Lifestyle Press

A secluded 500 year old restored finca with its own pool and set in 10 acres of private grounds for enjoying as nature intended.  Finca Fantastica nestles in a valley above Estación de Cártama and offers distant sea views from the higher parts of the property. Orange, pomegranate, lemon and fig trees abound.  Situated 50 minutes’ drive from Malaga International Airport, the three-bedroomed accommodation is ideal for naturists seeking peace and tranquility.

Ian and Irene run an attractive naturist B&B and Day Spa in the southern Spanish countryside, near Montefri; not far from Granada. They claim to offer ‘a little understated luxury in a relaxing and romantic setting’. Casa de Sueños has a large hot spa tub, and guests can choose an all-inclusive option, including local wines and beers, if they prefer not to stray too far from their accommodation. Day visitors are welcome by prior arrangement.

Following success in previous years, Anita & Wolfgang Gramer will again be offering a naked hiking holiday in Almeria Province, southern Spain this year. Naturist accommodation is provided at an Andalusian farmhouse (Cortijo), in an abandoned mountain village with its own spring some 70 km from Almeria. Guided nude walks in the beautiful Cabo de Gata nature reserve take place every second day. The fifteen-night holiday runs from 5 – 20 September 2009.

Studio Casita Rosa, situated in the hills within the triangle of Alora, Cártama and Pizarra, is 45 minutes from Málaga airport and the Costa Del Sol. Fine countryside views, a sparkling swimming pool and a large secluded terrace provide the essential ingredients for a back-to-nature holiday in the buff.

Los Pechos, a private and secluded luxury villa suitable for naturists: set in 9 acres and described by the British owners as being in an excellent location. Overlooking the pretty town of Alora, to the north-west of Malaga, which is 30 minutes’ drive. It has three ensuite bedrooms accommodating 6 people, and an inviting swimming pool.

Naturists Mark and John have been in touch to advise that the self-contained apartment in the grounds of their luxury villa at Calahonda is available for holiday rentals. Skinny-dipping in the private pool and sunning au naturel in the gardens is on the cards. Located twenty-five minutes from Malaga airport, with the glitz of Marbella a mere 10km down the road; the ever-popular Playa Cabapino* nude beach is just five minutes’ from the property by car. (*World’s Best Nude Beaches, page 119)

Located in a scenic mountain setting, north of Tarragona on the Costa Dorada, La Bartra is an alternative retreat offering a range of simple accommodation and camping. Tai-chi is popular at the centre, as well as Yoga, music, literature, painting, cooking and dance.

According to Àngels and Pep, the owners, “as La Bartra is at the heart of nature, it is a very convenient place for practising naturism, enjoying healthy freedom in the non-chlorinated pools, in the mud baths and on excursions in the mountains”.

The Hollanders family from the Netherlands moved to Spain in November 2007 in search of a new life in the sun. Their naturist campsite is situated in the hills of the Sierra del Viento adjacent to the national park. Camping El Zorro is a two-hour drive south from Alicante and also two hours from Granada. Nearby towns include Velez Blanco, Velez Rubio and Puerto Lumbreras. Vera Playa nude beach is estimated to be 40-45 minutes’ drive. With the unexpected sudden closure of Camping Almanzora at Vera Playa on 1 May 08, Camping El Zorro will doubtless prove a welcome alternative.

Just 15 minutes’ inland from the seaside resort of Almuñécar on the Costa Tropical in Granada Province, southern Spain, Isicola Naturist Teepee Holidays is situated in the tranquil Canta Lobos valley. Surrounded by plantations with avocados and olives, but without fences this is escapist territory. In 2008 teepees are available from April to October, but July and August are already booked up. Handy for nude beaches at Cantarrijan Playa and Playa del Muerto – World’s Best Nude Beaches (page 121) – only a short drive away.

Mick Webb – writing in the Independent newspaper in the UK today – suggests Cala Murtra, near Roses on the Spanish Costa Brava for bathing in the buff. “…you’ll need to park beside the road and carry your beach stuff and picnic down the cliff path – bathing costumes aren’t necessary, though, for naturist Murtra”. More details about the small Catalonian bare beach.

British naturists Trevor and Marilyn moved to Spain a couple of years ago to open a country guesthouse (casa rural) near the village of Velez Blanco. 2 Poplars is an old cortijo they renovated to a high standard, and which now offers 5 en suite rooms. The latest development is their decision to turn it into exclusive naturist accommodation. As well as a secluded courtyard and swimming pool, there’s a range of other attractions including arts, crafts, medieval banquets and pampering sessions on offer.

Newly built Villa Palma, situated between Sitges and Barcelona, boasts 6 bedrooms, a large private garden and a swimming pool. Described as suitable for two families and sleeps up to twelve people. With a secluded forest setting and no adjoining neighbours it’s ideal for nude sunbathing and skinny dipping.

Kim has kindly been in touch to advise that the Villa Marquesa Apartments in Colonia Sant Jordi – listed on page 144 of The World’s Best Nude Beaches – will not be available for rental during 2008. Apparently the accommodation, which was handy for walking to the famous Es Trenc nude beach, is awaiting renovation. A new and better alternative for naturists is the the nearby Skinny Dippers Mallorca, only 5 minutes’ drive from Es Trenc.

Cortijo Los Arrendajos is an almost-new and secluded property built in traditional Spanish style, located inland, northwest of Granada. The house – which enjoys attractive mountain views – overlooks a mixture of olive groves and arable farming land. It sleeps six and is very private, being set in its own grounds of roughly 3.5 acres. With a pool for skinny-dipping and extensive terraces for sunbathing au naturel, it could be the ideal base for discovering the real Spain.

An appealing and private 4-bedroomed country property – Cortijo Loma Sala – is described as ‘an oasis of calm, perfect for a luxury naturist holiday’. Located 15 minutes’ drive from the coast and not far from the extensive nude beach at Vera Playa, the Cortijo has a swimming pool, jacuzzi and a broadband internet connection for guests to use.

‘Sur’, the English language newspaper on the Costa del Sol, recommends a naturist-friendly holiday property at Alhaurín de la Torre in the Andalucian province of Malaga. Huerta Los Alamosis a 4-bedroomed country house with space for nine people set in 5,000 sq metres (1.25 acres) of fruit and vegetable gardens.

Naturist-friendly Casa Alegria nestles in olive groves in the Valle de Sol, about an hour’s drive from Malaga in southern Spain. Surrounded by undulating countryside, and with fine mountain views, the private 2-bedroomed villa has a large secluded garden complete with extensive sun terraces and swimming pool. The British owners, Sue and Rob, describe it as a perfect naturist retreat for a holiday in the sun.

Polly Green, who runs the Healthy Detox clinic in Guisborough in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland, UK, has established a new venture in southern Spain. The retreat, which opened earlier this year, is in the Murcian province of Lorca, not far from Vera Playa. The house, set in 13 acres of tranquil grounds with fine views of the Sierra del Gigante, will be reserving a number of weeks exclusively for naturist visitors. For more information get in touch with Polly or Kenneth on: +44 (0) 1287 635 635.

SunMed Properties, based at Vera Playa, offer a range of naturist apartments for holiday rental and for sale adjacent to the nude beach, within southern Spain’s premier naturist resort. They speak English and can be contacted through their website: www.sunmedinmobiliaria.com or by phone on: 00 34 950 618209/10.