Before visiting Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, Tenerife occupied a fairly familiar place in my mind: sunshine, winter escapes and dependable warm weather. Three days later, after watching pilot whales surface alongside our sailing boat, exploring a local organic farm, unwinding in a spectacular oceanfront spa and lingering over exceptional dinners overlooking the Atlantic, I realised there was far more to this Canary Island than I’d ever appreciated.
Perched above the ocean on Tenerife’s southwest coast, Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is contemporary in design but deeply connected to the island around it; the hotel combines ocean views, exceptional dining and a sense of calm that seems to encourage guests to slow down almost without noticing.
Staying at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
The architecture immediately catches your eye. Inspired by coral formations, the white curves of the building seem to cascade gently towards the sea, creating a striking contrast against Tenerife’s volcanic landscape. The drama begins before you’ve even checked in. The hotel’s main reception is carved directly into the rock, creating the feeling of entering a hidden cave and offering an immediate reminder of the island’s volcanic origins.
Our Corales Beach Suite was wonderfully spacious, with contemporary interiors, a huge terrace and uninterrupted Atlantic views. Decorated in soft neutral tones with natural textures and elegant furnishings, it felt luxurious without being overly formal. The terrace quickly became my favourite place to sit with a morning coffee or a pre-dinner drink, watching the changing colours of the ocean throughout the day. One evening it was a full moon and I’m sure I spotted a shooting star. It could have been a firework, but I threw some positive manifestations out there just in case.
While Corales Beach is reserved for adults, the neighbouring Corales Suites offers spacious family residences and villas, making the wider resort equally appealing for multigenerational holidays. We were lucky enough to look around some of the family accommodation and the villas are every bit as impressive as you would hope, with generous living spaces and the sort of layouts that make travelling with children, grandparents or friends feel effortless.
Infinity Pools, Rooftop Cocktails and Atlantic Sunsets
One of the joys of staying at Corales Beach is the atmosphere. There is no rush, no scramble for sun loungers and no pressure to be constantly doing something. Instead, days seem to unfold naturally between the infinity pool, leisurely lunches and long afternoons spent reading in the sunshine.
The adults-only pool on a fifth-floor roof became one of my favourite spots. Overlooking the ocean, it manages to feel both sociable and peaceful at the same time. Much of our stay was accompanied by the gentle soundtrack of waves in the distance and the occasional clink of ice melting in cocktail glasses arriving at neighbouring loungers, and yes, okay, at my lounger too. I can never ignore the call of a pool-side Pina Colada.
As evening approached, we found ourselves drawn to Maresía Rooftop Bar, where cocktails are served with panoramic ocean views and some of the most spectacular sunsets on the island. Watching the sky turn shades of gold, peach and pink over the Atlantic became a nightly event, and we even had a cocktail masterclass one evening, learning how to make a rum-based ‘Beneharo’. Turns out they were so good I have no recollection of what we actually learned!
Discovering Tenerife Beyond the Resort
One of the things I appreciated most about the hotel was its connection to the destination itself. A short stroll away lies La Caleta, a charming fishing village where locals gather on traditional black volcanic beaches and surfers wait patiently for the next Atlantic swell.
Watching them ride the waves against the dramatic coastline offered a glimpse of everyday Tenerife life beyond the luxury resort experience. It also provided one of those simple travel pleasures that often becomes unexpectedly memorable. There is something rather hypnotic about sitting with a coffee and watching surfers patiently wait for the perfect wave while the rest of the world carries on around them.
Whale Watching in Tenerife
One of the highlights of our stay was a sailing trip with Blue Jack Sail along the Costa Adeje coastline. The Atlantic was calm, the sun was shining and, although Tenerife is known for its resident populations of whales and dolphins, none of us quite knew what to expect. Before long we were rewarded with sightings of pilot whales gliding gracefully through the water beside us. Not in the distance, but right alongside the boat.
For several magical minutes everyone on board seemed to fall silent as the whales surfaced nearby. Seeing these remarkable creatures so close, in their natural habitat, was one of those travel experiences that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. Our captain told us it’s unusual for them to come to close to the boat, so we felt even more blessed. Against a backdrop of volcanic cliffs and endless blue ocean, it felt genuinely special and became one of the defining memories of the trip. With options to sunbathe on the deck or jump in for a snorkel, it’s the perfect holiday outing.
