Words by Priya Joshi
Tenerife has long been regarded as a winter destination for sun-seekers looking for an escape from the relentless rains of the UK.
It’s also synonymous with the hordes of red-faced holidaymakers, lured by the promise of searing year-round heat, who flock to the volcanic ash beaches to roast in the midday sun, and drunken young Brits abroad, cavorting along Playa de Las Americas and spilling out of the roadside bars, where garish fluorescent lights illuminate the crowded promenade. But there’s another side to the popular Canary Island, where luxury and decadence collides with nature, incorporating all the very best aspects of home and abroad.
Located along the picturesque south west coast of Tenerife is the Abama Hotel Resorts complex which incorporates Las Terrazas de Abama, a luxury resort comprising high-end residential and rental properties.
The Abama complex was the vision of the late Jesús de Polanco, a Spanish businessman who had already been successful in the telecommunications industry. In 1995, he set about transforming the once sprawling banana plantation into a residential community for affluent holiday makers and investors seeking a place of tranquillity in the sun. Today, his son, Ignacio Polanco, continues his legacy, spearheading the ongoing expansion of the resort that attracts affluent investors from around the world.
It’s a cosmopolitan community with Brits, Belgians, Germans and Russians among the guests residing in the exclusive area, while many businessmen from around the world have recognised the lucrative investment potential of the properties.
Adorned with 25,000 palm trees and with a stunning backdrop of the Teide and La Gomera mountain plains nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, it is the only luxury resort in the Canaries and Tenerife’s best kept secret.
Hotel
There are two types of properties on the resort, spread out across 400 acres – the residential properties for those seeking a home away from home and the properties that attract investors looking to monopolize on the tourism to Tenerife.
The touristic projects are Las Terrazas de Abama, and the independent villas in Las Vilas Del Tenis and Los Jardines de Abama, close to the new commercial and social hub, La Plaza.
One, two or three bedroom suite properties range from 800,000 Euros to 1.5 million for the contemporary villas in Las Vilas Del Tenis featuring floor to ceiling glass walls, manicured lawns, private pools and softly lit exteriors, which will be ready for sale in March- April 2023. The private villas offer stunning views of la Gomera Island in the south and the Los Gigantes cliffs in the north east.
There’s also the option of having the architects design a bespoke property as seen in the stunning residential projects of Casas del Lago, Bellevue, Custom Villas and Las Atalayas.
The most expensive customised property on the resort features a home cinema and swimming pool and is valued at 2.5 million euros.
With over 2,000 residents and acres of sub-tropical vegetation, it takes a small army of staff to ensure the hundreds of acres of palm-covered land and the properties are immaculate. There is a maintenance fee for the community spaces of 800-1,000 euros a month, but it all contributes to ensuring the resort remains a perfectly curated idyll.
The A-class treatment begins on arrival at the airport when I am greeted by one of the hotel’s appointed drivers who whisks me off in a sleek and very expensive looking car. It’s a stylish start to my trip and a taste of things to come.
The resort is 36km away from Tenerife South airport – around 25 mins by car – and I quickly leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind me to escape into the luxury bubble of Las Terrazas De Abama.
A short stroll to get your bearings and with its perfectly manicured lawns, immaculate paths and stunning sceneries, the beauty of the location leaves you wide-eyed and floating on air. Bright red and yellow hibiscus dot the lush bushes like sweets and abundant multi-coloured bougainvillea line the natural rock walls on the winding path to the suites, which are seamlessly integrated into the natural surrounds.
The grey clouds of London are already a distant memory as I soak up the 26-degree heat. I imagine this is how Dorothy must have felt when she left colourless Kansas and landed in the wonderful world of Oz where the sun always shines, and everyone is happy.
With cloudless blue skies above and the healing warmth of the sun, it is the perfect picture postcard come to life.
Suites
Las Terrazas de Abama Suites, a Preferred Residences establishment, has already won a basket full of top prizes from the World Tourism Awards, TripAdvisor (Travellers’ Choice) and it’s easy to see why.
Its 151 five-star suites at Las Terrazas de Abama are in a prime location, next to the Abama Clubhouse that serves the prestigious Dave Thomas golf course.
They are nothing less than expansive contemporary apartments with beautiful interiors characterized by the use of natural materials and furnishings in soft sandy and stone hues, combining functionality with luxury. With the option of one, two, three or four bedrooms, the suites include everything you need to make you feel at home.
Designed by Rita Roses, the suites are spacious and elegant with a warm, neutral palette and a timeless quality. The lounge area is large enough for the whole family to gather in front of the super-sized smart TV on the wall and there’s free Wi-Fi.
With a solid wood dining table at its centre, the stylish kitchenette includes integrated appliances including a fridge freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, oven, microwave kettle, juicer, Nespresso machine and hob.
