We recently spent a week staying at the Hotel Lopesan Baobab resort, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, and felt a review was in order for this unique hotel.

When we were originally looking at hotels in Gran Canaria, this one piqued our interest the most – and if you’ve seen the photos of the Lopesan Baobab you’ll know what I mean. With its full-blown African safari theme and fibre-glass wildlife scattered around the grounds, we did wonder if it would feel like a five-star hotel, or somewhere you’d bump into David Attenborough at the breakfast buffet.

So, did it live up to the hype? Was it worthy of its 5 star rating? And would we book again?

We’ll endeavour to answer all of these questions and share our honest experience after spending a week at the resort.

The Lopesan Baobab – Gran Canaria

In this post we’ll cover…

• A review of our stay at the Lopesan Baobab.
• A bit about the other Lopesan hotels in Meloneras.
• What it’s like staying in Meloneras, Maspalomas.
• A few cool day-trips we took in Gran Canaria.

Staying At The Baobab Hotel, Gran Canaria

No doubt you’re wondering if the Lopesan Baobab resort lives up to its reputation as a 5 star destination resort experience. It did win ‘Best Resort in Spain‘ at the World Travel Awards the year it opened, but is it really that good, and has it hung on to its greatness?

We’d say so, yes. And here’s a breakdown of amenities and features at the Baobab Hotel, Gran Canaria…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS & CHECK IN

I mean, what an entrance! From the off you’re fully immersed into an African theme and the timber-framed showpiece structure straight ahead of you as you walk the entry-bridge gives off Safari Lodge vibes and you’re immediately surrounded by botanicals and foliage. You’ll later discover that impressive building to be the bar and entertainments area known as Pueblo Baobab – the central hub of the Lopesan Baobab resort. All good hotels need an impressive lobby but this one really stole the show – strong first impressions.

Check in was swift, we had no problems, and they even prioritised an escort to the dining room so that we didn’t miss the restaurants serving window. Post-supper, back in the elegant reception area, we were welcomed with a glass of Prosecco and some important information about the hotel and dining options. Our receptionist also worked hard to accommodate us with a room choice too, since we were travelling with our parents and a nearby room would’ve been the icing on the cake – this is a LARGE hotel!

Overall, along with a quick meal at the buffet, we were suitably impressed with the hotel so far, the check-in, and a snippet of the amazing food we were about to partake of over the coming week.

THE ROOM (Standard Room)

When we go on holiday, an important factor for me is that I want to stay somewhere nicer than my own home – it just makes it feel that bit more special. The Lopesan Baobab hotel did not disappoint. My mother-in-laws one complaint was that it’s a little dark for someone with glaucoma, but I found it to be cosy and relaxing. That said, there really is no good lighting for applying make-up, so take note ladies.

The room is spacious, there is a large wardrobe with plenty of hangers (a personal bugbear when you only get 3 per person in some hotels), there’s all sorts of mood lighting, the curtains are black-outs, and the beds were REALLY comfortable and gigantic! Our room had a huge bath big enough for the both of us to lay side by side, and the gracious advantage of the loo being in a separate compartment from the rest of the bathroom facilities – phew!

Our rooms were cleaned daily and really thoroughly. The towels could be replaced if you wanted them to be and there was also a personal robe each too. The complimentary bottles of water and bathroom kits weren’t replenished after the first night though, something which we have had in other 5 star resorts. However, there were more toiletries on offer than other hotels we’ve stayed – shampoo and conditioner, make-up remover, after-sun balm, and body lotion, all very nice quality too.

Overall, we loved the room and the decent sized balcony, our only small gripes being that the lighting was a bit dim in the bathroom and note that the TV isn’t a smart TV, in case you wanted to screen cast or watch Netflix.

NOTE: My photo’s don’t do the room justice – the colours are much warmer and the quality natural woods and other materials don’t shine through.

THE REST OF THE HOTEL: POOLS, SUNBEDS & GROUNDS

The Lopesan Baobab resort is huge! A bit like a small African village (with the occasional elephant or zebra for company), the garden paths wind through the hotel from pool to pool, past a few outdoor bars, over bridges and under some of the most impressive native trees you’ll ever see. It took us a few days to actually work out all the routes, and with several ways back to our room we may as well have been safari explorers. However, after discovering a homestead of black turtles mid-holiday, basking in one of the landscaped water features, we began to take the same route home so we could say hello to our new holiday pals.

There are multiple pools at hotel Baobab and all with a different vibe. There’s a lazy river, a couple of mock-beaches, and several pools out of the way in hidden corners with barely anyone around. It’s definitely not a problem finding a sun-lounger, whatever your tastes for a day by the water. Your beach towels can be exchanged every day, and poolside bars are dotted conveniently around the grounds so you’re never too far from the snacks and drinks.

The grounds are definitely one of the hotels standout features – the lush, well maintained gardens made you feel so relaxed and it was an absolute pleasure to be chilling out in such beautiful surroundings. For us, this feature earned the hotel its 5 star rating – we’ve had slightly nicer bedrooms and dining options elsewhere, but nowhere we’ve ever stayed has trumped the Lopesan Baobab for its natural beauty and peaceful setting.

