Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility
Cortijo Contrares is a converted farmhouse set on top of a ridge between Alora (15 mins) and Pizarra (15 mins). It sits within its own 23 acre olive grove of more than 1600 olive and fruit trees. There are spectacular views across the hills and down towards the coast. If you are looking for a private and tranquil experience then Cortijo Contrares is perfect for you. The property is entered through a large manicured courtyard. The swimming pool (11x7m) has been designed to an exceptional standard and is approached from the villa via a series of terraces. Cortijo Contrares is a perfect holiday location for a family or group of friends and is ideally suited for exploring Andalucia. Seville and Granada are within easy reach as is the coast at Marbella. The villa is equipped, throughout, to a very high standard and included is unlimited internet access via wifi. We have recently installed AC in all of the bedrooms and living areas and updated previous AC units to modern standards. A car is needed for this property due to its remote location.
Further photos can be seen on Contrares.com
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
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Charming Villa With Beautiful Views and Private Swimming Pool
Charming Villa With Beautiful Views and Private Swimming Pool
Minimum Stay - 5 nights
Peak Season (July/August) - only Saturday to Saturday
Maximum Stay - 21 night (unless prior arrangement with owner)
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number VUT/MA/1431, ESFCTU0000290430000490700000000000000000VUT/MA/416411
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Pizarra
Located in Pizarra, this villa is in a rural area and near a water park. Pinsapar Yunquera and Arroyo de Cansinos reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Botanical Garden of cacti and other succulents 'Mora i Bravard' and Embalses Guadalhorce-Guadalteba. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including birdwatching.
Botanical Garden of cacti and other succulents 'Mora i Bravard' - 17 min drive - 15.9 km
Embalses Guadalhorce-Guadalteba - 21 min drive - 26.7 km
Andalucia Technology Park - 23 min drive - 24.5 km
University of Malaga - 25 min drive - 28.3 km
Getting around
Álora Station - 18 min drive
Málaga (AGP) - 42 min drive
Restaurants
El Rincón Del Mohino - 12 min walk
Juanito's Boomgaard - 6 min drive
Restaurante Entre valles - 8 min walk
Bar Tropezón - 14 min walk
La Sede - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility ?
As of 1 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility on 28 Apr 2026 start from £204, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility ?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Villa with Private Pool Secluded in 23 Acres - idyllic tranquility located?
This family-friendly Pizarra villa is located in the mountains, 5.3 mi (8.5 km) from Castillo Árabe, and within 12 mi (20 km) of Botanical Garden of cacti and other succulents 'Mora i Bravard' and Vistillas: Traditional Ceramic and Ethnographic Museum. Embalses Guadalhorce-Guadalteba and Arroyo de Cansinos are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a fantastic week at the property and couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was also a great place for oil painting! Very well managed by the owner and Doug. Thanks very much Paul.
Chris O.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Sept 2025
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and would be welcome back anytime.
A lovely villa with lots of space set in a beautiful location. Peaceful and secluded, with an amazing pool. The kitchen is well equipped but there are plenty of good restaurants in the nearby towns. A good car is essential, and Ronda is only an hours drive and well worth a day trip. The villa manager, Doug, is a font of knowledge and is very helpful. We had an amazing stay and would love to return.
Carolyn H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jul 2025
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We would love to see you back here again in the future.
Close to nice villages Pizarra and Alora.
30 minutes drive to Malaga and the fine beaches of Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
Great location when you like a quiet area.
René S.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul 2020
We are delighted you enjoyed your stay. This is a perfect time to enjoy the tranquility of our place especially as the local council have resurfaced the track up to the villa. We would love to have you back.
Great property. Large enough to find own space- lots of room for 5 adults. Super pool- the house is well maintained throughout. Friendly help from the caretaker who came every couple of days to clean the pool and check that all was well with us and the house. Great terrace area for meals with family or just chilling with a coffee or beer. Very good communication with the owner who gave good advice and was very helpful. The whole experience was straightforward and stress free.
jan B.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jan V.
12 Aug 2018
Wonderful house!
We had a lovely stay!
The house is perfect and clean, the view is amazing and the pool is very refreshing.
We would definitly go there again!
Family Vermaelen from Belgium
Jan V.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
We are so pleased you had a good time and would love to have you back again.
