Every morning, the islands masseuse, Karen, greets the guests at breakfast and asks if theyd like to book a spa treatment that day. How long does it take? 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 time to review my recent stay at Calala Island, though I first want to write a separate installment about getting to Calala Island. Sounds a little disrespectful. 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. Shorvin guided us expertly through the crowd and to our Calala-bound motorboat. Cape Fahn Hotel. @ Will -- Yep, not even sure what that's supposed to mean All fine and well, but did the ATR have individual air nozzles? Im not much of a spa guy, so Jessy went in for another round this time the Calala signature massage, which she found to be a perfectly revitalizing rainy-day activity, and a great way to soothe her nerves after island-hopping in the storm. The coconut-flavoured Ultra Coco was certainly a crowd-pleaser with its smoothness, though I eventually took a liking to the seven-year and 12-year aged varieties. Security took just a minute, and then we were inside the small domestic terminal. 1 of 12. Please contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation with your arrival details prior to travel. Calala Island is a small 11-acre island that forms part of the Pearl Cays, sitting 4 km off the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua in the Caribbean Sea. As a result of the strong winds, we primarily frolicked in the water on the southern side, where theres a set of swings in the water that makes for a nice photo opportunity. Guests arriving after 6:00 AM must make advance . Start off the morning with a refreshing mimosa. Breakfast is generally served at the main pavilion from 7am to 11am. There was also a Saturday market there at this point, with the freshest meat imaginable (which was kind of tough to see as a former vegetarian) you could have a chicken killed right in front of you, and any part of a pig just cut off for you. Calala Islands spa is perched on its northeastern corner, accessible via paths and boardwalks from either the northern or southern coasts. Here we met Shorvin from Calala Island, who would be accompanying us on the rest of the journey. I actually dont disagree with Ford, at least as far as hotel transfers go. Yes, the "economics" of this place raise a lot questions (best left unasked and likely not answered). I never thought Id actually hear anyone say this, but there were two girls seated next to us that got to talking: Where are you going? The former group chat can be used to ask questions, communicate any special requests, or simply plan out your day with the general managers, whereas the second chat line is used for simple requests like getting something delivered to your villa or ordering a drink to wherever you are on the island. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Id certainly loved to have stayed on the island for longer during our last day and taken advantage of the midday flight, so Id recommend planning your visit to Calala Island once La Costea hopefully restores full services in the near future. 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. All rights reserved|. . Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. After about 15 minutes we were on our way. Airport transfers Captained tender boat (24-hour transfers & water . The articles and content on this site are of a general informational nature only and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Calala Island. That includes three meals a day, plus unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at any time of day. Military checkpoint enroute to Calala Island. Therefore, we continued to take lunch in or around the main pavilion, the same place where we had breakfast and dinner. Calala Island, at a glance. 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. This 4-room, 5-star hotel has a full-service spa along with an outdoor pool and free in-room WiFi. before navigating through the lush mangroves along the coastline which serve as key waterways that connect several small communities by boat in this part of the country for about an hour. Why? Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. In fact, we were warned to keep clear of the coconut trees as much as possible to avoid an unwanted concussion. A 15-minute helicopter ride to Catalina Island is all that stands between you and paradise. 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. The toilet is housed in a separate chamber. One of the crew had to jump out and sort of guide the boat. The 90-minute speedboat journey from Bluefields is very much unlike anything else youll encounter in other parts of the world. 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. Lastly, our Junior Suite in particular also had direct access to a small stretch of beach in front of us. The other villas mostly have a rocky seawall in front of them, so I had specifically requested Kakabila with its direct beach access. . Thanks for taking one for the team! Two of the Junior Suites are made available for World of Hyatt members to book on points on any given night. VeryFirstTo.com has launched one of the world's most expensive holidays at $1 million.For that price 10 guests (eight adults and two children) can transform the Southern Caribbean island of Calala Island into their own personal paradise for a weekcomplete with 25 dedicated staff members, ultra-exclusive experiences, and five-star dining. This hotel provides transfers from the airport. While I didn't get an exact quote, I was told it would be $10K+. This means that a maximum of eight guests can stay on the island on any given night, which creates an unbelievably exclusive experience for the lucky few who are able to snag a booking on the island. 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. Thanks T.J.! 