Having reviewed many hotels in the Canary Islands, it takes a lot to surprise me. Ecohotel El Agua, at the edge of one of eastern Tenerife’s prettiest (and sleepiest) historic villages, provided one of those rare moments. Beyond the whitewashed walls of a 19th-century farmhouse, my mind scrambled for the right words to describe the expanse of pale, pebbly terraces decorated with unglazed earthenware, towering dry-stone walls and sentinels of conifers.
As I sat on one of the rustic, ivy-strewn Bali beds, I took in the birdsong, the designer landscape, and most of all, the utter serenity. Behind and above stood Villa Olivo, a one-bedroom ‘retreat within a retreat’. This striking villa (the only accommodation at the moment) has a minimalist, stone-inspired interior and a saltwater infinity pool overlooking the whole estate. There are olive groves, a cave restaurant, an underground spa and al fresco yoga areas where holistic wellbeing is served through meditation, detoxing, personal training and breathwork. In that short moment of seated contemplation, those words to describe the experience of Ecohotel El Agua came to me: a bespoke journey back to purity amidst biblical-chic surroundings. Who wouldn’t be surprised to find this in Tenerife!
Highs
- An excellent organic vegan and vegetarian restaurant set deep in a cave
- The deep sense of serenity, space and isolation
- The underground spa with a hammam, sauna, massage area and sunken hot tub
- The tailored wellbeing offerings including yoga and meditation in a cave studio or a sun terrace, and you get a medical check-up on arrival
- Sustainability measures include water recycling, solar panels, eco cleaning products, rainwater harvesting
Lows
- The nearest bars and restaurants are in a neighbouring village (a 15-minute walk)
- Meals have to be ordered 48 hours prior to arrival, and breakfast is not included in the rates
- A stay here can be pricey, but you get a huge amount of space, good facilities, and considered design
- There’s limited accommodation at the moment (though capacity for up to 16 is planned), so it's just you and the staff
Best time to go
If you’re looking for a complete cut-off from the frenzy of modern life and the gloom of cold weather, winter (Nov-Feb) still sees average highs of around 22C. Spring (Mar-May) is the time to come when the temps are not extreme, but the floral colours are turned up to max.
Our top tips
Take advantage of the epigenetic testing to fine tune your genetic regulation. It’s a relatively new science and is exclusive on the island to Ecohotel El Agua. It analyses any imbalances within your body caused by environmental and external factors including a lack of vitamins/minerals, overuse of mobile phones and the presence of heavy metals etc. In essence it's the ultimate nature/nurture reset.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests