Cortijo el Chenil Caballos

From the minute you arrive at Cortijo el Chenil for a riding holiday, pack away your preconceptions and prepare to be delighted.
Darren and Sarah have created a holiday experience that is centred about the guest enjoyment, and having as much fun as possible.

We stayed here for three days at the end of February 2020. It was my daughters 18th Birthday and as Inez loves horse riding this is what she wanted to do. I’ve done some riding in the past, but was super rusty having had just a couple of refresher lessons in the UK the week before.

My wife booked the trip for us, so like most blokes I arrived in Spain not really knowing what had been arranged, only that at some point we were going riding.

The minute Darren collected us at the airport I started to realise this wasn’t going to be an ordinary experience. He started to tell me what was arranged for the next few days and I was thinking wow this is going to be great.

The highlights of our three days are below.

Darren’s experience and stories
Darren was a Jockey for 20 years. So his experience fills you full of confidence when you are out riding. I soon felt at ease with my riding. Darren has a natural love and understanding of horses. Plus his many stories of jockey life are cracking. Beer with Brad Pitt anyone?

Sara’s hospitality
When you stay at Cortijo el Chenil you are part of the family. Sarah has created a welcoming atmosphere and whether you want to hang out in your apartment, in the pool area, or just chill with their super friendly dogs, you can feel comfortable to just please yourself. It’s like staying at a family or friends house. Quite a special experience.

Alyesha and Leah
Darren has an experienced and knowledgable team who are brilliant with horses and expert riders too, so when you are out on the trails you feel confident that you are in good hands. Plus the banter between Leah, Alyesha and Darren is an added, and entertaining part of the ambiance.

The riding
We did two rides. The first was a morning ride. We rode through wonderful countryside winding its way up the mountain to a plateau where Sara was waiting with a fully laden breakfast table. The horses were tied into the shade of the trees whilst we sat in the sun, had breakfast and enjoyed the far reaching mountain views.
Our second ride was an afternoon ride to a bar in a local village. Once again we rode through amazing landscapes of orange and olive groves, climbing up to a traditional village for a few drinks outside a local bar before heading back.

The accommodation
We stayed in the one bedroom, two single beds apartment, and it was luxury personified. From the thoughtful decor to the futuristic shower, lovely kitchen and chill out lounge we could not have asked for more. Lovely views from the windows and an outdoor terrace made it complete.

The location
The location is idyllic. Incredible mountain views all round. Orange, lemon and avocado trees all in the extensive grounds. Plus a huge lake of fish. We flew into Malaga and the transfer to Cortijo el Chenil couldn’t have been easier. It was pretty much one road all the way.

Getting involved
If like my daughter Inez, you love horses and want to get involved then you are encouraged to do do so. Inez fed and cleaned the horses with Darren and his team and got them ready for our rides. She loved every minute of it.

The laughing
This is a holiday with plenty of laughing. It’s clear to me that Darren, Sarah, Alyesha and Leah have two hobbies. And those are Riding and Laughing (and they quite like a few beers too!).

I can’t quite believe I have written so much.

But there is so much to say to recommend Cortijo el Chenil.

Darren and Sarah have created something really unique, and from what I heard from them this is just the start, and I have a feeling that the holiday experience at Cortijo el Chenil will just get better and better.

My daughter and I have just returned from a three night stay. This is our third time here and I can honestly say it was just as amazing as the first and second time. We tried new routes with breathtaking views all around, finishing with a bar ride to the picturesque village of Casarabonela.
The horses we rode were total saints, they took us through streams up and down the steep and rocky hills through the villages and they never put a foot wrong.
We had lovely weather and managed to enjoy some chilled time around the poolside, visited some great local restaurants with lots laughs along the way.
I can't recommend a holiday here enough for anyone thinking about it, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you Sarah and Darren for everything, you managed to pull it off yet again!! We can't wait to come back again.

