As much as we all love Almuñécar, it is nice to get out and explore a bit. It’s very easy to take a day trip to Granada from Almuñécar, or you can even plan a few days away. Of course everything we have to share is also a perfect day trip from Malaga too. There is so much to see and do, and it’s always fun to just roam around and soak up the city. If that isn’t your style, here are some great options for organized tours and things to do in Granada.
Create Your Own Spanish Immersion Program!
Trusted tips for you to create your own Spanish immersion program! So many of us moved to Spain to immerse ourselves in Spanish, so let’s get it done! Including day-to-day life, the culture, the food, and the language. Sometimes that is easier said than done. It doesn’t matter if you are in Spain for a week or years, many of these suggestions will help you work towards your Spanish language learning goals. Nearly everything is great for adults, kids, retirees, singles, couples, families!
We didn’t say it would be easy to immerse in Spanish! So many people are under the assumption you can just be in Spain and soak up the language naturally. This is true at a very basic level, but you are going to have to work a bit harder than that to really create Spanish immersion. Please find our suggestions below to help you get closer to the Spanish fluency you desire.
Table of Contents
- Step Out Solo (SOS)
- Embrace the community and Volunteer!
- Connect in Spanish Classes
- Speak with everyone!
- Join Social Groups, Sports, & Clubs
- Attend the Holidays, Ferias, Fiestas, and Celebrations!
- Take a Trip!
- Movie Magic
- Act it Out!
- Spanish Immersion School & Living with a host family
- Spanish Immersion Programs
- Being Local!
Step Out Solo (SOS)
One of our biggest immersion help tips is to Step Out Solo (SOS)! Okay, so we made this acronym up, but SOS means help and this will give you a huge HELP boost when you are out on your own once in a while. Don’t always have others you know around you, as it may make you clam up and not speak as much. Yes, we all have our fears of not saying things correctly, and having someone you know who may be more fluent around you can be intimidating. Get out and spread your wings on your own for some of the activities. We all tend to be a little more open and willing to step out of our comfort zone when we are on our own. We may approach people or speak to them when we normally wouldn’t.
Embrace the community and Volunteer!
One of the best ways of connecting to others in your local community is to take part in many of the activities offered. Why not immerse in Spanish while giving a little of your time as well? You can not only take part in the community, but give a bit of your knowledge, time, and expertise.
There are many volunteer opportunities in the Costa Tropical area and within Spain, so don’t limit yourself. Step out of your comfort zone and learn new vocabulary, meet new people, and make more connections. Not all of these are in Spanish, but you can be certain you will be interacting with the locals and can make it a Spanish immersion opportunity.
Read more about some Costa Tropical Volunteer opportunities
Connect in Spanish Classes
There are many local Spanish classes and courses offered, but take it a step beyond the classroom. Connect with the other students and the teachers and see what experiences you can create together, outside of the classroom. Some of the local schools offer experience programs, walks, and hikes, tapas nights, and more! So, take part in everything you can.
Read more about the local Spanish classes and other activities to enjoy.
Speak with everyone!
Just speak! No matter how well or poorly you speak, just do it. If you know five Spanish words or 5000, use them! Speak as often as you can and with anyone, anywhere. Walk on the paseo, stop and ask about a dog with simple questions (how old is your dog? what breed is your dog? etc…). You can even google a couple of phrases to use before going out and approach people using these phrases. You may not always understand the response, but you are making that first step. If you do it often enough, using the same phrases or questions, you just may learn and understand the responses too!
Initiate the conversation and build your confidence by speaking about the topic you like. If there are too many people you know around, it may hinder you to initiate a conversation. Just challenge yourself to speak with someone new each day. Get out of your comfort zone and allow room for growth!
Speak to a shopkeeper, the waiter, the cashier, the gardener, the butcher, the baker, a family with kids, a fisherman, a sports person, your neighbor, someone you see out for a walk, anyone! Every time you are in a shop, just say hello and over time, say a little more. In no time, you may just have some new local friends. The best time of day is in the evening on the paseo or the afternoons in one of the main plazas. You will see so many people out walking and you can have a quick conversation with anyone.
