The El Gecko Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel, formerly a Spanish Travellers Inn located on the banks of the Guadiaro River in the Guadiaro Valley. situated in a ‘pueblo blanco’ (white village) in the andalucian mountains, 45 minutes from the coast, and a great base for touring the spectacular scenery of the Serrania de Ronda, Grazalema National Park and the Alcornocales Cork Forest.
Your Hosts: William and Maxine Findlay welcome you
El Gecko is approximately 1 hour 20 mins from Malaga and Seville Airports
DIRECTIONS> FROM MALAGA AIRPORT TO CORTES de la FRONTERA - By Car
Exit Malaga Airport following the overhad signs for the N340 - direction Algeciras / Cadiz / Marbella
At the roundabout go straight on and then be alert for further signs as there are a couple of direction changes off to the right within 2 km of the airport. stay in the slow lane and take the E15 Follow Algeciras / Cadiz
Stay on the N340 for a few miles until you see the Motorway signs (Autopista / Peaje)take the lanes signed onto the motorway (A7) direction Algeciras / Cadiz. Stay on the motorway passing thru 2 toll points past Marbella and Estepona until you arrive at the Manilva / Gaucin exit Number 142. Come off here thru toll and up to the roundabout and follow the signs left for Casares on the A377 up the hill.
Several miles later you will see a sign right for Casares DO NOT take this turn, go straight ahead for Gaucin.
Several more miles later you will arrive in Gaucin at a T junction, turn Left and short distance ahead is another T junction - Over to your left you will see a petrol station - Turn Right - sign posted to Ronda following road A369 down past El Socorro Bar and over a bridge. Keep going on this road past a sign for Benarraba, carry on until you see the sign post for Cortes de la Frontera A373 left.
Turn Left - there is a bar on the right hand side of this turn, you are now 6 miles from the Gecko - all down hill into the valley. passing Salitre hotel and camping. As you arrive in Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera you will cross over a small bridge over the river and the road bears left, take the first left into Calle Canada del Tesoro, (just before the bar) a narrow one way road between the houses. (If you find yourself at the railway crossing you have missed the left turn and need to reverse) Follow along this road for approx. 300 mtrs and you will see El Gecko Hotel - white and blue - on your left. There is a small road on the right immediately opposite the front door of El Gecko, pull in and park or stop here if no spaces and we will advise you where to park.
DIRECTIONS> FROM SEVILLE - By Car
Exit Seville on the A376 in the direction of Ronda
Before reaching Ronda take the Right hand turn for Montejaque / Benaojan, this road takes you through very beautiful and dramatic scenery. You will arrive at a T junction in Montejaque - turn Left. This road takes you down hill out of Montejaque to Benoajan. Before you enter Benoajan you will see a road slip off to the Right sign posted Jimera de Libar / Cortes de la Frontera. Take this Right turn and follow until you pass the left turn for Jimera de Libar and continue straight on for Cortes de la Frontera. As you arrive at Cortes there is a small roundabout and sleeping policemen across the road, some of which are quite high! Straight ahead towards Cortes, there will be houses now on your left and right and more sleeping policemen. Next you will come to a small roundabout with a fountain in the centre, straight accross here and take the next left. This will lead you down hill and out of the village towards Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucin. This road down the hill is narrow and with sharp bends - please take extra care on this road.
As you come around the last bend you will see the railway line on your left, follow the road left over the railway line crossing and about 100 mtrs down the hill there is a bar, the right turn is immediatly after the bar, take this sharp Right into Calle Canada del Tesoro, a narrow one way road between the houses. (If you go over the bridge you have missed the turn, turn around and go back). Follow along this road for approx. 300 mtrs and you will see El Gecko Hotel - white and blue - on your left. There is a small road on the right immediately opposite the front door of El Gecko, pull in and park or stop here if no spaces and we will advise you where to park.
DIRECTIONS>FROM THE COAST TO EL GECKO - approximately 45 minutes by car
From Malaga, Marbella, Estepona head West along the coast road or motorway taking Manilva / Casares / Gaucin exit
From Gibraltar, Algeciras, Soto Grande head East along the motorway taking Manilva / Casares / Gaucin exit
Come off through toll or through Manilva town depending upon whether you took the coast road or the motorway. Follow the signs for Casares / Gaucin on the A377 up the hill.
Several miles later you will see a sign right for Casares DO NOT take this right turn, go straight ahead for Gaucin.
