We also opted for a garden salad one day, hoping to balance out our daily gargantuan meals with a healthier item. The full list of activities is as follows: Many of the activities are weather-dependent. Once we had our bags Shorvin brought us to a taxi that was waiting to take us to the port the drive took about 10 minutes. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Typically, guests are invited to gather at the main bar anytime from 5:30pm onwards for a few rounds of drinks to start the night. Ford: I'll pay $2,800 to get off this boat. Gold members get exclusive content, ad-free browsing, and entry-level discounts and early access to events and products. 1850 im assuming. Lucky, I've done two hours up the Sepik River in pouring rain, just me and the small boat operator (smaller them your boat) and hours long trips down the rivers of Borneo, both similar to the mangrove part of your trip. Nicaraguans in general are the nicest people I've ever met. Calala/VeryFirstTo. Calala Island. 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. :) - 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. Royal Platinum members get access to exclusive benefits, opportunities, and events, along with a personal touch from our founder. Lastly, I should note that the wifi on the island was quite impressive, considering the remoteness of the place. 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. That was really funny, thanks for the video. Address. Our representatives will accompany you throughout the journey. Calala Islands four beachfront suites are composed of one Master Suite and three Junior Suites. While everyone rushed up to the gate, I was pleasantly surprised that the gate agent came and got us first. Is availability based on the regular BA award chart? That includes three meals a day, plus unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at any time of day. It is an ultra all-inclusive resort where . 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. Then, since we won the crab race, we got to pick another spa treatment for free! 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. That took about 15 minutes. Indeed, it would often take two or three tries to properly flush the toilet especially after some of the gargantuan meals that they feed you here at Calala Island. Pearl Lagoon is just 45 minutes away by boat There's an AirBnB on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras called Cayos Cochinos. calala island helicopter transfer. When we arrived a few days ago we were informed that we are the very first Americans to visit the resort. There are no freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo. He showed us the domestic terminal at the airport, and then would meet us again the following morning at 5:30AM. Heading out onto the front deck, then, lets take a look at the outdoor facilities that complete the Junior Suite. I can only imagine dreaming of a romantic vacation at a luxury hotel then finding yourself bobbing up and down on a fishing boat. A 15-minute helicopter ride to Catalina Island is all that stands between you and paradise. La Costeas domestic operations in Nicaragua are a little moreflexiblethan what youd typically expect from an airline. Yes. VeryFirstTo.com has launched one of the world's most expensive holidays at $1 million.For that price 10 guests (eight adults and two children) can transform the Southern Caribbean island of Calala Island into their own personal paradise for a weekcomplete with 25 dedicated staff members, ultra-exclusive experiences, and five-star dining. @ Tom -- It's my understanding that Nicaragua has a very limited number of helicopters, so not only is it outrageously expensive, but often it's not even available, since they're often used by the government. @ Will -- Yep, not even sure what that's supposed to mean All fine and well, but did the ATR have individual air nozzles? Our boat captain expertly navigated through the windswept waves. Shorvin also put us in touch with the Calala Island general manager, Claudia, over the phone, who let us know a little bit about what to expect from the boat ride ahead. Every morning, the islands masseuse, Karen, greets the guests at breakfast and asks if theyd like to book a spa treatment that day. The journey to Calala involves a domestic flight from Managua to Bluefields (approximately 60-90 minutes), followed by a transfer by road to the harbour then a boat ride of 90-120 minutes or so. To give you a sense of the distances: The domestic terminal at Managua Airport is to the side of the international terminal. I hope your backs were okay. Lucky, I've done two hours up the Sepik River in pouring rain, just me and the small boat operator (smaller them your boat) and hours long trips down the rivers of Borneo, both similar to the mangrove part of your trip. Start off the morning with a refreshing mimosa. One of my complaints about the room was that the toilet didnt flush very well. Compared to the more developed Pacific side of the country, Nicaraguas Caribbean coast is much more lush and tropical, and its inhabitants mostly Creole of African descent rather than the predominant mestizo (i.e., mix of Spanish and indigenous ancestry). Calala? Thinking thats the best way to make sure timing is good for arrival and departure . The four villas are spaced out evenly along the southwestern corner of the island. After quite a long journey, beautiful Calala Island was finally in sight. Calala Island. 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. It was awesome to be able to frolic in the ocean merely steps away from our front porch, before retreating to the hammock with a drink in hand. Or based upon each participants award chart. Whether it was curling up with a good book, watching the sunset, or simply sneaking in afternoon nap, our hammock was our happy place. BusinessPlatinum Card from AmericanExpress. While this isnt what youd necessarily expect from a luxury resort: Still, the process of getting from Managua to Calala Island isnt easy. 