Los Cactus

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Los Cactus on Camino Lomo Arguello, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones that completely blindside you. This little gem sits in one of those authentic Tenerife neighborhoods where you’ll hear more Spanish than English, and the locals actually wave when you walk by.

The thing about this area is that it’s properly local – I mean, you’re not going to find tourist traps selling overpriced sangria every fifty meters. Instead, you’ve got that real Santa Cruz vibe where people are heading to work in the morning and kids are playing football in the streets after school. The hotel itself has this unpretentious charm that I actually found refreshing. The staff genuinely seemed happy to see guests (which, let’s face it, isn’t always the case), and check-in was one of those rare smooth experiences where they actually remembered my name the next day. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 3-star – clean, comfortable beds, decent shower pressure, and here’s the kicker – it’s properly quiet at night. No slamming doors or paper-thin walls that make you question your life choices.

What really gets me about Los Cactus is how it manages to punch way above its weight class. That 9.5 rating isn’t some fluke – it’s because they’ve figured out that hospitality isn’t about fancy marble lobbies or champagne service. It’s about making sure the WiFi actually works, having hot water when you need it, and maybe pointing you toward that little bakery down the street that does incredible pastries (trust me on this one). The location is brilliant if you want to experience Tenerife like an actual person rather than a tourist. You’re close enough to get into the city center without the chaos, and there’s proper parking – which anyone who’s driven around Santa Cruz will tell you is basically worth its weight in gold. I spent a few evenings just wandering the neighborhood, and it felt like I was seeing the island through local eyes rather than through the lens of resort life. Sure, it’s not beachfront, but honestly? The authentic experience more than makes up for it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $71. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities