El Cancho

Press Reviews

Sunday Mirror, May 2011
"Surrounded by pine forest and with amazing views over the sea, this open-plan holiday house near Tarifa, fuelled by solar power, was originally built for an architecture contest. It sleeps four to six."

Tatler, August 2010
"Sometimes a place is so gorgeous you can overlook the lack of extras like room service. El Cancho is two funky modernist prefab beach houses slap-bang in the middle of a rugged national park on the outskirts of windswept Tarifa. They were designed for Milan's Salon del Mobile in a collaboration between Swedish architect Thomas Sandell and Wallpaper, and you can tell: sleek wooden floors, white ceilings, opaque Perspex walls, and, in the larger of the two houses, artistic prints of the forest on the ceiling above the main bed. Everything is designed with form-and-function fabulousness, but staying here is a little like glorified camping - you cook for yourself on a BBQ on the terrace."

Sunday Times, January 2009
"Stay a couple of miles out of town at El Cancho, a modernist beach house designed by a Swedish architect. It's all open-planned beds, given onto the common areas, have drop-down curtains - have drop down curtains for privacy - but stylish, too, with huge windows onto the Atlantic. It's also splendidly isolated, so the only disturbance you'll get will be wild pigs snuffling around under the raised floors. Sleeping six, its perfect for a group holiday with sporty pals."

Elle, Chic Shack Awards, November 2008
"Architect-designed, these two beach huts are just a stroll from the windswept beaches of the Atlantic in the wilds of Andalucia.The contemporary, open-plan interiors (the larger house was designed for Milan's international furniture fair) veer towards minimalism, which is perfect, as you won't want any distraction from the stunning landscapes on view through every window.Ideal for small groups of surfers, or for couples looking for a romantic hideaway."

The Guardian, October 2008
"Surrounded by lemon trees and nestling in an amphitheatre of rock topped with jagged pinnacles and high above the Strait of Gibraltar, El Cancho is in a truly spectacular setting. Only 14km away, the minarets of Tangiers twinkle in the sunlight... Sunshine streams through glass sliding doors and screen walls of opalescent plastic. The white-painted pine floors extend up the walls and across the ceilings. The furniture is beech and stainless steel and just like you imagine your house might look after you return from Ikea but, somehow, never does."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “The Boston Beach house is a wonderful place to get away from the complexities of day to day life, and just relax in the simplicities of the beautiful surroundings. The house is wonderfully designed - so small, and yet seemingly so spacious. Everything is perfectly finished - the beds have lovely firm mattresses and plentiful feather pillows, the kitchen is fully equipped with sharp knives, non-stick pans and plentiful cutlery and glassware. Little things that make a great difference.
  We'll definitely be heading back.”
  Kristian, United Kingdom (02.10.10)

• “The beach house is in an incredible position with totally amazing views. It had everything we needed in it, and nice extra touches, for example the paddling pool.
  The bed had a waterproof mattress protector on it, making it extremely hot and sweaty and uncomfortable. A real pity as the bed itself and the sheets etc were v good quality and should have been very comfortable.
  We spent hours driving around looking for someone to let us in as we didn't realise the house was unlocked and we were meant to just let ourselves in.”
  Hannah, United Kingdom (03.06.10)