Interview with LUCIA RIGAZIO from the booking department at La Donaira
Located between the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga, La Donaira Estate is fully sustainable luxury eco-retreat. Conceptually, La Donaira isn’t just about tourism, it’s a holistic concept that combines agriculture, education, horse riding, and the wellness philosophy in a 700 hectare estate with only nine rooms.
Beyond mass tourism and five-star hotels, we have La Donaira, a 15th century country estate that’s been converted into a unique eco-retreat. It’s a place to disconnect, contemplate and be in direct contact with nature.
The figures at La Donaira embody excellence, with a never-ending spread of land for a property with only nine rooms (two standard rooms, five Deluxe rooms – including two yurts in the middle of nature – and two Gran Deluxe rooms) and staff of almost eighty people for only twenty guests. But leaving the figures aside, what is truly amazing is the sustainable luxury eco-retreat concept behind this unique project.
Lookout Pro had the opportunity to interview Lucia Rigazo, who manages the reservations for this unique place at the top of the Serrania de Ronda, in Andalusia. Born in Argentina, Rigazo originally came to La Donaira as a volunteer on the WWOOF programme, which offers international volunteering opportunities on organic farms. After two months working on the volunteer programme, she joined the team full-time at La Donaira. She’s also the first person anyone who wishes to stay at the farm will talk to.
LOOKOUT PRO: How do you handle reservations for a luxury eco-resort with only nine rooms?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: We manage all the enquiries we receive by email or phone and then process the reservations.
As it’s not a conventional hotel, remember it only has nine rooms (two standard rooms, five Deluxe rooms – including two Mongolian nomadic yurts in the middle of nature – and two Gran Deluxe rooms), each one is unique and has its distinguishing characteristics. Our job is to explain to guests what they can find in each room and advise them on which one is most suitable depending on their needs and requirements. We explain the philosophy of the hotel in detail and how it works, and we also organise all the activities guests want to do in and around the estate.
LOOKOUT PRO: What type of guests come to stay at La Donaira?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: It’s very varied, but our guests mostly come from Northern Europe, Germany, the UK, the US and Canada.
LOOKOUT PRO: What’s the minimum stay at La Donaira?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: We feel that as there are so many things to do, see and discover, guests need a minimum stay of two nights. Remember, it’s a 700 hectare estate, and guests can’t get a good understanding of the farm and our philosophy with an overnight stay. And although the minimum stay is two nights, most people end up staying at La Donaira for three or four nights.
LOOKOUT PRO: What type of activities are guest staying at La Donaira interested in?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: Many people come to the estate for our horses. Breeding Lusitanos is at the heart of our work at La Donaira.
Each guest has their interests. We have many activities on offer at La Donaira, but the most well-favoured are related to the Lusitano horses we breed and train on the farm. Currently, we have more than 70 Lusitanos, which is the oldest saddle horse in the world. And, everyone who comes has the opportunity to go horse riding, regardless of their level.
Those new to horses and horse riding can opt for a relaxing “grounding” class. This is a type of yoga experience that involves connecting with the animal’s breathing by embracing one of the horses to fuse the guest’s heartbeat with that of the animal.
Guests can choose to enjoy their stay at a leisurely pace or participate more actively in the activities we organise here like the tour of the Biodynamic Pasture (an agroecological project combining biodynamic agriculture and permaculture), helping out in the traditional vegetable garden or getting closer to the nature and animals on the farm that balance the ecosystems.
They can also take the Medicinal Garden Tour to enter the world of plants and their qualities with Gerard Bodner, do yoga, relax in the spa, or weather permitting, take a dip in the natural freshwater pool.
LOOKOUT PRO: We mustn’t forget that La Donaira is not a hotel as such, and needs to be understood as a shared space where you can live together with other guests. That’s why it’s essential to understand the philosophy of the place and the unusual habit of preparing the meals at the table with all the guests. How do guests feel about this initiative?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: Our guests normally love this experience as it’s completely different from what they’re used to in a conventional hotel.
But we always adapt to the circumstances. Couples often come to La Donaira and ask us to prepare a romantic dinner for two, so we find a beautiful, quiet spot in front of a huge window and serve them their meal away from the other guests. We’ve also had families who prefer to be alone. Basically, we cater to the tastes of each of our guests.
Usually, our guests love the idea of eating together and sharing a delicious meal and good conversation with the other people staying at La Donaira.
LOOKOUT PRO: La Donaira also puts on concerts for people who are not staying at the estate. What does this type of event involve?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: The concerts are varied with flamenco, jazz, blues and other musical styles. Tickets cost €30 and include picking up the visitors in the La Posada restaurant in El Gastor village (no cars from outside the estate are allowed inside La Donaira) and then leaving them back after the show. The concerts usually last an hour and a half or two hours, and the price includes drinks. The maximum capacity for these events is around 20 people.
LOOKOUT PRO: What’s so unique about La Donaira?
LUCIA RIGAZIO: First of all, the location is magical. La Donaira is luxury, but nothing like the luxuries of a five-star hotel. Excellence and luxury come in the form of incredible scenery and a “slow” mode stay. A house where design and art come together to welcome guests who can go horse riding, savour delicious healthy dishes or enjoy a stroll in the medicinal garden.
It’s all about design and looking after all the finer details. And for me, the most important and unique point is the philosophy of slow travel, slow food and slow life. Here the world moves at a different pace, and everything is linked to mother earth. Many guests have told us that our food is of a higher quality than any Michelin starred restaurant.
Like everything at La Donaira, our food combines natural goodness and sophistication. Home-grown organic field to fork produce is the starting point for healthy and innovative menus.
What our guests eat depends on what’s ready to be picked from our vegetable gardens each morning and whether it’s the season for figs and plums or almonds and quince. Edible flowers and herbs from the medicinal garden add the finishing touch. Bread is baked, and eggs collected fresh every morning.
We make goats’ milk cheese, press our own extra virgin olive oil and collect honey from our mountain hives. What we don’t produce on the farm, we source from a local network of artisan producers.
At the end of the day, staying at La Donaira is a unique experience!
