We stayed two nights at the Parador de Cazorla and considered it to be one of the highlights of our trip to Spain. We were unprepared for the fact that this parador is not near the town of Cazorla, but is located within the Natural Preserve of the Sierra de Cazorla. However, once we arrived at the parador, surrounded by beautiful mountains in quiet splendor, we were delighted.

This parador is remote, so having a car is needed. While not luxurious, the parador does provide all the comforts one needs and is actually quite cozy. There is a nice lounge area, bar/cafeteria where drinks and small meals or snacks are served, and restaurant that doubles as the breakfast room. There is a huge terraza in the back with wonferful views of the mountains, and also provides for great star-gazing. The parador also has a large grassy area which is a wonderful play area for children. A pool rounds everything out.

In keeping with the surrounding area, the parador also provides its guests with a number of hiking trails of various difficulities. The staff are knowledgeable about these trails and can provide details on the conditions of these trails, as well as what can be seen along the way. There are also horseback riding and 4 wheel driving excursions provided on the weekends.

Our room was actually the smallest of all the paradors we stayed, however it was fine for us. The decor was well suited to the rustic, mountain environment as well. There is no air conditioning in this parador, but our room had a ceiling fan and this was just fine. The bathroom was large and comfortable. The room was a bit noisy in the morning, as I believe the kitchen is right below the rooms and the guests can hear the staff cooking breakfast. However, it is not entirely unpleasant, as the smells of food waft up to the room and you feel as though you are waking up in some one's country home and merely in some sanitized hotel.

Guests are a bit more dependent on this parador than others, because of the remote location. In fact, because of this remoteness, even the staff have quarters at the parador and stay here for several days. This builds a relationship that becomes easily friendly. The huge plus with this parador is that it gets a higher number of Spanish tourists - always nice to vacation where the locals go!

This locale is not for everyone. It is quiet and remote. There is no nightlife or bar-hopping. You can't get here easily by bus or train. But if you are interested in experiencing some quiet, get in some hiking, seeing a slice of Spain most foreign tourists never do, or just want to catch your breath in the middle of some of the most incredible scenery in southern Spain, give this a try. I doubt you'll be disappointed!