Join Social Groups, Sports, & Clubs
Okay, this isn’t for everyone, but there are so many groups and clubs available, there must be something for you! There are hiking and walking groups, cycling, sports, intercambios (language exchanges), international groups, music classes, choirs, coffee meet-ups, women’s groups, men’s clubs, Pétanque, book clubs, and so much more. Read more about the various social groups, clubs, and sports.
Attend the Holidays, Ferias, Fiestas, and Celebrations!
What better than to join in on a party! There are so many fiestas and celebrations throughout the year. Attend them all, learn about the culture, traditions, food, and meanings of each and every one. We can help you out with our annual calendar of events. Many of these fiestas, events, and celebrations have a full post written about them as well. Enjoy!
Take a Trip!
Why not take a group trip or tour in Spanish! There are several tour group companies in the area and you can do this on your own or with your loved one. You can go for a weekend or a week and it will be full Spanish immersion for you. You will need to have a good understanding of the language, but you will certainly improve your listening skills and you will meet new people on the trip too. Not only will you have time to chat while on the bus or train, but if they organize meals out, you have time to speak then as well. Maybe it is a trip to Madrid or even Morocco, who knows what offers they currently have?
Some local companies to check with would be Halcón Viajes and Eroski Viajes.
Movie Magic
Of course, we have a list of movies in English in the area, but you may also go to see the movies in Spanish!
Read more about movie locations and just look for the Spanish versions. Over the summer there are 2 outdoor theaters showing movies in Spanish each week.
Act it Out!
Okay, this may be a stretch for many of you, but it can be a fun way to improve your Spanish! Why not join a local theater group or audition for a play? We know of a family who was here for a year of Spanish immersion and most of the family were thespians. They loved acting and wanted to use that as a means to create their immersion in Spanish. They learned their lines in Spanish and performed with local theater groups, what a great way to get involved! Here are a few links to get you started with research and see where they lead you. We don’t have personal experience with this topic, so keep us posted on how you make out. If you don’t want to act, you may at least go to see the local performances.
Various theater links and groups:
- Escuela Municipal de Musica Danza y Teatro Almuñecar
Offering a variety of events and activities for you in the arts. Visit the Facebook page to read more. - PLATEA es el Programa Estatal de Circulación de Espectáculos de Artes Escénicas
PLATEA is the State Program for the Circulation of Performing Arts Shows in Spaces of Local Entities, organized by the INAEM in collaboration with the FEMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces). The purpose of the Program is to promote the joint programming of professional dance, lyric, theater, and circus companies, through scenic spaces owned by local public entities, to reactivate and enrich their cultural programming, facilitate communication between the Autonomous Communities and guarantee the citizens access to culture. Read more about what is offered throughout Spain and locally too. - Asociación de Teatro Segundo Acto
A non-profit cultural association whose objective is to promote theatrical culture, as well as social coexistence, promoting equal opportunities between men and women. Facebook page link - Difusión de Entradas Anticipadas en Almuñécar
Difusión de.Eventos culturales Almuñécar. Granada, music, flamenco, theater dance Facebook page link - Teatro Granada
Amateur Theater Groups in Granada. Read the full list here. - Theater in Salobreña
Permanent theater workshop. Interpretation, voice, staging of works. The shooting of shorts, mediums, and feature films.
Visit the Facebook page to read more. - Teatro Calderón (Motril)
The Calderón de la Barca Theater or simply Calderón Theater is a theater in the Spanish city of Motril, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2005. Since its inauguration in October 1881, it has played a leading role in local culture, hosting performances by the best companies. national and being the scene of the most important cultural events in the city. Likewise, it constitutes the culmination of a theatrical tradition that began in Motril in 1634 when the Real Casa de Comedias was built, which in 1639 received a royal privilege from the hands of Felipe IV. Visit the Facebook page to read more. - Umbriel Teatro
“El teatro es poesía que se sale del libro para hacerse humana. Y al hacerse humana habla y grita, llora y se desespera” (Federico García Lorca) . We were born in 1993 within the Municipal Theater Hall of the Motril City Council, under the direction of the playwright Rolando Salas Cabrera, staging in 1995 “Las Criadas”, by Jean Genet.
