Airport transfers Captained tender boat (24-hour transfers & water . For a taste of local life, Pearl Lagoon is just 45 minutes away by boat . Consequently, the outbound and return journeys to Calala Island are also only offered once per day in our case, leaving Managua at 5:30am and arriving at Calala at around 9:30am on the day of departure, with the return journey following a similar schedule. 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. The times of day at which you can make the journey are determined by the flight schedules of La Costea Airlines, Nicaraguas domestic airline. Two of the Junior Suites are made available for World of Hyatt members to book on points on any given night. Is there any hope for a similar future post with more detailed information about availability patterns? Haha I loved this post. . 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. The curated dinner experience carries on into the meals themselves. 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. Thanks for the very nice (and comprehensive) list. 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. Calala Island is the exclusive private island hideaway in the undiscovered Caribbean of Nicaragua. While I didn't get an exact quote, I was told it would be $10K+. 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. The flight to Bluefields takes around one hour, and affords some spectacular views of Nicaraguas claim to fame as the land of lakes and volcanoes, including Lake Nicaragua, the Mombacho Volcano, and even Ometepe Island far off into the distance. 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. It turned out to be one of the most special travel experiences Ive ever had. 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. Whats more, the water is piping-hot with superb water pressure, so it makes for an all-round excellent shower experience one that I enjoyed so much, I ended up taking about three showers per day in-between spending time on the beach, dipping in the ocean, and going for meals and drinks. We pushed back at 6:30AM, and were airborne five minutes later interestingly there was no safety demo. Welcome to Calala Island. 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. The spa is located at the opposite northeastern corner. Take advantage of a free roundtrip airport shuttle, a swim-up bar, and a poolside bar at Calala Island. Not to be a douche herebut as someone who has traveled the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, what really surprised me in this article was how little sense you actually get of the place. I would be seriously pissed off if I spent $2800 cash/ night And have to endure that kind of transfer to come to this resort. Then, since we won the crab race, we got to pick another spa treatment for free! 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. 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. That was really funny, thanks for the video. You are invited to experience unspoilt paradise and what they have come to refer as barefoot luxury. No way!! THANKS, LUCKY [AND FORD!] High Temp: 89 F. I have a booking for February next year. 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. Due to the somewhat stormy and unpredictable weather when we stayed in early November, some of the activities that we wouldve loved to embark on, like snorkelling or ocean fishing, were unfortunately not possible as the ocean water was overly milky. 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. Seems like either that's a really weird boat to be doing that, or they need to put some weight up in the nose of the boat. Stepping down onto the sand, theres two recliners for soaking in the sunshine, and then what we found to be the single-best place to relax on the property: acasita with a giant, sturdy hammock that can comfortably fit two. An island sushi platter got the meal off to a decent. While the surf and turf was the indisputable highlight, all three meals were of an incredible fine-dining quality, on par with most high-end restaurants that youd find on land. But at least that was in a bay and not nearly as long. As Shorvin and the rest of the staff members brought our luggage over to our villa, Claudia and Leon brought us over to the islands main pavilion to complete our welcome formalities (in addition to offering us some towels to dry off from the ocean!). . As for seasickness scapolamine transdermal patches (prescription required) placed behind your earlobe are life changing. (Additional cost) Helicopter from Managua International Airport (MGA) direct to Calala Island. However, I would gladly do them over again than take your open water journey that had me bracing with every bump at the seat of my computer. Value 4.4. :) - One thing to note is they do have full body nice ponchos if it rains on the boat, we had to use them for 20 minutes and never got wet. You spend the first hour going through mangroves and lagoons, which sounds nice, except: When you get out of the mangroves area you arrive at a military checkpoint, where armed military officers check your boat very carefully to make sure youre not bringing anything you shouldnt be. Share Brochure. One quirk about Calala Island is that coconuts will regularly fall from the palm trees on a regular basis. After being flown via private plane to Nicaragua . 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! Youre free to interact with the staff as much or as little as youd like. 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. Calala Island; NiCaribbean; Tel: USA (+1) 929 269 1232; inquiries@calala-island.com; When you think of your transfer to a $2,800 per night resort that includes going out into the open ocean, the below boat is probably not what youre expecting but thats exactly what you get. 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. The daily flight to Bluefields is actually designed to serve an additional community, Corn Islands, as well. 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? A leading Washing Machine, Refrigerator and Air Conditioner repair and service centre in Trichy 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.". Calala Island, at a glance. Calala Island guests enjoy a VIP priority queue, and the La Costea staff member inspected our documents and waved us through no need for boarding passes or anything like that. The Maldives. From Crawl Cay, we took the boat to swing by a few other islands, without landing. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. 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. You are my VIPs, come with me.. 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. Heres how the transfer is described in the email to guests: You will motor through the lagoons and mangroves on a traditional Nicaraguan open top speed boat, taking in an array of wildlife and then out to sea where the waters clear and you catch your first glimpse of your island home where ice cold cocktails will be awaiting your arrival. When I mention Calala Island, Im guessing some regular readers will immediately know what Im talking about, while everyone else will be saying eh? Calala Island is a private island on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua (or the NiCaribbean, as the hotel calls it). Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. How long does it take . 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. Simply show up at the lunch spot and the staff will show you to a seat, hand you the menus, and offer you a drink. 