Casa MARA Tenerife

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Casa MARA? It’s tucked away on this quiet residential street in Las Cruces – and I mean actually quiet, not the fake “peaceful oasis” kind of quiet you read about in hotel brochures. The building itself is pretty typical Canarian architecture, nothing flashy, but there’s something genuinely welcoming about the place that you pick up on immediately. The owner, Maria (yeah, that’s where the name comes from), actually lives nearby and you’ll probably bump into her during your stay – she’s one of those people who knows everyone in the neighborhood and isn’t shy about sharing recommendations.

Las Cruces is honestly one of those spots that most tourists completely miss, which is exactly why I loved staying here. You’re about fifteen minutes from the chaos of Los Cristianos but worlds away from the tourist bubble. There’s this little bakery about two blocks down on Calle Real that does these incredible palm-shaped pastries – Maria will tell you about it, trust me – and the whole area has this authentic Tenerife vibe that’s getting harder to find. The hotel itself is pretty straightforward for a three-star place, but everything works properly (the WiFi is actually decent, the hot water doesn’t run out, that sort of thing). The rooms are clean and comfortable enough, though don’t expect anything fancy – think more “your Spanish aunt’s guest room” than boutique hotel. But honestly, that’s part of the charm.

What really makes this place work is the location for exploring the island. You’re positioned perfectly between the tourist south and the more rugged north – Mount Teide is maybe a 45-minute drive, and you can actually see it from some of the upper floor rooms on clear days. The local bus connections are surprisingly good too, which I only discovered because my rental car had issues one day. Maria sorted that out with a quick phone call to her cousin who runs a garage nearby – that’s the kind of help you get here that you’d never find at a chain hotel. The neighborhood comes alive in the evenings when locals are out walking, and there’s this fantastic family-run restaurant called El Rincón about a ten-minute walk away where you’ll be the only tourist if you go after 9 PM. Sure, the hotel doesn’t have a pool or fancy amenities, but if you want to experience Tenerife like someone who actually lives here rather than just visiting, Casa MARA gets it right. It’s the kind of place where you end up staying longer than planned – not because there’s so much to do right there, but because it feels like home base for actually exploring the island properly.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $38. Studio with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $51. Standard Apartment with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $58. Studio Apartment with Sea View with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $69. Apartment with Sea View with 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $81. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 2 single beds for Max persons: 4

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities