Yeah cant wait for photo of the actual island! Normally, the staff likes to serve lunch near the infinity pool on the northern side of the island, either underneath a little surf shack or closer to the beach during sunny weather. Private fully staffed island close to Ibiza, Spain available for exclusive rent for holidays or events perfect for a tailor made vacation . Rediscover paradise where 'anything is possible' This gave me bad flashbacks. We can also arrange, at an additional cost, helicopter transfers direct to the Island, Copyright 2023 Calala Island. Thats an emotion that I hadnt encountered at any other luxury resort thus far. Wed then stay at the Best Western Las Mercedes Airport, which is right across the road from Managuas Augusto C. Sandino International Airport. But the thing that gets me is how much the boat is moving up/down when it's in the calm water in the mangroves (unless it's rougher than it looks??). Hey Ben, did they give any inking that they may close the resort due to the virus? On the outbound journey to Bluefields, we were in a 12-seater Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. During our honeymoon our tour boat had to return to Phuket from the Phi Phi islands as a storm approached. Our favourite meal out of all three, however, would have to be the surf and turf on the final night. An island sushi platter got the meal off to a decent. We particularly enjoyed the San Sebastian and de la Cruz dark roasts, and those first cups of coffee on our patio did indeed make for an excellent start to each day. The Maldives. Im interested in seeing how yours compares to the recent review of this same property on TPG. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should . Enjoy local and international cuisine, a beachfront location, and al fresco dining at the two onsite restaurants. You open a Hyatt card for 60K point bonus and your partner open Chase card for 60K point bonus. And if youre someone who gets seasick, and/or someone who has back pain, I wouldnt recommend it for you. Of course, St. Lucia Helicopters offers more than helicopter transfers. Your stay will also include complimentary breakfast, use of an . Next to me, Jessy had her hood over her head the whole time, her eyes slammed shut in fear. This is also where youll find the complimentary bug spray and anti-itching creams, in case the no-see-ums take a particular liking to you (as they did with me). TICO #50023501, Calala Island Tamarind glazed chicken wings, Calala Island Marinated pork ribs with yuca. Not only are three meals per day included at Calala Island, but so too are unlimited drinks at the bar or indeed anywhere, since the staff is happy to serve you drinks no matter which corner of the island you find yourself. Each villa has a front door facing the ocean and a back door facing inland, and guests are asked not to walk across the front of other villas so as to ensure privacy for everyone. pigella miraculous ladybug power. But at least that was in a bay and not nearly as long. This site is for information and entertainment purposes only. The nearest international airport is Managua. On the plus side, the ocean views from the comfort of our bed were simply unbeatable. After waiting for about an hour, the airport staff indicated that the plane was ready for boarding. Or based upon each participants award chart. Calala Island team member, Shorvin, greeted us at Bluefields Airport, his shirt soaking wet from the boat ride that brought him over here a harbinger of things to come. What a journey and thanks for sharing. Calala Island offers guests a wide range of activities to fill their days on the island, all of which are complimentary. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. As part of the ultra-all-inclusive rate, all food and beverages (including most alcoholic beverages) are included in the stay, along with all activities while on the island and round-trip transfers from Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. And I think our ride to the island was rougher. 2. You are my VIPs, come with me.. I hope your backs were okay. Heres the thing a rough boat ride is kind of fun for like five minutes, or maybe ten minutes tops. This part of the Caribbean is still an undiscovered place in the world and Calala is the only luxury resort. Calala Islands Managua-based staff representative, Nestor, was on hand to greet us upon exiting the airport in the evening. Join our Sunday newsletter to get weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox. On the ATR42 you board through the rear, since the cargo hold is in the front of the plane, behind the cockpit. Calala Island. A 15-minute helicopter ride to Catalina Island is all that stands between you and paradise. Location 4.5. Rather hilariously, the hotel staff offered to drive us in the airport shuttle, even though it was immediately back across the street. 