El Botánico de Sagra. Ecolodge Jardin Hôtel

The northern reaches of Alicante province offer a quieter kind of Mediterranean. Hills that roll gently into citrus groves, villages where doors stay open, and skies that seem to take their time. Just outside Sagra, past fields and dry stone walls, a green enclave quietly unfolds.

El Botánico isn’t a resort. It’s a cultivated patch of land with a sense of purpose - a subtropical garden layered with fig trees, palms, bougainvillaea and the occasional unexpected mango. The climate here is dry, but the shade is generous, and the air moves differently.

Scattered through the vegetation are five small houses, each bearing a colour: the Blue House, the Red, the White, the Green, the Yellow. Some are compact, suited for couples. Others - like the Blue, with its three bedrooms, kitchen and fireplace - feel more like lived-in family homes.

The design draws discreetly on Mexico and Costa Rica: bold colour blocks, tactile materials, nothing contrived. There’s no effort to impress, only to comfort. Each house is independent, with a private terrace and just enough separation to feel alone without being isolated.

At the heart of the grounds lies a swimming pool - not ornamental, not over-designed - just long and clear and quiet. This is not a place for service or spectacle. Meals are self-prepared, unless arranged otherwise. Days pass slowly. Yoga retreats are hosted occasionally, though many come simply to rest and read.

There are no signs, no slogans. Hospitality here is understated. Catherine, the host, knows when to offer and when to step back. Her team keeps things clean and running, but the atmosphere stays informal - more shared garden than managed hotel.

El Botánico is designed with adults in mind. Children are only welcomed when a house is booked in full. Mobility may be an issue for some, and a car is necessary to reach the coast or explore inland. But many never leave the garden.

This is not a place for everyone. It is, however, exactly right for a few.