In 1997 we became independent, forming ourselves as a theater group within the Umbriel Teatro Cultural Association. Visit the Facebook page to read more.
Spanish Immersion School & Living with a host family
Many of the local schools offer this as an option, in combination with their classes. It is also possible to find various opportunities around Spain, just be sure to do it solo! When you are on your own, you tend to step out of your comfort zone a bit more, and this way you won’t be tempted to speak your native language. You can plan a week away to another location in Spain and get full Spanish immersion!
Read more about an immersion experience in Ronda Spain.
Spanish Immersion Programs
A full week of Spanish Immersion for those at the speaking level of A2 or higher with Pueblo Español. Read more about the experiences of an immersion Spanish speaking course
Being Local!
This goes without saying, but the more you can do what the locals do the better it is for your Spanish immersion. If you have kids, attending the local public schools is the best way for them to immerse themselves. This will be a challenge for the first several months and is usually easier for younger kids. That said, it all depends on your child, their personality, their teacher, their classmates, and so many other variables. Not one experience is the same as another, so do keep this in mind.
As an adult, if you can work, volunteer, or be with locals for a set amount of time each day, this will help you as well. Many foreigners are living here in Spain without permission to work, so be cautious with this one. Of course, you may always refer to the volunteer opportunities we’ve previously mentioned.
As you can see, the list goes on and on! As we think of more things for you to immerse in Spain, we will add them. Feel free to comment below and tell us about your experiences.
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Elysium in Melegis – A Hidden Gem in the Mountains of Granada
When an award-winning Las Vegas chef and his Dutch wife stumbled upon a forgotten Andalusian village, they didn’t just find a home — they built a dream. Elysium in Melegis is where passion, precision, and paradise meet. Now they are aiming for Michelin star(s).
Granada is surprisingly underrepresented in the famous Michelin Guide. Apart from Restaurante La Finca in Loja, located between Málaga and Granada, there are currently no Michelin-starred restaurants in the province. But that might soon change. In the tiny mountain village of Melegis, about 50 kilometers north of Almuñécar, an award-winning American chef has appeared—armed with ambition, vision, and a clear goal: a Michelin star.
His new venture, Elysium Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, which opened in April 2025, is setting an exciting new benchmark for food and wine travelers exploring Andalucía.
A Serendipitous Discovery
This is a story about the joy of stumbling upon something extraordinary—far off the beaten path. Sometimes, while wandering without great expectations, you discover something so special you simply have to share it. That’s exactly what happened when we found Elysium in the quiet Andalusian village of Melegis.
I first saw the name Elysium mentioned in the free local paper, The Gazette. So one day, while driving toward the mountains to see the almond trees in bloom, we decided to make a small detour and see what this new place was all about.
Getting there wasn’t straightforward. We turned off the A-44 motorway linking the coastal town of Motril with Granada, and wound our way down through the lush Lecrín Valley. The road, GR-3204, passes through small whitewashed villages—Mondújar, Talará, Murchas, and Chite—whose names even many locals had barely heard of.
The scenery was breathtaking: almond, olive, fig, avocado, lemon, and orange trees in full bloom. Snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks towered in the distance—among them Mulhacén (3,479 m), Spain’s highest mountain on the mainland, named after Sultan Muley Abul Hassan, said to be buried there.
A Village of 300 Souls
Melegis is home to barely 300 residents—a sleepy yet charming village with a pizza takeaway, a few bars, two bakeries, the local Restaurante Los Naranjos… and now, Elysium.
The houses along the narrow road are large and well-kept, hinting at generations of agricultural prosperity. Fruit and almond farming have clearly been good business here.
On the right, we spot the house we’re looking for—formerly owned by a successful tobacco trader who once wanted to outshine his brother, a fruit farmer, by building a grander home. New owners have meticulously restored the property.
