The eye-catching Finca Las Longueras lures you like a ruby parrot behind palm trees. A colonial mansion dating from 1895, it is known affectionately as 'La Casa Roja' and was the autumnal residence of an aristocratic Gran Canarian family. Inside, the feel is patrician, not pompous, with an airy conservatory, light-dappled hallways leading to velvet-rich reading rooms, and a shaded terrace where breakfast and dinner are served. The 14 guest rooms and suites lie off various corridors and all have views - you could be peering over orange and avocado orchards or, in our case, reaching out of the window to touch (carefully) an immense cactus.
As Las Longueras is in a deep valley, craggy mountains loom above you in a dramatic backdrop. You could hike to one of the island's highest peaks, Tamadaba, seen from the lushly landscaped pool... or you could just ask that young Dutch couple at breakfast how tough the trek is, and then stay on a lounger. Hiking or hanging out, Las Longueras covers both in grand style.
Highs
- Spectacular location in a tranquil valley, with mountains encircling the finca's abundant orchards
- Rooms are spacious, with the owners' family antiques and paintings adding a yesteryear touch. There are also 2 Junior Suites with contemporary fittings, for those who prefer more modern décor
- Large landscaped pool with a little kitchen/honesty bar
- Gorgeous grounds, well-groomed by the long-standing gardener
- You're just 2km from Puerto de las Nieves, for swimming and day trips to Tenerife
Lows
- The gravel road leading down to Las Longueras is full of hairpins and potholes - the family is trying to convince the local council to pave and improve it
- Some rooms could do with refurbishing (tired fabrics and furniture)
- The pool can feel a little chilly at times
Best rooms for families
One suite can take an extra bed (small additional cost), and the Junior Suites have sofabeds which can accommodate 2 children or 1 adult. All rooms can take a baby cot (free of charge).
- Boutique Hotel
- 14 rooms
- Breakfast (+ dinner on request)
- All ages welcome.
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
As an aristocratic second home, Finca Las Longueras feels very much 'to the manor born'. The early 18th-century salon, chapel and conservatory are kept in pristine condition, and the outdoor terraces, with enclaves of wrought-iron chairs and tables, are also well-maintained.
In the main building are 10 double/twin rooms and 2 suites, all of them fairly spacious. There are only 2 genuine double rooms; the European twin bed set-up is very much the done thing here, with no pretence of even pushing them together. You won’t find aircon, overhead fans or phones, but there are minibars, TVs, hairdryers and safes, plus Victorian dressing tables and grand wardrobes (with hangers that you can actually remove from the railing). Bathrooms here are big but rather rudimentary: there are no fancy toiletries, and most have showers only (if you want a tub you'll need to book a suite).
If you'd prefer a more modern style then opt for one of the 2 Junior Suites, set in a separate block about 60m away and built since our last visit. Each has a double bed, a sitting area with a sofabed (for 1 adult or 2 children), a bathroom with a shower and hydro-massage tub, a private terrace, and an adjacent parking spot. They also come with additional comforts: kettles, air conditioning, satellite TV.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast (8.30-10.30am) is a help-yourself selection of coffee, bread, jams, fruit and juice laid out on sideboards in the dining room. Once you've loaded your plate you can head outside to one of the little tables on the terrace, which is shaded from the sun and has wonderful views out over citrus trees and palms.
The half-board option is popular in Gran Canaria, and dinners are served outside whenever it's warm enough. We had a tasty seafood paella made by Elsa, the finca's cook, who walks to work from the neighbouring village of San Pedro. Her homemade almond ice cream, served with oranges from the orchard, was a triumphant finale.
You may want to head to the nearby twin towns of Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves (2km away) for lunch; you could even catch the boat from the port across to Tenerife for something to eat. But we couldn't resist the raft of cheap and cheerful outdoor restaurants along the seafront, serving up fresh fish in a boisterous taverna atmosphere. We did feel a bit sorry for the Restaurante Dedo de Dios, which recently lost its raison d'etre: a prime view of 'God's Finger', a tall basalt monolith that lasted 100,000 years, only to be snapped off in a mad storm in 2005.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Dinner by arrangement
- Honesty bar
Activities
- Wander through the well-preserved salons, read a book in the conservatory with its view over the chapel bell, or sit on one of the terraces and soak up the sunshine
- Treat yourself to a cold beer from the honesty bar and lie by the pool, enjoying sumptuous mountain views
- Walk along the road behind the cactus garden to the tiny village of San Pedro (less than 3km)
- More adventurous trekkers can brave the stiff climb (3 hours each way) up Tamadaba (see our Destination Guide); there are other, less daunting hiking and biking trails in the area, too
- Head to the beach at Puerto de las Nieves (2km away) - it's small and rocky, but swimming in the gin-clear sea ringed by mountains is awesome
- Take the fast Fred Olsen ferry from Puerto de la Nievas to Santa Cruz in Tenerife; the crossing takes just over an hour and runs 6 times a day, so you can even nip across for lunch if you want to
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Trekking
Best Time to go
Gran Canaria is wonderfully warm up until September/October, and still hotter and sunnier than most of Europe right up until May. August is very hot and Las Longueras shuts for this month.
Our Top Tips
All sorts of adventures are available nearby, from diving and sailing to mountain biking - ask staff for advice and they'll happily point you in the direction of something that tickles your fancy.
Location
Finca Las Longueras is off the GC-2 road to Agaete, in the northwest of Gran Canaria. It's a 30-minute drive from the island's airport.
By Air:
Gran Canaria (Gando) Airport is 30km away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.
From the Airport
Public transport links aren't very good, so we'd recommend hiring a car (see below).
By Ferry:
There are regular ferries from Tenerife to Puerto de las Nieves (2km away), and from Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and mainland Spain (Cádiz) to Puerto de la Luz in Las Palmas (36km away).
By Car:
For car hire please see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Gran Canaria and getting around
Airports:
- Gran Canaria (Gando) 30.0 km LPA
Other:
- Beach 2.0 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 2.0 km