We had just the best time here. A short drive from Malaga airport and you arrive at this beautiful hillside location. So peaceful I forgot the rest of the world existed!
Darren and Sarah are fabulous hosts. Their local knowledge is incredible. They work tirelessly to ensure you have everything you need. We felt so welcome. Lovely people.
The accommodation is fantastic. Super comfortable bed and well equipped for self catering We had half board however.
Food was delicious! Just message Sarah on waking and she will bake fresh croissants for when you're ready to eat! We were incredibly lazy and didn't appear for breakfast until 10am😂. We also ate out 2 evenings at excellent local restaurants.
Their horses are very well loved and cared for (and I'm very fussy about this!). They are very fit and forward going but safe and well schooled. We had 3 rides including one up to a village where we stopped for beers and tapas. Another ride we left earlier and had breakfast, provided by Sarah, en route complete with table and chairs and a fabulous spread of food!
Highly recommended the trip. The only mistake we made was booking only 4 nights. Wish we'd booked at least a week.

What a fantastic holiday we just had. 4 girls, 2 riders and 2 non riders and all of us had a ball. The location is gorgeous and the hosts were unfailingly brilliant, welcoming us in to their home. They effortlessly made sure our every need was met and had a team of contacts and family around them who all helped make the trip so memorable.
The apartment was immaculate and the food was delicious.
The added bonus of being surrounded by their adorable pack of rescue dogs was really special. I cannot recommend it enough. If you do go, brace yourselves for one of the best nights of your life in a secret taverna up in the mountains and make sure you pack your drinking pants (and a set of bongos……..)

A great place, in beautiful surroundings. A must if you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy real Spain on horseback. The scenery and views are spectacular. Darren and Sarah are excellent hosts, very welcoming and super friendly. You don’t even need to go horse riding, the chill out area is well kitted out and very tranquil, and you have the lovely village of Casarabonela just down the road if you want venture out.

I’ve recently started riding again after a fall which left me with some nasty injuries and a lot of anxiety. Although I was looking forward to my holiday I was feeling very apprehensive. I needn’t have worried, Darren and Sarah took my concerns seriously and were very reassuring and compassionate.
All my nerves disappeared when I met Rey, a gentle giant who looked after me like I was bone china. He was totally chilled but was also forward enough to feel like I was actually riding and not just sitting on him doing nothing. My confidence was fully restored during my stay and I’m now excited to continue riding at home again. Darren is unflappable, very kind and a real horseman, he was so encouraging and this influenced how I felt about my own abilities and filled me with bravery. If I could have squished Rey into my suitcase I would have but I’m in a very long queue of people who have fallen in love with him!
The animals (numerous dogs, horses, a cat and the legend that is Dave the mule!) are very well cared for and so loved. The horses enjoy being out and about and are all well mannered. The welfare of the animals comes first, it was so reassuring to hear they reschedule the rides to early morning or the evening when the temperature is too high. This family adore their animals and it really shines through.
The accommodation was absolutely perfect, spotlessly clean and well furnished with everything you need for your stay. Chilling by the pool with views to die for was the perfect way to relax and work off a few post riding aches and pains. The honesty bar also helped with those too!
Within half an hour of arriving we felt like we were sitting with old friends and by the time it was time to go, it was like we were leaving family. Sarah is a wonderful hostess, so warm and welcoming and her cooking is DELICIOUS! She also makes gorgeous jewellery and soap which are the perfect mementoes of your stay. Their kids M and A complete the line up and are an absolute credit to Darren and Sarah. M takes after her Dad and has such an affinity with the horses, she’s a delight and was very happy to answer all our questions. It was a real education watching her skill. A is just the best young man! Full of personality, so kind and helpful, welcoming, friendly and he had us in awe with his bongo playing!
The countryside and Casabaronela is breathtaking, and what better way to take in its beauty but rocking along on a horse. Wherever you turn, there’s more to see….we were dumbstruck by how much we enjoyed the flora and fauna in such a stunning part of Andalusia, eagles, vultures, amazing wildflowers sprinkled everywhere surrounding us in their perfume. The perfect stress buster.
We were made to feel so welcome by the ‘locals’, from kind and funny Francisco our taxi driver, to Carmen and Lorenzo who cooked for us, sang, danced, provided a musical extravaganza and gave us the night of our lives in their beautiful home in the mountains. We were never made to feel like typical tourists and genuinely felt like we were experiencing real Spain.
I can’t wait to return here and the one downside of writing such a glowing review is that I fear I won’t be able to get booked in! I’ve arrived home with the biggest smile on my face, full of confidence, completely relaxed and the happiest I’ve been in years.
Against all the odds given what they’ve faced in the last few years, Darren and Sarah have created a little piece of heaven on earth, it’s without doubt the best holiday I’ve ever had.
If you’ve got to the end of my very long review - well done! I wanted to cover everything but I’ve not even scratched the surface really, in a nutshell - just book it, you will have the time of your life!

