Finca Las Barandas

Situated just above the coast between the small town of Icod de los Vinos and its nearest beach, Playa de San Marcos, Finca Las Barandas is a very smart property offering extremely well-furnished self-catering accommodation. Finca Las Barandas consists of a large main house, divided into two self-contained dwellings, and three additional detached cottages. The friendly owner is usually close to hand to look after her guests and to tend to the large mango and avocado plantation that encloses the cottages.

Having originally planned Finca Las Barandas as her own home, the owner didn't cut any corners and the standard of finish is excellent throughout, with everything from the tiles in the bathrooms and the wardrobe doors to the modern kitchen units and the traditional Canarian-style windows being of the highest quality. She has also installed WiFi, which is free of charge for guests.

The main building is divided into two spacious apartments: Casita La Baranda, enjoys views across the countryside towards Icod and the imposing mountains beyond from its large, south-facing terrace, whilst Casita Mango faces north with lovely views of the sea. Inside, each consists of a comfortable lounge, a well equipped open-plan kitchen, two bedrooms (one double, one twin) and a large bathroom.

Situated just below the main house, there is a detached studio cottage with a double bed for a couple. Whilst quite compact inside, it is equally well appointed, with a modern open-plan kitchen with four-ring hob and fridge-freezer, and a decent shower room, and it has a lovely terrace with views toward the sea.

A short stroll through the plantation from the main house is Casita Vista al Mar, a recently restored cottage with a double bedroom, a pretty shower room and a living room with an open-plan kitchen. Its terrrace offers a good degree of privacy and beguiling sea views, making this an ideal choice for romantic couples.

The most recently restored cottage, Casita Acacia, also stands slightly separately from the main house and offers both sea glimpses and mountain views from its terrace. Inside, it comprises two bedrooms (one with double bed, the other with twin beds), a comfortable sitting room, a small open-plan kitchen and a shower room. In order to not detract from the traditional pitched wooden ceiling, the wall separating the twin room from the living area is open towards the apex.

Finca Las Barandas is just over 1 km from Playa de San Marcos, a sheltered volcanic beach popular with locals from Icod. Although San Marcos is not a resort as such (there are no hotels here, just a few private apartment blocks), there are a number of restaurants which can be reached on foot from Finca Las Barandas in around 15 minutes, although the return is uphill. The centre of Icod de los Vinos - renowned for its 1000-year old dragon tree and for its wine - is approximately 3 km away, whilst Garachico, arguably the prettiest coastal town on Tenerife, can be reached by car in around 10 minutes. The more cosmopolitan resort of Puerto de la Cruz is around half an hour's drive away, and some of the island's best terrain for walking lies close by. That said, many guests choose to spend much of their time at Finca Las Barandas just relaxing and enjoying the tranquil setting and lovely views.