Our stay at Casa Morera, a rural house in La Palma

When we visited La Palma we stayed in two different parts of the island. The place we had our eye on, Apartamento Chaxiraxi, did not have space for the whole week, so we went looking for a little casa rural for the rest of our stay. That is how we ended up booking Casa Morera, a lovely old house in Fuencaliente, in the south of La Palma.

At a glance

• Where: Fuencaliente (south of La Palma), the Los Quemados district, at the foot of the San Antonio volcano.
• The house: an 18th-century casa rural (once Fuencaliente's first town hall), restored; sleeps 4 (2 bedrooms + a sofa bed).
• Highlights: a garden with fruit trees and a barbecue, a Canarian balcony looking out to the sea and the volcanic landscape, and plenty of rural charm.
• Bear in mind: you need a car; it is a rural setting (the odd lizard, part of the charm) and there is no pool.
• Booking: through Booking.com; you collect the keys at Bar Parada (Fuencaliente).
• Ideal for: families with children, or couples looking for peace, quiet and a bit of history.

Booking it

We booked through Booking.com, which is a comfortable and safe way to do it. The meeting point was the well-known Bar Parada, famous for its delicious almond biscuits, which we really do recommend trying. From there the lovely owners guided us to the house and told us its fascinating story.

The history of the house

The house dates from the 18th century and is a perfect example of traditional Canarian architecture. Set in the Los Quemados area, this historic home was once the first town hall of Fuencaliente. The current owners have restored it with great care, respecting its original style. The wooden floors and ceilings and the sash windows are details that give the place a character all of its own.

Inside the house

The house has two floors:

Ground floor

• Kitchen and living room: Fully equipped, the kitchen has utensils, coffee, tea, sugar, oil and spices. The living room has a small television, books, board games and WiFi.
• Bathroom: With a bathtub and a double washbasin.
• Utility room: Washing machine, iron, ironing board and cleaning products.

Upstairs

• Main bedroom: A spacious room with a double bed, two bedside tables and a terrace with a table and chairs, perfect for relaxing.
• Second bedroom: Two single beds, a sofa bed and a balcony with outdoor furniture. One charming detail is the table made from an old Singer sewing machine.

Garden and terrace

The real appeal is outside. The garden and the patio are ideal for enjoying La Palma's weather and its calm. Watering the plants, chasing lizards, having a barbecue or simply sunbathing were some of the things we did there as a family.

The garden also has fruit trees and beautiful hydrangeas, while the patio has outdoor furniture, a parasol and a barbecue. There is easy parking outside, too.

Location and what is nearby

The house is close to supermarkets, cafes and pharmacies, but a car is essential for getting around.

What to know before you book

• You really do need a car: without one you are fairly cut off in Fuencaliente.
• It is an old casa rural: the odd lizard and period details (part of the charm, but worth knowing).
• There is no pool and no hotel services; this is rural switching-off, not a resort.

Is it worth it?

Even though we found a few lizards inside the house (perfectly normal in a rural setting), our stay at Casa Morera was fantastic.

If you are after a rural place to stay in La Palma with charm and history, Casa Morera is one I would recommend without hesitation. Ideal for families with children, or for couples who want to switch off somewhere quiet.