Hotel Isla Mucura — Hotel in Bolívar

I have some good, and some bad reviews about Hotel Isla Mucura. First the good: The island is beautiful, as are the beaches (bring water shoes, they are rocky). The resort is very clean, the food quality is better than average, and most importantly the service employees are exceptionally kind and helpful (not to confuse with administration).

I rented a Deluxe Bungalow with air conditioning for two nights. It was very clean, comfortable and the AC was exceptionally cold. The resort overall was very nice, and worth the value.

Now the bad: The boat ride from the port in Cartagena to Mucura Island was unsafe, uncomfortable, scary and exceptionally dangerous. In the U.S.A., it would never be legal to load 32 passengers, plus luggage (never screened for weight limit) in a 36 ft. boat. In addition, there was a yellow navigation flag which made the ride that much more dangerous and scary due the boat being so over weight. It had twin 200 HP engines which were not sufficiently powerful to safely pull out of 5-6 foot waves. As an avid boater, I regret having gotten on board. Thankfully, we made it alive, although absolutely soaking wet due to the boat being unable to break the waves and safely navigate. It took in way too much water. Everyone was soaked. Thanks to the Captain's experience, we survived. I don't believe it is his decision whether to navigate or not though. Regardless, everyone's lives were in his hands.... insane! What they must do to make a buck, is not worth risking tourists lives.

The air conditioned bungalow is not hermetically sealed; meaning that if you don't like little critters in your room (salamanders and geckos) you should stay away. They will wake you up at night.

Upon departure, the sea was flat, maybe 1 foot waves at most. There was no wind, yet we were told there was a red flag warning out of Cartagena and the boat would not be picking us up at 11 am as scheduled. Instead, we were being sent on a one hour boat ride to Tolu, and then transported to the port in Cartagena on a "two hour bus ride". I confirmed later that same day, that there was no red flag in Cartagena, just as I suspected since the weather was so much better than the day we arrived. Also, the hotel's administration personnel lied to us all, as the bus ride to Cartagena was almost 3 hours long. I even asked to verify the information prior to leaving and they assured me it was two hours. By the time I realized I was lied to, it was too late to make other arrangements for the transportation that was scheduled for us in Cartagena.

There was no need to lie to guests. The truth is that they have significant logistical challenges. They are unable to safely transport their guests from Cartagena, so they have to resort to other options and lie to avoid an uproar on the island with the guests already there. To say this was very upsetting and a significant unexpected expense is an understatement.

Anyone looking to visit this resort should consider the aforementioned and know that you can always charter a safer private vessel from Cartagena, or much more affordably from Tolu, which was only 45 minutes by boat (flat seas).

This place has so much potential, I actually thought of returning. But at present, I think the cons outweigh the pros. There is a much nicer hotel next door. I learned that although pricier, they have their act together prioritizing safety, and are highly recommended.

I rarely post negative comments or reviews unless merited. Only if the experience was egregious, and avoidable. I pray not, but there is a high risk innocent tourists are at...

Took this trip out with some friends this past July and let me tell you... It's one for the books. I'm the type of person that will always choose the online version of things. So, I really appreciated how easy it was to go online and book the suites and set up the trip in general. The Hotel is a short boat ride from Cartagena and even that was enjoyable! Along the way we saw, Santa Cruz del Islote along with some beautiful sights of Colombias coastal landscapes. Once we got there, there was a crew of staff ready to greet us and assist us with our luggage. This really came in handy because there were several women in our crew and I had been doing a lot of the heavy lifting until then..lol Once we disembarked, we were greeted with a refreshing drink and a joyous welcome from the main host. (La Crespa) She introduced herself as well as gave us a crash course on everything Isla Mucura. Activities, restaurants, meal times the whole works. All this as their reception was checking the newly arrived guests in. They have all types of activities for the busy bodies.. Yoga, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Dance and tons mores. Oh and you have to take the bioluminescent trip... Pictures don't do it just, you just have to take the trip.

The quarters were immaculant. We chose an airconditioned beach front bungalow and let me tell you... I melted into that bed. The views from the bungalow could not be better as we could literally see the ocean waves crashing from our bed. With two sunbeds in front of our bungalow we really didn't need to go anywhere else to soak in that Isla Mucura Sun!

Now lets talk about the food and drinks... I don't know how they managed to make the food taste so good but it was amazing. Every meal had a well varied selection of options, enough to ensure that everyone with a different diet plan was happy. They had another restaurant with a full menu too, in case one gets peckish in between meal times.

Now the drinks... lol. My hat goes off to the bartenders! At first I chose drinks familiar to me but by the end of our trip I was solely going by their recommendations. They were making delicious drinks with fruits I didn't even know existed. All in all, it was a world class experience.

At sunsets we would gather by the pier at this designated lounge spot outside, with sun shade sail canopies and outside beds. The DJ had everyone  dancing and even the staff jumped in by teaching some group dances that the guests were following.

I will definitely be coming back and if you want to spend a good times with friends or if you'rer looking for a romantic spot for you and your partner ... You have...

This hotel has such a magical and welcoming vibe! The staff are incredibly kind and go out of their way to help you, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. They patiently explain everything in English, which is rare in Colombia, and they’re always quick to respond if you need anything.

Four moments that made our stay unforgettable: They surprised me with a beautiful birthday cake after learning it was my birthday during my stay. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture that truly made my day! On the morning we were checking out, I accidentally dropped my wallet while walking to breakfast. I was so worried, but the staff reacted immediately, and one of them had already found it while making rounds in the hotel—it’s a huge place, so I was so impressed by their care. We thought the swimming pool might have been leaking a little water, but before we even mentioned it, the staff had already noticed and fixed it. Their proactive approach and attention to detail were incredible. In my culture, we believe happy animals bring blessings—— Every evening, three adorable dogs come out to play. They’re so friendly and love interacting with guests—they’ll play with you, walk alongside you, and make you feel like you’re their favorite person.(If you meet them, please do offering a small snack ☺️) these playful dogs made the hotel feel truly special.

This hotel has a way of making you feel at home. From the warmth of the people to the little surprises, every moment felt joyful...