Las Marismas
 

Las Marismas is an aparthotel complex located immediately behind the new water park in Corralejo. I was only informed of its existence by Margaret of The Great British Pub Quiz and local hairdresser fame and also Femmy one of our customers. I couldn't quite believe that a whole new hotel (3 keys) with 232 beds had opened without my knowledge so felt I had to take a visit. Getting to the entrance of the hotel was a bit tricky but we managed it by driving to the roundabout at the end of the high street, turning left to the next roundabout which leads to Las Fuentes and Las Americas but then turning down past Las Dunas and then following the road right round back to the water park (how complicated – don´t ever use me as a mapreader!).

We made our way to the pool bar area through the landscaped gardens and were impressed with the whole layout and the size of the gardens and swimming pools (there are 2 free form pools with heated freshwater or saltwater and a large children´s pool). The area was incredibly spacious and you could never be forced to sunbathe immediately adjacent to other people. All the sunbeds were of the wooden slatted deckchair variety (no white plastic) with nice thick cushions. The pool bar/ restaurant seating area is set between 2 of the 3 swimming pools and covered by a blonde wood colonial style roof with wooden patio tables and chairs.

Our waiter was new to his job but admitted so and was extremely friendly but was soon joined by other colleagues and (we assumed) the pool bar manager. We arrived at about 1.00 p.m. and only one other table was filled. The waiting staff seemed very intent on laying up all the other tables with cutlery and wineglasses before attending to our culinary requirements. We were, however, on our day off and extremely relaxed and happy to soak in the relaxing surroundings.

Our waiter first approached us for drinks (dos cañas) and then arrived with a menu asking us if we were German. We kindly advised him of our Englishness and he promptly disappeared but never to return with an English menu. Apparently these didn´t exist so we asked for a Spanish. We were, in no time, joined by a host of both Italian and German diners who all seemed to on an all-inclusive basis as they were all verbally given the choice of two starters or two main courses with water or house wine. (Now we realised the speed with which they were laying the tables.) There were a couple of other tables going à la carte. The menu is fairly limited with “pool bar” type fare. Half a dozen starters (garlic mushrooms, grilled goat´s cheese, soup), then a choice of a few pasta dishes (spaghetti or tortellini with a choice of sauces, toasted sandwiches and bocadillos and then a few meat and fish dishes. In fact the menu was extremely similar to that of the pool bar at the Atlantis Palace. (Although Las Marismas is owned by the same people as La Posada and The Arena hotels). There were also a choice of desserts, ice-creams were also available as well as milkshakes.

We ordered a bottle of bottle of Mateus Rosé, a grilled goat´s cheese starter to share between us and then squid romana and veal escalope. We were happily enjoying our surroundings when were very speedily served our food – although all three plates arrived immediately so we had to eat the goat´s cheese along with our main courses. What makes a chef do things like that? Anyway, no major complaints as we were both very chilled out – the sun was shining and I felt I was on holiday. The starter consisted of 4 nice slices of goat´s cheese spinkled with oregano with sliced tomatoes and our main courses were of the usual standard. The squid romana was a bit anaemic but apparently tasted excellent and my veal escalope was very succulent both were served with chips and salad (quelle sorpresa!). A family of Germans adjacent to us had garlic bread and spaghetti bolognese which both looked OK.

Although the menu contained no major surprises (it is understandably only a pool bar) the beautiful surroundings made it an extremely enjoyable lunch. We fancied a cocktail after our meal but didn´t seem to think they served such things so we went off the Gran Bahia Real Hotel for a drink overlooking the ocean. Still, however, no cocktails there either so we had another caña and a glass of wine.

Las Marismas boasts a tennis court / multi sports court, two squash courts, volleyball court, gym, mini-golf, children's playground and a spa with jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath. We finished our visit with a continued mooch around the area and were just amazed at the sheer size of the whole place and all tucked away off the main road behind the water park. The view to the rear of the water park at the front entrance of the hotel just proved to me that we must be another six months of the park opening – it´s still a complete building site.