Hotel & Spa Cordial Roca Negra

Hotel & Spa Cordial Roca Negra opened in 2010, joining the small handful of existing hotels in local fishing village Agaete. That also means that it's more modern than many of the Gran Canaria hotels built in the later 20th century. The isolated location means that there’s barely any traffic, and the only noise you’ll hear is the occasional chirping bird. Nature takes center stage here, as the hotel itself is built into the sea-facing cliffside, surrounded by the rugged black rock that gives the property its name. At the back are manicured grounds with neat desert landscaping and winding stone paths, linking guests directly to the hotel’s wild setting. Inside, the vibe is relaxed, but the hotel could do with a bit of ambient music: the hollow echo of occasional guest footsteps is a bit austere in the large two-story lobby. At the time of our visit in April 2017, the hotel had just been taken over by local Canarian hotel group Cordial, which emphasizes local culture and eco-friendly business management. Planned improvements include addressing wear and tear, which was minimal during our visit, but noticeable. The hotel accommodates a variety of guests, including families, but we saw mostly young and middle-aged couples during our visit, as well as hiking enthusiasts and local couples on short weekend breaks. 

Hotel Roca Negra is isolated, meaning that while there's little nearby shopping and entertainment, nature and hiking enthusiasts are in luck. The hotel sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, just outside neighboring local fishing town Agaete. The closest attraction is a series of picturesque natural dipping pools formed by solidified lava, about a six-minute walk following the hotel’s landscaped stone path. Secluded rocky beaches and hiking trails around the neighboring cliffs can also be accessed via the same path. The fishing port of Agaete, Puerto de las Nieves, has a bustling seafaring culture and great local seafood restaurants, and is a 15-minute stroll along a scenic coastal route. A ferry to neighboring Tenerife Island also departs from this port. The nearest supermarket is a Spar in Agaete, about a five-minute drive away. Both the striking mountain scenery of Tamadaba Natural Park and the urban culture of Las Palmas are a 35-minute drive away in opposite directions. Gran Canaria’s airport is 45 minutes away by car.

All 86 rooms face west to the sea, meaning that sunset is prime time for taking in views in many rooms (though not all have unobstructed sea views). They are spacious and relatively modern, with rich damask wallpaper in various color schemes. All come with large flat-screen satellite TVs, mini-fridges, sofabeds, AC, free daily bottled water, free safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are modern, with neutral decor, bidets, and shower/tub combos (accessible rooms have showers only). Ground-floor rooms have decent-sized terraces with direct access to the pool -- these also serve as the hotel's entry-level rooms (known as Double Rooms). It may be worth upgrading to Superior Rooms -- which are the same size as Double Rooms, but are housed on upper floors. These feature large balconies and views over the sea and surrounding cliffs. They also come with extra comfort amenities like bathrobes, slippers, and personal grooming kits. Junior Suites are the highest category, and have separate living rooms with sea view balconies and extra amenities. All rooms feature twin beds, as opposed to single large beds for couples -- but this is quite common on the island. 

Rugged coastline views and the remote coastal setting are what really set this hotel apart from others on the island. There’s direct access to natural dipping lava-rock pools, secluded rocky beaches, and hiking trails via the landscaped gardens at the back of the hotel. The tranquil pool area has views to the surrounding coastal cliffs, highlighting the wild setting. There’s also a heated children’s pool and heated whirlpool. However, keep in mind that the main pool is unheated, making for cold dips in low season. The poolside bar serves lunch and drinks and has patio seating. It's a good spot for unwinding while surrounded by nature. The spa is small, but has a decent variety of facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, Dead Sea floating pool, therapeutic showers, steam room, and sauna. Though it was a bit tired during our visit, there are plans for a refurbishment as of 2017. The fitness center includes modern cardio and weight machines. A large international restaurant is located across the street, with an elegant outdoor patio that guests like for taking the hotel's plentiful breakfast. It includes eggs and omelettes cooked to order, English breakfasts, and Scandinavian herring. Bed-and-breakfast and half-board plans are available, but there’s no all-inclusive plan. A new lobby bar on the mezzanine level will be opening in summer 2017, adding some atmosphere to the space. The hotel provides electric and regular bicycles for rent, and parking is free in an underground lot around the corner. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.