As we step out to take a closer look, three men nearby stop their conversation to watch us—typical in a quiet Andalusian village when strangers appear. One of them walks over, smiles, and says, “Hola, I’m Michael. May I help you?”
From Las Vegas to Melegis
Michael Sandoval (37) is an American with Mexican immigrant parents. He grew up in Las Vegas, where his father ran a jewelry business. His culinary career began at Bouchon, the acclaimed French bistro in Las Vegas, before moving to Napa Valley to work for Thomas Keller—America’s most famous
chef and restaurateur, often called the U.S. answer to Gordon Ramsay. Keller’s legendary French Laundry has held three Michelin stars since 2005.
Sandoval tells me he has been working on the Elysium project for almost three years, and although it’s nearing completion, he politely declines to let us inside before it’s finished. We agree that I’ll return when the doors officially open.
Elysium Opens
Fast-forward to the summer of 2025. Elysium is open, and we’ve booked both a room and a table for dinner.
The restored mansion now has a new façade, fresh paving, and two wings. One houses Michael and his Dutch-born wife, Jasmijn Saft, who brings an impressive international background in hospitality, including management roles with the Thomas Keller Group and a stint as restaurant manager for Norway’s Hurtigruten cruise line during the COVID years.
The second wing is the boutique hotel itself, featuring a cozy reception, a cellar restaurant with adjoining kitchen and wine cave, a serene courtyard with a small pool, and five suites of about 60 square meters each. Every detail has been thoughtfully restored, with recycled materials, soft earthy tones, and a calm, timeless atmosphere.
We’re greeted warmly by Jasmijn, and moments later, Michael appears with two glasses of chilled cava. It’s a simple but perfect welcome. Our suite feels bright and spacious—with a small living area, a kitchenette, a large bathroom, and an airy bedroom with a king-size bed. We immediately feel at home.
A light afternoon snack soon follows: six small dishes—sardines in oil prepared by a former nun next door, local figs and avocados, olives, nuts, and garlic-toasted bread—accompanied by two glasses of crisp white wine. Delicious!
The Road to Elysium
Later, I sit down with Michael for a long conversation. At a round table in the restaurant cellar, Michael tells his story.
The youngest of four children, he grew up in a family that valued hard work and togetherness. “I didn’t realize back then that food would become the center of my life,” he says. “My mom was a magician in the kitchen. Nothing went to waste. Yesterday’s leftovers became today’s feast.”
At 17, Michael began studying hotel management at the University of Las Vegas, focusing on culinary arts. He started at Bouchon chopping vegetables, but quickly rose through the ranks—becoming sous-chef at 21, and by 24, head chef of Keller’s original Bouchon in Napa Valley. Under his leadership, the restaurant’s annual turnover grew from $9 to $12.5 million.
Four years later, he became Director of Casual Dining for the Thomas Keller Group, overseeing restaurants and bakeries across Los Angeles, Napa Valley, New York, and Las Vegas—and even international partnerships in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In 2016, he met Jasmijn Saft. They each had demanding careers, but eventually decided to pursue a shared dream—to create something of their own.
Finding Their Place
“We realized Spain was the place,” Michael recalls. “We both spoke the language, and Jasmijn’s sister lived here. It just felt right.”
Their search began in Costa Brava, then continued down the entire eastern and southern coast—Denia, Alicante, Almuñécar—without finding the perfect spot. Eventually, they decided to pause. While Michael was working in South Africa, Jasmijn visited her sister in Granada. During a hiking trip through the Lecrín Valley, she spotted an old mansion for sale in Melegis.
“When I came to see it, I was sold immediately,” Michael says. “The lush vegetation, the fruit orchards, the mountain views—it just felt meant to be.”
They bought the property in 2021 and began a full restoration. “People told me I was crazy,” he laughs. “But if you get the chance to go all-in on your dream, you take it.”
Local historians later told him that his surname Sandoval might actually have roots in the region—possibly linked to Beatrice de Sandoval, who lived near the 15th-century fortress Castillo de Zoraya.
