Makani Luxury Cartagena

We spent the day by the pool after taking the speed boat over on a one day pass. There was music, but we weren’t near the speakers so it wasn’t too loud. We had the all inclusive drinks package, and both the cocktails and service were good. The grounds and buildings look stunning. I can imagine it would be a lovely hotel to stay in.

We planned to stay at Makani for three nights, but loved it so much that we added a fourth. The property is gorgeous, and the pool was so relaxing. The food and drinks were phenomenal, whatever you order. Everyone on staff was friendly and gave excellent service. Shout-out to Sirleidy, Jannin, Isauria, Francisco and all the others who helped make our stay amazing. Thank you, Makani. It felt like paradise.

Alejandro at guest services deserves a special thanks. We needed cash and he got it for us. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they also gave my wife and me a 1.5m COP spa treatment, which was very good. The staff were the best we’ve seen on this trip. The resort looks beautiful, with a spacious room, working AC and TV, and a small plunge pool. There’s a large pool with lots of beds, though they should reserve the best ones for hotel guests over day pass visitors. Food and drinks were very good, and service was fast. There were a few mosquitoes, but overall it was nice. They also set up a projector outside so we could watch a movie on a big screen under the stars, which was really nice.

The ceviche was very good, but the rest of the beach club visit was disappointing. Staff seemed standoffish, spent much of the time chatting with each other, and were hard to communicate with. I understand we’re in Colombia, but the place is heavily advertised as a top destination for English-speaking cruise passengers. Our cruise group was put in a dark, tucked-away area far from the pool and full of ants. I wanted to sit by the pool, but when we asked to move, we were told our assigned spot couldn’t be changed. If we paid, we should be able to choose where to sit. Calling it a beach club feels like an exaggeration. The pool is amazing, but there’s barely a beach, just a small, unkempt strip of public sand crowded with vendors constantly trying to sell things.