Casa Cordoba Baru

The rooms are spacious, with a nice shower and warm water, A/C that worked without leaking, and a mini fridge. There’s free water, lovely sunrises, and the breakfast included was ordinary but tasty. It’s remote, so you need a boat transfer, which cost us 50.000 cop in total. The place is beautiful, hygienic, and the staff were nice and attentive around the clock. Room rates are lower than elsewhere nearby, but the food is costly, about 15-20€ per person, and beer is around 4€. Bring snacks and drinks. The menu doesn’t offer much variety, especially if you avoid meat, and I paid almost as much for drinks and food for two as I did for the room. Some mosquitoes got in. There’s not much to do, and four nights was almost too long, though I wanted a quiet, responsibility-free break, so it suited me. You can feel a bit stuck there. Next time I’d bring snacks and beer.

The peaceful setting is beautiful, and we like that kind of quiet, but the stay was awful and ruined our trip. The road was terrible, the room grim, the facilities poor, and the bed so small and uncomfortable that we barely slept. Sun loungers were worn, and parts of the deck were wobbly. There’s no restaurant, so you eat outside; you have to choose your food by 6 pm and say when you want to eat. The food was basic, lukewarm, and bland. Staff were sweet and tried, but didn’t know what they were doing. There were miscommunications from the start, then they tried to overcharge our bill as we were leaving and argued about it. We left after one night despite booking four, something we’ve never done in all our travels. If you’re fine with very basic conditions and no comforts, maybe it’s for you. The company didn’t apologize or communicate afterward. It feels neglected and forgotten. Sad and disappointing. Don’t be fooled by the photos, they must be ten years old.

A beautiful ocean view and a very laid-back feel. Our superior double was small but comfortable. It’s more like a three-star than a five-star hotel, though the staff were lovely, the food was nice, and it was wonderfully quiet compared with hectic Cartagena. There’s loud thumping music next door, so it may not suit you if that’s not your thing. Getting here from Cartagena by taxi and boat takes a while and costs quite a bit, but the hotel arranged it over WhatsApp and the trip went smoothly.

I had a mixed two-night stay. It’s rustic and basic, so set your expectations accordingly. The remote staff were quite good, and they can arrange trips and activities even at short notice. The property is quiet and remote, with beautiful birds, turtles, plants, and a wide, gorgeous sea. The water and sand aren’t the idyllic Caribbean color or texture, though. My double room was small, but clean, nicely equipped, and had a fantastic view. The owner’s husband was visiting and was friendly, welcoming, and checked on me several times. The power cut out several times, but only for a few seconds each time. They conserve water and food portions, so don’t expect much. The menu is long, but many items aren’t available; most of what you can get is good, not great. My only food quality complaint was the second breakfast: a little fruit and eggs, dry toast, and no butter or jam, with no breakfast choices. Eating there is really your only option. The walls and doors don’t seal completely, so soundproofing is poor. It didn’t bother me with only one other room occupied nearby, but I’d have been very frustrated if more guests had been around. On-site service was mixed, apart from the owner’s husband. The main attendant made me feel more like a burden than a guest. My Spanish is limited, and though I tried my best with a translator app, she seemed annoyed beyond just the language barrier. There were lots of mosquitoes, and I had about 15 bites after the first night. I asked for repellent; she said they didn’t have any but could send someone to buy it if I gave her money, which I did straight away. She didn’t tell me when it arrived, so I had to ask and then go get it while I was still being bitten. I wasn’t the only one, a Colombian man had legs covered in bites. They should keep repellent on hand for guests. Depending on your budget, priorities, and expectations, it may or may not suit you. I think it could be one of the better options around. Expect charm, not five-star quality.