In an age where almost every holiday can be booked in minutes online, one of the Canary Islands' most unusual places to stay is asking guests to do something very different. Anyone hoping to spend the night at El Elevador on El Hierro must first write and post a handwritten letter explaining why they want to visit.
Perched on the edge of a volcanic cliff, El Elevador is a remote retreat for two people created from a former water pumping station. Rather than offering a traditional hotel experience, it focuses on peace, nature and complete disconnection from everyday life.
The building has been carefully restored by Canary Islands architect Alejandro Beautell as part of a project led by Be Tenerife. It once pumped water from a hidden spring to supply a nearby village, but has now been transformed into a unique holiday retreat while preserving its industrial heritage.
The accommodation covers just 60 square metres, with an open-plan living, sleeping and kitchen area finished in exposed concrete. The former electrical transformer tower has been converted into a striking six-metre-high bathroom, lit naturally from above.
There is no Wi-Fi, no television and even no mobile phone signal. The idea is to encourage guests to switch off completely and reconnect with the landscape, rather than their screens.
Surrounded by volcanic rock formed more than 15,000 years ago, the property overlooks the Atlantic Ocean from a dramatic cliff-top location. Its creators say the focus is on slowing down, enjoying the changing light and listening to the sea, rather than filling every moment with activities.
The site also preserves an important part of El Hierro's history. Around 70 years ago, a local man named Juan Casañas carved a path into the cliff to reach the spring, making it possible to bring fresh water to the community. That story has been woven into the restoration, linking the island's past with its present.
Perhaps the most unusual part of the experience is the booking process itself. Instead of completing an online form, prospective guests must send a handwritten letter explaining what has inspired them to stay and what they hope to find there.
Each letter is read individually before a handwritten reply is sent by post with a preliminary reservation and a private link to select dates and complete the booking. It is the only digital step in the entire process.
For visitors looking to escape the crowds, switch off from technology and experience one of the Canary Islands' most peaceful settings, El Elevador offers something genuinely different. Just don't expect to book it with a few clicks.