Each of the luxurious bedrooms have plenty of fitted wardrobe space and en-suites with rainforest showers and bath tubs and ample supplies of luxury beauty products. The suites have all the comforts of home with the benefits of a hotel stay and include daily cleaning services. After enjoying a day out in the sun you return to find your beds made and the apartment in pristine condition once more.
Fully air-conditioned the cool, breezy accommodation provides the perfect retreat from the sun and a place to relax in the company of family and friends. The never-ending terrace of my two-bedroom suite was decked with loungers, terrace furniture and a table for outside dining, where you can take in panoramic views and gather for drinks under the gaze of the setting sun.
Food
While each of the suites has all the facilities for home cooking, there’s a full buffet service available in the restaurant daily for breakfast, and for late night nibbles, there’s also a snack bar at the hotel. Guests can also buy artisan goods such as cheese and fine wines at the Gourmet Store.
For a touch of decadence, you can reserve a table at the on-site Melvin restaurant where you can sample the creations of celebrated chef Martin Berasategui, an expert in Basque cuisine, who boasts the accolade of holding more Michelin stars than any other Spanish chef – around 12 at last count.
It’s a gastronomic experience that is not to be missed as you savour an array of beautifully curated concoctions that awaken the palate, each more inventive than the next and a work of art on a plate. The biggest prime cuts of sizzling steak you have ever seen, and freshly caught fish grilled over hot coals are presented on a giant platter with an extravagant flourish that makes your evening meal feel like an unmissable event.
The team of chefs go above and beyond to tailor menus to your dietary requirements and preferences, with dishes adapted for children too.
With sunset views, the restaurant provides the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two but with a relaxed approach to fine dining, it’s equally suited for a family gathering at the end of a fun-filled day.
To do
The resort has everything you need for a luxurious retreat including a range of sporting and leisure activities to fill your day.
At its heart is the perfectly preened 18-hole Dave Thomas golf course – it was awarded the title of the best golf hotel in Europe and in Spain and is hailed as one of the best courses in the whole of Spain. Keen golfers, eager to experience the course, take to the putting green with their six irons early in the morning when the sun is at its lowest point and the mist settling over the mountains cools the air.
There are also tennis and paddle tennis courts on site and a gym with the option of enlisting the services of a personal trainer at the fitness centre in the Social Club that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
While there are a range of activities to enjoy together there’s also the Kids Club with activities and tours designed especially for the younger members of the family.
If relaxation is the order of the day, the resort has three infinity pools, where families and children can frolic under the sun, while those seeking to still the mind in the calm of the water can find solace in the adult only pool. Floating along in the sun-warmed water you can peer over the edge of the infinity pool and take in the view of the surrounding mountains, losing yourself in the beauty of the moment.
The resort also has Wellness Weekends, a series of events that incorporate yoga, mindfulness and breath work classes for those needing to escape the rigours of daily life and recharge. The popular classes attract guests of all ages who gather on the dew-covered lawns under the gaze of the mountains to balance their chakras and centre themselves. It’s the perfect setting for a Zen experience and a calming start to the day as the sun peeks through the palms and rises over the mountain.
For sunworshippers seeking to top up their tans or take to the ocean on a jet ski, there’s a semi-private beach just 2km from the resort. While it’s steeped in natural beauty, so committed to ensuring that everything is of the highest quality, even the sand was personally selected by the owner and imported from the Sahara, for an extra touch of luxury.
The Abama Resort Development Group is constantly expanding, and the newest on-site development is La Plaza, a shopping complex with boutique stores and coffee shops and outdoor dining spaces where residents can meet for brunch. Already constructed and partially in operation, La Plaza is due to open fully in early 2023.
While the resort has everything you might need on site, the guests are very much part of the wider community and enjoy experiencing life as a local. Just five minutes’ drive from Playa de Juan and the local shopping area, many of the guests rent cars or buy golf buggies to get around. With 24 hr security, the reception is open all hours should you have any requests.
In a nutshell
Las Terrazas de Abama resort offers a luxury experience for the whole family and an opportunity to experience the finest things in life in one beautifully cultivated location, in the most exclusive part of Tenerife.
While the suites present property buyers with a prized investment opportunity promising ample returns, they are also the perfect option for a lavish second home away from home, where every day is summer.
A tranquil retreat, where daily life merges seamlessly with all the beauty of the natural world, Las Terrazas De Abama doesn’t just feel like home – it is home. And there’s no place quite like the wonderful world of Abama.
Factbox
Address: Carretera General del Sur, TF-47, km 8,9, 38687, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Phone: +34 922 83 91 57
Website: abamahotels.com
Prices start from €870,000 for a one-bedroom furnished apartment in Los Jardines. To speak to the customer relations team call: +34 922 126 011.
