Cabañas El Samán

Please be careful. We paid $50,000 COP upfront to book, then Booking.com charged me another $250,000 COP because the reservation wasn’t canceled or confirmed as a no-show. We didn’t want a refund or compensation, just the chance to enjoy one of the few vacations my wife and I get each year. But the owner wouldn’t honor the Booking.com reservation, and treated us as if we were trying to take advantage. We were left with our luggage by the road and had to call a taxi back to Villavicencio after they refused to let us in. He asks people to give advance notice if “something happens,” then doesn’t reply and blocks them on WhatsApp. The owner was incredibly rude, said he was always in “very important” meetings, and offered no solution. I found Daniel’s behavior, including deleting messages and blocking reviews on Booking.com, deeply troubling. The place didn’t look like the photos, and I can only imagine what the service would be like once inside. There are cheaper, better, and more reliable options. Don’t let them scam you or your family.

Honestly, I had a bad experience and left feeling terrified. The place is pretty, but there’s no restaurant service on a Saturday at 5:30 in the afternoon. You need a car to get there, outside Apiay and Villavicencio, and in the rain it’s not possible to get around on a motorcycle. The cabins are basic at best, with a visibly dirty pool, a broken bathroom light, and terrible TV reception. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who expects more than the basics, especially since even those aren’t provided.

I can’t recommend it. We were there with my daughter and two elderly women, and ended up leaving as early as we could. The manager called at noon the next day to say they would refund us, but by then it was too late to find somewhere better. We stayed because Mr. Oswaldo refused to return the money when I asked, after telling him the cabins were dirty and asking him not to be rude. The first night, loud music continued until 11:30 pm, and the next night it went until 1:30 am. At 7 am we tried to go for a walk, but waited an hour because the man who opens the gate was asleep. Breakfast was poor: watered-down juice, no chocolate, and when we asked to buy an extra roll, they wouldn’t offer even a fried egg instead. The pool by the facilities was filthy, the furniture was in bad shape, and the showers seemed so unusable that you could easily get an infection. The staff were rude and unhelpful, and the place felt neglected, even though it isn’t ugly. At 60,000 pesos per person for two nights, I wasn’t expecting a five-star hotel, but cleanliness and decent service matter. The photos and video were old and made the place look much better than it was. There are better-maintained places for the same price, and I’d rather pay a little more for somewhere good. I booked with a man named Oswaldo, who I was told was the manager or owner. I initially booked for four people and said one more might join us. He offered a larger cabin in case they came, charging 60,000 pesos per person for two nights, 480,000 pesos total. I paid 100,000 pesos upfront, which included air conditioning, TV, breakfast, parking, and pool access. After I asked for photos, he sent me appealing pictures and a video. On Friday I said I’d confirm the extra person and paid another 100,000 pesos. When we arrived Saturday, they showed us a horrible, damp-smelling cabin. One room had two big bunk beds, leaving no room to walk or store belongings, and the other double room was filthy, as was the bathroom. A grumpy man and a woman who was the manager attended us. We asked to change cabins, and Mr. Oswaldo said he’d give us another room. The manager took us to a nearby cabin used to store garbage, just as small, with bunk beds, a tiny bathroom that smelled of sewage, and a kitchen without a kitchenette. When I pointed this out, Mr. Oswaldo rudely said there was nothing he could do and apologized if I was used to luxury hotels, saying this was a country cabin. I don’t recommend it. The property is poorly managed and neglected, despite its potential.

We had a great family trip here in April 2026, all eight of us, and felt completely safe. Mr. Oswaldo was kind, and the staff were friendly and down-to-earth. The cabins were lovely, with air conditioning and clean bathrooms, and we enjoyed the facilities surrounded by nature, especially the pool and billiards. They even played music we liked 👌🏼 Everything was excellent, and I highly recommend it.