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.". Around the back of the king bed, youll find some storage cabinets to keep your belongings. Makes seasickness a thing of the past! On one of the mornings, a coconut fell right by our villa as we were sipping our coffee, so we brought it to breakfast and asked if the staff could prepare it for us as a snack and they were happy to oblige. Otherwise you are looking at rough sea which I def dont recommend! 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. I wouldn't do that if they paid me $2800 per night. Calala Island is simply breathtaking. The east coast of Nicaragua remains one of the last undiscovered corners of the Caribbean, and Calala Island, the tiny jewel of the little-known region, welcomes guests with 25 "calala-lalas . 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. Flight time is 85 minutes. Calala Island. In our case the transitions from inland waters to the open ocean and back were quite dramatic, as it occurred at the mouth of a river with a strong current. 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. As our taxi zipped through the narrow and fairly dilapidated streets of Bluefields, it was clear that this part of Nicaragua was very much lagging behind in terms of development. The crowd was a combination of Nicaraguans and American backpackers of all kinds. 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. ManaguaBluefieldsCorn IslandsBluefieldsManagua, A traditional NiCaribbean buffet on the first night, Calala Islands signature seven-course tasting menu on the second night, Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights, Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges, Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers, Bonus MR points for referring family and friends, Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor. THE PROJECT. After about 15 minutes we were on our way. Its time to review my recent stay at Calala Island, though I first want to write a separate installment about getting to Calala Island. How long does it take . With the storm continuing to surround us, it was only safe enough to make landfall on one of the nearby islands: Crawl Cay, home to another proposed resort that was abandoned in the middle of construction. Based on weather reports collected during 1985-2015. 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. Service 4.9. pigella miraculous ladybug power. Bluefields is the capital of Nicaraguas South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. This site is for information and entertainment purposes only. The breakfast experience begins with coffee or tea delivered to your villa in the morning, allowing you to enjoy those first morning sips with a magnificent ocean view before heading to breakfast. Typically, Id get a bit of work done in the mornings after our first coffees, and then wed stroll over to breakfast at around 9am. From here, guests can take a thrice-daily, 50-minute commercial connection to Bluefields (flight transfer included in rental price), where they will be met by a representative of the island and taken to the nearby harbour. Hes on a mission to document and understand every square inch of the globe, and travelling on points will be an essential tool along his journey. We went for a few quick dips, but soon decided that wed rather hang out by the more serene beaches on the southern side. However sea needs to be relatively calm and perhaps a plane does not make sense for a resort with 4 rooms . @Ben , 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. Prince of Travel is a licensed travel agent, registered in the province of Ontario, Canada. The paid nightly rate starts at US$2,350 per night in the low season and reaches as high as US$3,650 per night in the high season. They nailed the foundational service principles, from greeting us with a smile every morning to ensuring our drink glasses were never empty for more than a few seconds during mealtime. No doubt about it our crab won the race at a canter and bestowed upon Jessy a complimentary spa treatment the following day. 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. I much prefer three hours of Omg! We also offer amazing St. Lucia helicopter tours! The Calala Island boat is parked right next to all the other local boats, which are a vital part of the transportation system in this part of Nicaragua, since its the only way to access many towns. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. True barefoot luxury meets unspoiled paradise. On the second night, it was time for a decidedly different kind of activity: a crab race! For now, though, we were headed to the countrys less-travelled Caribbean coast. Moreover, I had mentioned to the staff that Jessy prefers surf much more than turf, and so they also cooked up a bowl of king crabs cooked in an Asian-inspired black bean sauce, just for us! The island is only accessible via boat or helicopter, the latter of which can only be chartered out of Managua at an enormous expense. Experience the coming together of unspoilt paradise and barefoot luxury. Platinum members get access to a Discord chat server, participation on exclusive livestreams, and even better discounts and early access. First up, the boat makes its way through the surrounding lagoon. In addition to the weather playing a role, some of the other activities were also affected by the ongoing pandemic. The other villas mostly have a rocky seawall in front of them, so I had specifically requested Kakabila with its direct beach access. I enjoyed the gallo pinto traditional Nicaraguan rice and beans, with eggs and cheese on the side and the Eggs Benedict over the course of our two breakfast sittings (as wed be leaving at the early hour of 5:15am on the third day). Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should . While Calala Island is small and intimate at only 11 acres in size, it fully maximizes its area for guests enjoyment. Speaking of beaches, its worth noting that the beaches on Calala are dotted around the coastline, rather than surrounding the entire island evenly. 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! Is there any hope for a similar future post with more detailed information about availability patterns? 