There are places on this earth where time slows—where the rhythm of the day is not dictated by clocks, but by the light filtering through palm fronds, the call of a toucan at dawn, and the glimmer of plankton beneath a moonlit sea. Hotel Las Islas, on the island of Barú, south of Cartagena, is one of those places. It isn’t just a resort, it is a tropical reverie, suspended between forest and ocean, where Colombia’s natural beauty takes centre stage and modern luxury whispers rather than shouts.
The journey begins with a private boat across Cartagena Bay—a passage that feels mythic, as if crossing some invisible threshold from colonial opulence to primeval serenity. And then, Las Islas rises into view: thatched-roof bungalows tucked between emerald canopy and turquoise surf, wooden walkways weaving through hibiscus and ceiba trees, and a reception pavilion that feels like a secret treehouse designed by Gabriel García Márquez’s architect.
Guest Bungalows offer either panoramic or partial views of the Caribbean Sea, along with a private plunge pool and a spacious, furnished deck complete with a hammock, sun loungers, and an alfresco dining area. Inside, the space is thoughtfully appointed with either a double bed or two twin singles, air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV. The bathroom is equally indulgent with a freshwater and warm rain shower, plush robes, slippers, and a curated selection of premium Loto del Sur amenities that reflect the region’s botanical richness.
There are no televisions. Instead, guests are offered binoculars and birding guides, reminders that here, the natural world is the entertainment.
Barú itself is a place of stories. Once connected to the mainland, now isolated by the sea and time, its Afro-Caribbean roots run deep, echoing through music, cuisine, and ritual. Las Islas honours this legacy not through performance, but through quiet integration—by employing local artisans, protecting the mangroves, and building in harmony with the jungle.
The hotel is surrounded by the Rosario and San Bernardo Coral National Natural Park, a marine sanctuary where dolphins glide through reef gardens and bioluminescence flickers in hidden inlets.
Days at Las Islas unfold gently. Mornings might begin with yoga on a platform above the forest, or at Spa Niña Daniela, named for the owner’s daughter, offers massages infused with Caribbean herbs, clay wraps, and sound therapies that feel shamanic rather than clinical.
