The Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden, Tenerife

Earlier this year, I sought solace away from the crowds, craving a lavish getaway on the serene North Coast of Tenerife.

I had the privilege of exploring the refined charms of Puerto de La Cruz, whilst indulging in a three-night stay at the exquisite Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden. Here, serenity reigns supreme, offering a sophisticated oasis far removed from the bustling south.

Let’s dive right into my review of this extraordinary hotel!

Location

The Hotel Botanico is just 88 km from Tenerife South Airport with transfers taking about 1 hour, while Tenerife North Airport is a mere 28 km away, taking just 25 minutes.

The hotel boasts a prime location, just a 2-minute stroll from the renowned Jardin Botanico, Puerto de la Cruz’s tropical gardens and two miles away from Loro Parque, a wildlife sanctuary owned by the hotel’s German proprietors.

Across from the hotel, you can discover charming restaurants, boutiques, and traditional bars with live musical entertainment. A pleasant 15-minute downhill walk leads to Puerto de la Cruz, featuring a scenic coastal promenade, inviting beaches, diverse activities, and a wealth of dining and shopping options.

A taxi will take you back up to the Hotel Botanico in less than 10 minutes and will cost no more than 5 euros. Alternatively, if you time it right, the hotel offers a scheduled free shuttle service in the most luxurious of minibuses. 

First Impressions Of The Hotel Botanico

A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel Botanico is simply sublime, with over 25,000 square metres of lush, tropical, well-managed gardens.

From the moment you pull up at the entrance, you know you are in for a first-class level of service. I was greeted by an immaculately turned-out porter who took my luggage and swiftly ushered me through to a welcoming front reception desk where I was offered a cool refreshing glass of fruit juice. Having travelled up from the south of the island it was just what the doctor ordered. I could now relax!

The reception area is graced with a curated selection of elegant local and international artwork, prominently featuring Thai masterpieces from the owner’s private collection. Taking centre stage is a meticulously crafted artificial tree adorned with glass crystals, suspended over a massive Brazilian amethyst, weighing over 400kg. The ever-changing jellyfish tank adds an enchanting touch to the reception’s ambience.

With check-in formalities completed, I was taken to my room where I was given an overview of its facilities.

Rooms & Views

My room was a Double Superior Teide Room meaning that on a clear day, I should see Tenerife’s most iconic natural sight, Mount Teide. Sadly, the clouds kept her hidden, but I knew she was there looking over me!

There was ample lighting throughout the room and many of the walls were adorned with beautiful, limited-edition prints of tropical birds such as Macaws, Parrots, and Canaries – a nod once again to the owner’s passion for nature and wildlife.

Furnished in largely red and white, there was a very comfortable bed, soft pillows, a large sofa, two single chairs, and a desk housing a Krups Coffee machine, alongside bottles of water and a bowl of fruit. For those interested in TV on your holiday… I am not, there is a huge free-standing flat-screen TV offering a wide choice of international channels that can be swung around to suit your location!

A large balcony boasted chairs, a table, and a plush lounger complete with towels, creating a perfect retreat. To add to the tranquil ambience the sounds of tropical birds filled the air.

The bathroom offered his and hers basin, a shower, a separate toilet and bide, a bath, and a small changing area with a safe and ample wardrobe space. The bathroom amenities included Body Lotions, Shower Gels, and Shampoos all from the White Company as well as well-sized dressing gowns and slippers.

The essence of this room was light, airy, quiet, and spacious yet with an understated elegance. I swear as a youngster my flat was smaller than this fabulous room!

Just as a little side note, later in my stay I got a sneak preview of the new Superior Rooms, and they are stunning …. if you are planning a visit, I would recommend them!

Swimming Pool

The main outdoor pool is complemented by beautiful landscaping, including lush gardens and tropical foliage, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. The pool is a generous size, providing ample space for guests to swim or relax and the area includes comfortable lounge chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas.

For families, there is a small children’s pool just behind the main pool, which is shallow and ideal for kids to play.