“Maybe it was destiny,” Michael smiles. “Who knows? I ended up here by chance—but perhaps not entirely by accident.”
A House Reborn
The mansion dates back to the late 19th century. Over time, it was expanded and served as a family home—with stables in the basement and, according to local lore, the village’s first telephone and TV. In modern times, a hotelier from nearby Lanjarón (famous for its mineral water) planned to convert it into a small hotel, but the 2008 financial crisis, and later the pandemic, halted the project.
Michael and Jasmijn picked up where he left off.
“The real investment wasn’t buying the property,” Michael explains. “It was rebuilding it. What we did here would have cost five million dollars in California. Here, we could do it more reasonably—without compromising quality. My mentor Thomas Keller always said: Don’t sell yourself short.”
Aiming for Excellence
“What do you want to achieve with the restaurant?” I ask.
“Our goal is to deliver extraordinary culinary experiences and impeccable service,” he says. “To create moments guests will never forget. If we do that, we’ve succeeded.”
“And the Michelin dream?”
He smiles. “I’d be lying if I said we’re not aiming for a star. That’s the world we come from. If we do things right, it will come naturally.”
Elysium now employs six staff—four Spanish and two Dutch—many with experience from Michelin-starred restaurants. “It wasn’t easy to find the right people, but we’re a family now,” Michael says.
The Tasting Experience
That evening, we sit at the chef’s table, overlooking the kitchen where Michael and his assistant Ole prepare the dishes. A knowledgeable sommelier presents a carefully curated wine pairing, featuring Spanish labels from both classic and lesser-known regions.
The amuse-bouches set the tone: beef tartare cornet with miso crème fraîche; roasted seaweed cream with marinated algae and matcha essence; and foie gras with sour cherry glaze.
The level is outstanding—and consistent throughout the 12-course tasting menu. We savor razor clams, an inventive tomato dish, rainbow trout, langoustine, sea bass, lamb, and Galician beef tenderloin, followed by cava mousse with pickled blackcurrants and mascarpone-basil ice cream, and a finale of Frangipane tart with blackberries, red grape sauce, and a playful nod to French toast.
Michelin inspectors, take note: the road to Melegis is worth the journey.
More day trips & short breaks from Costa Tropical
Read our complete guide to Day Trips from Costa Tropical – Almuñécar & La Herradura. If you are looking for a weekend getaway, we also have several detailed options for short breaks from Almuñécar & La Herradura.
Bodegas of Spanish Wine – Day Trips from Almuñecar
There is a revolution going on in the Spanish wine industry. And wine producers (bodegas) in the Granada province are among those leading the way. Did you know that you can visit some of the most interesting of these bodegas within an hour’s drive from Almuñecar?
3 Day Itinerary Through The Granada Hills – Almuñécar Short Break
Almuñécar is a wonderful place to live and to visit, but don’t be afraid to go a little off of the beaten track and explore the nearby mountains, countryside and the Granada hills. Within just an hour of Almuñécar there is so much to do and see. We have decided to create a 3-day itinerary to help you to get out and explore! Each stop on the route can also be done as a day trip from Almuñécar, but why not take your time and soak it all in? Of course this will be flexible for you to add or remove days, so it is just a guide for you to follow and customize as you like.
A Day Trip To Vélez de Benaudalla from Almuñécar
Take a day trip to Vélez de Benaudalla from Almuñécar and the Costa Tropical. Discover an amazing canyon, nature walks, a castle, a Nasrid garden, & a dam! It is the perfect place to get out and explore beyond Almuñécar for the day! There are neat little hidden gems to see and we’ve created a route for you to follow. You just choose what is of interest to you and stop along the way.
A Getaway Glamping In Spain At The Nomad Xperience
Who is up for a little adventure? If you are seeking a unique and fun short break from the coast, try glamping in Spain with the Nomad Xperience! They offer far more than just glamping in a tent; you have several different types of accommodation to choose from. Not only will you be able to enjoy the peace and quite of the mountains, in just 20 minutes you can be in the city center of Granada! What more could you ask for?
