Akela Gaira Hotel

The gardens and pool are lovely, and the hotel sits up in the mountains with beach views and lots of lush greenery. It's pet-friendly, and breakfast was okay. There's no restaurant, but they can arrange delivery. If you're driving, make sure you have a 4WD. My AC made a terrible noise and wasn't working properly. I told the staff right away, but they didn't offer another room or a fix. I was told to wait until 22:00, when the shift changed, for someone else to look at it. I barely slept because of the noise.

Let's see how breakfast is tomorrow. So far, this place has way too many good reviews. The room was hot before I even arrived, and there are dozens of steps to get to the rooms. There's not much light, maybe because I'd notice more problems with better lighting. The shower has just one control to turn it on or off, with no way to adjust the temperature. I also saw a few little bugs walking on the floor.

The rooms felt like private little retreats, with floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors, and natural stone and architectural details throughout. The whole villa-style hotel is built in tiers on the mountainside of Santa Marta, with beautiful views of the mountains, city, and ocean. The waterfall pool was gorgeous, especially at night with the city lights. Carlos greeted us warmly and made us feel at home. The hotel pets did too, which meant a lot since I was missing my own. The hotel and its welcoming staff made the stay feel really special. As a designer, Akela Gaira felt like heaven on earth. I can't wait to come back!

I liked being away from the busy beach center, up on the hill behind rodadero. The coastal views are gorgeous, and the breakfast deck is a lovely place to hang out in the evening too. The room was simple and comfortable, the Wi-Fi worked quickly in my room and by the pool, and the staff were kind and helpful. Checkout took a while, but they let me relax by the pool while I waited for my airport taxi. There was no hot water, though in the heat that was fine. The road up is steep, and not every taxi will take you to the top. If you want to be right by the beach, stay somewhere else. It's an evolving eco-hotel.