14 Mar Hotel Puntagrande: the magic of nesting in harmony in the middle of the ocean

Considered to be the smallest hotel in the world, caring for the environment is its hallmark, having incorporated Resuinsa’s sustainable linens.

There are magical places in the world however small they may be; enchanted locations where nature has orchestrated a paradisiacal setting to spoil yourself. The fascinating island of El Hierro is one of these places and home to Hotel Puntagrande, offering unique features and a singular location. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it is set on a lava-sculpted, rocky outcrop. ‘The music of the waves can be heard from the bedrooms and the sound of the wind seeps through the volcanic rock walls’ is how its owners Paula and Davide Nahmias describe it.

Alongside this, the special nature of the hotel lies in the fact that it entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1984 as the smallest hotel in the world. It currently has five bedrooms and two apartments, helping it to conjure a cosy atmosphere for guests to feel right at home. So much so that true friendships have been forged here.

‘Every day we serve a full delicious breakfast’, the owners explain, ‘with buffets on every couple’s table to make it a more intimate and unique moment. Afterwards, we suggest routes for them to discover the island. Guests feel pampered and accompanied throughout their stay, they even have our phone numbers in case they need help at any time’.

In this sense, the success of this small yet grand hotel comes from the detachment it offers from the stresses of daily life. There are no television or radios, and the surrounding environment, similar to being at land’s end, entices them to switch off from their mobiles and revel in nature’s wonders all around them.

A sustainable luxury hotel

It was love at first sight. When they got to El Hierro in 2018, Paula and Davide fell in love with the island and Hotel Puntagrande, ‘we decided to give it the life it deserved as a sustainable luxury hotel. The former owners were seeking someone who wanted to continue the dream they had started and make it come true. We saw everything that it could become’, they state, adding: ‘It was the smallest hotel in the world and we immediately listed it on all booking sites. The public reaction was incredible and we started to get non-stop bookings. It’s been that way ever since.’

Paula and Davide Nahmias explain that the entire building is fully sustainable as it was built from volcanic stone. ‘Since we arrived, we’ve constantly upgraded the hotel, incorporating natural materials such as wood, and recyclable and biodegradable amenities. We avoid any plastic or paper. For example, we use completely biodegradable bamboo toilet paper in the bathrooms and a tanker comes by once a week to empty the septic tank to ensure nothing gets discharged into the ocean.’ Thanks to all these efforts, the hotel has been certified by bodies such as DCA, in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. Moreover, caring for the environment is also evidenced by the hotel’s choice of Resuinsa’s sustainable textiles, ‘a further element contributing to the hotel’s sustainability’.

A unique building

In addition to being nested in the middle of the immense Atlantic Ocean, the architectural features of the building have been conserved and improved by its current owners. Indeed, the building was listed as a Building of Cultural Heritage by the Canarian government in November 2018.

Thanks to this, the owners point out it is ‘a unique experience, especially when the surrounding waves reach their peak and envelop the hotel’. The experience is topped off by the hotel’s own naval museum since the entire décor in Hotel Puntagrande and its bedrooms includes unique objects from old vessels. ‘A wide selection were already here when we arrived as the former owner, Lamberto Wagner, was a collector. We have bought other items at auctions and treasure hunted in various locations, contacting experts, etc. There is a lot of history in each artefact in this small nook’, they recount.

What to see in El Hierro

Paula and Davide recommend discovering every nook and cranny on the island, from the Canarian laurel forests, La Llanía trail, the Orchilla lighthouse, the majestic Sabinar biosphere reserve, the Sanctuary of the Virgen de Los Reyes, to the natural pools of El Charco azul and La Maceta, Los Roques de Bonanza and the diverse and spectacular vantage points, such as Isora.

In short, the Hotel Puntagrande melds beauty, harmony and nature in an extraordinary setting. The owners’ focus on environmental sustainability can be seen throughout the hotel, including Resuinsa’s sustainable linens, ensuring guests have a truly unforgettable experience.