Tulia Guesthouse in Tenerife: Northern Charm with a Community Vibe
The north and south of Tenerife couldn’t be more different. Located in the Canary Islands, just off the north-west coast of Africa, this small volcanic island somehow packs in landscapes that seem like they belong to different worlds. Though it’s not huge, the contrast between its northern and southern halves is striking. In the south, you’re confronted with a raw, volcanic landscape, dry, dramatic, sun-scorched, and almost desert-like, with that signature black-sand sparkle. It’s harsh, yet impossible to ignore. In the north, the island changes completely. The landscape softens, becoming greener and lusher. Trees and flowers spill over the streets, and the air is cooler and fresher, carrying a calm, quiet energy. You could spend days driving through the island and still be surprised by how quickly the scenery shifts, around every corner, a new scene appears, so different from what came before that it feels like the island is showing you another side of itself.
A Guesthouse That Feels Like Living, Not Staying
Tulia Guesthouse is one of those places that makes the north feel instantly accessible. Don’t expect flashy interiors or boutique touches, this isn’t about ticking boxes or posing for Instagram. Instead, it’s a modest, perfectly imperfect guesthouse that feels more like a home you’ve stumbled across than a room you’ve booked.
The mix of rooms and apartments gives you real freedom. Want to make your own coffee in the morning? Go ahead. Fancy cooking dinner after a day exploring the island? Everything you need is right there. The decor has a quiet, subtle charm reminiscent of certain corners of Arizona: dark wood, warm yellow walls, light that lands just right, corners that don’t quite meet perfectly. There’s space, there’s character, and it all feels alive, never staged.
What strikes you most is the atmosphere. There’s a calm, understated energy, a sense that the place encourages you to slow down without telling you to. Small details catch your eye, the way light moves across the floor, the occasional imperfection that somehow makes everything feel more human, more real.
Life at Tulia: Community Without Pressure
Tulia has a quiet sense of community woven into every corner. The shared kitchen sits at the heart of it, with espresso machines ready, dinnerware in place, and a big table scattered with plugs and computers for anyone who needs to work. Remote workers would feel right at home here; you could spend the day typing away while the island waits just outside. There is no expectation though, using the space for work is entirely optional, which makes everything feel effortless, relaxed, and flexible.
For longer stays, it is the kind of place that lets you experience Tenerife on your own terms. Make coffee when you like, cook a meal if it suits you, follow your own rhythm, and still feel part of a small, quiet community. The common areas only add to the appeal. Plants hang from the ceiling, thoughtful little details appear exactly where you want them, and a calm, soothing energy runs through the house. There is even a small garden at the back, the kind of space that makes you feel like you are visiting family for the weekend and simply lingering in the backyard, enjoying the day without a plan.
The Terrace That Steals the Show
The real surprise is upstairs. From the terrace at Tulia, you can take in the north of Tenerife in a way that makes the island feel alive. The peaks and hills stretch in every direction, and the small clusters of homes sit naturally, as if they belong rather than being arranged for a view. From up here, it is easy to notice the subtle movements of the day, the wind shifting across the hills, birds moving between the trees, the quiet rhythm of life below without needing to see it closely.
Time on the terrace moves differently. Morning coffee can become a pause to simply be. Evenings feel open, with nothing demanding attention other than your own curiosity. Tulia does not insist on spectacle or perfection; it is the small, unscripted moments, thoughts drifting, someone laughing in the distance, the air cooling as the sun sets, that make the space memorable.
By the end of your stay, it is easy to picture yourself spending more time there. Sitting on the terrace, watching the island in motion in its own way, you realise that Tenerife’s north is not just somewhere you pass through, it is somewhere you can truly feel part of, even if only briefly.
