Hotel with Ocean View: To Book, You Must Send a Letter – and Wait

On the volcanic cliffs of El Hierro, about a ten-minute drive from the fishing village of La Restinga, operates a micro-hotel embodying an exceptionally radical approach to leisure. El Elevador forces its guests to forgo electronic devices: reservations are made exclusively via traditional mail, and the hotel itself is disconnected from the internet and has no phone service. It is the only hotel of its kind in the Canary Islands.

El Hierro, the westernmost island in the Canary archipelago, hosts El Elevador on a volcanic cliff descending directly into the Atlantic. The small, barely visible gray concrete building recently opened as an ideal retreat for those seeking a digital detox, weary of traditional resorts, or admirers of brutalist architecture. The hotel, housed in a former water pumping station built in the mid-20th century, was transformed by Tenerife-based entrepreneurs Alberto del Hoyo and Silvia Rodríguez into an intimate retreat. It combines raw aesthetics and simplicity with comfortable conditions conducive to the quiet relaxation increasingly sought by vacationers embracing trends like "hushpitality" or "silent holidays."

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Tell us what inspired your visit and what you expect from it.

Everything about El Elevador is unusual, primarily the reservation method. Guests must handwrite a letter explaining why they wish to visit. "Tell us what inspired your visit and what you expect from it," encourage the creators of El Elevador. "The sender of each handwritten letter we receive will get a reservation," they add. The reservation process nears completion when a prospective guest receives a letter from the hotel via traditional mail. This letter contains a link to the booking system, allowing the guest to select and confirm their visit dates. This is the only point where digital technology facilitates contact with the hotel.

El Elevador is also one of the most intimate hotels globally, accommodating only one or two people simultaneously. This further enhances the place's intimate, almost monastic character and the overall experience. The hotel intentionally lacks internet, phone, and television. Instead, it features items like an analog camera with film and Japanese paper to remind guests of the value of disconnecting from the electronic world. The transformation of the former pumping station into a hotel was designed by Spanish architect Alejandro Beautell, with a minimalist interior.

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The sender of each handwritten letter we receive will get a reservation.