Paul & Helen
This is a gorgeous property, totally set up for a group to enjoy the stunning scenery and to completely relax and enjoy being together. We loved all the different viewpoints and the pool is a great size for swimming. The house was very comfortable and as we are a group who enjoy cooking, we were impressed with the kitchen equipment on offer. We loved the clanging bells of the passing goats, the braying of nearby donkeys and the bird watching opportunities. Everything about our stay here was pure relaxation and although we did venture out, we most enjoyed the relaxation that comes from being away from busy places. Thanks also to Doug- we never needed to call on him but he made sure that we knew we could.
Natalia P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul 2025
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and you would be very welcome back.
Very smooth process from start to finish. Good communication with the owner, detailed and accurate directions to the house.
Overall a very good house, comfortable and spacious. Rooms are large and cool in the summer heat. The pool area in particular was great, a large and well maintained pool. Lovely views from the pool area and the terrace. A real delight.
Robert N.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Sept 2021
Hi Robert, we are glad you had a good time and will always be welcome back.
Paul & Helen
The villa is located in a beautiful surroundings offering peace, tranquility and fantastic views in all directions. Both the villa and its outdoor space were very comfortable and equipped with everything we needed. The pool is very large and provided welcome relief from the heat of the day! The location of the villa allowed us to take day trips to Granada, Seville, Ronda and Gibraltar. Communication with the property owner was excellent and Doug was on hand locally to helpfully assist with anything we needed. Many thanks for a great stay.
Rob H.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jul 2024
It was a pleasure to have you stay at our place. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. You were perfect guests and would be always welcomed back.
Paul & Helen
Wonderful home. We missed nothing. Beautiful place. Even better than on the pictures. Everything worked, very good airco’s. Gorgeous pool with beautiful view. Two large fridges.We could’t find anything wrong.
We had a wonderful summer holiday at a really beautiful house in a wonderful landscape.
The pool and the house were amazing - everything at its place and with an excellent service!
We would thank again for all the service and keep this in mind for further holidays!
One hint: it's recommendable to spend a bit more money for rental car and to hire a SUV or comparable - but it's worth it!
Regards
Ulrike&Arthur
Sebastian and Philipp
Ulrike R.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Sept 2023
Hi Ulrike,
I’m glad you had a good holiday and you would always be welcome back. Regarding the car, I agree that if you want to get up the track quickly then an SUV would be better. We have always hired a normal car at all times of the year over the last 17 years and just take it easy at 20-30kmh.
Regards
Paul
Family holiday, with 6 adults, had all that we needed. Particular note : huge areas of outside space; built in BBQ, extensive add-ons which we called on; video games that my adult kids ‘went back to their childhood’ playing, family games which gave us plenty of fun; two x fridges turned out great. Loved the remoteness and ability to get away from it all. Manager very attentive and helpful. Paul and Helen, very approachable and helped with some tips, ideas and showed genuine interest and friendliness. Fab, thanks guys.
Pete G.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jun 2023
Thank you for such a nice review. Perfect guests and always welcome back.
The villa was in the perfect location for us, far enough away from the crowds!
Excellent directions and entry instructions made it easy to find and gain access. A sturdy vehicle is required as the track is a little rough in places.
The villa is very well laid out very spacious and immaculately clean. The air con worked a treat though for sleeping having fly screens at the windows was much better.
The villa is very well equipped with all that you might need for your stay. Including good sturdy sunbeds. The pool is excellent for cooling off and having a good swim.
We lived off of the BBQ for the whole two weeks which was great.
Both the owner, Doug and Brian were very helpful during our stay.
We would certainly recommend having a holiday in such tranquil surroundings.
Debbie A.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Jul 2024
We are so glad you had a good time. You were perfect guests and will always be welcome back. Paul & Helen
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Anne S.
14 Aug 2018
Fantastic villa. Spectacular views.
We were two families and we had a wonderful time. Spacious, well equipped villa. Wonderful outside space, with plenty for the children to explore (especially the fairy doors!)
Great pool, which was very much needed as temperatures hit 40+ in our second week.
Lovely kitchen and BBQ area, which we made great use of.
Álora was a gorgeous village. Pizzara also worth a visit.
Doug was great. Very helpful and sprang into action when we were bothered by wasps. They were gone in no time. He should wear a cape!
We will definitely be back. Thanks Paul and Helen
The Sillitoe and Adams families
Anne S.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
We are glad you had a great time and look froward to your next visit. Thanks. Paul & Helen
Relaxing stay in beautiful villa with amazing scenery
We’ve stayed in a lot of properties in Spain and Italy over the year as we favour this type of holiday.