FOOD & DRINK AT THE LOPESAN BAOBAB

Whilst the food and drink might not be the stand-out feature of the Baobab hotel, it’s still a solid 8 out of 10 in our opinion and does the job well. Five star hotels in the Canary Islands are often exceptional when it comes to dining (with the Tenerife hotel Princess Inspire in Costa Adeje coming out tops for us) so the Lopesan Baobab has a lot to live up to. That said, we felt the choice was extensive and varied most of the time and even the pickiest of eaters would be able to find something.

Our favourite aspect of the buffet restaurant was the selection of freshly grilled meats and fish on offer each evening – the quality and freshness was fantastic. Add to that the huge salad bar, usually with a few seafood appetisers which pleased me immensely – one evening I had 6 different varieties of shellfish and octopus.

The breakfast buffet, although almost the same most mornings, had a great selection and whether you’re a cereal, fruit, pastry or cooked breakfast kind of person, there was plenty on offer.

We had a lunch voucher for our final day and I’d say it was similar to the dinner buffet but with only two thirds of the choice.

TIPS: Arrive early for sittings (or late) and it’ll be a more pleasant experience – less people and fresher, hotter food. Also, we preferred the 2nd restaurant – the one that’s situated further from the central hub. Many, it seemed, were queuing and waiting to be seated in the first restaurant, whereas there was always space in the second. It’s a prettier restaurant too, especially the section under the wooden atrium, and the food options were exactly the same at both buffets. We suspected many hadn’t cottoned on about the second buffet restaurant, or perhaps people are just creatures of habit – anyways, we didn’t want to let our little secret out!

_{Restaurant Akara}

NOTE: The a la carte restaurant, Akara, is situated on the top floor of the Pueblo Baobab, above the Dodori bar and is a really special place to eat. The restaurant serves up dishes with African flavours and the portion sizes are extremely generous. If you haven’t booked the package that includes the Akara restaurant, it is worth treating yourself to an evening here regardless.

There is also a BBQ restaurant too, Pili Pili, but it was a bit windy in the evenings when we visited Gran Canaria, so we never tried it.

Also, some packages allow you eat at the other Lopesan hotels in Meloneras too – specifically their a la carte restaurants.

OUR OVERALL OPINION

We’d definitely book again at the Lopesan Baobab, Meloneras. And actually, after speaking to a few guests we discovered that many return again and again, so that should give you an indication of the overall quality of the hotel. There are rumours that the food at the sister hotel, Lopesan Costa Meloneras, was to a higher standard but the prices were about £200-300 more per person for a week there, so that’s understandable. However, we wouldn’t trade the peaceful jungle vibe of the Baobab hotel for a slightly better buffet.

The type of people it attracted were middle-class Brits and Germans for the most part, and a healthy smattering of Baby-mooners – something I’ve never encountered before at a hotel. It’s clearly the kind of place people want to retreat to for a week before their world becomes chaos with a little baby! That said, there were a fair amount of young families with toddlers, so perhaps they find themselves returning knowing how much of a peaceful break they’ll get. The children were all so well-behaved, by the way – no abandoned ice-creams in the pool, or dive-bombing here!

Staff were friendly and accommodating whenever we encountered them, and they’re definitely working hard to maintain such a high standard of hotel. And the evening entertainment was good quality too – although to be honest we are a bit partial to a bit of naff entertainment just for a laugh, whereas the Baobab only dished up professionals.

Overall, we loved it!

Other 5 Star Hotels In Meloneras, Gran Canaria

There are 3 other 5 star hotels in the upmarket resort of Meloneras, Gran Canaria, that we would recommend to our readers. We had the pleasure of visiting all of them and also have had friends who’ve stayed at some too…

Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort & Spa
Often described as the largest and most “classic” of the Lopesan hotels in the area, the Lopesan Costa Meloneras is all about scale, location and facilities. Sitting right on the Meloneras seafront, it has arguably the best position of the three, with direct access to the promenade and ocean views that the Baobab can’t quite match. And, their iconic infinity pool overlooking the beach is the largest in Europe and is pretty special.

There’s an on-site casino and extensive spa, and something that caught my eye – a naked bathing area! Imagine, no tan lines!

The style is more traditional and grand rather than themed, and the guest mix tends to skew slightly older – a wealthy crowd looking for a well-rounded, convenient stay with no kids to annoy you.

Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso
If the Baobab is “Africa” and Costa Meloneras is “classic resort,” then Villa del Conde is unmistakably “Canarian charm.” Designed to resemble a traditional island village – complete with a church-style façade and cobbled squares – this hotel has a much more intimate and characterful feel.

Again, located on the seafront of Meloneras, but at the very far side of the resort and further from all of the bars and restaurants, it’s probably the most quiet of the 3 Lopesan hotels. It’s typically seen as the most refined hotel, attracting more couples and repeat visitors, for a peaceful romantic stay. The high-quality thalasso spa is a bonus addition for ultimate relaxation.

