Amazing, stress-free travel
Colombia | Apr 2 - Apr 9, 2023

A
Ann M.
Washington, DC | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2023

We had a wonderful itinerary planned, and it was wonderful not to have to worry about anything in a a foreign place-- drivers and guides showed up as scheduled and took care of everything. Plus, it was great to have a personal touch as we learned about the culture and history. We especially liked our driver Harold in/near Cartagena and our guide Diva in Tyrona National Park and Minca. Diva had so much information to share-- about the plants and animals we saw on hikes, about the history of the region, and stories about the people who lived there and we saw on the way.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Casa Tere
Cartagena
Authenticity & Character
Location
on a picturesque street in Getsamani, easy to walk to Old City
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Cocoliso Island Resort
Rosario Islands

The grounds were beautiful. It felt like it was designed to impress the day visitors, as the hotel rooms were very basic. It may be that the older rooms and the lack of water pressure and heated water is normal in this island setting.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful grounds
Location
Beautiful views, nice grounds
Staff
The main staff were not very helpful, or took a long time to help. The support staff were very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The common grounds were beautiful, but the private rooms were very basic. The bathrooms looked very old, and there was minimal water pressure (trickle is the best we got) and there was no hot water
Ecohabs Los Naranjos

Unbelieveable, private views in the middle of a stunning national park. The accommodations were pretty nice despite the rustic setting.

Authenticity & Character
individual ecohabs were designed to look like the homes of the people native to the area
Location
Amazing views, location inside the National Park (since it takes a lot of time to enter the park and get to the views)
Staff
Gustavo went out of the way to help us out when I needed to go back to the park gate to pay some admission fees
Cleanliness & Comfort
GHL Hotel Armería Real
Cartagena

Felt luxurious and modern On the edge of Getsamani

Authenticity & Character
Location
on the edge of Getsamani, needed to walk a bit to get to the main areas of interest However, had a great view of the Fort
Staff
We had some fresh fruit we wanted to eat, and the staff sliced it for us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Boquilla Mangrove Tour
Boquilla Mangrove Tour
Cartagena

Nice to learn about an area separate from the big city. The best part was that not only did we get to see the fishermen cast their nets, we got to do it as well

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cartagena Bike Tour
Cartagena Bike Tour
Cartagena

quick way to see much of the Old City and Getsamani, but since those areas are small you can explore it by foot as well. Plus, some of the small and/or crowded roads are hard to navigate on bicycles

Hike Tayrona National Park
Hike Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park

So beautiful!!

Coffee Farm & Village Tour
Coffee Farm & Village Tour
Minca

Coffee tour was very informative. Minca falls were beautiful and refreshing

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diva was an amazing, friendly, informative guide. She even bought us some mangoes after learning we liked them
Local specialist: Michael Gold
Michael
Michael Gold
Local specialist in San Agustín, Huila, Colombia | Replied on Apr 18, 2023
Dear Ann, thank you for your detailed travel report. We are very happy to hear that you were able to experience your time on site stress-free and gather many beautiful impressions in the whole family. Especially it is great that you could enjoy the trip to the Tayrona National Park so much. It is a pity that the original hotel on Rosario Islands changed its management at short notice and in the high season and therefore stopped all oparative activities - nevertheless, your stay on the island... Read more

Dear Ann,

thank you for your detailed travel report. We are very happy to hear that you were able to experience your time on site stress-free and gather many beautiful impressions in the whole family. Especially it is great that you could enjoy the trip to the Tayrona National Park so much. It is a pity that the original hotel on Rosario Islands changed its management at short notice and in the high season and therefore stopped all oparative activities - nevertheless, your stay on the island in the alternative accommodation seems to have been very relaxed except for the rooms and we are glad to hear that.

We hope to welcome you back to Colombia soon and send our best regards,
Michael and the Chaska Tours Team