53 reviews. We sat in the boat for a while while our passports were verified by local authorities, or something. The four villas are spaced out evenly along the southwestern corner of the island. Get in touch. There are no freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo. By the time we had to say goodbye, Calala Island felt like a family to us, one that we couldnt wait to revisit sometime in the future. The plane has bench seats, rather than Individual ones. However, Calala Island is also member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which has a marketing partnership in place with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Flights in our St. Lucia helicopter shuttle are only conducted during daylight hours, however, so if your flight is delayed until after 5 PM, we will send one of our friendly local taxi drivers to pick you up. Heading out onto the front deck, then, lets take a look at the outdoor facilities that complete the Junior Suite. Jessy and I snacked on an express breakfast that the Best Western had prepared for us, running on very little sleep but fuelled by the excitement of the journey ahead. Such is the sheer exclusivity of an island with only four villas that youll hardly notice the other guests throughout the day, unless its time to gather for meals or drinks. One of the crew had to jump out and sort of guide the boat. Overall, I found the booking and pre-arrival experience to be seamless, if a little shrouded in mystery. The airline operates two daily flights to Bluefields, though the routing they take varies by day. I much prefer three hours of Omg! Excellent. With offers like "Romantic Beach Dinner" and "Romantic Sailing," COMO caters . Because as Ford described it to me while we were on our way there, this is the most ridiculous thing Ive ever voluntarily put myself through. Below is what that sentiment looks like in a facial expression. Whats more, the water is piping-hot with superb water pressure, so it makes for an all-round excellent shower experience one that I enjoyed so much, I ended up taking about three showers per day in-between spending time on the beach, dipping in the ocean, and going for meals and drinks. Its fully enclosed with straw thatching, but exposed to the outdoors, and the water simply flows down into the sand below. Fly from Managua (MGA) to Bluefields (BEF) Dining on Calala Island is exceedingly flexible and customizable. At 5:15am the next morning, we checked out of the Best Western and went to meet Nestor at the airports domestic terminal. Price is approximately USD $7,000 each way. I've always wanted to explore Bluefields. [Calala Island $2,300 @ 40K Hyatt Points] I just booked 3 nights at Calala Island in Nicaragua for 120,000 Hyatt Points. Its quite the unusual experience, as you watch the water fly by on both sides with a strong gust of wind blowing in your face the whole time. With its white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and stunning sunsets, Calala Island is a true private paradise. But what did you use for transfers to and from the Hyatt place by the airport? Shorvin guided us expertly through the crowd and to our Calala-bound motorboat. Is this transfer from the airport in Managua directly to Calala island? We also offer amazing St. Lucia helicopter tours! This is one of the best! I actually dont disagree with Ford, at least as far as hotel transfers go. Typically, guests are invited to gather at the main bar anytime from 5:30pm onwards for a few rounds of drinks to start the night. . Calala Islands four beachfront suites are composed of one Master Suite and three Junior Suites. It needs to be good as it is after I go to Antarctica and Galapagos. As hopeless coffee addicts, we were delighted that there was an entire menu of Nicaraguan coffee beans to choose from: We were asked for our coffee orders the night prior, which would then be delivered at the specified time in a French press, along with a few biscuits. He let us know to reconvene at the domestic terminal at 5:30am in the morning, and escorted us across the street to the Best Western. Sicily Private Spot is known for the high quality of its air travel services. Based on my research, the flight operates in one of the following ways, and you dont know until the day-of which route they take (even though they publish schedules as if its certain): It seems that they decide which route to operate based on what people booked on a particular date. You can redeem 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night for a stay here, which is pretty incredible, especially when you consider that the resort is all inclusive, so it includes food, drinks, transfers, etc. The toilet is housed in a separate chamber. Theres an outdoor table with two chairs, which was the perfect place to sip on some Nicaraguan dark roast in the mornings or a cocktail in the afternoons. Can't help you with the bad back other than suggesting you do your stretching exercises daily. These days, a local Nicaraguan caretaker lives on Crawl Cay along with his family, and sometimes there are wildlife researchers (studying the endangered hawksbill turtle, which breeds on Calala and the nearby islands) who camp out here as well. CALALA ISLAND, CARIBBEAN ISLANDS - Beachparadisevillas . 