LAS ISLAS

isla baru, COLOMBIA

PERSONALITIES

Divers. Bird lovers. Couples planning a destination wedding.  

MOMENTS

Aqua blue waters. Lush rainforest. Outdoor showers. Walls that open to the surrounding landscape. Feeling one with nature.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

January through March is warm but not too humid.

COST

WHY STAY

Hotel Las Islas is a luxury eco retreat on Colombia’s Isla Barú, surrounded by white sand beaches, lush jungle, mysterious mangroves, and turquoise water.

Stay at the one of the seafront or treetop bungalows, with views of the sea or the neighboring Parque Nacional Natural Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo, complete with furnished decks and Hermes products. Or, for a unique experience, spend a night at sea aboard Casa Navegante - Las Islas’ catamaran. The hotel’s own private island - The Isleta - is ideal for weddings of up to 200 people or private stays for up to 14 people.

Take a dip in the freshwater pool. Try thalassotherapy-focused treatment at the seafront Spa Niña Daniela. Visit the solarium and take in the tropical views of one of the truly wild corners of the world. 

WHY WANDER

Visit the hotel’s own private island for the day. Venture out at night for the bioluminescent plankton tour. Observe diverse flora and fauna of the island’s mangroves. Visit Corals National Natural Park for unparalleled snorkelling and diving. Take a day trip to the stunning Rosario or the San Bernardo Islands, home to Santa Cruz del Islote - known for being one of the most densely populated islands on earth. Bird watchers will love the National Aviary - home to more than 1,800 birds. End the day with a night sky observation with the hotel’s Celestron CGX-L telescope.

INDULGE IN

Take a cooking class and learn how to make Colombian staples like ceviche. Eat surrounded by vegetation and orchids.

GETTING THERE

Hotel Las Islas is located at the tip of Ciénaga de Cholón, Barú, roughly 45 minutes away via speedboat from the city of Cartagena.

*Photos property of Las Islas

Calanoa Jungle Lodge

the amazon, COLOMBIA

PERSONALITIES

Creatives. Bird watchers. Travelers looking to make a difference.

MOMENTS

Mystical Colombian Amazon. Natural architecture. Exploring with all senses. True wild. Giving back.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

The dry season is from July to December and is perfect for hiking. The rainy season is from January to June and is great for water-based activities and discovering nature from a canoe.

COST

WHY STAY

Calanoa Jungle Lodge is an art and adventure retreat in the heart of the Colombian Amazon. The space offers travelers a unique experience of connecting with the indigenous environment and cultures through creative workshops.

The lodge is located inside the Calanoa Natural Reserve on the banks of the Amazon River, close to indigenous villages of the Tikuna, Cocama, Huitoto, and Bora people, as well as Amacayacu Natural Park. Calanoa has been built with minimal impact to the Amazon forest using wood, raw earth, and ceramic in partnership with the local communities. Hardwood trees, fruits, and palms have been planted in order to supply building materials and food.

The owners, Diego and Marlene Sampler, have created the lodge and The Calanoa Amazonas Foundation to help conserve the biological and cultural diversity of the Amazon Region through sustainable tourism, art, community education, and research. The hotel is a place to truly experience the native environment and make a positive impact.

WHY WANDER

One of Calanoa’s most unique offerings is its arts program, focussed on interacting with nature and indigenous cultures through ceramics, photography, painting, sculpture, and environmental arts. See the Amazon through a new lens with a Photosynthesis Photography Workshop. Explore the natural fibers of the rainforest with the Fiber Arts Workshops.

Hike the Calanoa Natural Reserve and the Amacayacu National Park. Canoe through the ancient river. Fish. Camp deep in the forest. Go early morning bird watching. Visit indigenous communities, like Mocagua, the painted village. Learn about the Amazon’s medicinal plants.

INDULGE IN

Brazilian, Colombian, and Peruvian cuisine fuzed with ancient Amazonian traditions. Freshly baked bread.

