Hotel ISLABELA, Isla del Rosario

I really loved my stay at Islabela. I stayed for two nights, and it was one of the most relaxing vacations I've ever had. The staff there is very accommodating. Shout out to Lionel for taking care of me when I got an upset stomach during my stay. He went above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable.

Had the most relaxing 4-day trip to ISLABELA! Would highly recommend for anyone looking to visit the islands on vacation. The whole place provided for an incredibly relaxing environment, the drinks and meals were super yummy, and we loved snorkeling every day.

Beautiful place, great service. We spent 2 days and 1 night at Islabela and loved it. The location is beautiful and the private villa was cute and had our own beach, hammock and lounger. The main beach area gets busier during the day with the day trippers but as an overnight guest we had the best loungers set aside for us and a dedicated service team (so it feels like you are a VIP). In the evening we practically had the place to ourselves. Shout out to Alejandra and David who were very attentive and made the trip relaxing and fun. A couple of notes - the beach entry is rough as many have mentioned (so bring water shoes). The food / drinks are great but the price definitely adds up over the 2 days (like being on a cruise). The accomodation is nice but rustic - no AC. We loved it but if you're expecting the same comforts as in the city, you may not. The boat ride can be rough. You have to travel across open waters on a speed boat. If it's windy, it's gonna be a wild ride!

The best private island day trip from Cartagena! Especially for us, a couple who prefer a relaxing day on the beach instead of hard-partying with loud music. We booked the day trip from Civitatis. Truly enjoyable resort, beautiful beach, nice pescatarian lunch. We were welcomed with a welcome drink, taken to our sun-beds in front of beach. Free kayak and yoga activities. Most of the staff were professional.

Be aware that the departure from the port of Cartagena is messy - for any day tour I think. Very long queue, slow service - it took more than 1 hour until we left the port. They also tried to charge us extra for ‘insurance’, but of course we don’t need it as we have proper travel insurance.

Also, I wouldn’t recommend the additional food service at the resort. We ordered two desserts and two extra drinks, and it was very mediocre, not worth it.

The beach is full of sharp corals, definitely a good idea to take beach shoes if you have one.

Awesome stay! They have free kayaks and great local guides. Daniel took us on a panoramic tour of the Islands which was awesome! Only thing is the rooms don’t have AC, but are otherwise really nice.

Everything about it was awesome! An amazing experience. Even though we did not speak much Spanish, the hotel staff was very patient and friendly towards us. The beach was well kept; and the surrounding area was beautiful. We were free to use the kayaks for no additional charge and we got to explore the islands. All of the additional excursions were exceptional! The snorkeling was the best snorkeling experience I have ever had and the bioluminescent plankton was amazing. After a nice peaceful day on the beach we got to enjoy amazing food at the restaurant. Everybody was so nice and we became good friends with some of the people who were also staying on the island. By the end of the trip we were extremely sad to leave and saying goodbye the the outstanding staff, who were among the nicest people I’ve met, was extremely tough. If you are looking for a great place to stay while visiting the Rosario Islands, definitely book this place! You will not be disappointed!

We booked the full day tour to Islabela and we loved it!! It's a very beautiful and private beach, the food is delicious, perfect option for couples to relax. 100% recommended 👌

It was an amazing experience on this place. We spent 2 days at this paradise. The staff was very friendly. Food was delicious, fresh and tasty . Definitely will recommend for people who wants to enjoy the nature. Beautiful views.

Fantastic service by lovely people on an amazing little island. The hotel offsers lots of planned activities and has a great kitchen.

I felt really looked after by Christina and her team.

Fantastic day trip although a little pricey. Boat takes about an hour each way. Outbound was smooth but return was quite rough. Try and sit near the back for a less bumpy ride.

Welcome drink was really nice.

They offer trips to the nearby Oceanario where you can see captive sharks and dolphins - we decided against this and opted for a snorkeling tour on a nearby reef. Very crowded but you can swim away from the crowds and see a wide variety of colourful fish. These trips are extra cost but reasonable.

Kayaks are free to use for 25 mins to allow others a chance.

We had fish for lunch (plus rice, small salad and fried plantains) and it was tasty. LOTS of flies, however.

We visited on a Monday in July and the boat was full but still lots of space on the beach.

You arrive about 9.30 and leave at 3.

Overall a very relaxing experience.

It's a paradise, simply said. Only thing are that prices of tours and transportation could be lower and more in line with Colombia

Stayed there 3 nights. Busy during the day cause of the day trippers but nice ambiance with good music, good food and drinks and the staff is awesome! Cabines are very cutein a more private and calm area of the property. They offer activities that you pay for but they also have free kayaks!

Islabela is an amazing accommodation for relaxation and to live the island life experience. The staff was amazing, kind and always ready to help us relax even more. There was a free guided tour to a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and the hotel offered free yoga classes. We booked a lovely massage at the beach. The cabins are at the water front and not right next to one another. So there is a lot privacy. We were 3 friends, but felt like a honey moon. We had a lovely porch and we could even enter the water at our cabin. The only inconvenient part was that there was loud music on the island next tour Isla Del Rosario on Sunday night. Monday we slept way better, because there was no partying going on.
Absolutely recommend this accommodation!

We visited the island for several hours for a day trip and were blown away by the service and location. First we recommend water shoes as the beach area has some pretty sharp rocks entering the water. Definitely prepare for pictures, great photo opportunities! If you visit on the weekend they offer a yoga class, which further the relaxation. They accept card on the island for payment. It's about a 45-50min boat ride from Cartagena.

Amazing stay at Islabela. My best friend and I stayed for 2 nights and wished we stayed longer. The staff was extremely attentive, kind and helpful. They truly try to make this a great experience for everyone. Their little touches (welcome and leaving drink, coffee left at your door each morning, etc.) were not expected but so appreciated. They were so kind with helping us with out Spanish too! The food was some of the best I have ever had at a resort. We saw the lobster being caught fresh in the mornings. The drinks were so delicious. The private accommodations were extremely clean and gave us the opportunity to relax on a beach in hammocks or day beds without other visitors. With that being said it is a very peaceful and relaxing vibe all over the resort even when music is playing! The massages were also a wonderful add on. If you are visiting Cartagena and would like a relaxing beautiful experience this is a must and definitely stay at least one night!

Staying on Isla Marina (vs. the larger Rosario island, Isla Grande) was a fantastic choice for the Rosario part of the trip of our Cartagena honeymoon. Islabela has the largest beach off of the smaller island, but it is extremely intimate and quiet - especially once the day trippers leave in the late afternoon and the overnighters settle in as dusk comes on. Taking the free kayaks out to watch the sunset is the best, and my husband and I did the Enchanted Lagoon excursion to experience the Bioluminescent Plankton under the dock near Isla Grande one night. It is so exhilarating to be cruising on a small boat underneath the dark sky!

Other highlights: The staff at Islabela are so lovely and helpful, there was a free yoga class over the weekend in the late morning which was divine, the massages are top notch for a great price, and I absolutely adored all of the island dogs and cats that kept everyone company on all parts of the grounds - so much fun for an animal lover! The birdwatching/listening is also one-of-a-kind. Oh and the open to the elements indoor/outdoor shower connected to our private accommodation was a delight! There were a few little hermit crabs in there at night (who scurried away once we came in and turned the shower water on) - you are truly immersed in nature here in the best ways. :-)

Islabela is a great choice for a one day tour, like I did. The infrastructure is great, the staff is super nice and care with our wellbeing. Lots of options of activities or just chill in the beach.

We spent the day at this island and it was great. The island is bigger than most Rosario island. It’s has a panoramic ocean view, the beds are comfortable. The food was tasty especially their fish ceviche and Camarones pil pil

Wow. What a wonderful day. Isla Bela was fantastic.

But more importantly our host, Alex, was the consummate gentleman and made sure we had everything at all times.

Highest recommendation.

Loved the cabins, they were clean. The staff and Food was great. Perfect place to disconnect from reality and connect with others.