Winter Sun with Califa Opens up the Costa de la Luz
Hotel Madreselva on Spain’s Costa de la Luz encourages Brits to swap the grey British winter for easily-accessible warm, coastal charm
Hotel Madreselva from The Califa Group, situated on the beach of Los Caños de Meca, overlooking Cape Trafalgar on Spain’s Costa de la Luz – is set to remain open over the winter 2026-2027 season (excluding November). From December onwards, swap the grey British winter for easily-accessible warm, coastal charm.
The beach-vibe Hotel Madreselva includes a new restaurant and suits those looking for surf and a pristine beach, with four-legged friends welcome too. Situated in the spectacular Natural Park of La Breña y Marismas de Barbate, it is just 50-metres from the main beach and a short walk to local bars and restaurants. Set between the pine trees and the beach, Madreselva consists of a one-level 'hacienda' style building, with all the rooms centred around a lush plant-filled courtyard and pool looking out to the Natural Park.
Each of the 18 comfortable, en suite rooms comes with a small private terrace for reading, relaxing or storing surf equipment. Set within a secure walled area is the private swimming pool with sun loungers and umbrellas, exclusively for guests’ use. A full continental style breakfast with meats, cheeses, fruit and much more, is served in the main courtyard, either al fresco or in the bar area.
The hotel is just a minute’s walk from the beach at Los Caños de Meca, a small beach community, famous for its superb scenery, cliffs, sandy bays and sheltered water. It’s a great location for surfing, kite surfing, wind surfing and foil surfing - best over the winter months - and guests can also try their hand at snorkelling or diving. Out of high summer the dunes, forests and beaches become a tranquil haven.
Well worth a visit for its spectacular views into the Straits of Gibraltar is the lighthouse of Cape Trafalgar, just a 10-minute walk along the beach from Madreselva. It was here in 1805 that Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleet with superior seamanship. Take a kayak or be guided through the dunes and waterways of the Càdiz Marine Park seeing a mass of bird life. Other highlights locally may include: a whale watching trip in the Straits from nearby Tarifa to spot sperm whales, finn whales and dolphins; exploring the medieval walled town of Vejer; walking trails in the Las Breñas Nature Reserve, just a few minutes’ walk from Madreselva; or visiting the extensive ruins of Roman ‘Baelo Claudia’.
The Hotel Madreselva is managed by the team from Vejer’s iconic Hotel La Casa del Califa, assuring great service, lots of personality, and excellent value for money.
Price: Arriving 9 January 2027, 7 nights' B&B costs €505, 3 nights from €225 (sleeps 2) at Hotel Madreselva
Getting there: Los Caños is just 60 miles from Gibraltar, where there are year-round flights from the UK with BA from £104pp return. And it is 98 miles from Seville airport, year-round flights from the UK with easyJet, Vueling, WizzAir and BA from £76pp return.
For more information: https://hotelmadreselva.com/en
