In collaboration with Amparo Santos we at Refugio Marnes are organizing a detoxification and anti-aging week. Detoxification and anti-aging through juices, nutrition, and nutricional complements. Cure & pure @refugiomarnes is thus much more than a another “juice cleansing”.

The disciplines which Amparo Santos uses in her work are dietetics, nutrition physiology and iridology.
Amparo Santos booked successes in anti-aging and reducing the free radicals in our body. She puts her rare combination of knowledge in treating a variety of physical ailments and complaints. She even uses her work as a an additional therapy in the treatment of cancers in collaboration with oncologists.

Many of her clients have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Nervousness
• Food Allergies
• Fluid retention (often cause of to much body volume)
• Obesity
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Constipation

Iridology

In determining the physical causes of these symptoms, imbalance and distortions Amparo Santos uses also an old method, namely Iridology. Especially the combination of these proven techniques, makes her approach unique and very complete.

Program

Are you ready for rest, sun and a healthy pampering week, then come here to relax and enjoy, in the middle of the sunny Spanish nature! The simple and applicable in daily life dietary changes, can improve your quality of life importantly . You are here under no fixed or full program, you can determine what you are doing, you are free to go wherever you choose. Only at the times of the lovingly prepared, healthy meals you are expected here, but obviously not even that is “mandatory”.

The week here at Refugio Marnes consists of:

• Comfortable stay in the peaceful Spanish countryside at the House La Ruina or one of the comfortable rooms at Los Establos or the old farm.
• Full board based on juices, light but nutritious and healthy meals all of which aim is improving your physical condition and fighting free radicals. The meals are prepared by Richard Steenblik , an experienced cook with a food technology background.
• A diagnosis or determination of your health. based on a Iridology
• consultation.
• Based on that diagnosis a number of nutricional complements prescribed by Amparo Santos, and personal adjustments to the diet for this week.
• If desired a daily or two daily massage that is adapted to your personal needs and preferences. Our Masseur Claire Durrant is a´ crack ´ en highly specialized, for more information about here, click here  http://www.calpesportsmassage.eu/
• Complimentary tea and spring water.
• If there is sufficient interest in an excursion in Valencia where culture and health will be the theme.
• A guided walk in the immediate vicinity of Refugio Marnes or further away.
• During and after the residence here Amparo Santos remains available for consultation via email And when nessecary she can send you the food additive necessary in prolongation of your stay here.
• Translation of the Castellano / Spanish into Dutch or English in the consultations.

Cost

The costs for these weeks are (full board):

• 1 person in a room: € 1,031.00 pp
• 2 persons in one room: € 928.00 pp
• 2 persons House La Ruina € 1070 pp

For every person that you bring after having booked yourself takes a 50 € discount of your stay.
Payment 50% on booking and 50% 2 weeks before arrival.
Group of 5 persons minimum, by not meeting this number obviously we will refund the full amount.

Not included are:

• cost of nutricional complements
• flight
• rental car
• Massages (á € 40).

Data

First week:
Arrival Saturday, March 30 Saturday, April 6 departure or alternative arrival and departure Friday, March 29 Friday, April 5, 2013

Second week:
Arrival and departure Monday, April 15 Monday, April 22, 2013

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The months of November, December, January and February are ideal for an active holiday in Spain. The temperatures are pleasant, there are flowering lots of plants and that gives the middle of winter a very spring-like atmosphere.

Visit our page for active vacation opportunities!

Special offer Refugio Marnes for the winter months

• Book a week in our B & B for € 511 and we provide 2 x free diners ´mesa Rural´ for 2 persons! (price includes breakfast and taxes)
• Book a week in the house La Ruina and enjoy the contents of a ´welcome basket with local food and wine and a free guided walk with us!

This course distinguishes itself by;

• Small groups, max 7 / 8 students
• Quiet and original environment
• Professional and modern teaching methods by a Spanish native teacher
• Personal support after classes
• Trip to Valencia
• Possibilities for guided walks in the vicinity of Refugio Marnes
• Daily  ‘Cine Español’ with specially selected films on Spanish themes with English subtitles

Meet your teacher and guide, Javi Mateo Requena who will make an unforgettable experience of  this intensive language course. Get to know more about  this language crack by clicking here or email us for any further information.

We distinguish ourselves by:

• a broader look at the innovative features of our Casa Rural
• a fresh look on design
• the contribution we make to our immediate surroundings: “act local / buy local”
  We willingly became part of a society and firmly believe we should make our contribution
• to be a knowledge platform when it comes to innovations in:
  • alternative energy systems
  • water (re-)use, recycling
  • (tourist) transportation
  • natural resources
  • find new uses for old farms

With the Bedouin?
At Refugio Marnes can stay in a real Jaima: a luxury Bedouin tent and stylishly equipped for a comfortable and original holiday you’ll never forget.

The tent is set on a stone platform, equipped with bathroom and kitchen. Not just tripping over the guy lines of the neighbors, but a spacious place with lots of privacy and 19 acres where you can stroll. Delicious undisturbed rest and enjoy the morning straight from bed into the pool!

If you can choose between a weekend away in the dreary Netherlands or trip to a hidden Spanish paradise in a vast landscape under a radiant sun. Easy, we head in the direction of Alicante for a weekend to relax at Refugio Marnes.

A warm welcome

The joyful greeting of the dog Bram made us forget the trip. As did the warm welcome by Willem and Richard, the owners of the finca. “Did we have had a good trip and do we want join them for dinner?”. A delicious leek pie, bread with a garlic sauce and rose wine are on the menu. Delicious.