From Farm to Plate
The following day brought a completely different perspective on the island. We visited La Calabacera, an organic farm set within Tenerife’s volcanic landscape that supplies produce to the resort’s restaurants.
Seeing the ingredients at source gave us a much deeper appreciation for the food we enjoyed throughout our stay. The fertile volcanic soil produces exceptional fruit and vegetables, and the close relationship between local producers and the hotel’s restaurants creates a genuine sense of place. Walking around the farm and meeting the people behind the produce (especially the bananas!) reinforced something I increasingly look for when I travel. The best luxury experiences don’t feel disconnected from their surroundings, they celebrate them. Royal Hideaway Corales Beach does this beautifully, bringing the flavours, traditions and landscapes of Tenerife directly into the guest experience.
Sustainability with Substance
Increasingly, I find myself drawn to hotels that take sustainability seriously without making it feel like a marketing exercise, or ‘green washing’, and Royal Hideaway Corales Beach does this particularly well. The resort uses certified green electricity, solar energy to heat water, geothermal systems to help maintain some of its pools and a variety of water-saving initiatives throughout the property. Even the landscaping has been carefully designed using native species that require less irrigation.
Having visited La Calabacera and seen first-hand the close relationship between local producers and the hotel, these commitments felt tangible rather than theoretical. Supporting local suppliers, reducing food miles and celebrating the island’s agricultural heritage all contribute to a more meaningful guest experience while benefiting the local community too.
Dining at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
Food deserves its own chapter. Breakfast each morning at NAO quickly became one of my favourite rituals. The buffet offers everything you could possibly want, from fresh fruit and healthy options to pastries and cooked dishes, all enjoyed with beautiful ocean views that make lingering over a second coffee entirely justifiable.
One evening we enjoyed a vegetarian tasting menu at Starfish, paired with local Canarian wines. The menu showcased the quality of the island’s produce and proved that vegetarian fine dining can be every bit as creative and satisfying as any traditional tasting experience.
The culinary highlight, however, was dinner at Michelin-starred Il Bocconcino. Over the course of a beautifully executed tasting menu and wine pairing, each dish arrived looking almost too good to eat. Almost. Fine dining can sometimes feel intimidating or overly serious, but Il Bocconcino strikes exactly the right balance between technical excellence and genuine enjoyment. Like theatre, the whole evening played out perfectly with the synchronicity of a well-trained team. By the end of the evening, I was simultaneously convinced I couldn’t eat another bite and disappointed that the experience was over.
Ocean House Spa and the Joy of Doing Very Little
Although Tenerife offers plenty of opportunities for adventure, one of my favourite afternoons involved doing very little at all. Before my massage at Ocean House Spa, I spent time moving between the sauna, hydrotherapy pools and invigorating cold plunge, gradually unwinding from everyday life. By the time I reached the treatment room, I was already feeling wonderfully relaxed.
The massage itself was excellent, easing away every lingering knot of tension, but what stayed with me most was the feeling afterwards. For an hour or two there was nowhere I needed to be, no emails to answer and no schedule to follow. In a world that constantly encourages us to be productive, that may be one of the greatest luxuries of all.
Tenerife, Atlantic Sunsets and a Slower Pace of Life
At this stage of life, I’m increasingly interested in destinations that leave me feeling better when I leave than when I arrived. Royal Hideaway Corales Beach managed exactly that.
Between watching pilot whales surface alongside our boat, discovering Tenerife’s volcanic landscapes, learning about local food production, sipping rooftop cocktails at sunset and enjoying some truly exceptional dining, the island revealed a sophisticated and authentic side that many visitors never get to see.
I arrived expecting sunshine and sea views, but left with a renewed appreciation for slower mornings, longer lunches and the simple pleasure of being completely present in the moment. For a Londoner who spends most days rushing from one thing to the next, that felt like a pretty valuable souvenir.
Useful Information
Royal Hideaway Corales Resort – Starting rates at the hotel: from 400€/night for 2 adults, B&B
barcelo.com/en-ww/royal-hideaway-corales-resort
Blue Jack Sail
bluejacksail.com
La Calabacera
lacalabacera.com
