Today we want to share a behind-the-scenes look at our hotel.
On November 1st of this year, we will mark 25 years since we opened our doors, and we wanted to do something special for the people who make it all possible. A trip to Gran Canaria to step away from the daily routine and reconnect with the people who make up our team.
The Soul of La Quinta Roja
Our staff is the soul of La Quinta Roja. They are the ones who make guests leave with a smile, give us five stars, and come back again.
Some of them have been with us since we first opened our doors in 2001 — Luisi, Marisol and Tere — others for over a decade, like Nuria, Laly and Techy, and a few have joined more recently but are already part of this small but mighty family. A diverse team where we all enrich one another, blending the experience of the long-timers with the fresh energy the younger members bring.
25 years of commitment to La Quinta Roja deserve a heartfelt THANK YOU, and we had to celebrate it properly.
The Women of La Quinta Roja in Gran Canaria
To kick off the celebrations, we started with a “girls’ trip.” A journey involving 12 of the 16 women who work at the hotel. A getaway that would allow us to get to know each other better, connect on a personal level outside the hotel, away from the duties and roles we each play.
There we were — the women who work in reception, the shop, housekeeping, the night shift, accounting, management and the kitchen — with one obligation only: to enjoy a few days of rest and discovery together.
Paloma chose a very special place in Gran Canaria as our base of operations to show us the western side of her island.
Until two weeks before, she kept the girls guessing to surprise them about the destination — but a few clues, such as that the accommodation was located next to Roque Faneque — the highest sea cliff in Europe — or that it had been home to Fernando Guanarteme after the conquest, gave it away: Agroturismo Redondo de Guayedra, a place as special as our own hotel, was going to be our home in Gran Canaria for a few days.
Coffee Plantations, Tropical Fruits and Wine
After closing the hotel for the holidays on May 31st, on Sunday June 5th we set sail for Gran Canaria, heading for Agaete.
Our route began the moment we stepped off the boat. We headed straight inland, towards Finca Las Lajas and Bodega Los Berrazales, run by Víctor Lugo.
After touring the tropical fruit plantations and coffee groves — where exceptionally high-quality coffee is grown — we had the chance to sample the local produce. A delicious spread of tapas that included cheese, bread with Teror chorizo, sweet bread with coffee and apple jam, and a wine tasting from Bodega Los Berrazales, plus their one-of-a-kind coffee beer. A perfect finish: a fragrant cup of Agaete coffee.
Ravines, Guanartemes and Rest
After lunch in Agaete, we made our way to Redondo de Guayedra, a very special rural retreat nestled between ravines above Playa de Guayedra. This was the place where Fernando Guanarteme, the last Canarian king, lived after the Castilian conquest of the island.
We toured the estate in small electric buggies, taking in every corner and viewpoint, before settling into the various houses assigned to us. Stone houses beautifully decorated, with breathtaking views of the sea, the ravine and the summit of Tamadaba.
After a relaxing afternoon, we enjoyed a vegetable paella and got ready to rest. We needed to save our energy for the days ahead.
Charco Azul and La Aldea de San Nicolás
Sticking to the departure time proved difficult. The lavish breakfast buffet — and above all, the hypnotic views of the Guayedra ravine and Tamadaba from the restaurant terrace — made it hard to rush.
The Monday morning plan was a hike to Charco Azul to stretch our legs a little.
We parked at El Risco and walked through the ravine until we reached the famous pool — not quite as blue as its name, but a wonderful spot to rest and take photos to remember the moment.
We then continued on to La Aldea de San Nicolás, famous for the Fiesta del Charco, where we had lunch at Grill Luis, right by the beach.
On the way back, we detoured to visit the stunning Balcón viewpoint, which offers a breathtaking view of the succession of cliffs stretching from Agaete to La Aldea — the same coastline we could see from Redondo de Guayedra from a different angle.
The afternoon was spent at leisure — enjoying the accommodation’s pools, walking through the estate, and taking time to get to know each other better. Because even though we are all colleagues in a small hotel, our different shifts and roles mean we rarely find time in our day-to-day lives to really talk and connect.
A Moment of Gratitude
As I mentioned, this year marks 25 years since the hotel opened, and Paloma wanted to use this trip to do something special for three women who have worked here since day one: Tere, Luisi and Marisol. Paloma paid tribute to them with a small but heartfelt recognition — gifting each of them a watch to symbolise the time they have shared together.
Sardina del Norte and Farewells
Tuesday was our last day, so we stretched breakfast out as long as we could, soaking in those views and committing them to memory.
We said a sad goodbye to this truly unique place, surrounded by stunning nature, and headed towards Sardina del Norte. Along the way, Paloma proved she hadn’t forgotten the shortcuts that took us through banana plantations to reach the harbour. Luisi won’t forget that harbour either — a gust of wind sent her glasses flying into the sea.
And so we made our way back to Agaete to bring our trip to a close and head home, each of us returning to our own lives. A team getaway that brought us closer, and let us share something real with one another as women. A trip we will always remember.
Y así pusimos rumbo de vuelta a Agaete, para finalizar nuestro viaje y volver cada una a nuestras vidas.
Una escapada de compañeras que nos hizo conocernos más y compartir entre nosotras como mujeres. Un viaje que siempre recordaremos.
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