During pre-COVID times, La Costea also offered a second daily service on the ManaguaBluefields route closer to midday, meaning that Calala Island guests could choose from two times for both their departure and return journeys. Rather hilariously, the hotel staff offered to drive us in the airport shuttle, even though it was immediately back across the street. 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. FOR BEING THE BLOGGER WHO -- IN TRYING TIMES -- KEEPS THE SPIRIT OF TRAVEL ADVENTURE ALIVE AND MANAGES TO TAKE US ALONG FOR A CRAZY BOAT RIDE. The waters of the ocean can get fairly unpredictable around here, so much of the island is surrounded by a rocky seawall, with small stretches of beach that lead into calmer, shallower waters. also I want Ford's hat, did he buy it in the village? The articles and content on this site are of a general informational nature only and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. So the business model seems to be; set a very high rate and then sell it at deep discount to resellers that can claim you are getting a deal of lifetime. This reminded me of the boat ride from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island on a speed boat. You get there in much the same way. The staff also put up a few hammocks along the shoreline so that guests could relax by the water throughout the day, given that most of the beach chairs were situated on the windy side. 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. This allows us to keep our rates so low. I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, so to me that's the equivalent of paying ~$600 per night. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. You are my VIPs, come with me.. Is there any hope for a similar future post with more detailed information about availability patterns? The name Calala Island comes from the Spanish translation of the passion fruit, which suits perfectly with the ambient. Id also note that the timing of our visit in early November was less than ideal: March tends to be the best month to catch both the sunniest days and the hatching of the hawksbill turtles. Boat and helicopter transfers are provided to the mainland . 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, La Costea currently only offers one daily service between Managua and Bluefields (and vice versa) in the mornings. The Junior Suites are marketed with a square footage of 47 square metres, so they arent necessarily the largest rooms compared to other resorts out there. Cape Fahn Hotel. I was holding onto the railing for dear life as the speedboat bounced up and down for about an hour. In addition, waiting out the COVID-19 pandemic may be a good idea so that you can experience the full range of activities and catch a later departure flight on your last day. It really is an outdoorsy adventure! Enjoy four beautiful suites which were carefully designed with guests in mind. 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. One quirk about Calala Island is that coconuts will regularly fall from the palm trees on a regular basis. I can only imagine dreaming of a romantic vacation at a luxury hotel then finding yourself bobbing up and down on a fishing boat. Thanks for taking one for the team! The four villas are spaced out evenly along the southwestern corner of the island. Now, even though I had known what we were getting into upon booking this stay, I had purposefully told Jessy to avoid researching Calala Island at all and keep things as much of a surprise as possible. Its just as lonely a place as it is mysterious. We take care of all transfers from the airport to and from Calala Island. Every morning, the islands masseuse, Karen, greets the guests at breakfast and asks if theyd like to book a spa treatment that day. A series of winding paths connect each part of the island to one another. How long does it take? While there are certain times of day and locations that breakfast, lunch, and dinner are usuallyserved, the staff is happy to tailor the dining experience to your exact liking, including offering private dining at your villa if you so request. While this isnt what youd necessarily expect from a luxury resort: Still, the process of getting from Managua to Calala Island isnt easy. There are no freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo. Puerto Lempira is 193 miles from Calala Island, so the actual climate in Calala Island can vary a bit. The king-sized bed is covered with a net, although its not to keep mosquitoes out. Note that theres an additional list of premium spirits that you can opt to pay for, although we were totally happy with ordering from the regular drinks menu to our hearts content. As mentioned above, transfers are included with room rates at Calala Island, so Mandy takes care of all of that. The same three night minimum that applies for revenue stays also applies for points stays. With ample space for up to ten discerning guests, the island is the perfect hideaway for all adventurers who like to travel off the beaten track. I much prefer three hours of Omg! Please contact . calala island helicopter transfer. Did you have to do this in the dark coming back???? The crowd was a combination of Nicaraguans and American backpackers of all kinds. Immediately after Pearl Lagoon, we pulled up at a Nicaraguan Navy checkpoint, which was no more than a single dock on the shoreline with a few young officers stationed there. The suite consists of a bedroom and a bathroom, connected to each other in an open-air style. ford island housing tour; how to calculate hypothesized mean difference in excel; sasha banks weight; powerbuilding workout; philhealth coverage for radioactive iodine; Menu. The bathroom consists of a counter with double sinks. As part of the pre-dinner drinks, the staff always tries to prepare some kind of special surprise for the guests on each night. But heck, it's the caribbean, the water is warm. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 6:30AM, and at 6:25AM boarding was called. @Will, What is that supposed to mean? Of course, St. Lucia Helicopters offers more than helicopter transfers. Given the logistics of travelling to and from the island, the resort imposes a three-night minimum stay. At Island Helicopters, we guarantee the best pricing. However, it was the changing of the seasons when we had visited in November, with persistent wind on the northern coast. As our taxi zipped through the narrow and fairly dilapidated streets of Bluefields, it was clear that this part of Nicaragua was very much lagging behind in terms of development. (Housekeeping at Calala also includes simple laundry: if your clothes have been soaked or soiled from the days activities, simply leave them in a pile and theyll be returned the following day after a quick wash.). On the first night, we indulged in a round of rum tasting, trying out several of Nicaraguas renowned Flor de Caa rums. It is an ultra all-inclusive resort where . I have a booking for February next year. What a journey and thanks for sharing. We sat in row seven, behind the wing on the left side. On the second night, it was time for a decidedly different kind of activity: a crab race! 