Hotel in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Hotel Las Islas
150ptsRemote lagoon setting, not a city base.
About Hotel Las Islas
Hotel Las Islas sits on the Ciénaga de Cholón lagoon in Barú, about 30 kilometres from central Cartagena. It suits travellers who want a quieter, water-facing stay away from the Old City's crowds. Verify transfer logistics and pricing directly before booking — the setting is the draw, but staff responsiveness and access arrangements determine whether it delivers.
Verdict
Hotel Las Islas sits on the Ciénaga de Cholón in Barú, a lagoon-facing position that already sets it apart from Cartagena's walled-city hotel stock. If your goal is to trade the noise and crowds of the Old City for something quieter and closer to the water, this is the right direction. Booking is direct, and the property draws visitors who want proximity to Barú's beaches without committing to a larger resort. For a broader look at where to stay, see our full Cartagena De Indias hotels guide.
The Property
Barú is a peninsula roughly 30 kilometres south of Cartagena's city centre, and the Ciénaga de Cholón is one of its most sheltered anchorages — a calm lagoon popular with sailboats and day-trippers. Hotel Las Islas occupies this waterfront position, which means the setting does real work for the experience. The human element here matters: in a location this remote, staff responsiveness and logistical support from the property are not optional extras, they are the product. How well the team manages water access, transfers from Cartagena, and day-to-day requests will largely determine whether a stay feels worth it or stranded. Travellers who have stayed at Hotel Casa Don Sancho by Mustique in Cartagena proper will find this a noticeably different register: fewer urban amenities, more natural setting. Similarly, those who have experienced Movich Hotel Cartagena de Indias will notice the shift from city-centre convenience to island-adjacent seclusion.
Specific pricing, room categories, and F&B; offerings are not confirmed in our current data. We recommend verifying directly before booking, particularly on transfer arrangements from Cartagena — the logistics of getting to Barú are a material part of the trip cost and planning, not an afterthought. For dining options in the wider region, our Cartagena De Indias restaurants guide covers the city well. For drinks and nightlife context, our bars guide is a useful reference.
Who Should Book
This property suits travellers prioritising natural setting and water access over urban convenience. It is not the right call if you want easy access to Cartagena's Old City restaurants and nightlife, or if you need reliable on-site F&B; infrastructure confirmed ahead of arrival. For those comfortable with that trade-off, and willing to verify logistics directly, Hotel Las Islas offers a genuinely different proposition from the city's main hotel corridor. Elsewhere in Colombia, properties like Cannúa Lodge in Marinilla and Wake BioHotel in Medellín occupy a similar niche of nature-forward stays for travellers who want the landscape to be the point. Also worth considering along the coast: Hilton Santa Marta if you want a beach stay with more infrastructure certainty. For broader Colombia planning, explore Hotel el Prado in Barranquilla, Spirito by Spiwak in Cali, and Casa Cubil in Bogota.
Compare Hotel Las Islas
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Las Islas | — | ||
| Four Seasons Hotel Bogota | — | ||
| Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota | — | ||
| JW Marriott Hotel Bogota | — | ||
| Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort | — | ||
| Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Hotel Las Islas compare to nearby hotels?
The clearest alternative is Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort, which sits on the ocean-facing side of Barú and offers a larger resort infrastructure with a branded loyalty program. Hotel Las Islas trades that scale for a quieter lagoon-side position on the Ciénaga de Cholón, which suits travellers who want water access without a busy beach strip. If you want Cartagena's walled city within walking distance, neither property delivers — you are 30 kilometres out and will need a boat or car.
How is the dining at Hotel Las Islas?
Specific menu details are not available in the current record, so a dish-level verdict is not possible. What the location does signal: Barú properties of this type typically source fresh Caribbean seafood, and the lagoon-facing setting at Ciénaga de Cholón means you are eating away from Cartagena's tourist restaurant density. If on-site dining quality is a deciding factor for you, check the venue's official channels before booking.
Is Hotel Las Islas good for business travel?
No. The address — Ciénaga de Cholón, Barú — places this property roughly 30 kilometres from Cartagena's commercial centre, with water or road access adding meaningful transit time. Business travellers needing reliable city connectivity, meeting facilities, or proximity to Cartagena's commercial districts should look at Bogotá options like the Four Seasons Hotel Bogota or JW Marriott Hotel Bogota instead. Las Islas is a retreat, not a base of operations.
When is the best time to book Hotel Las Islas?
Cartagena's dry season runs December through April, when the Caribbean coast sees the least rainfall and the Ciénaga de Cholón lagoon conditions are at their calmest — the strongest case for this property's setting. The shoulder months of November and May offer lower demand before and after peak season. The wet season (May through November) brings humidity and rain that can limit the outdoor, water-focused experience that makes Las Islas worth considering.
Do loyalty programs work at Hotel Las Islas?
No loyalty program affiliation is documented for Hotel Las Islas, which appears to operate independently. If earning or redeeming hotel points is a priority, the Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort participates in Accor's ALL program, giving it a concrete advantage for loyalty-focused travellers on the Barú peninsula.
Is Hotel Las Islas family-friendly?
The lagoon-side position on the Ciénaga de Cholón is a genuine draw for families who want calm, sheltered water rather than open-ocean surf. That said, the remote Barú location means limited nearby infrastructure — no quick access to pharmacies, supermarkets, or urban backup if something goes wrong. Families with older children who are comfortable with a self-contained, nature-focused stay will get more from it than those travelling with very young children who need urban amenity close at hand.
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