Hotel Riu Palace Meloneras
Not a Lopesan hotel but worthy of a mention if you’re looking for 5 star quality in Gran Canaria is the Hotel Riu Palace. Whereas the Lopesan hotels are more about experience and visual impact with beautiful architecture and dramatic themes, Riu Palace is more about being a consistently good hotel. Great service, great restaurants, and lots of boxes ticked, but perhaps lacking in personality – particularly when compared to the others. But if you want to lie on your back for a week and have nothing to complain about, perhaps this would be your hotel choice.

There’s no music around the pools, no kids, and no distractions save for the ocean views – ultimate laid back luxury that mostly appeals to couples and older travellers. Less memorable but an effortless and safe choice .

A Bit About Meloneras, Maspalomas

Along with Puerto de Mogan, Meloneras is probably one of the more upmarket and polished resorts in Gran Canaria. It feels calmer, cleaner and a little more refined than perhaps Playa del Inglés or Puerto Rico. But, we think it strikes a nice balance of lively enough that you won’t get bored, and calm enough that you can properly relax.

One of Meloneras’ biggest strengths is its setting. At one end you’ve got the famous Maspalomas sand dunes and lighthouse, which give the area a really unique landscape, and at the other you’ve got the marina and rocky coastline. Then inland, behind the resort, the views of the mountains are hard to beat too. It’s perfect for walks, especially around sunset, and the waterfront has an array of high quality bar,s restaurants and shopping.

The beaches here are good, though not quite as sheltered as some on the island, and the breeze can be noticeable, but this is probably quite welcome in the warmer months.

_{The Dunes of Maspalomas}

MELONERAS WEATHER

Location-wise, Meloneras sits on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, which is known for having some of the best and most reliable weather on the island. It’s typically sunnier and drier than the north, with less cloud and wind disruption – one of the reasons it’s such a popular choice for year-round holidays. We met some people at the airport on our way home who’d spent the same week in Las Palmas in the north and they’d not had a single nice day, where we’d had wall to wall sunshine.

It’s also conveniently close to the airport (around 20–30 minutes by car), making transfers nice and easy.

Overall, if you want good food, scenic walks, quality hotels and a more laid-back, slightly more luxurious feel, it’s a great base for a stay in Gran Canaria.

Some Gran Canaria Day Trips Worth Considering

We hired a car whilst staying in Gran Canaria and took a few day trips to some of the islands hot spots, here’s some of our recommendations…

PUERTO DE MOGAN

Often referred to as “Little Venice,” Puerto de Mogán is easily one of the prettiest places on the island. With its colourful buildings, flower-covered balconies and a couple of canals, it feels completely different to the larger resort areas. It’s a great spot for a slower-paced day – wandering the marina, browsing the small shops, and stopping for lunch by the water. Compared to other coastal towns, it has a much more charming, almost boutique feel, and is perfect if you want something scenic and relaxed.

LOS AZULEJOS DE VENEGUERA

Only a 45 minute drive from Meloneras, but feeling like a different planet completely, these ‘Rainbow Rocks’ are a unique sight. The multicoloured rock layers of red, green and yellow are the result of volcanic activity, and they make for a really striking (and very photogenic) stop. It’s not somewhere you’ll spend hours, but as part of a scenic road trip into the bowels of Gran Canaria it’s a brilliant and slightly unexpected highlight.

FATAGA

Set in the Valley of a Thousand Palms, Fataga is a beautiful traditional village that gives you a glimpse of a quieter, more authentic side of Gran Canaria. Whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets, plenty of cats, and surrounding mountain views are worlds away from the coastal resorts. It’s a great place to stop for a coffee or a leisurely lunch, and a peruse of the gift shops. We visited as part of our mountain road trip…

A GRAN CANARIA ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

We genuinely did not know what to expect in terms of scenery from the mountains of Gran Canaria – something similar to Tenerife and Lanzarote I suppose. We couldn’t have been more wrong and this Gran Canaria road trip turned out to be the highlight of our holiday.

The drive through the mountains is breathtaking. The Scenery is constantly changing, from dramatic cliffs and pine forests to panoramic viewpoints and moon-like rock formations. Roque Nublo is one of the island’s most iconic landmarks and well worth seeing, while the village of Tejeda (often ranked among Spain’s prettiest) is the perfect place to pause for a drink or lunch. On a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of Mount Teide on neighbouring Tenerife in the distance, which feels pretty surreal. Add in stops like the Mirador de Cruz de Tejeda, and the whole journey becomes less about any destination and more about the experience of the drive itself. It’s easily one of the most memorable things to do on the island – however, those mountain roads are not for the feint hearted! Take an experienced driver and be prepared to invent new swear words for all of the cyclists en-route that regularly take stupid risks in front of your car.

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So, would we stay at the Lopesan Baobab again? In a heart beat. It was unique and beautiful and the perfect location to explore more of Gran Canaria.

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