Cuevas Hammam Abuelo José

Eight caves in the countryside, between Guadix and Purullena

These caves are in El Bejarín, in the plain between Guadix and Purullena, surrounded by poplar groves and peach trees. From Guadix cathedral it is about 9 km, about 20 minutes by car along the Guadix road. It is a quiet place to sleep outside the town and go back to it by day.

There are eight caves. Four have one bedroom with a double bed, for two: El Palomar, El Cortijo, El Arao and La Rambla. The other four, El Pozo, El Trillo, El Lavadero and La Era, have two bedrooms, one with a double bed and another with two beds, for four. El Pozo is adapted for people with reduced mobility.

What a cave is like inside

All are the same in the basics: a living-dining room with a sofa and television, a full kitchen with microwave, fridge, toaster and Nespresso machine, and a full bathroom inside the cave, with towels, shower gel, shampoo and hairdryer. They have central heating and mobile coverage. Wifi reaches the communal areas. Each cave has its own porch or terrace with a table and chairs, facing the main garden, and there is a communal area with barbecues, a shared washing machine and iron and free private parking.

The site's Arab baths

What sets this accommodation apart is the site's hammam, Hammam Kabir, which its own website links to: a hot pool and a cold one, a tea room and a massage room. The bath lasts an hour and a half and costs €20; with a massage, €30, and with a double massage, €40. There are sessions every day: on weekdays at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00, and at weekends also at 11:00. Always by reservation, swimsuit compulsory and long hair tied back.

Prices and minimum stays

One-bedroom caves cost €80 a night in low season and €90 in high; two-bedroom ones, €130 and €140. High season is July, August, Christmas, Easter and long weekends. The minimum stay is two nights; four at Easter, Christmas and New Year, the whole long weekend on long weekends and a week in August. The pool and heating are included. They speak Spanish, English and French.

Only dogs are admitted, no other animals: €30 per dog for the first two days and €10 for each extra day. They can't go in the pool, are kept on a lead in the garden and shouldn't be left alone in the cave for long.