Bancal: an embrace between Luxury and Sustainability
Bancal Hotel & Spa is the meeting point between luxury, Gomera tradition and sustainability. Moved by our love for the island’s history, we have created spaces that, while modern, blend in with the surroundings and are respectful of the environment and the people around us. Ready to learn about and be a part of the story behind Bancal?
The Origins
This project was born out of our commitment to understand the roots of the island of La Gomera and how its people faced a territory as abrupt as it is rugged.
We are in a privileged location: an elevated plateau with a certain inclination (formerly a terraced tomato plantation) skirted by a ravine at the mouth of Roque Bermejo. On the opposite side is a cliff overlooking the immense Atlantic Ocean, with a privileged view of the island of Tenerife and with Mount Teide as a backdrop.
On some pre-existing ruins, and after several attempts by previous investors who had the dream of inhabiting this place, we erected what is now a reality. After more than a year of a laborious, almost archaeological process of demolition and removal through exhaustive waste management, and a great deal of work to clean up an unfinished structure that had been abandoned for more than 14 years, we began the construction of this unique resort: Bancal Hotel & Spa. Construction began in late 2019 and was completed during the first half of 2024.
Architecture
The project was made to adapt to the territory where it is located, taking advantage of the orography of the place by using terraced constructions, imitating the original terraces of the tomato farm, and extrapolating the method of the ancient farmers to tame the rugged terrain of the island: staggering with stone walls to create horizontal platforms.
Using these ancestral techniques and the basaltic volcanic stone extracted from the excavation of the site, the stone walls that surround the enclosure were initially built. This also creates a public pedestrian walkway around the entire perimeter. This process gave rise to the terraces where the different rooms of Bancal Hotel & Spa have been located. The materials used in the construction merge with the surroundings; one can barely see it from a distance. Both the exterior and the interiors are imbued with a rough architecture that strikes up a dialogue with the harshness of the landscape outside, generating spaces that seem to simulate caves.
On the other hand, vegetation is key at Bancal Hotel & Spa. Our terraces come to life with the flora that discreetly take over the entire space. Our vegetation consumes little water and is environmentally respectful.
Sustainability
Bancal Hotel & Spa is not only a reflection of our love for the Gomera tradition and its nature. We also want to show respect for the environment in search of more sustainable tourism.
Our establishment is 100% electric. It has a solar garden with more than 2,000 photovoltaic panels that provides energy for around 40% of the hotel’s needs. The rest of the energy is obtained from certified and renewable sources.
We also have a state-of-the-art treatment plant that facilitates giving a second life to the water consumed by allocating it to the irrigation of the gardens through a smart irrigation system.
We grow some of our fruits and vegetables on our own farms and have established a network with local suppliers in order to use seasonal, local products. The digitisation of our processes to reduce paper consumption and efficient waste management are some other actions we have taken to minimise the impact on this magical and unique natural environment.
In addition, all vehicles for own use are electric mobility vehicles and staff have their own parking space for their personal sustainable mobility vehicles such as bicycles and scooters.
Our commitment to our community is fundamental to us: around 70% of our staff are from La Gomera, in line with our goal of fostering local employment and promoting the development of the local economy.
