Wallpaper House

La Peña, Tarifa

“Buffeted by winds. Lulled by the cow bells, the house sung to the sound of Tarifa, and we unwound, unravelled, unknotted and relaxed into hammock living, and rightly were bourne away by the rushing clouds and nightlight stars, and the stormy trees. Heaven!”

Wallpaper House

Ideal for families or groups of friends looking for something offbeat.

Property Description

While the house may be a new build, this is a real back to nature experience, with real eco-friendly ideals. Solar panels (photovoltaic) provide electricity for lighting and power, whilst gas heats water directly from the mountain spring. The house is wholly dependent on natural energies, so currently without sunshine you may find yourself without power. However what we can promise is a limitless supply of tea lights and twinkling stars! This is a rare opportunity to experience forward-looking living in a blissful setting where the local farmer still herds his goats around the hillside. To add to the adventure parking is 30 to 100 metres from the house; over a small bridge and running stream, and then a short, stunning walk down to the houses.

Originally designed for Milan’s Salon del Mobile (1998), by renowned Swedish architect Thomas Sandell and *Wallpaper Magazine, this house is a feat in compact living. Known by Sandell as the “inside outside house” it is designed around a shaded central courtyard, with the living area on one side and the bathroom and sleeping area on the other.

The sleeping arrangements are open-plan with minimal décor that is in keeping with the simplistic, contemporary vibe, although each bed has a drop down curtain for privacy. There are two double bedrooms (one of which is totally private, with door) and two singles built, cabin-style, into the corridor wall. The private double hints at an Asian aesthetic, dark stained wood and sliding glass doors onto a central courtyard. The second double is a cosy, 2m by 2m walled-in-bed with a long window at the foot looking out onto the hillside. The ceiling of this room is adorned with large-scale images of woodlands – most probably reflecting the surroundings of the Swedish architect who designed it. All the beds have good quality hard mattresses and are invitingly made up with crisp white embroidered bed linen (duvets); bath and hand towels are provided for, as are large beach towels. The bathroom has a hot water shower (gas fuelled) and there is also an outdoor shower for the more hardy naturalists, which children seem to love.

The Wallpaper House is completely self-catering, the kitchen is not sophisticated – with a large gas fridge/freezer and 3-hob gas cooker – but it is equipped with all the necessary cooking implements and crockery. There is a large gas BBQ where the majority of cooking is done. The kitchen area has a large dining table and chairs to seat six, and there are plenty of spots for eating out on the decking (shaded and sunny) made comfortable with huge day cushions, outdoor furniture and sun loungers. Guests need to park outside the plot and walk the 100m down a country track to the Wallpaper House.

Facilities & Services

Open-plan living area

  • Open plan sleeping area – two single bunks built in to the walls, double 2m x 2m bed built in to the corner of the house, Double bedroom with door and access to the central courtyard
  • Minimal kitchen and cooking facilities – three hob gas stove
  • Gas BBQ
  • Courtyard with sun loungers for two people
  • Rattan garden furniture and table
  • Hammock Seat
  • Dining room with seating for six
  • Leather sofas
  • Bathroom with large walk-in shower, sink and WC
  • For animal lovers, there are often goats, donkeys, horses, pigs and cows on the property
  • Self check-in

TOP TIP
Not to be missed is the sun-downer spot on the rocks, with the best panoramic views of the 12km stretch that is the Tarifa beach.

Group Bookings
Can be rented with the Little Stone House

Rates & End Cleaning

Price per night
Jan, Feb, March, April, May, October, November, December, Easter and Christmas / New Year 195€
June, July, August and September 245€

Minimum stay is one week (sometimes we can make an exception for five day bookings)
For any bookings less than a week there is an additional cleaning fee of 100€

End cleaning is included for stays of a week or longer; for stays of less than one week it is 100€. However, in all cases you are responsible for keeping the property and all its contents in the same state of cleanliness, repair and condition as at the commencement of the holiday. The owner reserves the right to make deductions from the security deposit for any extra cleaning, over the number of hours committed to departure cleaning.

PLEASE NOTE:

This property is located at the top of the La Peña hillside, whilst the road up to the house is paved, parking outside of the property is on rocky ground so we suggest that clients rent a tough car. If clients want to drive in to the property once again it is rocky terrain and steep so a 4 by 4 is recommended. If there is rain during your stay we strongly recommend that you do not take the car on to the land as you will get stuck.

Guest Reviews

“Everything it says on the packet and more! El Cancho is quite simply a very special retreat. Cat and Ben were sensational hosts who really helped to make our honeymoon stay in the big house perfect. New Zealand meets Sweden plonked in Spain and looking at Africa, this offering is truly unique. We will definitely return.”

“The “inside outside house" blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, and it is a gift on the Coast of Light allowing sunshine to stream through glass sliding doors and screen walls of opalescent plastic. The white-painted pine floors extend up to the walls and across the ceilings. The furniture is beech and stainless steel and just like you might imagine your house might look after you return from Ikea but, somehow, never does. Mike Carter, The G”

“This is one of the most wonderful places I've ever stayed. It's so romantic my boyfriend decided to pop the question and we got engaged at El Cancho, with the stunning backdrop of the Med and Morocco. It's beautiful, tranquil and relaxing. It's hard to find anywhere like this to go on holiday anymore. Its simplicity is so appealing. You feel like you've escaped all the entrapments of modern life, although it's very easy to pop into Tarifa if you want some liveliness in the evening. The beach goes on for miles and there are plenty of places to visit nearby. But it's also tempting to hibernate at El Cancho, sip cava and enjoy this peaceful oasis.”

“You know when it is an enchanting place when on the last day no one wants to leave and everyone asks “when can we come back again?” A wonderful place for our son (and dog) to explore and collect wild garlic and flowers, for my husband to go for early walks on the beach and for us all to relax in the hammocks with this beautiful view of rocks and water across the straits.”

Booking Conditions & Contact

From €195 / night

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in: from 16.00 on arrival date (self check-in)
Check-out: by 11:00 am on departure date
*Arrivals after 20:00 must be advised in advance and agreed by Email with Tarifa Beach Houses.

Booking Terms

50% non-refundable deposit payment due at the time of booking.
50% balance payment to be paid by bank transfer 8 weeks prior to arrival.
We recommend all clients take out travel insurance for their stay. 

There is no security deposit at this property, but we do expect clients to inform of any damages or breakages incurred during their stay and re compensation.

Cancellation Terms

50% confirmation deposit of booking is non-refundable
Balance payment to be paid by bank transfer 8 weeks prior to arrival.
We recommend all clients to take out travel insurance for their stay. 

Enquiry Form

Booking Conditions & Contact

From €195 / night

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in: from 16.00 on arrival date (self check-in)
Check-out: by 11:00 am on departure date
*Arrivals after 20:00 must be advised in advance and agreed by Email with Tarifa Beach Houses.

Booking Terms

50% non-refundable deposit payment due at the time of booking.
50% balance payment to be paid by bank transfer 8 weeks prior to arrival.
We recommend all clients take out travel insurance for their stay. 

There is no security deposit at this property, but we do expect clients to inform of any damages or breakages incurred during their stay and re compensation.

Cancellation Terms

50% confirmation deposit of booking is non-refundable
Balance payment to be paid by bank transfer 8 weeks prior to arrival.
We recommend all clients to take out travel insurance for their stay. 

Formulario de contacto

Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Enquiry Form