The 10 best villas in Almáchar

If you are looking at villas in Almáchar, the first thing you should know is that this town in the Axarquía malagueña is small, so most of the accommodations are on the slopes surrounding the town centre or on the estates in the surrounding area, with views of the valley and the mountains. The most comfortable areas to stay are those less than ten minutes by car from the centre, because the town does not have an internal public transport system that takes you to the scattered urbanisations. The villas you will find are usually detached houses with a private pool, garden and terrace, and they differ mainly in their orientation, the size of the plot and whether they have been renovated or retain the original rustic style. For example, Casa Tobalo, Casa Levante or Casa Ramirez, all managed by Ruralidays, are representative of this type of offer: stone or whitewashed houses, with capacity for four to six people, and equipped so that you do not have to go out to eat if you do not want to. There is also an option in El Borge, a few kilometres away, which can be useful if you are looking for more peace and quiet or an even less busy environment.

As for prices, the real range is wide: the cheapest villa is around 366 euros per night, and the average price is around 520 euros, which gives you an idea that this is not a budget accommodation destination, but rather mid-to-upper range, with an average category of four stars. If you want the price to go down, avoid July and August, which is when demand drives rates up, and also Easter. The months of May, June and September are usually the best for finding better conditions, because the weather is still good for the pool and the nights are pleasant. To get there, the most practical thing is to fly to Málaga, rent a car at the airport and take the A-7 or the Mediterranean motorway to the Vélez-Málaga exit, and from there continue on the MA-3115 to Almáchar; the total journey is about forty minutes. Once there, a car is essential, not only to go shopping or to dinner, but to move around the towns of the region, because the villas are isolated and the roads are mountain roads, with curves and narrow sections.

Before booking, you should look at three specific things. First, the exact location on the map and the access directions, because some houses are on unpaved roads that can be difficult with a low car or if it rains. Second, the layout of the bedrooms and bathrooms, because many old villas have bathrooms on the ground floor and bedrooms upstairs, and that is not always well explained in the photos. Third, the services included: heated pool or not, air conditioning in all rooms or only in the living room, and whether the final price includes cleaning and sheets or if they charge you separately. It is also advisable to read the cancellation conditions, because in this type of property they are usually strict and do not always offer a refund if you cancel at short notice. And if you are travelling as a group, check whether the villa has a single house or if it shares a plot with another dwelling, because there are cases in which the pool is shared even though the accommodation is private.