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. Managuas domestic terminal is a small and dimly illuminated space, serving locals and tourists alike who are looking to get to other parts of the country especially the more remote communities on the Atlantic coast which arent as well-connected by road. Private fully staffed island close to Ibiza, Spain available for exclusive rent for holidays or events perfect for a tailor made vacation . From here, guests can take a thrice-daily, 50-minute commercial connection to Bluefields (flight transfer included in rental price), where they will be met by a representative of the island and taken to the nearby harbour. Calala Island is nestled in the undiscovered Pearl Keys, completely filled with coconuts, white sand, crystal clear waters, low grass, and . Indeed, it would often take two or three tries to properly flush the toilet especially after some of the gargantuan meals that they feed you here at Calala Island. As you might imagine, though, this was the one part of the overall dining experience that perhaps didnt quite reach the highest heights compared to the sushi we get back home in Toronto or Vancouver. How . The breakfast menu reads as follows. My friends who have been there all described getting there by boat from Bluefields with about the same experience. Is this transfer from the airport in Managua directly to Calala island? Across more than 300 kilometres and three separate modes of transportation, the journey from Managua to Calala Island takes about four hours from start to finish. 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. To make arrangements, contact the property with arrival details prior to travel, using the phone number on your booking confirmation . Even once you get to Managua Airport, your transfer to Calala Island includes planes, cars, and boats. Thanks for the very nice (and comprehensive) list. You can go to their website and see what's available and try to match those dates but it doesn't really match.. Can't help you with the bad back other than suggesting you do your stretching exercises daily. The resort's four Matthew Falkiner-designed suites . Instead, theyre fairly rocky and laden with sea life, reflecting the raw ocean that engulfs the island all around. While the nonstop flight to Bluefields would have taken 45 minutes, the flight to Corn Island took about 60 minutes. On a particularly nice morning, the staff might arrange the breakfast tables to be outdoors right by the water, so that you can enjoy your meal barefoot on the beach. Calala Island, Calala Island: 50 Hotel Reviews, 253 traveller photos, and great deals for Calala Island, ranked #1 of 1 hotel in Calala Island and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. But what did you use for transfers to and from the Hyatt place by the airport? Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. Meanwhile, Jessy kept to smaller portions of muesli and fruit, as she was still feeling full from dinner on the previous nights. Lunch is generally served between 12pm and 3pm, though again, you can really take it whenever youd like. For everyone else, stay tuned for the review of the actual resort before deciding whether or not Calala Island is worth visiting, in spite of the transfer. Yet somehow the bathroom didnt have any soap. Your stay will also include complimentary breakfast, use of an . I want to consider the helicopter transfer. I do wish we couldve made more use of the swim-up bar in the pool, although the windy weather on that side of the island made it hard to spend any quality time there. We happened to arrive on an exceptionally stormy day, so we were in for anextremelybumpy ride! Chances are that at this point youre asking yourself and why cant they have a nicer transfer option? I asked myself these things as well, and here are some thoughts on that: While the transfer is far from luxurious, I actually get it. Approximate internal flight time is 50 minutes followed by a 90 minute boat ride. pigella miraculous ladybug power. Book Calala Island, Calala Island on Tripadvisor: See 53 traveler reviews, 268 candid photos, and great deals for Calala Island, ranked #1 of 1 hotel in Calala Island and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Lastly, the managers command centre and the staffs quarters are found in the middle of the island, maintaining a low-key presence as they work to put on an amazing experience for the guests. Anyone paying $$ can afford the helicopter transfer and surely will rather than endure that. (Note that theres no coffee or tea setup in the villa itself, as the resort prefers to operate with a central kitchen for all things food and drink. 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. The paid nightly rate starts at US$2,350 per night in the low season and reaches as high as US$3,650 per night in the high season. 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! There are no freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo. Can't wait to read the review of the property! 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. Check-in from 12:00-12:30FREE Check-out FREE. No doubt about it our crab won the race at a canter and bestowed upon Jessy a complimentary spa treatment the following day. Please contact . Our representatives will accompany you throughout the journey. There were no other hotel guests on the boat, so it was just Shorvin, one of his colleagues, and the boat captain. Calala Island is a private island located in the Caribbean Sea, forming part of an archipelago of islands known as the Pearl Cays, off the coast of Nicaragua. Interestingly there were some drug sniffing dogs on arrival, and also a temperature check. Calala Island. LOL. Essentially they operate the flight to Bluefields in conjunction with the flight to Corn Island, which is a popular Nicaraguan vacation destination off the coast. Flight time is 85 minutes. It is an ultra all-inclusive resort where . Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Another Year On The Executive Platinum Hamster Wheel. It was so bumpy I bruised my tailbone and had trouble sitting and laying down for many days afterwards. . Indeed, I had initially booked for November 69, but Mandy was able to change our dates to November 710 independently, given that the resort did indeed have World of Hyatt points availability on the night of the 9th. Im interested in seeing how yours compares to the recent review of this same property on TPG. Dining on Calala Island is exceedingly flexible and customizable. . . It really is an outdoorsy adventure! A series of winding paths connect each part of the island to one another. Calala Island. I've always wanted to explore Bluefields. For example, the island for the deserted island picnic was no longer deserted for the time being, as the Pearl Lagoon community had sent caretakers to each of their islands to keep watch and protect against piracy during these economically challenging times. We sat down with some delicious coconut chips to snack on, along with welcome drinks of our choosing. A luxury, ultra all-inclusive, private Island resort hidden in the undiscovered part of the Caribbean. Including: you buy 71K points for $1320 and your partner buy 71K points for $1320. at an additional cost, helicopter transfers direct to the Island The Calala Foundation. Mandy is also able to facilitate any date changes independently of your Hyatt reservation. 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. The island lies in the Pearl Cays of the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Nicaragua; the area is known locally as the NiCaribbean. Yeah cant wait for photo of the actual island! Prince of Travel is a licensed travel agent, registered in the province of Ontario, Canada. Just to give you a sense of how time consuming the transfer process was, we left the Hyatt Place Managua at 5AM, and we only made it to the resort at around 11AM, so it took about six hours door-to-door. The times of day at which you can make the journey are determined by the flight schedules of La Costea Airlines, Nicaraguas domestic airline. Calala Island is the first resort of its kind in this undiscovered paradise, lying just off of the Nicaraguan Coast in the Caribbean Sea. 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. Service 4.9. 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. 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). But heck, it's the caribbean, the water is warm. Offering a world of discovery spanning romantic beaches, dense tropical groves, and secluded sand bars . Indeed, youll likely find larger, fancier villas with more spruced-up interiors at other resorts around the world. Pictures cant do justice to this, so you can see a video here (the first 30 seconds is in the mangrove area, while the last 60 seconds is from the open sea): When we were on the open sea, Ford started asking me already about what the other options were for leaving Calala Island, as he was seasick, and had terrible back pain. The infinity pool at Calala Island ordinarily makes for a picturesque place to hang out, especially as it never really gets busy and youre quite likely to have the whole place to yourself. Calala Islands Managua-based staff representative, Nestor, was on hand to greet us upon exiting the airport in the evening. 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. With the storm continuing to surround us, it was only safe enough to make landfall on one of the nearby islands: Crawl Cay, home to another proposed resort that was abandoned in the middle of construction. Finally, I must reserve the highest praise of all for the incredible service that we encountered during our time on Calala Island, which truly elevated our stay into all-time-favourite territory. (Additional cost) Helicopter from Managua International Airport (MGA) direct to Calala Island. We waited for a brief respite in the storm, and then readied the boat to check out some the neighbouring islands. Our favourite meal out of all three, however, would have to be the surf and turf on the final night. Meanwhile, Jessy was decidedly less enthusiastic about another bumpy boat ride, but she was still a good sport in accompanying me. This makes getting to a secluded resort in the Maldives seem easy, by comparison. 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. . Indeed, I thought that our interactions with the staff and fellow guests added a very welcome layer of friendship and bonding to our experience at Calala. 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. But at least that was in a bay and not nearly as long. The Calala-bound passengers (ourselves and another couple from the US) were given priority to walk across the tarmac and board the plane. Location: Nicaragua Points: World of Hyatt Category 8 from 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night (off-peak pricing) Nicaragua may not be the first spot to come to mind when you . If you prefer, you can also reach Calala by helicopter in around 80 minutes from Managua. We had planned a few days to explore Nicaragua after our Calala Island adventure, and I was already looking forward to that part of the trip. . Calala Island is in Nicaragua. Calala island, Nicaragua. popeyes vs chicken express; do venmo requests expire Haha I loved this post. The crowd was a combination of Nicaraguans and American backpackers of all kinds. 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. From there, it was time for the real adventure: the last 4 km stretch of open ocean to reach Calala Island. 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. 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