On a strip of lava jutting into the Atlantic like a finger pointing "This is where Europe ends, folks!” The locals call it “hotelito” (little hotel). It's as incredible as the entire island of El Hierro, of which it has become a symbol. UNESCO has named it a Biosphere Reserve, which loosely translates to "a place so beautiful it's hard to believe!"

Before Columbus, it was believed that the known world ended here. The island of a thousand volcanoes and eight microclimates is so green that spinach might get an inferiority complex. The smallest and least known of the Canary Islands (shh, don't tell anyone!). Nature shows off here when no one disturbs it. Could the smallest hotel in the world be located in a better place? We think not!

And the hotelito? Built on a lava tongue in 1830, it started as a modest 40-square-meter room. Over time, it gained a second floor and a career as a trade center in the valley. Wine, fruits, and even the miraculous water from Pozo de la Salud were shipped from here to the world. As they say, small is beautiful, and in this case, also full of history and sea tales. The hotelito charmed Italian David and his wife Paula, who furnished the interior inspired by the sea and local culture. Its walls are made of lava rocks and old planks. The stairs were designed by a Canarian artist, the columns were salvaged from the demolition of the old town, and a characteristic beech root from the island hangs from the ceiling.

Photos: hotelpuntagrande.com