Hotel Cerro de Hijar

Rooms

A big effort was made when it came to the decoration of Hijar’s bedrooms. Most are classified as Standard Rooms and can be made up as twins or doubles. The Junior Suites all measure in at 20sq.m: there isn't a separate sitting area as such but the extra metres heighten the sense of space. Then there are the fully fledged Suites with separate sitting areas: of these the one tucked away in the tower would be our top choice.

The rooms are simple, airy and clean as clean can be. Bright colour washes - blue, green, sienna, apricot - provide the backdrop for unusual contemporary prints and richly coloured susani - wall hangings from Turkey which are stapled to the bed walls. Bright Moroccan kilims soften the (rather ubiquitous) red quarry-tiled floors. The wooden, Mexican bedside tables, TV cabinets (these also hide a well-stocked bar fridge) and writing tables strike a more rustic note. Mod cons include WiFi (throughout the hotel) and DVD players in the suites.

All bedrooms have large, louvre-doored wardrobes with masses of hanging and drawer space. There are stylish bedside spotlights and Casablanca fans which even in summer may be superfluous: Híjar’s high, mountain perch really catches the breeze. Duvets are de riguer throughout the hotel whilst mattresses are firm, yet forgiving: you’re bound to sleep well. Bathrooms come decked out in white ceramic tiling with bathtubs and overhead showers (just 2 rooms have shower only).

And there are those views. We’ll treasure the memory of throwing open the shutters and gazing out to that unforgettable chain of mountains bathed in the purples and pinks of dawn. All rooms have small balconies.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

The dining room is decorated in the same green, ochre and apricot colour washes that appear throughout the hotel. The mood is warm and festive, enhanced by unusual, bright yellow bar stools, which have a distinctly Dalí-esque feel, and an eclectic collection of contemporary prints. There’s an interesting selection of sounds, too: you’re more likely to hear the latest Tarifa fusion than those overplayed flamenco-for-foreigners classics.

Breakfast - charged as an extra - is laid-up buffet style in the dining room, though you're welcome to drift out to the garden when the weather permits. You'll find cold cuts, soft and hard cheese, croissants and cakes, muesli and yoghurts, a bowl of fresh fruit along with honey and a selection of jams. Expect 2 varieties of bread, freshly squeezed orange juice and superb espresso coffee, served à volonté.

Dinner feels like a special occasion, and the food isn't compromised by your remote location. Martin, chef-in-residence, trained at Malaga’s top cookery school La Consula before refining his art at one of the few Andalucian restaurants to have earned a Michelin star. He adheres to the Slow Cooking tradition and brings the latest culinary techniques to bear on traditional combinations of flavours. Vegetables are often caramelised whilst his foams, confits, souffles and tempuras are recipe book-perfect. We'd always choose his 6-course menú de creativo de degustación though there's also a 3-course set menu (changes daily and includes vegetarian options) which is less expensive. And there's a snack menu on offer during the busier season.

You can join Guillermo on a half day Clase Magistral during which you'll be shown how to make a perfect paella as well as learning about the origins of eastern Spain's most famous culinary creation. Two-day cooking courses are also on offer with guidance on how to prepare a 3-course Andaluz feast.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurant

Activities

• Head off to explore the Sierra de las Nieves Biosphere Reserve on foot, by mountain bike, or in a 4x4. The hotel has maps and leaflets describing the best local trails whilst a guide can be arranged for groups of 6 or more
  
  
• Go horse riding in the Sierra de las Nieves - stunning
  
  
• Take the winding road back down the hill to Tolox for a spa treatment or yoga session. You could then have an oriental massage back in your room
  
  
• Drive through a swathe of wild mountain scenery to Ronda, one of Andalucia’s most spectacularly situated towns
  
  
• Steam in the sauna then chill in the open-air Jacuzzi-with-a-view: the spa is a great new addition at Cerro de Hijar
  
  
• Head for the Med’. There are still good beaches to be discovered along the Costa del Sol and some fabulous chiringuitos (seaside bars)
  
  
• Hunt for wild mushrooms on the surrounding hillsides during the autumn months
  
  
• Spend a day in Malaga making sure not to miss the Picasso museum
  
  
• The cookery courses which are hosted at the hotel are fascinating, and fun

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

This is a great option for outdoorsy families: the hotel has a pool, some suites for 3-4, and kids options at dinner. Children up to 12 years old receive breakfast for free, and cots and extra beds are available on request. And when it comes to the big travel day, you'll be grateful that you're only an hour's drive from Malaga airport.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Cerro de Hijar is near the village of Tolox, midway between Malaga and Ronda (it's a 45-minute drive from both), situated in the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park.

By Air
Malaga (50km away) is the closest airport, but you could also fly into Gibraltar (115km away), Granada (160km away), Jerez (170km away) and Seville (180km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport
You could take a train into Malaga, hop on a local bus to Tolox then take a taxi for the 10-minute ride up to the hotel.

By Car
For hire cars see our car rental recommendations.

Directions to the hotel will be provided with confirmed booking.

More on getting to Andalucia and getting around