GETTING THERE

Fly into Leticia, Colombia. Arrange a private or a public boat transfer to the lodge.

*Photos property of Calanoa + Guillaume AMAT

GET INVOLVED

The Calanoa Foundation intends to contribute to the conservation of the biological and cultural diversity of the Amazonian region, supporting the improvement of quality of life and sustainable development of the communities around The Calanoa Natural Reserve. To contribute to the awareness of environmental issues, the improvement of the quality of education and the quality of life, the Foundation's programs explore creative processes of regional communication, through visual and performing arts, communication design, the production of teaching materials and the support of local schools.

Contact us to find out how you can get involved!

BLUE APPLE BEACH

Tierra Bomba, COLOMBIA

PERSONALITIES

Lovers of beach clubs, rosé and music. Divers. Artists looking for a tropical residency.

MOMENTS

Secluded beaches. Watching the waves from your bed. Lazy lunches. Dancing barefoot. Island living.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

January through March is warm but not too humid.

COST

WHY STAY

Blue Apple Beach House is a destination retreat on the southern shore of Tierra Bomba island, Colombia, equal parts beach club, restaurant and boutique hotel.

Stay in one of ten rooms or private beach bungalow cabañas, designed with local techniques and materials. Choose the Coco, Piña & Corozo Cabaña or the Manzana Cabaña complete with handwoven hammocks, private plunge pools, and outdoor rainforest showers. 

Enjoy the lively bohemian vibe and the laid back atmosphere in this unique tropical paradise that will feel like home.

WHY WANDER

Enjoy the hammock life. Explore Tierra Bomba on horseback. Divers will love the islands’s own coral reef, as well as other nearby dive sites (Baru, Rosario Islands). Visit local villages and cultural sites on a back of motorbike. 

INDULGE IN

Fresh caught Seabass. Artichoke carpaccio. Paella Del Mar. Coco Locos. Provençal rosé.  

GETTING THERE

Take a 30 minutes speedboat from the city of Cartagena.

*Photos property of Blue Apple Beach

Playa Manglares

isla baru, COLOMBIA

Personalities

Curious Explorers, Hippies, Bird Enthusiasts, Beach Bums

Moments

Waking up with the roosters to the sunrise outside your window. Falling asleep to the soft calls of wildlife all around you. Colombian coffee with vanilla sunsets. Swinging in a hammock. Tingling from a day spent in the sun with a cool serene breeze on your skin.

Best Visiting Months

Anytime of year - you are almost on the equator!

Cost

Why stay

It is hard to do Playa Manglares justice solely with words and images. You realize how special this place is once you step out of the cab and get a warm embrace from your host Olga. The feeling you get when at a family cottage mixed with wild outback lodging in a remote untouched paradise describes Playa Manglares best. The Eco-lodge is located on a bay surrounded by mangrove and palm trees and full of wildlife. There are 3 floors with a different beautifully designed room on each floor, suited for the needs of a family, a couple, or friends traveling together. Little touches like a hammock in the room overlooking the bay or intricately tiled outdoor shower amidst a lush jungle make Playa Manglares unforgettable.

Why wander

A short motorcycle ride away is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - Playa Blanca. Be a beach bum for the day or take a boat trip to the nearby Rosario Islands, where you can snorkel and dive or simply enjoy having a private island to yourself. Once back at Playa Manglares, make sure to visit the Bird Sanctuary, and see why Colombia is one of the best places to bird-watch.

Indulge in

The juiciest and sweetest mango and papaya you will ever taste. Yucca and Cheese pastry. Guava coconut candy for dessert. Outdoor communal dinners with a different special everyday. You can count on it being fresh, local and organic.

Getting There

Fly into Cartagena and take a 50 minute taxi to Baru Island. Get around the island on the back of the locals' motorcycle.

*Photos property of PLAYA MANGLARES