Finca Cortesin

The natural setting is, quite simply, breathtaking – Vogue UK

Just 30 minutes from Sotogrande, Finca Cortesin Resort is one of the miracles of the Costa del Sol. Only opened in 2009, the hotel that forms the centre of the resort is already listed in the top 50 hotels in the world. As Harper’s Bazaar, UK reported ‘Everything about Finca Cortesin is just right with high ceilings, large rooms, beautiful décor – all in proportion.

It was not always so. Until the year 2000, the 215 hectares that are occupied by the Finca Cortesin Resort was a barren, dry valley. Now miraculously transformed into a verdant, green, oasis in which the needs of the guests are paramount.

In pure Andalusian style

The hotel itself is designed in the style of a traditional Spanish ‘Cortijo’, naturally and seamlessly fitting into the Andalucian scenery. Through the doors, however, any resemblance to a Cortijo is lost. From the luxurious reception area, there are 67 suites. The largest is palatial, with a floor area of an incredible 200 sq metres with 4 metre high ceilings.

The service is, as you might expect, impeccable, with nothing left to chance. From the complimentary drinks on arrival served on a terrace with magnificent views, to the freshly cut flowers and the basket of fruit in the rooms, staff is on hand to provide everything a guest may require. Surrounding the hotel is 23,000 sq metres of garden. The gardens are laid out formally, flower and shrub beds divided by paths and water features reminiscent of the magnificent 13th-century gardens created at Granada and Cordoba for the Almohad Caliphate.

Private villas with pool

The south-facing spacious villas boast extremely high-quality finishings. Their 420 sqm of private space offers 4 en-suite bedrooms, a living room with authentic log-wood fireplace, dining room, marble bathrooms, fully-furnished kitchen equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, a storeroom, and separate utility room, as well as a guest WC. The vast exterior terraces, porches, garden and private swimming pool complete this exquisite setting.

The Mediterranean-style architecture provides a spacious and elegant retreat in which to enjoy the Andalusian sun, a wonderful contrast to the majestic grandeur of the Finca Cortesín Hotel.

An exquisite gastronomic experience

As befits a hotel of this stature, the cuisine is exceptional. The flagship restaurant is Kabuki Raw. Already awarded a Michelin Star, this restaurant fuses Japanese food with Mediterranean cuisine classics. Luis Olarra, the Masterchef, creates his dishes from vegetables grown in the Finca Cortesin kitchen garden and local seafood. The results are mouth-watering masterpieces.

Far from being outshone is Sicilian chef, Andrea Tunbarello. He dominates Don Giovanni with typical Italian exuberance. Traditional Italian dishes are produced, combining old recipes with modern ingenuity. He has been awarded two ‘Suns’ in the Repsol Guide.

If you prefer, you can dine on a spectacular terrace overlooking the Almohad gardens and the Mediterranean Sea. At El Jardin de Lutz, Chef Lutz Bosing produces traditional Spanish cuisine rarely found in a venta. Try his Spinach and Casares Cheese Ravioli, squid strips and Sherry sauce and understand how he won his Repsol ‘Sun’.

Finally, the Blue Bar is in the hotel itself. The Blue Bar is a place to relax, have a pre-dinner cocktail served in the patio lounge or outdoor terrace or enjoy a snack, Spanish tapas, sandwiches, salads, and fruits. Try a speciality tea served in the Indian or Moroccan lounges.

A stroll around The Plaza may be a rewarding if expensive experience. The Plaza is an exclusive shopping center with several boutiques such as Bakar, a contemporary art gallery – Javier Lopez, Moveo classic cars and an interior designer, Hermanas Calderon.

The Beach Club

Inevitably you are going to be enticed by the dazzling blue Mediterranean Sea. Shuttle buses transport guests from the hotel to the exclusive Finca Cortesin Beach Club just over 1 kilometre away at Bahia Casares. Teak decking, delightful gardens, Balinese beds, and sun loungers surround a 35-metre infinity pool. If you prefer you can also take a dip in the sea before lunch at the Beach Club restaurant. Here you will find all the Spanish chiringuito fish and rice classics served in style. The Beach Club is the perfect place for a sundowner before catching the shuttle bus back to the hotel for dinner.

Sports and Spa

All your leisure needs are catered for. Tennis and Paddle enthusiasts have the use of two outdoor courts. A large gym equipped with the latest wellness technologies by Technogym overlooks the gardens. Afterward, you can cool off in one of the two outdoor pools or the indoor pool. Personal trainers for Pilates and Yoga are on hand every day.

If all that activity is just too much, then you must try the Thai Spa. Here you can receive facial and body treatments, massages, thermal baths and a soak in the 25 metres heated saltwater swimming pool. The Spa is designed with an Oriental atmosphere to allow guests to slip into the mood for the Asian treatments administered by Thai therapists. Your experience starts in one of the ten private rooms or the double bed suite that has a heated floor and a la carte music. Products from the prestigious Biologique Recherche range are used for all the treatments – a truly authentic and luxurious experience.

A stunning golf course

Finally the golf. Finca Cortesin is, after all, a golf resort. In just a few years the course has been rated among Spain’s best golf courses and has hosted numerous high-profile events including the Volvo World Match Play Championship on three occasions, one of the world’s most prestigious professional golf tournaments. The course incorporates the area’s original flora and fauna and is reputed to have the best greens in southern Spain. They are known to members as ‘Finca Cortesín’s jewels’. The 18 hole course was designed by Cabell B. Robinson and the landscaping by Gerald Huggins. Between them, they have produced a balance between the 20 varieties of flora, the typical Mediterranean forest, the natural characteristics of the land and the perfectly manicured Bermuda grass. In 2017 Finca Cortesin became the first golf course in Spain to feature a new, environmentally friendly type of Bermuda grass on all the putting greens.

To say that, as a golfer at Finca Cortesin, you are pampered, is an understatement. On arrival, a security guard directs you to a parking slot. There, your golf equipment is left with an assistant who ensures your clubs are placed in your golf cart. On the practice areas, players are issued with complimentary practice balls and fresh fruit. All that is before you set foot on the 1st Tee.

A sojourn at Finca Cortesin Resort is an unforgettable experience. It takes the notions of exclusive and privilege to a new level without intimidating the guest. The staff achieves that. Unobtrusive but available, quiet but attentive and not without humour, they are the real ‘Jewels of Finca Cortesin’.