04.02.2009 - That was at the end of the 1990s.  But a tourism crisis began to bite in 2001, with increased competition and a price war on holidays, as well as worldwide events which tended to discourage people from travelling by air.  So the plan was changed so that something totally dif­ferent could be offered and a unique five star hotel was born, one which not only provides a sun and sea holi­day with sports facilities, but also one which connects very closely with nature, culture and history. 

To create a hotel and an environmental reserve, not only the plot of land for the hotel was purchased, but all of the reserve area of the barranco of San Blas which has had several uses over the last several thousand years.  It covers a total of around one million square metres. 

Guanches (the original aborigine inhabitants of the island) lived there in caves which still exist, and were to­tally self sufficient.  Later on, bearing in mind its close prox­imity to the sea, Canarians fished in the sea, while the local women concentrated on exchanging the fish for other goods such as fruit and vegetables.  Then toma­toes were grown, and tracks through the barranco which still exist formed a popular route to the sea from where they would be taken to Santa Cruz for export abroad, es­pecially to the UK.  More re­cently in the sixties, the bar­ranco became a dumping ground, a car breaker’s yard, motocross circuit and was used for hunting – all with no respect for the history buried within it.

As an environmental re­serve and part of a five star hotel complex, every effort has been made to recover the natural values of this beauti­ful area by cleaning it, mak­ing good the existing tracks, and creating accesses and more paths.  Archaelogical finds in the area gave many clues to the customs of the Guanches, and local people have shared their memories of more recent years such as the fifties when they made a living out of growing cere­als and tomatoes, for which they constructed a dam from the rocks found in the bar­ranco. The hotel itself is an attractive low level complex with its design based on the forms, colours and textures of the reserve.  The buildings have been constructed with natural materials and the gardens planted with spe­cies unique to the local area. Conservation of the environ­ment is important at this ho­tel, where full advantage is taken of natural resources in­cluding the use of solar pan­els, low consumption bulbs and an osmosis desalination plant.  The complex also has an eco-finca (farm) where or­ganic waste is put to good use as compost and more endemic plants are grown.

Water consumption is re­stricted by the use of lever taps, twin discharge cisterns and limited water flow in taps and showers.  Soapy water from one group of ho­tel rooms (from showers and wash basins) is treated and re-used to supply the cisterns of the same block which rep­resents ten per cent of the hotel’s rooms.  Salt water is used in the artificial lake and partially to fill the eight swimming pools in the com­plex (three of which are for children).

The hotel has 331 rooms of which 276 can accom­modate three adults or two adults and one child, 50 are suites for three adults or two adults and two children, and five are accessible rooms for three adults and one child.  All rooms are equipped with hydromassage bath and sep­arate shower, magnifying mirror, hairdryer, mini-bar, safe, 32-inch LCD screen, satellite TV, internet access, air conditioning and room service.  There is also a navi­gable lake with its own jetty which is surrounded by gar­dens.  Here you can cross the lake in small boats or prac­tice local sports or games. There are buffet and a la carte restaurants – La Proa specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, especially seafood and rice, the Barlovento spe­cialises in Italian cuisine such as home-made pasta and pizzas, and the Sotavento serves Canarian meat, fish and seafood dishes.  The buffet, La Cueva de Atxoña, serves dietary specialities for vegetarians and children, and also special menus on theme nights.  There are three bars plus a beautifully designed pool bar, the construction of which was inspired by the traditional stone buildings used to dry cheeses.  The ho­tel also has a children’s club, an auditorium, two confer­ence rooms, a show hall,  dis­co and its own plaza, almost like an amphitheatre, which can be used for popular and festive events.

For those seeking a more active holiday, with direct access to the beach there is the sports club with tennis and paddle courts, two for beach volleyball, and a rock climbing wall.  To keep you fit there is a gym and fitness room, mini spa, two massage rooms, sauna, ice fountain and an indoor swimming pool with hydromassage baths.  A game of golf is also easy, just visit the clubhouse and make your booking – transport will be provided.  The clubhouse can also supply information about excursions and other visits, find or confirm your flights, and make restau­rant reservations.  The natu­ral pebble beach and public coastal footpaths are soon to be renovated by the is­land authorities, making this an even more attractive area with a sandy beach.

The Hotel San Blas Ambiental Reserve is quite unique in that it has its own interpretation centre.  The historical experience tun­nel takes you through three different stages where you can feel how it was to live through the most significant times in Tenerife, from pre­historic to present day.  The museum displays the biodi­versity of the San Blas area, its origin, its natural resourc­es, how it was formed and how it has been used by hu­mans over the years.  If you choose to take the guided walk through the reserve in the barranco, you will be shown several audio-visual presentations first which ex­plain these subjects in great detail.  Memories and pho­tographs of the most recent times have been supplied by local people who are still here to tell the tale. 

There is also a graphic ex­hibition of how the reserve was created.  The studies which make up the interpre­tation centre have been as­sessed by both the University of La Laguna and Tenerife’s independent museums or­ganisation, and the San Blas Ambiental Reserve museum will soon become part of that network.

Guests can take the guided walk through the barranco in the early part of the day, when they will find actors along the way displaying the Canarian way of life through the ages.  After climbing the steps to reach the top of the dam, you cross the reservoir by boat and continue the walk to the end of the barran­co where there is a waterfall and pool.   You will be driven back to the hotel in an electric vehicle.  Alternatively, guests can simply walk through the barranco in the afternoons and early evenings to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.  In the future, this walk will be open to the public but at the moment, with more work to be done, it is restricted to ho­tel guests.

It is extremely difficult to describe the Hotel San Blas Ambiental Reserve in just a couple of sentences,  it is something which you have to experience for yourself.  You can take an active sporting holiday, relax and concen­trate on the sun and the sea, or be fascinated by the his­tory and culture of the area, all with five star facilities.  It’s up to you. 
By Theresa Wilson

Gallery: Hotel San Blas Ambiental Reserve

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