Black rocks in front of the glass balustrade, La Gomera on the horizon behind – that’s how our stay at the Barceló Santiago began.
I’m standing on the balcony, waves breaking against dark volcanic rock directly below me. No sandy beach, no sun loungers – just sea, rock and in the distance the silhouette of La Gomera. That’s exactly the kind of image I had in mind when I booked the Barceló Santiago. And yet the first balcony wasn’t quite the right one.
The room swap that nobody refused
The first room had a sea view – technically that was true. But the angle, the view when waking up, the orientation: not what we wanted. Purely a matter of taste, no fault of the hotel. I went to reception, explained the situation, and what happened next genuinely impressed me: no hesitation, no lengthy deliberation. The new room was ready the following morning. That moment set the tone for the entire stay – here they take guests seriously, without any fuss.
From the new balcony you see exactly what my first photo shows: an offshore rock formation of black lava stone, the Atlantic all around, and on the horizon La Gomera – on clear days so close it feels like you could swim across. The glass balustrade leaves nothing obscured; you sit on the simple dark wicker chairs and just look out.
Location: an old fishing village that has reinvented itself
Puerto de Santiago on the west coast of Tenerife used to be a fishing village – the name still hints at it, everyday life hardly does anymore. Today the town nestles against the rugged cliff coast, seamlessly merged with Los Gigantes to the north. The Barceló stands right on this coastline: volcanic rock below, the Atlantic in front, and from the hotel grounds a view of wooded mountain slopes in the hinterland, as you can glimpse in the third of my photos – palm trees, well-kept greenery, rock and clouds beyond.
The small lettering “…eze” at the edge of the building in the third photo – probably the hotel’s own pool bar area – caught my eye in passing. On the terrace level below: pergolas, parasols, neatly trimmed greenery. Everything feels well-maintained without being sterile.
Food and evening: more than just obligation
When it comes to the food, there’s simply nothing to grumble about. Plentiful, varied, and the quality holds up. Anyone who thinks hotel buffets always mean compromises will be pleasantly surprised here. What particularly stuck with me was the evening entertainment – it was genuinely special. Not a half-hearted programme done out of obligation, but something you actually enjoy watching.
The only real sticking point: the car park
If you arrive by rental car – and at an airport with as many rental options as Tenerife that’s a natural choice – there’s one thing you need to be prepared for: the hotel is where it is, and parking spaces in the immediate vicinity are scarce. You’ll find something, but you’ll walk. That’s not a failing of the hotel, that’s the reality of the location. If you’re prepared for it, you won’t get frustrated. I used TopCar as my rental company, by the way – reliable, recommendable, no surprises.
Verdict: a hotel that delivers what it promises – and a little more
The Barceló Santiago didn’t overwhelm me with wow moments, but it delivered on every point. The staff were consistently friendly and attentive – not in a forced way, simply genuinely warm. The room swap, the good food, the evening entertainment, and then that view – dark rocks, blue water, a lone sailing boat in the distance and La Gomera on the horizon. Some images stay with you, and this one has.
👕 My product tip
Erdpfad zum Teide – Stille im Kanarischen Wald Acrylic Glass
The path leads straight ahead, the trees open up, and at the end stands the Teide – Tenerife’s volcano, calm and inescapable. This shot was taken on the hiking route across the Teno plateau, where the forest briefly opens up and the view is revealed. A wall print for moments of clar
🖼️ Wall print