Located in the heart of Andalusia, the luxury eco-retreat has been faithful to its philosophy of exclusive experiences that serve as a transformative process for guests since its inauguration at the end of 2015. The current economic climate has led the hotel to cease its activity to design new experiences. Finca La Donaira reopens on 23 April, strengthening its commitment to nature and animals, creating experiences such as forest bathing, mindfulness with donkeys or wine tourism focused on natural and biodynamic wines so that the real protagonist remains the environment.
La Donaira is an Andalusian farmhouse more than 100 years old, restored to integrate nature in each of its spaces as well as the nine exclusively designed rooms. It offers simple luxury with state-of-the-art facilities including a spa, mountain spring-fed infinity pool and an endless list of tailor-made activities. The 700-hectare estate – near Montecorto in Malaga province – is dedicated to organic farming, has a medicinal garden with over 350 varieties of species, an organic vegetable garden and in-house production of extra virgin olive oil, honey and wine.
La Donaira has worked since its beginnings to be self-sufficient and sustainable, everything served in the hotel and tasted by its guests comes from the farm or local collaborators following a km 0 selection process. This commitment to local gastronomy is the vision of chef Fredrik Andersson – who obtained a Michelin star at his restaurant Mistral in Stockholm (Sweden). Continuing in this line of placing value in the land and philosophy, experiences have been created such as tastings of natural and biodynamic wines in the diverse and unique spaces of the medicinal garden and farmhouse, and gastronomic workshops such as ‘Farm to Fork Cuisine’ in which guests can immerse themselves in the environment to experience a transformative process.
The hotel is also an organic farm and equestrian centre, breeding their own Lusitano horses. Natural beekeeping is practised with bees, there are free-range chickens, geese, goats, sheep and endangered species such as the ‘pajuna’ cow, native to Andalusia. And since a few months ago, the Spanish donkey has also been introduced into the farm’s family. More than 3,000 years old, the Andalusian donkey is nowadays in danger of extinction as there are only 800 of them left. And at La Donaira they are committed to the conservation of the breed and to raising awareness of this wonderful animal, traditionally used as a pack and work animal, who is also a great companion in experiences of well-being and enjoyment in nature. The farm wants to raise awareness of these noble and endearing animals who have contributed so much to the development of modern societies.
For more than 7 million years, humans have lived in nature, that is, 99.9% of our existence on the planet. We are genetically prepared to live in nature, which is why we feel so good when we spend time in the countryside or natural environments. Cities are artificial environments created by man which, together with the continuous use of new technologies and modern lifestyles, over-stimulate us and contribute to us living in a permanent state of stress.
In this new stage, La Donaira sees that reconnection with nature is more necessary than ever, hence its experiential proposal focused on sensory immersion. Activities such as forest bathing have the objective of allowing guests to connecting with themselves and their surroundings, promoting health and wellbeing and allowing them to experience the forest baths.
To learn more about the new experiences, you can visit: www.ladonaira.com/what-to-do/
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