Sunset Paradise

Sunset Paradise feels like a quiet private retreat, with the hosts arranging things so there’s often just one occupied room per floor and it feels as if you have the place to yourself. Doña Patricia has filled the hotel with paintings and sculptures by Colombian artists, making it an art museum in its own right. The oceanfront setting does cause some saltwater wear, but I don’t agree with reviews calling it run down. The pool was clean and well cared for, and the jacuzzi worked fine, though it isn’t heated. I enjoyed the hydrotherapy. Don Fernando made delicious breakfast and coffee each morning. Doña Patricia and Don Fernando were attentive and made sure we were satisfied. I’d happily stay at Sunset Paradise again.

We had a big, comfortable room and the AC worked really well. When we asked for a room farther from the road, they moved us right away. Mr. Fernando also gave us great island tips. The hosts were kind, attentive, and helpful, and each morning brought a different cute breakfast. The pool was beautiful and the dogs were sweet. Getting into town was easy by bus, about 5K pesos, while a taxi back in the evening cost 30K pesos. We had a wonderful stay at Sunset Paradise and will be back.

We were able to get our clothes washed quickly, and the rooms were cleaned well. Each had AC and a fridge, which was useful, though there was no hot water, as is standard for me in the Caribbean. Breakfast is available in the morning, and you can buy soft drinks and beer throughout the day. The small pool was nice, but the jacuzzi wasn’t working. The villa is a few kilometers outside the city, so you need transport to get around. We rented the owners’ moped and it worked well. The shoreline below the house isn’t suitable for swimming because of the rough cliffs. Two sweet, big German shepherds and a cat live there; my kid and I are used to dogs and cats. It’s a lovely old villa, not a standard hotel, run by a kind older couple who live there and speak Spanish. They were very helpful.

The staff were friendly, and they were flexible when we asked to switch rooms. But the place had a strong smell and lots of humidity, and the old rooms and house were a problem. The beds and closets creaked with any movement. The shower was cold salt water, and both Wi-Fi and phone reception were very poor. It was expensive for somewhere advertised as near the beach, since the shoreline there is rocky and you can’t get in. The worst part was when one of the dogs hurt my baby daughter by pushing her almost into a wall and stone statue. The staff should keep the dogs away from guests or have better control of them, since small children and animals could be in danger.