It’s situated in country side and not much more than a 10 minute drive to Alora or Pizarra.
There’s loads of space with 4 bedrooms ( 2 en-suites), large kitchen, large dining/lounge area. Front, rear terrace, large balcony. The pool was the main attraction for my family - we spent many an afternoon there and sampled lots of restaurants in Alora, which is a very nice place with local charm. It has a nice family feel to it in the evenings. Pizarra looks nice too but mainly used the supermarkets here.
There’s lots of useful information in the guestbook for activities and Paul was very helpful throughout my stay. As too was Doug who occasionally visits to service the pool area.
There was also a good selection of toys and consoles for children.
I wouldn’t hesitate to return here and hope to next year.
Chris S.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2022
Hi Chris,
We are glad you had a good holiday and you would be very welcome to return.
Regards
Paul
Archival
6/10 Okay
david s.
19 Sept 2014
Lovely villa...but somewhat hard to reach
This is a lovely villa, very well equiped, clean and everything is to a high standard. The owner/property caretaker are very helpful.
But 3 points are worth bearing in mind.
1 - The property is very remote. It on a hillside, to get to the property you have to drive 1 mile up a 'road' littered with huge potholes (ie max 10 mph), then a further mile up a dusty rocky track (again max 10 mph) that's more suited to a 4-wheel drive vehicle. This makes 'popping to the shops'/leaving the villa etc a bit of a hassle.
2 - The neighbouring houses have dogs that bark all night, so bring earplugs if you want to sleep
3 - The pool is not that warm, we went in early Sept and although the weather was hot sun/30 degrees every day, the pool is pretty "bracing" and too cold to really loiter in it. This is probably because the villa is almost 1,000 feet above sea level.
david s.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Thanks Dave, for the feedback. Most people coming to our place understand that the isolation in the countryside (campo) means that it is not Torremolinos or Fueringola. It is isolated and for us this represents peace and tranquility. This means that there is a slow track up to the villa that is perfectly suitable for normal hire cars - we have never had a problem not even a puncture. It is "scraped" each year to make it smoother. Part of living in the countryside are farms scattered around the place and yes they do have dogs that may bark. In 8 years we have never had a comment about the pool temperature. After a long hot summer it is usually quite warm in September and as this September has been very warm the pool temperature is perfect for most people. Nobody would heat a pool in the summer here!
We have just returned from our holiday at Cortijo Contrares. We have all thoroughly enjoyed our stay (5adults 2children aged 6 & 8). The villa is well equipped and a mix of traditional Spanish and modern convenience. It is rural and not within walking distance of anything but we found this to be a positive. It meant we could enjoy family days around the pool without any problems if the kids shrieked a bit! We took full advantage of the barbecue. The road in to the villa is a bit bumpy but we only had ordinary family cars (Kia) and as long as you drove slowly it wasn’t a problem. The views from the property are stunning and with two ‘twitchers’ In our party, the variety of birds visiting the gardens and in the skies above, was a welcome addition. We visited Pizarra, and the lakes at El Chorro, and Alora which is beautiful with a village feel. There are plenty of places to eat but we particularly enjoyed Maria’s Place where we enjoyed some stunning tapas dishes. We had regular messages from Paul the owner both before and during our stay, and Doug was on hand to keep the pool looking good, and answer any questions we had about the villa and the surrounding area. One of the best holidays ever.
Lynn F.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Sept 2022
We are so glad you had such a good time. You would be welcome back anytime.
From the initial query about booking to handing the keys back, everything was brilliant. Before and throughout the stay, communication with Paul was great and with his responses fast and detailed. Directions to the villa and instructions on arrival were clear and easy to understand.
Once at the villa the first thing you notice are the views of the mountains, these were absolutely stunning. The villa itself is well furnished with everything you need and I don’t think the photos do it justice. It has a great layout and was very clean throughout. The WIFI was more than capable of dealing with three teenagers online on all their devices, so can’t be faulted.
The pool was lovely and more than large enough for the whole family (5) to float around on their floats. This was cleaned every other day during our stay by Doug who was polite and very knowledgeable about the whole area. He left his number and I have no doubt would have been at hand had we needed him for anything.
The locations was superb, nice and private and only a short drive (10mins) to the nearest shops and only an hour or so to other places of interest ie Ronda, Marbella.
Thanks to Paul and to Doug for your assistance and advice. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and have already recommended it to our family and friends.
Carl P.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2024
We are so glad you had a good time and welcome you back at anytime.
