Hotel Casa Rosada

The room was nothing like the suite I booked. It was very dark, the only window had a boat stored high in front of it, and the bathroom smelled bad. I also found the welcome at Casa Rosada cold, and the reception staff seemed distant. Before I arrived, I couldn't get replies to my Booking.com or WhatsApp messages about arranging a transfer. I kept the reservation hoping things would improve once I got there, but they didn't. I wanted to arrange a transfer via Puerto Barrios, but was told to take a colectivo from Rio Dulce instead. It cost twice as much as the bus from Puerto Barrios and was much less comfortable. For the price, there are better options for service and comfort in Livingston. At places like Casa Nostra, Los 3 Garifunas, and Buga Mama, I found that warm Guatemalan hospitality along with Garifuna culture. Casa Rosada was the only place where I got such a cold welcome.

The bites became swollen and intensely itchy, and I've read they can take 7-14 days to heal. That means I have to spend the rest of my holiday dealing with them, and the whole experience has really unsettled me and affected my trip. I appreciate that I wasn't charged for the stay, only for what I ate at the restaurant, but I don't feel confident the problem is being handled properly. On my first night in the common room above the restaurant, I woke in the middle of the night and found several bugs on the bed. I killed some and moved to another room. I had no bites yet, so I hoped they might not be bedbugs. By the second morning, though, I was covered in bites on my face, hands, legs, and back. I told reception. They offered to move me to another bed, and I accepted, but that was all they did. There was no real explanation, apology, or reassurance about what would happen next. I'll attach photos of the bugs, sheets, and bites for reference. I know problems can happen anywhere, but the poor communication and response made this much worse. I hope management takes it seriously and fixes it for future guests.

The location was good, but the room was filthy. The mosquito net over the bed smelled awful, like it had never been washed. We stayed one night, then left for another hotel the next morning.

There's a sheltered dock with hammocks, and kayaks and SUPs are available to rent. The rooms sit right on the water, in a great location at the mouth of the Rio Dulce. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner to everyone, and the food is good.