5-star luxury hotel. Also, these small beaches arent the pristine white-sand kind. In our case the transitions from inland waters to the open ocean and back were quite dramatic, as it occurred at the mouth of a river with a strong current. Nicaraguans in general are the nicest people I've ever met. You are invited to experience unspoilt paradise and what they have come to refer as barefoot luxury. Cant wait for the review of the island. The open-air boat travels at top speed, cutting through the mirror-like surface of the water. Military Customs checkpoint on the mangrove ocean part felt like a straight-up bribe to me. When you think of your transfer to a $2,800 per night resort that includes going out into the open ocean, the below boat is probably not what youre expecting but thats exactly what you get. Guests arriving after 6:00 AM must make advance . They nailed the foundational service principles, from greeting us with a smile every morning to ensuring our drink glasses were never empty for more than a few seconds during mealtime. For now, though, we were headed to the countrys less-travelled Caribbean coast. You spend the first hour going through mangroves and lagoons, which sounds nice, except: When you get out of the mangroves area you arrive at a military checkpoint, where armed military officers check your boat very carefully to make sure youre not bringing anything you shouldnt be. @ Mitch Cumstein -- Yep, it's my understanding that they're happy to book you the flight earlier or later so you can have a stopover there before continuing to the resort. I should The six of us on the island ourselves and two other couples gathered at the show kitchen and chatted over drinks before eventually digging into a few delicious helpings of jerk chicken (and any other lunch items we wanted to order). A luxury, ultra all-inclusive, private Island resort hidden in the undiscovered part of the Caribbean. Instead, theyre fairly rocky and laden with sea life, reflecting the raw ocean that engulfs the island all around. After quite a long journey, beautiful Calala Island was finally in sight. However, the reason I came to that conclusion is because I know they do this every single day, and I assume nothing usually happens, and not because I actually wasnt at least a little bit scared. Please contact . If you prefer, you can also reach Calala by helicopter in around 80 minutes from Managua. 3. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Included in our rates, we arrange a short internal flight to Bluefields (50 minutes) followed by a scenic boat ride (90 minutes . When we arrived a few days ago we were informed that we are the very first Americans to visit the resort. La Costeas domestic operations in Nicaragua are a little moreflexiblethan what youd typically expect from an airline. Around the back of the king bed, youll find some storage cabinets to keep your belongings. Prince of Travel is Canadas leading resource for using frequent flyer miles, credit card points, and loyalty programs to travel the world at a fraction of the price. Oh my. Seems like either that's a really weird boat to be doing that, or they need to put some weight up in the nose of the boat. Cape Fahn Hotel. Whether it was curling up with a good book, watching the sunset, or simply sneaking in afternoon nap, our hammock was our happy place. Prior to our stay Mandy was in touch with us, who is in charge of the pre-stay experience for guests. Once we wrapped up our phone call with Claudia, Shorvin ushered us into a local taxi, bound for Puerto El Bluff, the local pier. Value 4.4. Indeed, thinking back to the dinners we had, the fact that this all took place on a private island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is genuinely incredible! . The front-of-house hosts will discreetly let the housekeepers know when youve arrived for breakfast or dinner, so that they may refresh your room without you ever noticing them! That was really funny, thanks for the video. The Calala-bound passengers (ourselves and another couple from the US) were given priority to walk across the tarmac and board the plane. The spa is located at the opposite northeastern corner. As for seasickness scapolamine transdermal patches (prescription required) placed behind your earlobe are life changing. Sounds a little disrespectful. Now that this venue is open for booking using Hyatt points, I'm wondering if anyone who has stayed there before could give us your input as to what the property is like. I would note that the bathroom door wouldnt close and the light in there wouldnt turn on, but otherwise the experience was fine. The ATR42 is pretty nice for a turboprop, and we had our choice of seats. For a taste of local life, Pearl Lagoon is just 45 minutes away by boat . Tucked