BioHotel Arara River

The thin walls meant we could hear our neighbors snoring, which was unpleasant. More than that, we ended up stuck at the hotel with nothing to do. We’d been told several times, two months ahead, that tours could be booked on the day. But when we arrived, the woman in Leticia said only the night walk was available. Then at the hotel, tours were already getting ready and we weren’t on one. We asked what we could do and were told we should have booked, but by then everything had left and there were no activities. We came to the Amazon for something unique, not to sit around at a hotel all day. We can do that anywhere. Truly disappointing.

The staff really looked after us, and the food and surroundings were wonderful. We had a great time in June and would definitely come back. 🦜💞

The location was fine, around 30 minutes from Leticia by boat. Most of the staff were kind and helpful, but management made the stay frustrating. Event, facility and meal times kept changing or weren’t honored, often running an hour late. Tour details were inaccurate, and information was generally hard to get. We also felt stuck relying on the hotel, since it only allowed its own tours and boat operators. There aren’t other restaurants nearby, so we brought wine and a corkscrew to celebrate our friends’ engagement. We opened the bottle ourselves, but the next day the hotel said it would charge us $20 as an uncorking fee. That’s a wild price anywhere, especially in Colombia, where we live in Bogota. Management should be much better about sharing accurate information and sticking to what they say.

The food was excellent, and Chef Will really knows local cuisine. He’s professional and helpful, and I got to try several kinds of fish, all of which I loved. Everyone from the front desk to the bartender was great. Johanna, the manager, was lovely and helpful, and checked in each time we saw her to see how things were going or if we needed anything. The reservation and trip communications were excellent too. WiFi worked okay, which is understandable this far out. There’s no AC, so I’d suggest putting a large fan in the dining area and a floor fan in each room. I’ll definitely return!