Posada Calera, rural guesthouse with restaurant and terrace
Posada Calera is a rural guesthouse in Valle de Villaverde, Cantabria, with its own restaurant, a terrace and free car parking. It is a base for walking in the area and for getting to Bilbao. It suits simple travellers who value friendly service and good food, less so anyone looking for stylish rooms.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Posada Calera.
Where it is and how to get there
Posada Calera is at La Matanza, 41, in Valle de Villaverde, in the east of Cantabria and close to the Basque Country. It is a rural, quiet setting, so the easiest way to arrive is by car, and there is free private parking.
The location suits anyone wanting to combine countryside and city. The description places the Vizcaya Bridge and the Bilbao exhibition centre within a day trip, and mentions Bilbao airport as the most convenient for flying in, though you will need a car for that. There is also an important warning that comes up in the reviews.
There is another Posada La Calera in Villasana de Mena, and one guest ended up there by mistake, at night and on winding roads. The owner of Posada Calera in Valle de Villaverde sent directions and waited for them. My advice is to check the address carefully before setting off.
What the rooms are like
The rooms at Posada Calera have a rural feel, with simple furniture and a rustic touch. One guest describes them as rural in the good sense and well equipped, with heating and a bath in the bathroom, and enough space to feel comfortable.
The rest of the property is aimed at the traveller passing through or the walker. There is free Wi-Fi throughout, luggage storage and a tourist information point, and walking routes around the area are organised from the guesthouse. Another guest talks about cosy, clean facilities with a well-achieved rustic touch.
What you will miss, if you are looking for it, is luxury. There is no information on a pool, spa or large-hotel services, and I am not going to make them up. It is a village guesthouse, and it clearly does that job well.
What guests say
Posada Calera has a rating of 4.5 on Google from 350 reviews. What gets the most praise is not the building but the people and the food.
- The welcome. The most repeated point, with praise for the owner, the waiter and the waitresses, including from a family with young children.
- The restaurant. Guests talk about a varied menu, home-style dishes and generous portions, and lentils, beef and breaded liver that were cooked very well.
- Breakfast. Several recommend it, with a special mention for the freshly made tortilla (Spanish potato omelette). Even motorcycle riders on a tour stopped for it.
- The terrace. Large, good for a drink or for dinner.
- Cleanliness. Mentioned in plenty of positive comments.
What to know before you book
The overall opinion of Posada Calera is very good, but not perfect, and you should know the bad points too. There are two one-star reviews worth paying attention to.
- Condition of one room. One reviewer described a room that was dirty, had no window, a strong smell of air freshener, an old bed and pillow and a shower curtain in poor state. I do not know whether that is the case for every room, but ask for one with a window and look at it when you arrive.
- Towels and food. Another review mentions broken bath towels and a dish of beans with clams that tasted tinned.
- Limited bar offer. One passing traveller says there is not much on display at the bar.
- The name. Check that you are booking Posada Calera in Valle de Villaverde and not the other one with a similar name.
Against those complaints, the positive reviews are far more numerous, and the difference usually lies in which room you get. My advice is to write ahead and ask for an outside room.
Who Posada Calera is for
I would choose Posada Calera for a simple trip by car, to walk around Cantabria and eat well without spending too much. It also suits anyone doing a bike or motorbike tour who needs a bed, a proper breakfast and somewhere to leave their luggage.
With small children it seems to work, as one family says their children left delighted with the welcome. On the other hand, it is not for anyone wanting a modern room, a designer look or hotel services.
What to do in the area
From Valle de Villaverde you can walk around the valley, where the guesthouse organises walking routes, and leave the urban side for another day. Bilbao is a reasonable drive away.
The best-known sight is the Vizcaya Bridge, a world heritage site as the description notes, and the Bilbao exhibition centre. To combine nature with city, Posada Calera works as a comfortable base, with the pleasure of returning to a quiet village and having dinner in its restaurant.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