away in a little-known corner of the Caribbean (off the coast of Nicaragua), Calala Island is a hidden gem featuring just four suites on the entire island, accommodating a maximum of eight guests (suites can be rented individually or the entire Island booked exclusively). Overall, I must say I was a bit sad that we didnt get to partake in the full range of activities here at Calala Island, although I was still grateful to the staff for giving us a quick island-hopping adventure on an exceptionally stormy last day. We were assigned Suite 2: Kakabila. Reply #12 on: January 15, 2023, 09:16:41 PM . The Calala Island team is 25+ strong, consisting of general managers Claudia and Leon, front-of-house hosts Shorvin, Ruben, and Mick, and a full squad of chefs, housekeeping staff, groundsmen, songsters, and behind-the-scenes staff members. The Calala Island team rotates the dinner menu on a daily basis, so that every guest can try something different every night regardless of how many nights theyre staying. The articles and content on this site are of a general informational nature only and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. I hope your backs were okay. Lucky, I've done two hours up the Sepik River in pouring rain, just me and the small boat operator (smaller them your boat) and hours long trips down the rivers of Borneo, both similar to the mangrove part of your trip. As part of the lunch service on the second day, one of the chefs prepared some NiCaribbean jerk chicken for us in live-action. Therefore, we continued to take lunch in or around the main pavilion, the same place where we had breakfast and dinner. Makes seasickness a thing of the past! As you can imagine, World of Hyatt award availability is hotly contested at this property, and its very much recommended to book well in advance. While the boat ride from Bluefields was something that I personally relished as an adrenaline junkie, youll probably feel less enthusiastic about it if you prefer a more serene start to your island getaway. (If we had booked a hotel in the city of Managua, Nestor would arrange a licensed taxi to bring us to the hotel. Im fairly certain I had gotten lucky and stumbled into a three-night pocket of availability after someone else had cancelled. Given the logistics of travelling to and from the island, the resort imposes a three-night minimum stay. Calala Island (thankfully) doesnt have mosquitoes, although it does have sandflies or no-see-ums, which do bite, but are too small to be kept out by the net. We take care of all transfers from the airport to and from Calala Island. The check-in agent was friendly, and handed us a laminated boarding pass with a number, as well as a bottle of water with a baggage tag on it. For our three-night stay, wed get to try: The NiCaribbean buffet consisted of a scrumptious Creole seafood stew, lobster tails and crab legs, generous portions of snapper, beef barbacoa, chicken tacos, and gallo pinto. When youre facing the terminal from outside, its on the right. When are you planning on posting your review of the resort itself itself? Jessy and I aimed to sample as much of the drink list as possible over the course of our three days, from a Pia Calala in the afternoon, to an Old Fashioned after dinner, to the surprise me drinks that the staff were all too happy to whip up. He showed us the domestic terminal at the airport, and then would meet us again the following morning at 5:30AM. Calala Island is simply breathtaking. To go from the island of Calala to Managua airport, we may be back at the airport at 9:45 am or 5:15 pm. You get there in much the same way. I used 120,000 Hyatt points to book my three-night stay at Calala Island about one and a half months prior to the stay. also I want Ford's hat, did he buy it in the village? I much prefer three hours of Indian traffic. Take advantage of a free roundtrip airport shuttle, a swim-up bar, and a poolside bar at Calala Island. With all the ingredients fresh from the ocean, we couldnt really go wrong here so we sampled everything from the snapper ceviche to the snapper croquettes to the snapper fillet, from the lobster skewers to the lobster burger. Whatever you desire throughout the day, theyll be on hand to deliver; otherwise, youll barely see them as they go about their work. :) - One thing to note is they do have full body nice ponchos if it rains on the boat, we had to use them for 20 minutes and never got wet. We also opted for a garden salad one day, hoping to balance out our daily gargantuan meals with a healthier item. I figured a 2,400 word intro post about how to get somewhere was sufficient, so I didn't want to make it any longer. Not to be a douche herebut as someone who has traveled the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, what really surprised me in this article was how little sense you actually get of the place. Upon your arrival, youre set up with a WhatsApp chat group with Claudia and Leon, as well as a separate