic and away from the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have just returned from a 4 night stay at La Posada de San Marcos and can not recommend it highly enough. Lucy and Angel are such wonderful hosts and immediately made us feel welcome. Nothing is too much trouble, and they helped us make meal reservations and recommended local restaurants. Two nights, Lucy prepared dinner for us and the food was delicious. We also enjoyed Angel's tutorial on carving the local jamon. A perfect base from which to explore the area.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Location
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola, Thank you for your high recommendation! We are always eager to assist, ensuring your stay is comfortable and enjoyable. Our culinary delights, including the jamón carving slice and savour experience, are part of the unique experience. We look forward to your return for more exploration in the area! Saludos from Alájar
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We recently traveled to Alajar, Spain for a walking holiday and stayed in a charming hotel owned by, the equally charming, Angel and Lucy. Angel gave all the residents a master class on how to carve 'Jamón ibérico', this practical demonstration was accompanied/paired with local Sherry's, followed by a sumptuous NYs eve supper. This lovely village nestled in the Andalucia Mountains boasts stunning views, fabulous locally produced food and wine. The view from the bell gable at the 'Reina de los Ángeles chapel' is especially worthwhile. In summary... Fantastic walking, great weather (very lucky), perfect hosts - a truly memorable experience.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went back to Alájar and to the Posada de San Marcos in June 2023 exactly eight years after our previous visit and, thankfully, nothing has changed! Lucy and Angel are still providing the same welcoming and homely experience at the posada from where you can walk, read, eat, drink, swim, learn about ham, bird watch, explore ....... or do nothing at all! In many ways, the highlight of a stay in Alájar is immersing yourself in the rhythm and character of village life in Andalucia and the Posada de San Marcos is the perfect base from which to do it; traditional, small scale, sustainable and completely in sync with the village and its surroundings.
Lucy and Angel are friendly and hugely informative hosts and, as walkers, the posada was perfect for our needs - a very good breakfast to send us off on our daily hike in the morning; a GPS loaded with numerous walks; a comfortable room, a beautiful swimming pool, home cooked dinners by Lucy together with a perfect location two minutes away from some simple bars and restaurants, including one excellent weekend restaurant (El Padrino).
Put simply - a lovely, friendly place to stay in a secluded and authentic andalusian village.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lucy Arkwright, Owner at Posada San Marcos
Responded Sep 21, 2023
Hola Micheal, Thank you for the amazing review! It's heartwarming to know that you have experienced the same warm hospitality that you were expecting!. We agree that immersing in the village life of Alájar is a unique experience, and our Posada is the perfect base for it. Come back soon to continue creating beautiful memories! Saludos from Alájar
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There is little I can add to the previous reviews of the posada, just agree with everything that has been said. We spent 6 nights here enjoying good local food, Lucy and Angel's exceptional hospitality. We were especially grateful for advice on walks that we could manage and all the local knowledge. Nothing was too much trouble for this very hospitable couple.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola todas las habitaciones son dobles que se puede reservar de uso individual al precio de 65€ con el desayuno incluido. Nuestros clientes suelen ser mediana edad en adelante.
Un saludo
There are more places to choose from in the Alajar area.
PRICE RANGE
$138 - $145 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
SpainAndaluciaProvince of HuelvaSierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural ParkAlajar
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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