We weren’t convinced when the owner said she wanted a black-tiled pool; but there appears to have been “method in her madness”! Deep shades of aquamarine leap and glisten from the water, colours that are complemented throughout the house and which lend it its name. Completed in 2021, the conversion of the one-storey building focused on creating a large, airy indoor/outdoor living space, which would let in just the right amount of sun at different times of the day and year. And this is exactly what it does: the versatile terrace provides plenty of shade and breeze on hot summer’s days, yet within a few steps you can position yourself for maximising Cadiz’s winter sun. It makes for an ideal family beach property in all seasons.

Aquamarina is located at the northern end of Roche, some 600m from the beach and on a quiet street. The decor is probably best described as Californian beach house: weathered wood, blues and greens, open spaces, large glass doors, and surf boards hanging from the walls. The bedrooms face north and west and are all accessed from a neat bedroom corridor, each with its own bathroom (three of the four ensuite). And the open-plan kitchen/dining/living area faces east and south. One of the bedrooms can be made up as a double or twin, two are doubles, and the fourth bedroom has two bunk beds, providing a total sleeping capacity of 10. Each room has a ceiling fan, and all the bathrooms have good modern showers.

The kitchen has everything you will need for making the most of Conil’s wonderful local produce, and both the indoor and outdoor dining areas sit alongside, making meal times easy. Both dining tables seat 10 people comfortably, and both dining areas have been cleverly designed to let in the best of the evening sun. The sitting room is separated from the deep covered terrace by large glass doors, and these only need to be opened to create a combined breezy living area. There is a non-covered area of terrace for sunbathing, and on the far side of the pool a good area of grass for games.

A walk of about 800m will take us to the local shop, pharmacy, a couple of bars and restaurants, and childrens’ playground. Roche also has its own tennis and padel courts and five-a-side football pitches. In the summer months, there are several beach bars/restaurants to choose from within walking distance, some of which are now staying open all year. A 5-minute drive will then provide you with a far larger selection of both bars and restaurants. The area offers an endless list of activities, information on which you will find here on our website, our Instagram and on our Facebook page. And if you book with us, we provide you with detailed information on all our recommendations, details on local amenities, and our up-to-date guide to the best of everything! You could spend a wonderful holiday here without a car, and just hire bikes; but, assuming you will have a car, it’s 15 minutes to Conil, 20 minutes to the hill-top village of Vejer, 30 minutes to Cadiz, 40 minutes to Tarifa and Jerez, and 90 minutes to Seville, all of which are well worth visiting.