Willem and Richard decided five years ago, to say goodbye to their Dutch home and left for Spain. Now they have been the proud owners of the finca for four years.
Refugio Marnes has two types of accommodations: “La Ruina” and “La Jaima”. La Ruina is a restored sheepfold and La Jaima is a large and comfortable Bedouin tent.

La Ruina

After the nice dinner, Willem takes us to La Ruina. With a flashlight we walk into the valley and after a little while to our home. The ‘our’ is definitely the right term, because it is so hospitable that you feel immediately at home. Amazed, we study the house. The decor is modern, while preserving the ancient materials and elements. Before going to sleep I tried to call home. In vain, there is no coverage! My little panic disappears almost immediately when I realize myself: this means absolute REST! What more could you want?
The next morning we are woken by the birds and other animals. The surroundings are beautiful. According to the World Health Organization this area has the healthiest climate in Europe. We believe that immediately when we see what is growing and flourishing. Algarobo (carob tree), olive and almond trees and cacti disk all over the place. Apart from birds, owls and other animals you hear and see no one in the valley.

Benissa and Altea

Obviously we want to see more of the area, so we leave the pool. Agile, we descend the mountain with our rental car. We are slowly returning to civilization and head to Benissa center. Benissa is one of the oldest villages of the Costa Blanca and is full of pleasant surprises. Unfortunately, the shops are closed on Sundays, so we decide to drive to Altea. This small coastal town is built on a hill. We have a lovely stroll through the steep, narrow cobblestone streets. We walk between blue and white facades and occasionally there are surprising vistas. We find a terrace and order a delicious serrano ham sandwich and a sundae. Once again we savor the moment. We walk a little along the souvenirshops and return to La Ruina.

At La Ruina we take a shower and then have dinner somewhere. Everything in our time because there’s no rushing in this environment. We drive down the mountain a bit and stop at the first restaurant we encounter, Bar Restaurante Pinos. Not spectacular, but nice. Back at La Ruina we light some candles and chat late into the night under the stars. Willem tells us that we went to the wrong restaurant. Pinos is actually more of a lunchroom. We had better driven a little further to restaurant El Peon. Perhaps something to remember.

Adios

The next morning I stay a in bed a little longer and listen to the many animal sounds. It postpones the Dutch hectic for a little while. After a breakfast we pack our stuff, walk around the finca and we promise ourselves that we really should do this more often. At Richard and Willem we drink a cup of coffee. We decide to go to Benissa. This time we have more success. We have an extensive lunch and again treat ourselves to a delicious icecream . At the airport we deliver our car to Sunny Cars. And a few hours later we awake rudely from our dream. We have landed at Schiphol!

Casa Basic (Spanish Design Magazine)

The morning breaks over the Sierra de Bernia, the hours pass slowly, the days are endless and the nights last forever. Then in the morning when danger lies in wait and your five senses must be sharpest. While his fellows are asleep, Muhammad remains alert to the danger of a possible attack. They hide themselves for almost a year here in the Sierra Bernia. Ever since Fillipe II decided that all Moors should be thrown out of the country. Many of them, like Muhammad decide to flee to the Sierra de Bernia. But their numbers diminish and Muhammad wonders how long they can keep going. The Sierra de Bernia was the scene of the last days of these rebels who in 1609 had decided to revolt against their expulsion and decided to flee into the mountains.

Today nothing remembers us of this sad history. However, there is a place where we can come into contact with this world of Muhammad and the Arab/Islamic culture that has been part of the history of this country for such a long time. This is a place where you can stay in a real Jaima but now equipped with all modern comforts. Thanks to Refugio Marnes and their desire to revive the history, since April 2004 one can find the silhouette of a genuine Jaima in the landscape of the Sierra de Bernia. Stripped of the nomadic background, this Jaima still has the same function as before, namely to provide a suitable place to rest, for a simple and easy life. Here now rule the sun, rest and peace. The tent is imported directly from Morocco. It is a spacious 50 square meters wide Khaima/Jaima that was set up on a stone platform in the shade of a tree that protected against the hostility of the weather. La Jaima can accommodate four people and has the same facilities as an normal house: a room, a kitchen and a bathroom. All of this is furnished like a Royal Jaima, and there is a great sense of detailing everywhere, Arab tea tables, Persian carpets, etc. Here it is very easy to forget that we are just in the province of Alicante!

In front of the Sierra de Bernia (Alicante) stands this little house that, with only 70m2, has all the amenities we need today. Preserving however the simplicity and charm of the old lifestyle. Going to the Sierra de Bernia to a place far enough away from anything that causes stress, but sufficiently near all the modern advantages, we encounter Refugio Marnes. The 70m2 house “La Ruina” is a journey into the past, a return to a more basic and simple life, and the enjoyment of nature.

The sun, peace and quiet are guaranteed, and they must be added the charm of life on the farm of yesteryear. The owners are a couple of Dutchman, who discovered this idyllic spot in one of their holidays in Spain. One evening they were hiking in the area, saw the poster of the property and then decided to buy.

“The silence, the surroundings, the microclimate and that the property consisted of two buildings pushed us to buy”, the owners tell us.

This was the year 2004. Within three months restoration of the little house was underway. “With great enthusiasm, energy and attention we restored the old ruin and today we are very satisfied. We did most of the work ourselves.” A lounge, a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom and an attic were build in the house. And a porch facing south with magnificent views of the Sierra de Bernia. The perfect detailing of “La Ruina” with the windows and original wooden doors, which have now been painted a bright blue. The stone walls and polished concrete floors.

The decor may be simple and functional but nothing is superfluous or lacking. Maintenance is easier this way. In the garden grow species native to the area, which don’t require special care, nor is abundant irrigation needed. The pool was specifically built to blend in with the landscape and not interrupt the harmony of the rustic environment.