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. Helicopter from Managua international airport direct to Calala Island. But you spend the first 60 minutes of the ride with the boat constantly hitting the water every couple of seconds, and then the last 45 minutes or so is spent just rocking back and forth to the point that you wonder if youre going to make it. 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. It was so bumpy I bruised my tailbone and had trouble sitting and laying down for many days afterwards. Theres not much else happening on this eastern half of the island, which makes the spa something of a sanctuary of its own. Lastly, our Junior Suite in particular also had direct access to a small stretch of beach in front of us. This eleven-acre property will leave an indelible mark on the most discerning luxury traveler, offering maximum rejuvenation of the body, mind, and soul. This reminded me of the boat ride from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island on a speed boat. The 90-minute speedboat journey from Bluefields is very much unlike anything else youll encounter in other parts of the world. Included in our rates, we arrange a short internal flight to Bluefields (50 minutes) followed by a scenic boat ride (90 minutes . I can't imagine. On the ATR42 you board through the rear, since the cargo hold is in the front of the plane, behind the cockpit. Guests step directly onto the powder-soft sand from their private decks to enjoy spectacular panoramic Indian Ocean sunsets extending to the far contours of mainland Madagascar. 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. Its time to review my recent stay at Calala Island, though I first want to write a separate installment about getting to Calala Island. 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. whereas we took a larger ATR-42 on the return journey, boarding at Bluefields to join many other tourists who were coming back from the Corn Islands. Instead, theyre fairly rocky and laden with sea life, reflecting the raw ocean that engulfs the island all around. (If we had booked a hotel in the city of Managua, Nestor would arrange a licensed taxi to bring us to the hotel. When are you planning on posting your review of the resort itself itself? 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). Can't help you with the bad back other than suggesting you do your stretching exercises daily. The times of day at which you can make the journey are determined by the flight schedules of La Costea Airlines, Nicaraguas domestic airline. Each day, depending on the number of passengers booked on each route, the flight can operate any of the following routes: Furthermore, the actual aircraft tends to vary every day as well. From Crawl Cay, we took the boat to swing by a few other islands, without landing. Calala Island: Paradise - See 53 traveler reviews, 268 candid photos, and great deals for Calala Island at Tripadvisor. 1 / 8. Please contact . The transfer first includes flying to the Nicaraguan coastal city of Bluefields, then you have to take a car to the port of Bluefields, and then theres a 90-120 minute boat ride to the resort. Obviously, this experience is catered to the 0.1 percent. PONANT Cruises: Best For Luxury & Adventure? This makes getting to a secluded resort in the Maldives seem easy, by comparison. But the staff also went above and beyond in so many ways, from organizing the unique activities every night, to leaving little gifts of cigars and chocolates in our villa, to the little things, like taking note of our love for the yellow chilli sauce and serving it with every meal. But how relevant is it? The first two meals of the day are meant to be taken casually at your leisure, but dinner is always dressed up as a more fulsome experience for the guests. Looking for transport for the 26 mile drive between Girona airport and Calella (de la Costa)? Instead, its very much the sheer exclusivity of the four villas on the island, combined with the magical curated experience across the food and drink, activities, and wonderful service, that sets apart Calala Island as one of my all-time-best travel experiences and a truly extraordinary use of your hotel rewards points. Anyway, given our early-morning departure from Managua, I planned our inbound flight from San Salvador to arrive at 10:30pm. Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. My back hurts just after watching the video! We can also arrange, at an additional cost, helicopter transfers direct to the Island, Copyright 2023 Calala Island. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should . Step up your travel game with a full day of discussion panels and presentations, a catered lunch and drinks, networking, prizes, and an exclusive VIP Experience! And if youre someone who gets seasick, and/or someone who has back pain, I wouldnt recommend it for you. Calala Island; NiCaribbean; Tel: USA (+1) 929 269 1232; inquiries@calala-island.com; We pushed back at 6:30AM, and were airborne five minutes later interestingly there was no safety demo. As with all meals on the island, if youre craving something thats off-menu, just let the staff know and theyll do their best to make it for you too. Locally, the region is known as the NiCaribbean. Rates vary significantly seasonally, and start at $1,650 per night in low season, to $3,400 per night in high season, with a three night minimum stay no matter what. Overall, I found the booking and pre-arrival experience to be seamless, if a little shrouded in mystery. Thinking thats the best way to make sure timing is good for arrival and departure . Flight time is 85 minutes. Boat and helicopter transfers are provided to the mainland, where the resort's guides can lead you to a world of lemurs and chameleons, and a mosaic of unexplored coves. Trip report for Calala Island. I want to see hotel recommendations when using Rome2rio . Royal Platinum members get access to exclusive benefits, opportunities, and events, along with a personal touch from our founder. 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. I've spent almost 2M Hyatt points so far, and this 200k was among . All rights reserved|. 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. After waiting for about an hour, the airport staff indicated that the plane was ready for boarding. 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 bed is definitely on the harder side, which I didnt find to be a problem, but it might not be the most comfortable if you prefer softer sleeping surfaces. I recently had the pleasure of staying at Calala Island, a private island resort located off the coast of Nicaragua. According to Calala Island's website. Doubt they get many guest that pay the full $2800 per night, hence the rather shabby transfer arrangements. During our honeymoon our tour boat had to return to Phuket from the Phi Phi islands as a storm approached. Instead, the net serves to protect you from any bits and pieces from the thatched roof that might fall down from time to time. 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. When staying at Calala Island, getting there is half the fun at least if youre a thrill-seeker like me. 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. For now, though, we were headed to the countrys less-travelled Caribbean coast. 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? Correspondence is only done via email, and the phone number in Mandys email signature went to voicemail every time I tried to call. I hope your backs were okay. Calala Island offers guests a wide range of activities to fill their days on the island, all of which are complimentary. 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. We sat down with some delicious coconut chips to snack on, along with welcome drinks of our choosing. La Costeas domestic operations in Nicaragua are a little moreflexiblethan what youd typically expect from an airline. Full use of Island boats and skipper. Ford: I'll pay $2,800 to get off this boat. If youre a guest at Calala Island, simply book your international flights into and out of Managua the resort will take care of all the rest. Points per night: . I would note that the bathroom door wouldnt close and the light in there wouldnt turn on, but otherwise the experience was fine. 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. Wed fly through the air, crash into the ocean with a loud bang, get splashed all over by the water, before doing it all again and again as we inched our way towards the promised land in the distance. Yikes! Up to 12% cash back for the first three months. Can the resort arrange a stopover of a few days on either end if the trip?? Unlike virtually everything else on the island, spa treatments are not complimentary, and are bookable at an additional expense. THANKS, LUCKY [AND FORD!] 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 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. Sounds a little disrespectful. From here, its about another 15-minute ride to Calala, but its an opportunity to step off and use the restroom if you need to. A luxury, ultra all-inclusive, private Island resort hidden in the undiscovered part of the Caribbean. Wed then stay at the Best Western Las Mercedes Airport, which is right across the road from Managuas Augusto C. Sandino International Airport. Transfer to Calala Island As promised, Nestor met us at the domestic terminal exactly at 5:45 a.m. 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. Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. (And a lot less expensive than $2800/night.). Id recommend bringing a sturdy pair of sandals so that you can confidently wade in the water without prickling your feet. We were staying March 7-10, 2020, and for our dates we were advised of two options for our transfers: We chose the early transfer in both directions, and that meant on the way back we were actually leaving at 5:30AM from Calala Island. I must admit, even as someone who was relishing this part of the journey, I was ready for it to end by the time we pulled into the lagoon.
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