Cristal Blue Baru

Hotel Cristal Blue was a really relaxing place to stay. The little private beach has loungers and hardly any vendors come through, which made it feel peaceful. Our room was clean, had its own bathroom, and although there’s a fan instead of AC, the electricity and water worked reliably all day, a real plus for the area. The food was very good, and there are other places nearby at different prices too. The hotel sorted out a car for us at a fair rate, and from Playa Blanca it’s only a five-minute boat ride. For the trip back, you can take a car before 3 pm or a speedboat later in the afternoon, which was dry and comfortable. Breakfast was delicious, and the staff were kind and welcoming. I’d happily come back.

The beach was clean, and everyone on staff did a great job. They helped us organize excursions, and the complimentary breakfast was freshly cooked, with excellent coffee. There’s no air conditioning, which is expected on the islands. Karaoke went late on Friday, and I’m more into getting some rest, but Saturday was quieter. It seemed like they adjusted the party atmosphere to what guests wanted. The staff were professional and accommodating, and I’d return.

I liked the location most of all. I picked Cristal Blue because it’s away from the busiest area, and I appreciated that. The downstairs reception, “restaurant” and beachfront were the nicest parts of the building. The staff were polite, seemed to be trying their best, and the receptionist handled a noise complaint understandingly. Our first two nights were in a back room without an ocean view. The shower was broken and awful, and there was no Wi-Fi reception. After we complained, they moved us to a much nicer front room with a sea view and Wi-Fi. The rooms are basic and don’t look as good in person as they do in the pictures. I saw another place two buildings down the beach that looked much nicer, and wished I’d booked there. There were some unsettling things. One night someone working on the property was banging very loudly at 8:30 pm. I got mad and rushed downstairs to ask them to stop, and they did right away. My sister found a packet of crackers on the floor with bite marks in it, and that same night I saw a very large rat moving along a wooden beam in the restaurant area. The building also bounced or vibrated a little when people walked, which made me nervous at times. The food wasn’t bad, but it was definitely overpriced. After two days, we found a place literally five minutes down the beach that charged half as much for most dishes, so we ate there every day. The stay wasn’t terrible, but with such a good location, I think the owners could put more into the rooms, even if that meant charging more. There’s room for improvement.

The snorkeling and plankton tours they arrange sounded good, and I’d recommend them if you can swim. I was glad to get a sea-view room, though the place still felt overpriced. The room also shook when people used the stairs, on a three-level wooden structure that felt unbalanced. I stayed one night on my own, and the slow, inattentive kitchen service took away from the experience. I paid for a cocktail and sent it back because it was just juice. They also made me pay for the tours in cash, though I found out from other people that card payment was possible. There was loud music from next door nonstop, from 10 am to 8 pm. Drones and a crew promoting their filming were also around while we were trying to relax. Good luck!