Casa Rural Las Canteras

This was a disappointment. I paid good money to a UK company that organises bird watching. This Casa Rural was not good value. The quality of the breakfast was poor from the bread to the less than crisp corn flakes and the shortage of boiled eggs on alternate days. The evening meals were of good quality meats badly cooked and some courses were inedible like the soup with bread in it and the dessert of a piece of sponge cake sitting in watered down condensed milk. The patrón told us not to open the windows of our room as the heating would stop working! There was no radiator in some rooms?

We spent 11 days and nights at Las Canteras, birdwatching. Nearly everything was perfect. The large room and modern bathroom the extremely comfortable beds, Ten days of perfect weather. We'd be awakened by hoopoes and other rare birds (great-spotted, cuckoo, blue-winged magpie, thekla lark...) and watch a pair of storks and their nest in the garden when eating, or a huge roost of Spanish sparrows. The plains with bustards and sandgrouse are just a few minutes away from the Casa. - Dona Pilar is a loveable lady and an excellent cook: every day different delicious evening dishes; no problem for people who need gluten-free food. Her son Francisco is an endless source of information about local sights...and birds and very helpful! He has a good telescope inside the restaurant. And Chulo, the dog, is very friendly. More info on their web site, also for birders. - Just one piece of advice... if you can, avoid the week before Easter. Prices are much higher and Monfrague park is full of people. The Casa is closed in January and June.

Had a great week at Las Canteras. Great birding in the garden - bill-clacking storks, bee-eaters, hoopoes, a pair of little owl and even a stone curlew. Great hosting from Francisco, who can give information about local birding spots. Lovely, simple home cooking from Pilar in the evening, particularly the vegetable first courses. Great rural location from which to explore Extremadura

This casa rural is run by a very friendly couple and our Naturetrek group took up most of the rooms. It appears to be ideally located for avid birdwatchers in a very peaceful part of Extramadura. Breakfast was simple with carton juice, slow-slow-toast, cold hard boiled eggs, cheap jam portions and dodgy coffee. Supper was no-choice home cooking. Some of the home cooking was really tasty, such as a sort of ratatouille soup, but the meat courses were overcooked and nothing special. The included wine was OK. The rrom was basic with no table or chair.