Villa Carioca – with private pool, marvelous garden and amazing ocean view

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Villa Carioca? It’s not just the name on the booking site – this place actually feels like someone’s gorgeous private home that they’ve decided to share with travelers. I mean, when you pull up to 5 Calle Las Acacias in Sauzal, you’re not dealing with some massive hotel complex. This is intimate, maybe a handful of rooms at most, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes it special. The garden – and I’m talking about a proper garden here, not some landscaped lawn – sprawls around the property with these mature trees and flowering plants that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret corner of Tenerife. The pool sits right in the middle of it all, and here’s the thing: it’s actually private. Not “private” like hotel marketing loves to say, but genuinely secluded where you can float around without feeling like you’re on display.

The ocean view is… well, it’s one of those views that makes you stop mid-conversation. From the terrace, you’re looking out over the Atlantic, and depending on the time of day, the water shifts from this deep navy to almost turquoise. Sauzal itself sits on these cliffs north of Santa Cruz, so you’re elevated enough that the view feels expansive rather than just a glimpse of water. What I really appreciated was how quiet it stays here – you get ocean sounds without the chaos of beachfront crowds. The area around Las Acacias is residential, mostly locals, which means you’re experiencing a slice of actual Canarian life rather than tourist bubble stuff. There’s a little plaza not far from the villa where you can grab coffee in the morning, and the locals there will actually chat with you if your Spanish is decent (or if you’re brave enough to try).

Inside, the villa maintains that 4-star comfort level without feeling stuffy or over-designed. The rooms are spacious – I’m talking about space to actually unpack and spread out, not just squeeze around a bed. Air conditioning works properly (crucial in summer), and the bathrooms are modern without being sterile. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward; no long lobby waits or upselling attempts. Parking is easy, which anyone who’s driven around Tenerife’s coastal towns will appreciate. The 9.1 rating makes sense when you stay here – it’s not trying to be everything to everyone, but what it does, it does really well. If you’re looking for a pool bar and animation team, this isn’t your spot. But if you want to wake up to garden views, spend your day by a genuinely beautiful pool, and feel like you’re staying somewhere with actual character rather than cookie-cutter comfort, Villa Carioca delivers on that promise completely.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $463. Superior Villa with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 6

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities