Hotel Isabella Tayrona — Hotel in Magdalena

What a beautiful place! I love the Tayrona area and this place is perfect for the location. We drove in from Bogota so it was easy to get around with our own car. I am a manager at a 5 star hotel and couldn't say enough great things about this spot. The staff are marvellous, Tomasa is an amazing cook! We were the only ones staying there on NYE and ended up having a private meal cooked by Tomasa and her team, so delicious. The rooms were spotless, secure and modern. The pool was also well kept. Although it is not on a beach, there is one close by and it was perfect for walking or a quick swim. We stayed here for a few nights and by the end of it felt like family, the staff certainly make the experience an unforgettable one! It's also a short drive to one of the entrances to Tayrona where you can pay your fees (don't forget your passport!) and explore the park. On a previous trip to Tayrona we walked into the park and stayed at a camp site near the water but this time we opted to go a bit further down the road where we drove on a dirt road for about 45 minutes and then came onto this beautiful beach where they served you fish that had just been caught. Santa Marta is not too far away either, so easy to pop into the city if you are looking for a change of scenery during your stay. We were headed to La Guajira after our stay here and had to check out at 4am, the staff were there to help with our bags and to check us out. I honestly can't say enough about this place and can't...

What a beautiful place! I love the Tayrona area and this place is perfect for the location. We drove in from Bogota so it was easy to get around with our own car. I am a manager at a 5 star hotel and couldn't say enough great things about this spot. The staff are marvellous, Tomasa is an amazing cook! We were the only ones staying there on NYE and ended up having a private meal cooked by Tomasa and her team, so delicious. The rooms were spotless, secure and modern. The pool was also well kept. Although it is not on a beach, there is one close by and it was perfect for walking or a quick swim. We stayed here for a few nights and by the end of it felt like family, the staff certainly make the experience an unforgettable one! It's also a short drive to one of the entrances to Tayrona where you can pay your fees (don't forget your passport!) and explore the park. On a previous trip to Tayrona we walked into the park and stayed at a camp site near the water but this time we opted to go a bit further down the road where we drove on a dirt road for about 45 minutes and then came onto this beautiful beach where they served you fish that had just been caught. Santa Marta is not too far away either, so easy to pop into the city if you are looking for a change of scenery during your stay. We were headed to La Guajira after our stay here and had to check out at 4am, the staff were there to help with our bags and to check us out. I honestly can't say enough about this place and can't...

El Servicio Decepcionante Opacó la Buena Comida

Recientemente comí en el restaurante del Hotel Isabella en Tayrona, Colombia, y desafortunadamente, la experiencia fue frustrante. Aunque la comida estuvo buena, el servicio fue de los más lentos que he experimentado en cualquier parte del mundo.

El restaurante abrió para el almuerzo a la 1:00 PM, y llegamos justo a esa hora. Hicimos nuestro pedido alrededor de la 1:15-1:20 PM (una hamburguesa y camarones con ensalada y puré de papa), esperando un tiempo de espera razonable. Solo había otra pareja en el restaurante, quienes ordenaron después de nosotros y no solo recibieron, sino que terminaron su comida antes de que la nuestra llegara.

Después de 45 minutos, pregunté por la demora y me dijeron que nuestra comida llegaría en un minuto. Eso resultó ser falso, ya que aún pasaron otros 15 minutos antes de que tuviera que preguntar de nuevo. En ese momento, recibí varias excusas: primero, que había otras personas a las que atender (aunque no en el restaurante), luego que la comida "toma tiempo en prepararse" (lo cual no justifica esperar más de una hora por platos sencillos), y finalmente, que "así son las cosas en Sudamérica, todo es lento." He viajado mucho por Sudamérica y puedo decir con certeza que esta demora fue inaceptable, no una norma cultural.

Cuando finalmente nos sirvieron—más de una hora después de haber ordenado—el pésimo servicio ya había arruinado la experiencia. Aunque la comida estuvo bien preparada, la falta de eficiencia, honestidad y servicio al cliente hicieron imposible disfrutarla. No puedo recomendar este restaurante a menos que tengan muchísima paciencia y no les importe esperar demasiado por su comida.

⭐ 2/5 – Buena comida, pero el servicio fue un completo desastre.

Disappointing Service Overshadowed Good Food

I recently dined at the restaurant at Hotel Isabella in Tayrona, Colombia, and unfortunately, the experience was frustrating. While the food itself was good, the service was among the slowest I have ever encountered—anywhere in the world.

The restaurant opened for lunch at 1:00 PM, and we arrived right at opening. After placing our order around 1:15-1:20 (a simple meal of a hamburger and shrimp with salad and mashed potatoes), we expected a reasonable wait time. There was only one other couple present, who ordered after us and not only received but finished their meal before ours even arrived.

After 45 minutes, I inquired about the delay and was told our food would be ready in one minute. That turned out to be untrue, as we still waited another 15 minutes before I had to follow up again. At that point, I was given a series of excuses—first, that there were other people to be served (though none were at the restaurant), then that the food simply "takes time" (which doesn’t justify an hour-long wait for basic dishes), and finally, the claim that "this is South America, and things are slow." Having traveled extensively in South America, I can confidently say this was an unacceptable delay, not a cultural norm.

By the time our food finally arrived—just over an hour after ordering—the poor service had already soured the experience. While the meal itself was well-prepared, the lack of efficiency, honesty, and basic customer service made it impossible to enjoy. I cannot recommend this restaurant unless you have endless patience and don’t mind waiting excessively long...