La Posada De Cortegana

My boyfriend and I booked our Valentine's weekend stay here on a whim, just one day in advance. We didn't know anything about the area or the hotel, which attracts guests mainly from Spain and Portugal, but we were very pleasantly surprised by the Sierra of Huelva. Located in the mountains, the Posada de Cortegana is a charming spot where guests stay in wooden cabins and enjoy the beautiful views of nature. From the moment we checked in with Fernando, we were met very warmly by all the staff. Everyone from Ivo, the waiter, to Maria Jose, another receptionist, was extremely friendly and kind. On the first day, at Fernando's suggestion, we went for a hike over the mountain. It was great! (Long, but not too difficult). Later that day, we had our first meal. As a vegetarian, I was grateful that they said they were happy to prepare meatless dishes for me. They did much more than that, though! Every meal was a splendid feast of homecooked plates, followed by desserts that tasted heavenly. My boyfriend, who is not vegetarian, said all of his plates were fantastic, as well. We couldn't believe how good the food was, and it's all prepared by the owner's wife, Lola. After meals, we would have a drink and chat with the owner, Jose Antonio, or some of the other guests. Being in the mountains put everyone in a relaxed mood (some call it isolated, I call it a sanctuary!) At the end of the weekend, we were sad to leave and bought a bottle of their house wine to bring home as a souvenir (well, we tried to buy it, anyway, but the owners insisted on giving it to us as a gift!) We can't wait to visit again in summer, when the pool is open, and catch up with all of the wonderful staff. I highly recommend this place! Just know that if you go in the winter, things are much quieter (so, if you don't want to have the whole place nearly to yourself, try going on a holiday/special weekend like we did. It was advertised on their Facebook page).