At the Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur on Spain’s Costa Brava, you are a treasured guest who is welcomed with love.
When you come to stay at the Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur, you arrive at the 19th-century house of Bonaventura Caner Bataller. This was a man whose name (“good venture”) foretold a fortune to be made in Cuba and invested here on return.
Neoclassical villa built by Bonaventura Caner Batella in 1866
In Begur, you are embraced by the loveliness of the Costa Brava, a land between mountains and sea.
View of Begur and its castle from Hotel Aiguaclara
Here, life is rich with giving and passion. You find the house dressed accordingly: with the romance of habanera and flamenco, in flourishes and flashes.
Front facade with initials BCB and the year 1866 above the center doorway
In light and dark.
Eclectic reception decor evokes love, travel and history of the house
With excitement and repose.
Honor bar for guests – perfect for early coffee or late aperitif
This is the Hotel Aiguaclara, rated best in Begur and the Costa Brava.
Hotel Aiguaclara bar
When you awaken in the Hotel Aiguaclara Begur, the breeze will blow in from the sea.
Another world beyond the window
The night’s whispers come in Catalán on the fragrance of jasmine. They are answered in the flutter of a curtain or a soft tap at your door.
Vintage double door entry
In the stillness of the house, love lies drowsy on a cloud of crisp linens with coverlets of chenille.
Catalán is the language of the Costa Brava. It wafts off the tongue in a silken ribbon of softened consonants. Thoughts and feelings are embellished by curving adjectives, just as the wrought iron tracery of balconies and railings decorates the houses in Begur.
Through the terrace gate to the house next door
Aiguaclara means “clear water” in Catalán, but this name is a clever play. Clara and her husband Joan left their previous life in Barcelona at the turn of the 21st century. With clarity of vision, they give you a boutique hotel and romantic restaurant “fet amb love” (made with love).
You’ll be enchanted, just as they intend. At Hotel Aiguaclara, love is in every detail.
Love is in the air
Love comes to you as a gift from the silken hands of Quique, the masseuse who kneads away your tension in a tranquil space downstairs.
Lower level “chill-out” space
It arrives at your table in the delicate flavors married by Jossef, the Mallorcan genius in Aiguaclara’s kitchen.
Pastry with apple, morel, cheese and truffle sauce
Foie terrine
Love comes to you in the evening’s music: Cuban classics sung by Ester and Emilio (with Quique on percussion).
Love beckons as you climb the spiral to your room.
Stairway at Hotel Aiguaclara
Love is transformative: you imagine yourself the guest of Señor Bataller one hundred and fifty years ago as you close your double doors. The cares of your real world disappear.
First floor landing
Love remains as the light of the day fades, filtered through frosted flowers.
Vintage glass on double doors
When you drift to sleep in your room at the Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur, the breeze will blow in from the sea.
Practical Information: Hotel Aiguaclara, Sant Miquel, 2, Begur (Girona), Telephone: (+34) 972 622 905, email: info@hotelaiguaclara.com. Ten unique guest rooms, some with private terrace, free Wi-Fi, international TV (English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch). From €70-€190 including breakfast. Begur is 90 minutes from Barcelona El Prat International Airport and 30 minutes from Girona-Costa Brava Airport. Train stations are in Flaçà (20km north) and Caldes de Malavella (40km south). Sarfa bus line serves Begur from Barcelona or Girona.
In early September each year, Begur honors its connection with Cuba by holding the Fira d’Indians, tracing the legacy of those who emigrated in the 19th century and returned, building luxurious houses (castellas) and bringing back cultural influences from the Caribbean. Other summer events include the Begur Festival of Music, craft and handwork fairs, and sardanes folk dances. Begur’s population of around 4,000 increases tenfold during the summer holidays.
We were the guests of Hotel Aiguaclara during our stay. All opinions are our own.
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Looks very cozy, the food looks delicious, and all around the place has a homely feel.
Hi Travelwith2ofus – The pastry with morel and truffle was seriously one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. 🙂
Wow…what a place. Your photos certainly gave the place justice. Every detail seems well-thought of…and made with love. I am envious!
Hi Carol – it’s magic. Impossible to completely convey, but I hope others are inspired to book a stay.
I will have to take note of this gorgeous hotel, I love the colours and the vibe. We plan to spend one month in Spain next Summer to keep this Spanish language up!
What a lovely site you have.
Hi Gemma – fun plan! Make sure you book ahead here. With only ten rooms, Hotel Aiguaclara fills quickly, as you might imagine. Thank you. 🙂
What an exquisite building! And, BTW, my great uncle was also called Buenaventura! 🙂
Hi Ana – Thank you! If names could foretell the future…I think in the old days they believed it. 🙂
Your beautiful words match the Hotel Aiguaclara perfectly; romantic, old-world and dreamy. As I read through this post and saw the pictures, I felt I was floating through the hotel myself and dreaming of a life wonderful. Thank you and will definitely keep Hotel Aiguaclara in mind when we are in Costa Brava.
Hi Brenda – some of the rooms are family friendly, too. But you’re right, this is old world, dreamy atmosphere. An amazing place where time doesn’t matter.
