Casa las pencas de margarita

Hotel Description

Casa las Pencas de Margarita caught me off guard, honestly – I was expecting another standard hotel, but this place has something different going on. Tucked away on Calle Uruguay in Los Realejos, it’s one of those spots where you actually feel like you’re staying somewhere with character, not just a room for the night. The name itself tells you everything – “pencas” refers to the thick, fleshy leaves of the prickly pear cactus, and there’s this subtle desert-meets-coast vibe throughout the property that somehow works perfectly here on the north side of Tenerife.

What I really appreciated was how they’ve managed to feel upscale (it’s a solid 4-star spot) without being stuffy about it. The rooms have this lived-in elegance – you know what I mean? Like someone’s stylish aunt decorated them, not a hotel chain. The bathrooms are actually spacious, which is refreshing because I swear most European hotels think we’re all contortionists. From my room, I could see bits of the Atlantic through the Canarian pines, and in the mornings you get this amazing light that makes everything look golden. The check-in was smooth – none of that awkward standing around while they “locate your reservation” nonsense.

Los Realejos itself is sort of the perfect base if you want to explore Tenerife without dealing with the tourist chaos of the south. You’re about fifteen minutes from Puerto de la Cruz (where you can actually swim without dodging cruise ship crowds), and the hotel’s location means you can walk to some genuinely good local restaurants – there’s this tiny place around the corner that does the most incredible papas arrugadas I’ve had on the island. The area gets quiet at night, which some people might find boring, but after days of hiking in Teide or dealing with beach crowds, I found it kind of perfect. Parking’s easy too, which anyone who’s driven in the Canary Islands will appreciate. The 8.5 rating makes sense – it’s not flawless (the WiFi can be spotty in some rooms, and breakfast service runs a bit slow), but it’s the kind of place that gets the important things right and has enough personality to make you remember it fondly.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $71. Three-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Nice but smells from cigarettes – Luca from Slovakia – 10 December 2023 (5/10)

  Comfortables beds, coffee machine.
  
  What could be improved: The whole apartment smelled a lot from cigarettes. It didn't go away even after 3 days of permanently opened windows. The bathroom smelled from humidity and another unknown smell, as there is an open ceiling / chimney right over the shower going to the neighbours place. It would be nice to have a bottle of water at the arrival as the tap water is simply an island water.

• Exceptional – Hur from France – 10 March 2025 (10/10)

  Bon rapport qualité prix
  
  What could be improved: Microhonde vieillissant

• Exceptional – Hans from Spain – 16 December 2024 (10/10)

  Es muy cómodo apartamento. Las rutas bonitas están cerco. las paradas de autobús están cerca.

• Semana perfecta – Claudia from Spain – 4 September 2024 (10/10)

  La casa estaba muy bien equipada para cubrir la mayoría de necesidades que pudiéramos tener. Estaba muy limpia y era muy cómoda. Además, la ubicación era ideal para moverse por la isla.
  Por su parte el anfitrión fue muy amable atendiendo nuestras preguntas y solicitudes.
  
  What could be improved: El mal olor de las tuberías del baño

• Exceptional – Agnieszka from Poland – 24 February 2024 (10/10)

  Podobało mi się położenie, blisko sklepy, spokojna boczna uliczka, wyposażenie kompletne.

• Exceptional – Lydia from Germany – 1 January 2024 (10/10)

  Alles super

• Superb – Hanuš from Czech Republic – 10 August 2023 (9/10)

  Útulný a čistý, vybavení pro vaření i praní perfekt. Výborná komunikace s vlastníky vždy poradili. Soukromý i pro větší rodinu.

• Superb – Inmaculada from Spain – 7 August 2023 (9/10)

  Casa confortable, con todas las comodidades y servicios. Varias habitaciones con buen gusto en la decoración y cocina y baño equipados. Tiene un patio interno y una zona exterior muy tranquila. Muy bien equipada
  
  What could be improved: Quizá el aparcamiento no es fácil entrarda la noche. Pero hay calles colindantes que permiten el aparcamiento

• Conveniente a un precio rasonable. – Raissel from Spain – 7 May 2025 (8/10)

  La casa es cómoda y está bien ubicada, cerca de comercios locales. Está muy bien equipada y limpia. Las camas son cómodas y las habitaciones espaciosas.
  
  What could be improved: No tiene persianas o cortinas que dejen las habitaciones totalmente a oscuras. Las cañerías del baño huelen, a pesar de que el baño está perfectamente limpio.

• Good – Angela-abl from Spain – 9 March 2025 (7/10)

  Habitaciones amplias
  
  What could be improved: El baño tenía mal olor, y en una de las habitaciones se oían demasiado los pájaros que tenían en el patio y no dejaban dormir

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities