Blue Apple Beach House

We loved our stay here. Everything was easy, relaxing, and well managed by the hotel. Communication via WhatsApp and transportation were great - the boats were safe and convenient from Muelle de la Bodeguita. The hotel staff was amazing, attentive, and seemed well cared for as employees. We can't speak more highly of them. We liked the beach - medium sized waves and no rocks in the actual swimming area. It's not great for snorkeling because the waves are bigger, but there are beautiful sunsets. Our room (Papaya) was clean, large and the food and cocktails were excellent (try the Cartagena Mule!). The air conditioning worked very well. There is more noise/partying from day-trippers on weekends, so it's probably better to go during the weekdays if you want more relaxation or traveling with younger kids. There are beach vendors, but we found them to be friendly (they give great massages), and the hotel has a flag system in place if you want to be left alone. The cabanas, built into the hedges, are awesome and can be rented for about $15/day. There aren't any kayaks or SUPs, but there are horseback rides, walks to the historic El Fuerte Tierra Bomba, and diving trips offered from the site. While prices may be a little more expensive than other nearby hotels, we found the quality, atmosphere, and price transparency (no surprises) to be better here, and the property is beautiful. Prices are still less than what most people would pay at other Caribbean islands or resorts.