Islawa Soy Local - Isla Privada

Pros: We really enjoyed our stay overall. The hotel offers a beautiful, private, and relaxing atmosphere. The room was very modern and well designed, and the staff was generally friendly, although limited English skills sometimes made communication frustrating. There is no real beach at the hotel, but they made a good effort to create a beach-like area. Access to the water is only via a ladder, which is something to be aware of. The food was okay, but a bit overpriced for the quality.

Cons: What seriously disappointed us was the parking situation. We arrived by car and were given the contact of a man at the harbor to park our car, which made us assume this was organized or at least endorsed by the hotel. When we later asked the reception about the price, they had no information at all. The parking guy then tried to massively overcharge us, and we had to haggle just to reduce the price — which was still far too high (around $10 per day) for a dirty beach-shack parking spot. For a hotel in this price range, this lack of professionalism and indirect support of obvious overcharging is unacceptable. With better organization and transparency, this could be a truly excellent place.

I enjoyed my time here due to the staff, there are some improvements that could be made

Pros: The service from the staff was great. The free welcome drink, free kayak use, decent pizza and pasta (with free delivery to my room!) and amazing coconut lemonade, as well as the comfortable day beds on the beach were all appreciated, as was turning the music down in the bar when I could hear it from my room. We didn’t have water for part of one day and without being asked Grace offered a free cocktail or starter in recompense.

Cons: The room I booked was next to a noisy kitchen, but Grace made it feel like no problem at all to move me. The taxi picking me up was 40 minutes late, but then they knocked 20000 COP off the price which was a good recompense. It is however usually 170000 one way from Cartagena, which as I paid £140 for one night at the hotel felt like more money than I wanted to spend. I left a review on Google with more little niggles like dirty toilet brush, no bath mats, etc.

2 days in a small paradise 🏝️😊

Pros: Beautiful place, both the nature and the property itself is amazing. The rooms are very big with terraces and sleeping room towards the water and (sleeping) sofa towards the restaurant and reception. The furniture and decoration is classy, but there are no window (just shutters) so wind and sounds are not kept out - all adds to the genuine island experience 🏝️😊 Kayaks are free and in 20 minutes you are in the mangroves. Jetski, boat, etc can be rented if needed. We did a nice private tour to Rosario Island for 750.000 incl snorkeling. Water around hotel is fine for swimming, but snorkeling is not any good. Food is good (not great) but comes with waiting times and in general everything is happening a bit in island speed. Getting there is not easy; either 1h boatride from Cartagena or 1,5h taxi ride (350.000 COP for 5people) to nearby pier where hotel boat will pickup. We will be back!

Cons: Staff (with exception of Alberto) should work a little on speeding up and being more responsive. But all extremely friendly.

Great resort to relax a few days and enjoy some good food

Pros: Great rooms, quiet and small resort, great food and very nice and friendly staff

Cons: Sometimes not all the options of the menu are available

Amazing

Pros: Everything, so peaceful the staff was incredible amazing and kind, the place is unbelievable.

Cons: Not enough time.

Great for winding down and relax a couple of days

Pros: Beautifully location as well as rooms and amenities. Absolutely great staff.

Paradise

Pros: Everything was amazing. This isla is a paradise. All the staff is amazing. Mama Susana's massages are fantastic. Right in front of the sea, Mama Susana will help you find inner and physical peace.

a real paradise

Pros: the view is amazing and very quiet, perfect place to relax and enjoy. people are amazing and helpfull, coming back soon

Cons: NA

Wonderful new hotel makes for a relaxing stay

Pros: We had a great stay at Islawa! It’s very remote but makes for a relaxing and peaceful stay. The hotel is new and the rooms are beautiful and very comfortable. The WiFi was strong, good showers, nice toiletries included and friendly staff.

Cons: The hotel could make it a lot clearer in the hotel details about how to get to the hotel. After booking, I WhatsApp messaged them to ask about transport options and they then told us but it would be good to be more transparent. To help others, these are the options they gave us: 1. They organise for you to catch a boat all the way from Cartagena city centre to the hotel for 150,000 pesos (limited availability and takes 1.5 hours). 2. A private driver from Cartagena city centre / the airport to the port in Baru town and then a 5 minute hotel boat for a total of 170,000 pesos (takes about 1.5 hours in the car). 3. Arrange your own taxi to the port in Baru and then the hotel will come and collect you in the boat but I believe they charge you for the boat ride (not sure how much). Other than transport, we also felt like the hotel could do a few small things to improve since it’s new (constructive feedback not negative). There were a lot of staff at all times but the service wasn’t amazing, sometimes our drinks orders on the beach were forgotten. Free drinking water would also be appreciated since you can’t leave the hotel to purchase any once you are there.

Pros: Stunning property in an amazing location - really nice rooms! We had an amazing two days there.

Cons: Would love if they had filtered water available!