A few more miles later you will arrive in Gaucin town at a T junction, turn Left and short distance ahead is another T junction - (Over to your left you will see a petrol station) - Turn Right - sign posted to Ronda following road A369 down past El Socorro Bar and over a bridge. Keep going on this road past a sign for Benarraba, carry on until you see the sign post for Cortes de la Frontera A373 left.
Turn Left - there is a bar on the right hand side of this turn, you are now 6 miles from the Gecko - all down hill into the valley. passing Salitre hotel and camping. As you arrive in Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera you will cross over a small bridge over the river and the road bears left, take the first left turn into Calle Canada del Tesoro, (just before the bar) a narrow one way road between the houses. (If you find yourself at the railway crossing you have missed the left turn and need to reverse) Follow along this road for approx. 300 mtrs and you will see El Gecko Hotel - white and blue - on your left. There is a small road on the right immediately opposite the front door of El Gecko, pull in and park or stop here if no spaces and we will advise you where to park.
DIRECTIONS> FROM RONDA - approximately 40 minutes by car
From Ronda take direction Seville, as you come out of Ronda down hill with sharp bend and flashing lights road flattens out and the next left is for Benoajan, Montejaque, Cortes de la Frontera. Take this left.
Follow to Benoajan, do not take the left turn into Benoajan Estacion carry on up the hill into Benoajan town, at roundabout bear right onto a mini dual carriage way, at the end of this road the road starts to climb up towards Montejaque. Take the left turn to Jimera de Libar and Cortes de la Frontera, follow until you pass the left turn for Jimera de Libar and continue straight on for Cortes de la Frontera. As you arrive at Cortes there is a small roundabout and sleeping policemen across the road, some of which are quite high! Straight ahead, there will be houses now on your left and right and more sleeping policemen. Next you will come to a small roundabout with a fountain in the centre, straight accross here and take the next left. This will lead you down hill and out of the village towards Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucin. This road down the hill is narrow and with sharp bends - please take extra care on this road.
As you come around the last bend you will see the railway line on your left, follow the road left over the railway line crossing and about 100 mtrs down the hill there is a bar, the right turn is immediatly after the bar, take this sharp Right into Calle Canada del Tesoro, a narrow one way road between the houses. (If you go over the bridge you have missed the turn, turn around and go back). Follow along this road for approx. 300 mtrs and you will see El Gecko Hotel - white and blue - on your left. There is a small road on the right immediately opposite the front door of El Gecko, pull in and park or stop here if no spaces and we will advise you where to park.
RAILWAY LINKS TO THE REGION THE RAIL LINE BETWEEN ALGECIRAS AND RONDA PLUS THE RONDA TO MADRID LINE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR UPGRADE WORK AND NOT ESTIMATED TO RE OPEN UNTIL MARCH 2010. Until then there is an efficient bus service between the stations, but more time should be allowed as the bus has to travel up through the mountain roads as opposed to straight through the valley.
Visit Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera by train - RENFE
One of the finest mountain railways in Europe passes through Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera. The line runs from Algeciras to Granada, carrying four trains a day along the 50 mile - 80 km track. The pretty little village gains its name from being a link in the Andalucian Express line. (Estacion translates into English as Station)
The trains are stylish with smart carriages carrying passengers comfortably through the breathtaking Andalucian scenery. the fantastic views of the cork trees, white villages and mountains are amazing and should not be missed.
It takes little more than an hour to travel South Algeciras, a port town close to Gibraltar with easy access to Tangiers in Morrocco. Making a day trip to Africa a popular venture for Cortes visitors. Or take a short train ride up the mountain to the historic town of Ronda a "must do" visit. From Ronda connect with the Madrid train (4 hours).
Known as one of the "Great little railways of Europe", the single line track was laid by the British in the late nineteenth century to provide a route away from the sweltering coast and Gibraltar into the pleasant Serrania de Ronda Mountains. Conquering the steep mountain terrain was an engineering marvel of its day and nis still an incredible sight. Originally a steam operation, the modern system runs electric trains and comprises of rolling stock introduced in then1970's. When the latest upgrade to the line is complete the mountain track will meet up with the new fast train link from just outside Ronda and the journey to Madrid from Ronda will be cut from 4 hours to approximately 2 and 1/2 hours, making a day return much more enjoyable.
Return fares are reasonably priced and tend to run reliably to schedule - time table information available at the local station or on the RENFE web site.
El Gecko Hotel : info@elgeckohotel.com