There are poolside services at Bar Palmera, including attendants offering refreshments and snacks. During the day it is a great place to take breakfast or lunch. This friendly welcoming poolside bar is a lovely area for guests to enjoy cocktails while basking in the sun.

Bars & Restaurants

The Main Bar Hall is off the reception with comfortable seating areas to relax and enjoy cocktails, spirits, beers, or teas and coffees accompanied by homemade cakes and pastries.

Five times a week there are musical entertainments ranging from Flamenco, Jazz, Spanish Dancing, and more. The most popular nights are on Fridays and Saturdays when it can be very busy between 20:00 and midnight.

This area was very peaceful during the day, and I enjoyed an hour or two just relaxing and watching the guests and hotel staff going about their business.

There are four restaurants at the Hotel Botanico:

Food Market
This is the main buffet restaurant where breakfast is served from 07:30. Choices on offer include cereals, fruits, freshly cooked eggs, pastries, cold meats, and cheese. Fruit juice teas and coffees are available via both a machine and from a table service. I found the breakfast to be excellent. It was never too rushed or too busy and as a minor point of detail, the chairs had rubber bases on the legs, meaning there was very little noise. The difference as always, is in the detail! 

The Oriental
If you are looking for a special dinner, then for some of the finest Oriental haute cuisine served in the most elegant and sophisticated surroundings, try the Oriental. The food from the Thai kitchen is of the very highest quality.

La Parrilla
Offering Spanish cuisine, La Parrilla features a choice of meat and fish dishes flavoured with local spices and fresh vegetables from the hotel’s very own vegetable and herb garden.

Il Pappagallo
If you are partial to a very Italian experience then how about Il Pappagallo, offering Classic Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines while enjoying some of the best views of the coast and Puerto de la Cruz?

The Oriental Spa Garden

Inspired throughout by Asian influences the multi-award-winning Oriental Spa Garden is quite superb. The main outdoor and indoor pools within the Spa are free for guests and provide an area to fully unwind.

Various packages are on offer that give you the chance to indulge in a choice of rituals including such treatments as a body wrap, body peeling, and massage. These treatment packages start at 180 euros. 

Individual massages are available to book and are highly recommended. Prices start at 55 euros for a 25-minute session.

The Spa menu is considerable, so whilst I have highlighted just a couple of options, I have only touched the surface of what is available in this most elegant and sophisticated setting! 

Sport & Fitness

The gymnasium is located within the spa and is available to all guests free of charge. There is a choice of high-standard equipment for cardio exercises as well as weights and mats for stretching.

A room also provides an area for individual or group sessions, and on specific dates in the year, the Spa runs yoga retreats that may be of interest. 

For something a little more relaxing there is a Library and Games room, where you can unwind with a book or play a game of pool on one of the two billiard tables available.

There are also tennis courts that can be pre-booked by the hour, table tennis and a 5,000 square metre golf driving range, putting green, and a practice bunker. Here you can brush up on your techniques before hitting the island’s many excellent golf courses.

Hotel Botanico Gardens

One of the most attractive features of this lovely hotel is the gardens. The ponds/lakes are home to black swans, turtles and koi carp while the subtropical gardens are alive with butterflies and birds. There are a number of areas where you can sit and relax and just enjoy the peace and nature.

There is also a small Bonzai tree corner which in comparison to the majestic gardens was, it must be said, a little disappointing.

The Boutique

Take a moment to browse around the Hotel’s trendy boutique that offers a range of fine clothing, swimwear, sunglasses, essentials and more.

The Hotel Botanico…

The Hotel Botanico and the Oriental Spa Garden is an exquisite hotel where the cuisine is divine, the spa is world-class, and the décor and service are charmingly old-fashioned. This is a hotel where unwinding comes as standard and all amongst the backdrop of beautiful nature and gardens.

I fell in love with the delights of the North Coast of Tenerife due to its sheer beauty and authenticity and my stay at the Hotel Botanico & Oriental Spa Garden was the perfect accompaniment.

For more information, visit the Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden or contact your local travel agent or tour operator.