I have to say a huge thank you to Sarah and Darren for the most amazing riding holiday. I can't recommend it enough, everything had been thoroughly planned and executed to the highest of standards. Best holiday I have had for a long time. I wasn't a very confident rider to begin with but as the week went on and with the help and can I say patience of Darren i came away feeling great. The accommodation was lovely, home from home. The pool area is beautiful and a great place to unwind when not out riding. If you are looking for lovely hosts and a really relaxing time with plenty of different treks to go on, then this is the place to go. I'll be booking again in the future.

My daughter and I have just returned from a long weekend break at Cortijo el Chenil Caballos, this was our second time visiting this amazing retreat and we couldn't wait to get back, we had such an amazing time first time round and met some great people making ever lasting memories. From the second we arrived Sarah and Darren went out of their way to exceed our expectations and they certainly done that with flying colours. We had a fun packed 4 days, the riding was fabulous along with the unexpected warm weather for February. The wonderful traditional authentic restaurants and tapas bars we visited were just fabulous as was the home cooked food by Sarah. We fell in love with the horses all over again and yet again we have left there with memories we will cherish. Darren and Sarah are great hosts and we can't thank them both enough for everything. A special thank you to the great team you have around you Leah and Alyesha we really enjoyed their company both such fab girls! We can't wait to see you all again soon xx

What a fabulous place and highly recommended. You can be sure of a warm welcome from Darren and Sarah and whatever your level of experience they will look after you. My two grandchildren, aged 8 and 10 years had lovely first ever riding lessons here and it's the first experience they want us to organise when they visit. As for myself, I hadn't ridden for over forty years, but my confidence in Darren enabled me to get back in the saddle and join my daughter in a hack around the surrounding beautiful countryside. It certainly won't be so long before I do it again. Darren and Sarah have a lot more to offer than we have experienced during our family day visits. Whatever it is you want do I am certain that it would be provided in a way that is friendly, enjoyable, professional and high quality.

Myself, my son and daughter have all thoroughly enjoyed our riding experiences with Darren & Sarah who are great company. The horses are absolutely beautiful and a joy to ride. Andalusia is the perfect place to explore on horseback. We love the Spanish saddles too and will definitely be back!
Whilst we didn’t require accommodation Cortijo el Chenil looks a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy the surrounding countryside and village of Casarabonela.

This place was stunning from the self catering apartments!! Very clean and high quality to the gorgeous pool and bar area my little girl absolutely loved the pool. We would recommend hiring a car to go see the other beautiful things it as to offer 40 minute either way to see more Spanish culture you have the best location here. We are booking again for next year this place is in my top 5 of favourite places to holiday. We was very well looked after by Sarah & Darren theses guys was very helpful we just felt at home. Brilliant time.

We had an excellent experience with El Chenil. They soon answered to our written request and met our needs, being very flexible. They were very careful in choosing the right horses for us and we enjoyed the beauty of nature all along the trek.

This finca is a beautiful designed paradise for people and horses. How well the horses, cats and dogs are treated like own children one can realize when seated in the sofalike saddles, the journey on the horseback starts. To dive into this astonishing scenery of the andalusian hillsides, safe like in mothers womb accopagned by this funny worldtraveller Darren as tourguide, builds a notforgetable milestone in my book of life. This is a most profund experience like a Cowboy to start into that adventure in a horsback to detect new realms from the back of a horse.
Not being a riding Person I was addtionally astonished, not to have any muskleake on the Text day👌😇
So it is a very special gift one to give to oneself to spent some days in this surrounding accompagned by the heartful and loveable couple Sarah and Darren. Thanx so much for being at this place and open it update for people🙏
As
All the best for you & the animals
Hugs & kisses from Katja, Ulm, Germany

Such an amazing place with views to die for. The horses are the best and Darren and Sarah are the perfect hosts. Highly recommended.

Un super moment, une vue magnifique, des gens très gentils !! Vivement la prochaine fois !

Fantásticas vistas y una impresionante atención, en un entorno inigualable.