Paul & Helen
Excellent séjour dans villa magnifique au style andaloux (ancien cortijo). Très spacieuse, que ce soit au niveau des chambres, du salon ou de la cuisine. La piscine est un point fort, excellents moments assurés avec famille et amis. Le paysage est exceptionnel, en hauteur avec vue sur les montagnes et les oliviers. Le seul bémol est la distance par rapport aux villes les plus proches (Alora et Pizarra), compter min 15 mn. Le chemin en terre est cependant très praticable à 30 km/h.Nos hôtes (propriétaire Paul en Angleterre et Doug sur place) ont été très aimables et réactifs, en répondant très rapidement à toutes nos questions, et en faisant en sorte que notre séjour soit le meilleur possible.
Een prachtig gelegen villa in de bergen met een panoramisch uitzicht.
Een prachtig gelegen villa in de bergen met een panoramisch uitzicht. Een mooi zwembad en veel plekken om te zitten, zowel zon als schaduw.
Het huis is van alle gemakken voorzien. Doug is zeer behulpvaardig en zorgt voor veel dingen. Een fijne plek om te ontspannen.
Nous avons passé un tres bon moment dans cette tres belle villa andalouse située dotée dans la montagne et dotée d'une superbe piscine. A recommander !!!!
Fabrice D.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2024
Merci beaucoup. Nous sommes heureux que vous ayez passé de bonnes vacances. Vous serez toujours le bienvenu
The villa is perfect, very comfortable and extremely well equipped. The indoor and outdoor spaces were fantastic.
The pool was an absolute delight and a godsend in the high August temperatures.
Communications with Paul from beginning to end were brilliant. Doug was there extremely quickly to help with the odd small issue and also on hand to give local hints and tips.
The road leading to the villa is not a problem at all, just requires careful driving. The car rental suggested by Paul was perfect.
We would highly recommend this space for anyone who enjoys peace, time to be with your family undisturbed and who want to enjoy exploring both local and more tourist driven attractions.
Heel vlotte communicatie met Paul. Ter plaatse stond Doug steeds paraat. Heel complete ruime vakantiewoning met heel mooi uitzicht! Behoorlijk centraal gelegen voor uitstappen. Het was wel wennen aan de hoogteverschillen.
kristien m.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2022
Kristien, We would love to welcome you back again.
Regards Paul
Wat een prachtig vakantiehuis. Alles is aanwezig! Een geweldig zwembad, magische uitzicht en een plek om heerlijk tot rust te komen. Echt een aanrader, wij komen zeker weer terug! Paul en Doug bedankt voor de goede service en het warme welkom.
anita v.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Sept 2021
We zijn blij dat u een goed verblijf heeft gehad. je zou op elk moment van harte welkom zijn. bedankt.
Casa muy bonita, muy cómoda y apartada del resto de viviendas, lo que te garantiza intimidad. Bien ubicada.
Charly
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug 2021
Nos alegramos de que haya disfrutado de su estancia. Sería bienvenido de regreso en cualquier momento.
About the host
Hosted by Paul
Helen and I both work as doctors in the UK and so have a fairly hectic life with our 3 young daughters. We always rented villas in Spain for our own holidays and so have stayed at many different properties over many years. We hope that we have taken all of the good aspects of places that we have stayed at and brought them to our own so that others can enjoy.
Why they chose this property
We had thought about buying a place in Spain for many years and so have looked around many areas in Andalucia prior to settling here. We feel that this area offers the best of all worlds. It is a little off the beaten track as far as the popular tourist destinations are concerned. This ensures that you feel that you are in the real Andalucia whilst having all of the other benefits that the coastal areas offer within a short drive. Our main intention when looking for this place was to find tranquility and privacy which we have certainly achieved with Cortijo Contrares. We also wanted plenty of surrounding land which ensured that no matter what happened with any planning laws that we were protected.
What makes this property unique
Cortijo Contrares was a dream for us that came to reality and every time we go out to our place we find that we are able to relax and turn off within minutes. Every month is slightly different from the glorious sunny days in January with cool nights and the log burner roaring in the lounge at night to Spring when the countryside is green and colourful with all of the flowers and the fantastic birdlife. We also enjoy the strong and powerful sun of the summer and lazy days around the huge pool and terraces with long evenings barbequeing until the sun sets over the Alora hills. Autumn again brings a different climate with warm days and cooler evenings which provide the best time to do long walks from the villa around the surrounding hills.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
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