Isla del Pirata

The food and the care from the staff made this one of our favourite hotels in the world. We ate there five lunches and four dinners, and every meal tasted just as good. I ordered the catch of the day alongside octopus each day. The fish was crispy outside, well seasoned, and delicious inside. The octopus came with garlic and lemon or caramelized onion, and we loved both versions. There were lots of fruit juices too. Our favourites were maracuja, lulo, and guanabana, though I’m not sure I have that last name right. We also tried mandarin and strawberry. Alex, the manager, remembered the small things we asked for throughout our stay. My wife doesn't like pepper (pimientos), so it was left out of her salad while I got it in mine. After we mentioned our breakfast preferences on the first day, we got my wife's fried egg and bread and my arepa a little crispier without having to ask again. Alex also sorted out transport to Cartagena after getting the number one evening. The next morning he said it was arranged, then checked the boat's name and time on our last day and stayed with us until we boarded. The setting is lovely, at the edge of the Rosario Islands, with a clean shore, warm water, plenty of fish and octopuses, and pelicans and seagulls fishing nearby every day. The sea colours are amazing. You can rent a kayak, boat, or snorkeling gear to explore the water. The bungalows are spread across about half the island, some by the sea and others farther inland. We chose one by the water and loved it. In the evening, the sea would rise to bungalow level and stay until morning. Waves hit the front walls and sometimes splashed us when we sat outside. The island is very remote, but the WiFi worked well throughout the property, often reaching 70 Mbps. We had some questions before staying, including whether the food would be good, whether it would suit a week-long visit, and whether a seafront bungalow would be safe in the wind. We ended up loving our stay and would absolutely return when we're back in Colombia. We recommend it.

The setting is beautiful, but the hospitality and upkeep didn't live up to it. Our first greeting was friendly and courteous, yet the room kept losing power and had no air conditioning. There wasn't a broom to clear the sand, and the bath towels were very rough. Lunch took two hours. We ordered at noon and ate at 2:00, and the bottle of water we ordered never arrived. Some parts of the resort also felt unsafe. The stairs from the water need new banisters, some steps are too low, and the last section of the ladder is very loose and looks ready to break.

Snorkeling around the island was our favourite part. The water is crystal clear, with lots of fish and corals. We stayed in the ocean front suite, which was spacious and clean, with direct access to the sea and amazing views. The sunsets are gorgeous, and the island has such peaceful, relaxing vibes. There were plenty of tasty food and drink options at reasonable prices, and the staff were super friendly and attentive to what we needed. This was easily the highlight of our Cartagena trip. Definitely a must visit, and I'll recommend it to family and friends!

We had an amazing day pass visit. Alex, the administrator, was always so nice and attentive. The location was breathtaking, and having the private island mostly to ourselves made the experience even better. The water is clear enough to see lots of fish.