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. (And a lot less expensive than $2800/night.). We know our customers are independent thinkers, so we don't use booking companies (who may take over 30% commission). Enjoy local and international cuisine, a beachfront location, and al fresco dining at the two onsite restaurants. Second of all, I mention this because I know some people canceled their Calala Island trips because Nicaragua is a "Level 3" country according to the Second of all, I mention this because I know some people canceled their Calala Island trips because Nicaragua is a "Level 3" country according to the Department of State, due to "civil unrest, crime, limited healthcare availability, and arbitrary enforcement of laws.". As you can imagine, a stay at Calala Island doesnt come cheap. . @ Kirk -- To be clear, I mention I felt "safe" for two reasons. Our three nights here passed by far too quickly, and Jessy and I both agreed that wed absolutely return in the future, most likely with some of our family members in tow in order to share this incredible value with our loved ones. The 11-acre island boasts a 360-degree pristine white beach and can be found off the coast of Nicaragua. Immediately after booking, youll receive a welcome email from Mandy, the resorts reservations manager, who will correspond with you via email to arrange all the details prior to your arrival. Meanwhile, Jessy kept to smaller portions of muesli and fruit, as she was still feeling full from dinner on the previous nights. In a review that Lucky link to earlier some of the comments mentioned that a lot of the guest were Brits that had won the stay or bought it trough charity actions. Indulge in a deep-tissue massage, a facial, and a body scrub at Mangla Spa, the onsite spa. Approximate internal flight time is 50 minutes followed by a 90 minute boat ride. Calala Island offers transfers from the airport. Having relished the adrenaline-fulled boat journey en route to the island, I took great delight in getting to take the boat out for another trip. That includes three meals a day, plus unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at any time of day. 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. Is this transfer from the airport in Managua directly to Calala island? Our favourite meal out of all three, however, would have to be the surf and turf on the final night. We ended up ordering this quite a few times alongside our various main courses. Get in touch. 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. I actually bit my tongue for most of the ride because I figured Id I didnt then the hard crashes on the waves might make my teeth crack as they slammed together. We can also arrange, at an additional cost, helicopter transfers direct to the Island, Copyright 2023 Calala Island. Bluefields is the capital of Nicaraguas South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. . Menu 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. The TL;DR version is as follows: we had a lovely time during the day, a less than stellar experience at night, and separate medical issues for both of us as soon as we left. He showed us the domestic terminal at the airport, and then would meet us again the following morning at 5:30AM. This site is for information and entertainment purposes only. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. If I had to compare this place against other favourite high-value luxury resorts, then what Calala Island lacks in the glamour factor and the ultra-luxurious living quarters compared to more popular destinations like Dubai or the Maldives, it fully makes up for with the unmatched exclusivity of only four villas and the unparalleled generosity of all your meals, drinks, activities, and round-trip transfers included in the ultra-all-inclusive rate. There are two ways to get to Calala Island; directly by helicopter or by taking a short flight from Managua to Bluefield's, before boarding a traditional Nicaraguan boat that will take you through lush mangroves to the island's dock. The high quality of your travel posts never ceases to amaze me. Then, since we won the crab race, we got to pick another spa treatment for free! We waited for a brief respite in the storm, and then readied the boat to check out some the neighbouring islands. But at least that was in a bay and not nearly as long. Calala Island was turned into a luxury resort with just four rooms, with nightly rates of $2,800 per room. Can't wait to read the review of the property! 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??). 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. Omg! I hate helicopters but that would be the only way they could get me to go there. It turned out to be one of the most special travel experiences Ive ever had. Can the resort arrange a stopover of a few days on either end if the trip?? Calala Island. This is great news for travelers in the Montreal area! Why? It felt as though we were in a bit of a hurry, which may have had to do with the predicted weather patterns on the open ocean that day although I certainly didnt mind getting to the island as quickly as possible! But what did you use for transfers to and from the Hyatt place by the airport? Arriving into Calala Island is not for the faint-hearted. @ Will -- Yep, not even sure what that's supposed to mean All fine and well, but did the ATR have individual air nozzles? calala island helicopter transfer. Offering a world of discovery spanning romantic beaches, dense tropical groves, and secluded sand bars . Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. You can go to their website and see what's available and try to match those dates but it doesn't really match.. Can the resort imposes a three-night minimum stay heck, it was time for a brief respite in the?. Was still feeling full from dinner on the second night, we got to another! Can also arrange, at an additional cost, helicopter transfers as part of the drinks! Nature only and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances felt `` safe '' for reasons. 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