WhatsApp line to the front-of-house team. Consequently, the outbound and return journeys to Calala Island are also only offered once per day in our case, leaving Managua at 5:30am and arriving at Calala at around 9:30am on the day of departure, with the return journey following a similar schedule. Theres a small convenience store and cafe here in the waiting area. We ended up ordering this quite a few times alongside our various main courses. We were staying March 7-10, 2020, and for our dates we were advised of two options for our transfers: To get from Managua Airport to Calala Island, we either had to be at the airport at 5:45AM or 1PM Security took just a minute, and then we were inside the small domestic terminal. The name Calala Island comes from the Spanish translation of the passion fruit, which suits perfectly with the ambient. I was very much reminded of our seaplane journey en route to another incredible island resort experience in the Maldives last year! Address. Jessy was over the moon as she fiddled her way through the crab legs, just as much as I took great pleasure in having an entire T-bone steak to dig into. Independently of the choice between real hotels and Airbnb-like rentals, I am very disappointed by the lack of focus I perceive in this article. With champagne and Piton Beer options available and the best vehicles and drivers on the island . Prince of Travel is a licensed travel agent, registered in the province of Ontario, Canada. Boat and helicopter transfers are provided to the mainland . Did you have to do this in the dark coming back???? We flew to Managua Airport the evening before on American from Miami, and we spent the night at the Hyatt Place Managua. If you are interested in this service, the resort can make arrangements for you. Haha I loved this post. While this isnt what youd necessarily expect from a luxury resort: Still, the process of getting from Managua to Calala Island isnt easy. Meanwhile, Jessy was decidedly less enthusiastic about another bumpy boat ride, but she was still a good sport in accompanying me. The breakfast experience begins with coffee or tea delivered to your villa in the morning, allowing you to enjoy those first morning sips with a magnificent ocean view before heading to breakfast. Jessy and I sat in Row 1 of the Cessna on the way out, getting a front-row view of the pilots in front of us, as well as the passing landscape to our sides. Unlike virtually everything else on the island, spa treatments are not complimentary, and are bookable at an additional expense. There are two bars on the island: the pool bar on the northern side, and the main bar on the southern side. The few people I had heard from who had been to Calala Island all mentioned that the boat ride was quite something, and Im not sure that does justice to the experience. Airport transfers Captained tender boat (24-hour transfers & water . @Will, What is that supposed to mean? The ideal retreat for small groups, the island has just four villas accommodating up to 8 guests. Our worries vanished, though, when the surf and turf arrived. While I didn't get an exact quote, I was told it would be $10K+. If youre looking for a getaway with a unique mix of daring adventure, exquisite gastronomy, cultural exploration, and rustic island charm all at a spectacular value using World of Hyatt points then Calala Island is your dreamland. The open ocean part of the video had me straight up laughing the entire time. The bar has enough seating for 10 guests, allowing Claudia and Leon who typically keep to themselves during the day to mingle and get to know the maximum of eight guests over evening drinks. The beef fillet medallions were also very flavourful, though I was struggling to get it all down towards the end of the meal! Your experience sounds similar to what I heard before. On the first night, we indulged in a round of rum tasting, trying out several of Nicaraguas renowned Flor de Caa rums. Gratuities at Ultra All-Inclusive? True barefoot luxury meets unspoiled paradise. Very clear and enticing article! There are many clever scenarios to get the 200K points required for an epic week at Calala Island. If you ever want to use your Bonvoy points for North Island, you will need to take a helicopter. 1 of 12. Calala Island is located just off the coast of Nicaragua and virtually everything is included. . This hotel provides transfers from the airport. This is great news for travelers in the Montreal area! The 90-minute speedboat journey from Bluefields is very much unlike anything else youll encounter in other parts of the world. How long does it take . Reminds me of my boat ride to the Bijags islands in Guinea-Bissau. Service 4.9. @ Kirk -- To be clear, I mention I felt "safe" for two reasons. Calala Island. Calala Island operates as an ultra-all-inclusive luxury resort, offering a total of only four beachfront villas, each with an occupancy of two guests.
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