El Hamaquero Hostal EcoNativo

A lovely few days in the Rosario islands

Pros: A lovely hotel on Isle Grande. I had the sea facing room with my own terrace which was really nice. The restaurant served very tasty food and the restaurant owner couldn’t have been friendlier! You can walk to the village via a trail in about 10 minutes. All the staff at the hotel were welcoming and helpful. Would come back!

Cons: There was loud music much of the time from the hotel next door, not much our hotel could do about that! The journey back on the boat was difficult as the sea was rough so we had to go back and return via the mangroves and river which added an extra 90 minutes to the journey time so be aware if you plan to fly that day!

Amazing location, simple accommodation

Pros: I stayed two nights at El Hamaquero on Isla Grande del Rosario. The location is absolutely stunning — a true gem facing one of the most beautiful seas I’ve seen in Colombia. Incredible nature, peaceful atmosphere, and the perfect place to relax. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available at the property’s restaurant. Prices are slightly higher than the Colombian average, but understandable given the island location. Snorkeling right in front of the property is beautiful.

Cons: I booked a bed in the dormitory and the accommodation is very basic. The beds are located on the second floor without proper walls, only removable wooden dividers. There are no shelves or wardrobes, and although nothing happened, there isn’t a strong feeling of security for personal belongings. At night it gets very hot and humid despite the fans. The area has many mosquitoes (which is normal for the island); the beds have mosquito nets, but mine did not smell very fresh. Snorkeling is great, but you need to be careful because boats pass frequently during the day.

Unique experience...dreaming to come back

Pros: Just one hour from Cartagena a place to relax and enjoy the amazing sunset view ..you can wake up and just jump in the water. Truly ecological concept. It's a place to wine down but they also have very fun and unique activities I really enjoyed the bioluminescent plancton night swim - just a unique experience and the guy doing the experience was really lovely (sorry can't remember the name). Stuff were really friendly and lovely - especially Benjamin and Felix- they help make this a unique experience. I wish I could stay longer.

Cons: I didn't enjoy the restaurant but close by village has a couple of really good options worth checking out.

Dreamy location, disappointing at last

Pros: Our room had an amazing view. It was all I expected from the pics of the place. It was on the first floor, so even when it was pouring rain during a storm it held up quite well. That was not the case for all rooms. Room was clean at arrival, but it's not being cleaned during the stay. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing, could use better maintenance. Place itself is peaceful in the evening, but you will hear the music from the pueblo. Personally not a problem but you may need earplugs for sleeping (they are not provided as in all the other accommodations where we stayed). Breakfast is not included but available for a price, as all other meals. The restaurant and its staff was the best thing about the place together with the view from our room. Receptionist was nice and helpful. I would have gone back if it weren't for our trip back and mixed feelings about the property management which felt like a façade welcome.

Cons: Probably overpriced. Snorkeling experience was very nice in itself, but the guide was a chaperone more than a guide. For example it explained the diving techniques only to one of the two people who were snorkeling for the first time. Plancton tour was disappointing but I might have found out in advance if I had done some research. The paired mangrove rowing at night was nice though because you could definitely not do it on your own. Trip back: more than 24h in advance of the trip back, we shared our concerns based on the weather forecast of 100% rain and storm. The manager said that rain is not a problem and boats run anyway. She consistently mentioned the Cartagena route may not be possible, even though we repeatedly said we would not use the Cartagena route anyway and that our concerns remained even for the Barú route. The night before our departure, heavy rain broke. You would expect someone to be there first thing in the morning to update you on any changes to the departure, however these were offered to us only after 9am. I don't know sea that well, but enough to understand that 9am on a storm day may already be too late to plan a departure before the sea and wind get messier. Indeed, after 9 it was already too late to depart. We had to wait for three hours and departed with heavier rain than at 9am. Obviously I can't know if the boats on Barú island could truly not depart already since 8am, but I know that we had no way to know at that time and that in the waiting time we were not offered even a coffee or tea or anything that says you are welcome here and we are sorry about the inconvenience and unexpected circumstances. A side note that when the boat arrived to bring us to Barù under the rain, the manager wanted to include in the trip a whole family with kids and a baby. The skilled captain looked at the scene with eyes wide open and refused to take on the boat five more humans than he was communicated and deemed safe.

Pros: Everything was good , man at reception Benjamin was best.

Pros: What we loved the most about this ecohotel was its sustainable foundation and outlook on life; they provide restorative support to the local ecosystem and prioritize the local native population with education and awareness building surrounding the impacts of climate change. Throughout our stay it became clear how special El Hamaquero is amongst its competitors on the island. Not only is it a family run business built on a foundation of admirably eco friendly and radically sustainable principles, but the breathtaking natural landscapes and amazing mangrove and coral adventures were a highlight. Would recommend and will definitely be back.

We wish we could stay more. This place was food for the soul and the heart

Pros: The location was stunning. It's such a chilled hostel. The guests and the staff are very easy going. It does feel like paradise. Having the sea next to you surrounded by beautiful trees, animals, it's a blessing. The food was also lovely, freshly prepared by the local staff.

Cons: The only thing I suggest to improve is providing larger blankets or two small ones. Our blanket was tiny and we had to cover one leg each. 😅 Additionally, picking up the dog's poo. It doesn't smell nice and you have to be careful walking around the hostel to not step on one.

Great stay would definitely recommend.

Pros: Amazing location, hosts clearly respect nature, simple all you need.

Cons: Food could be slightly better priced. Staff were overall helpful and nice, though bar staff could be slightly more smiley!

Not that peaceful

Pros: The coral reef in front of the property is amazing.

Cons: The food and drinks are way overpriced for what they are. Food portions are small and one portion is not enough for a grown man. Not enough vegetarian food options. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place. You can hear music even during the night from the surrounding hotels/bars.

Amazing stay

Pros: The hostel was amazing. Felt at home as soon as we got there. All the staff were so kind, helpful and welcoming. The location was amazing and couldn’t of asked for more