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. This is one of the best! While the nonstop flight to Bluefields would have taken 45 minutes, the flight to Corn Island took about 60 minutes. The high quality of your travel posts never ceases to amaze me. at an additional cost, helicopter transfers direct to the Island The Calala Foundation. Sicily Private Spot is known for the high quality of its air travel services. At $1 million for a weeklong vacation, this Calala Island extravaganza is no doubt the world's most expensive trip . 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. Ford: I'll pay $2,800 to get off this boat. There were no other hotel guests on the boat, so it was just Shorvin, one of his colleagues, and the boat captain. The resort asked when we were arriving, because when we landed in Managua the night before, Nestor met us upon arrival. This reminded me of the boat ride from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island on a speed boat. Menu Cleanliness 5.0. Our worries vanished, though, when the surf and turf arrived. [Calala Island $2,300 @ 40K Hyatt Points] I just booked 3 nights at Calala Island in Nicaragua for 120,000 Hyatt Points. This reminded me of the boat ride from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island on a speed boat. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should . Dining on Calala Island is exceedingly flexible and customizable. Note that Calala Island has a fairly strict 90-day cancellation policy, and youll be charged the cost of the first nights stay if you need to cancel within that 90-day window. On the ATR42 you board through the rear, since the cargo hold is in the front of the plane, behind the cockpit. We have reservations in May and are wondering what is going to happen. On the first night, we indulged in a round of rum tasting, trying out several of Nicaraguas renowned Flor de Caa rums. During our honeymoon our tour boat had to return to Phuket from the Phi Phi islands as a storm approached. The open-air boat travels at top speed, cutting through the mirror-like surface of the water. The Caribbean is usually synonymous with tourists, but the remote Calala Island off the eastern shore of Nicaragua remains vastly unknown. Start off the morning with a refreshing mimosa. These days, a local Nicaraguan caretaker lives on Crawl Cay along with his family, and sometimes there are wildlife researchers (studying the endangered hawksbill turtle, which breeds on Calala and the nearby islands) who camp out here as well. However, it was the changing of the seasons when we had visited in November, with persistent wind on the northern coast. . I was particularly fond of the ceviche, which was light and refreshing, and went along perfectly with a piercing yellow chilli sauce on the side. We also offer amazing St. Lucia helicopter tours! From $13,000+. 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. While the boat ride from Bluefields was something that I personally relished as an adrenaline junkie, youll probably feel less enthusiastic about it if you prefer a more serene start to your island getaway. Your experience sounds similar to what I heard before. ternary operator with multiple conditions in angular. 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. 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. 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. Is availability based on the regular BA award chart? As longtime readers will know, Jessy and I are passionate purveyors of seafood. 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. Flight time is 85 minutes. And I think our ride to the island was rougher. The ATR42 was parked outside, and as the gate agent escorted us to the door of the plane, she explained that we would be making a stop on Corn Island first. On the second night, it was time for a decidedly different kind of activity: a crab race! Enjoy local and international cuisine, a beachfront location, and al fresco dining at the two onsite restaurants. . If they are charging $2800 per night to stay at a tiny remote island (which is basically extortion for a country as undeveloped as Nicaragua), they should include a helicopter transfer with a stay of at least 3 nights. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. 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). The flight was fine there was a water or juice service, but otherwise theres not much to talk about. The resort's four Matthew Falkiner-designed suites . 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. However sea needs to be relatively calm and perhaps a plane does not make sense for a resort with 4 rooms . Calala Island. All rights reserved. Calala Island offers transfers from the airport. The articles and content on this site are of a general informational nature only and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. A luxury, ultra all-inclusive, private Island resort hidden in the undiscovered part of the Caribbean. We chose early transfer in both directions, which means that we were actually leaving at 5:30 in the morning from Calala Island. The open ocean part of the video had me straight up laughing the entire time. @ Kirk -- To be clear, I mention I felt "safe" for two reasons. 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. Yes, the "economics" of this place raise a lot questions (best left unasked and likely not answered). Getting to Calala Island is a trek, and involves planes, cars, and a very rough boat ride. Service 4.9. I should Including: you buy 71K points for $1320 and your partner buy 71K points for $1320. popeyes vs chicken express; do venmo requests expire Lunch is generally served between 12pm and 3pm, though again, you can really take it whenever youd like. While everyone rushed up to the gate, I was pleasantly surprised that the gate agent came and got us first. Since it was a bit early to get started with cocktails, we asked for some coffee and coconuts to sip on as Claudia walked us through everything we needed to know during our three-night stay. An oasis of serenity, Calala Island is located in the idyllic Pearl Cays along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast. Hey Ben, did they give any inking that they may close the resort due to the virus? Prior to our stay Mandy was in touch with us, who is in charge of the pre-stay experience for guests. We take care of all transfers from the airport to and from Calala Island. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. With its turquoise blue waters and ubiquitous overwater bungalows, the Maldives are undoubtedly one of the most romantic island getaways in the world. There's an AirBnB on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras called Cayos Cochinos. LOL. The nearest international airport is Managua. Such is the sheer exclusivity of an island with only four villas that youll hardly notice the other guests throughout the day, unless its time to gather for meals or drinks. . 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. Calala Island: Paradise and luxury if you can handle the boat transfer - See 52 traveller reviews, 268 candid photos, and great deals for Calala Island at Tripadvisor. It was truly a meal to remember. Enjoy four beautiful suites which were carefully designed with guests in mind. It is an ultra all-inclusive resort where . From there, it was time for the real adventure: the last 4 km stretch of open ocean to reach Calala Island. 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