Looks like a lovely place by the sea! I agree, the food looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Amanda – Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
This place looks right up my street! Gorgeous, quirky and charming with little touches that give it a homely atmosphere. Costa Brava looks a little different from what I’ve imagined and actually somewhere I would like to explore from these photos. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Kate – The Costa Brava is an incredible experience with something for everyone. 🙂
I love the colors! It looks so romantic, and your words describing it are very poetic. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Vicky and Buddy – It is very romantic, a combination of idealism, sophistication, along with simplistic and familiar comfort. It all works!
We love staying at places like the Hotel Aiguaclara that allow a glimpse into the lives of the original owners as well as a fusion of the building’s history and its inhabitants. You must have had a lot of fun wandering the halls and checking out the vintage furnishings!
Hi Anita – Fusion is a great word to describe Clara’s vision. You’re right, it was fun peeking around (I admit to opening other unoccupied rooms, too, as the big keys were kept in their locks.)
What a find Vintage atmosphere, great hosts, fine food and music…just my kind of place. Now on my list of places to go in Costa Brava. Thanks Betsy!
Hi Anita – You and Tom would find it a perfect fit – all of your favorite things. And you’d love Clara and Joan, too.
I love how bright and vibrant these photos are! That one capture you got of the pink and red building – wow! Such a gorgeous photo!
Hi Alli – Thank you! Easy to snap away in beautiful settings like this one.
What a very “lovely” stay~
Your evocative post made Aiguaclara come alive. I hope we can visit this lovely property next time we are in Barcelona!
Hi Irene – I think you’d love it. Thanks!
Adding this stunningly beautiful hotel to my list. I love that it has so many different things going for it with music and beautiful features.
Hi Paula – You would adore it. Both the restaurant and the hotel are booked very solidly, which is great to see.
What an amazingly beautiful and historic property. Would love to stay there!
Hi Billie – You and Steve would feel right at home. 🙂
Looks wonderful! I would love to visit during the festival season.
Hi Susan – Rooms are tough to get as the town increases in size by 10x so book early! 🙂
We have always heard so much about Costa Brava but haven’t ever made it there. Looks like this is the place to stay when we finally do. Thanks!
Hi Gypsynesters – Once you get there, you may not want to leave!
Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur on Spain’s Costa Brava looks exactly like a place I would enjoy staying. It’s been added to the list.
Hi Carole – I bet you would!
We quickly visited Begur on a trip along the coast but didn’t stay. Had I known that this hotel was there, I would have made sure we stopped for a few nights! It looks fabulous…so many great design features yet the historic feeling is retained.
Hi Jenny – Begur is a great combination of historical and modern. It’s easy to see why many retirees have chosen it for a home. Excellent lifestyle.
Beautifully written, I felt as if I were reading a love letter, and indeed it was. Begur was a favorite of mine, I only wish we could have spent more time there. Costa Brava has so much to offer!
Hi Alison – You’re right, it is a love letter to a wonderful atmosphere and feeling. We only scratched the surface in Costa Brava, and we definitely want to spend more time in Catalunya. Begur is right up there.
Love your photos! I love the vintage vibe and that the focus is “Love”. How can you go wrong? Your ice cold beverage (possibly cocktail?) photo was my favorite!
Hi Suzanne – Yes, that was billed as the best mojito in town (and it was pretty darn good). With the historical Cuban connection, there are traffic-sign like indicators that say “Mojito Point” throughout town where you can go in and have one. 😀
Hotel Aiguaclara Looks wonderful. I love the connection to Cuba.
Hi Donna – Yes, it’s really fascinating. A lot of Indianos invested in the cork industry when they returned to the Empordà region from Cuba, and when wine making took off, they made a fortune all over again. 🙂
I love boutique hotels like this, so colorful and quirky. The food looks really inviting also, will have to visit here some day.
Hi Noel – You really should! We highly recommend it. 😉
What a stunning house, I love the name and the chill out space in particular
Hi Suze – The chill out space is a brilliant use of what could be a not so attractive area.
What a lovely hotel! Funnily enough, we’d had our eye on the Costa Brava region before the TBEX conference was recently held here. Now it may become so popular, the hotel might not have room when we visit!
Hi Janice – They do book up, so make sure you give yourself a lot of time when you plan. 🙂
Hi Betsy,
The inspiration surely was abundant for you to be so touched — and it comes through in your most eloquent post.
Brava, my friend! Just darn lovely.
Josie
Hi Josie – Glad you enjoyed it. We’re smitten with Catalunya as you are and the Aiguaclara had a lot to do with it. 🙂
You’ve really captured the place well! Love all the little details.
Thanks, Dannielle!
I’ve been wanting to get to Costa Brava. I’ll have to make sure to check this place out when we start mapping it out.
Hi Elaine – Please do, they’ll provide a very memorable experience.
Wow! I’m thinking I need to get to this place NOW. If I’m ever in Costa Brava I will definitely be staying here. You’ve described it as my ideal hotel. Nicely appointed, relaxing and feels like home. Thanks!
Hi Sue – It’s definitely a must if you’re within 100 miles. 🙂
WHAT a gorgeous place. I can’t wait to go back to the region…and maybe live there some day:-)
Hi Vicki – Me, too! This hotel is an amazing world unto itself in one of our favorite towns.