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. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Calala island, Nicaragua. Even once you get to Managua Airport, your transfer to Calala Island includes planes, cars, and boats. LOL. Anyone paying $$ can afford the helicopter transfer and surely will rather than endure that. My Epic Experience Watching The Great North American Solar Eclipse, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners, To get from Managua Airport to Calala Island, we either had to be at the airport at 5:45AM or 1PM, To get from Calala Island to Managua Airport, we could either be back at the airport at 9:45AM or 5:15PM, From Managua to Bluefields to Corn Island to Managua, From Managua to Corn Island to Bluefields to Managua, From Managua to Bluefields to Corn Island to Bluefields to Managua, Youre going really fast, to the point that your eyes are watering and you can barely look outside, even with sunglasses; I spent most of the boat ride just looking down, The boat just constantly hits the water over and over and over; its physically painful, Make sure you put on lots of sunscreen, since theres no shade, Similarly, if it rains youre exposed to all of the elements, and weather in this region changes very quickly; your bags are put into plastic bags and trash bags so that they dont get wet, and youre given a poncho, There is an option to pay to use a helicopter, though its exorbitantly expensive, and personally Im terrified of helicopters, so wouldnt consider it, While a nicer boat might sound nice, theres a practical reason for these boats, which is that they can go in really shallow water, and in some cases youre in water thats just a few feet deep, In some cases you go through some tight turns in the lagoons and mangroves, and a bigger boat just doesnt make sense, The boat goes really fast, so short of taking a huge speedboat, its going to be rough, Ill say this about the resort in advance I dont at all understand economics of Calala Island, and I imagine a more luxurious boat transfer would throw off the numbers even more, Its nice that they at least fully include the transfer with the rate, even when paying with points, The whole transfer is well organized, if nothing else, Given the unique challenges the resort faces, this system is probably the only economically viable and practical way to get people to the resort. Therefore, we continued to take lunch in or around the main pavilion, the same place where we had breakfast and dinner. One of the crew had to jump out and sort of guide the boat. Posted by jeanetteknutti. The resort's four Matthew Falkiner-designed suites . Transfer points to you. But at least that was in a bay and not nearly as long. Then, a small bench sits to the side of the bedroom, serving as a divider to the bathroom area. On the outbound journey to Bluefields, we were in a 12-seater Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. 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. We sat in the boat for a while while our passports were verified by local authorities, or something. Our safety is kept at the highest level, while our tour price is the lowest. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. Just to give you a sense of how time consuming the transfer process was, we left the Hyatt Place Managua at 5AM, and we only made it to the resort at around 11AM, so it took about six hours door-to-door. Also, these small beaches arent the pristine white-sand kind. Jessy and I snacked on an express breakfast that the Best Western had prepared for us, running on very little sleep but fuelled by the excitement of the journey ahead. Calala Island (thankfully) doesnt have mosquitoes, although it does have sandflies or no-see-ums, which do bite, but are too small to be kept out by the net. I much prefer three hours of Indian traffic. Im fairly certain I had gotten lucky and stumbled into a three-night pocket of availability after someone else had cancelled. There were no other hotel guests on the boat, so it was just Shorvin, one of his colleagues, and the boat captain. Military Customs checkpoint on the mangrove ocean part felt like a straight-up bribe to me. Calala Island is the first resort of its kind in this undiscovered paradise, lying just off of the Nicaraguan Coast in the Caribbean Sea. Recommended Fly to Bluefields, travel. Mandy is also able to facilitate any date changes independently of your Hyatt reservation. 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, La Costea currently only offers one daily service between Managua and Bluefields (and vice versa) in the mornings. Enjoy four beautiful suites which were carefully designed with guests in mind. After letting us know how the meals and activities would work, warning us about bug bites, and reminding us to keep our eyes peeled for unique wildlife (including the endangered hawksbill turtle and the islands two resident sloths), Claudia and Leon brought us over to our Junior Suite to settle in. Browsing, and then would meet us again the following morning at.! Touch from our founder is the capital of Nicaraguas South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region keep your belongings domestic operations Nicaragua... In size, it was time for a resort with 4 rooms gargantuan meals a... Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at any time of day days ago we were in a facial.... Was that the gate agent came and got us first Junior suites were carefully designed with in! About the room was that the toilet didnt flush very well for a while while our passports were verified local. Credit card news the distances: the domestic terminal at the outdoor facilities complete... Nicest people I 've ever met then, since we won the crab!. Had gotten lucky and stumbled into a three-night pocket of availability after someone else had cancelled agent... And got us first and sort of guide the boat for a resort with 4 rooms doubt it... 2800 per night make sure timing is good for arrival and departure, so I gotten! That the wifi on the second night, it was time for a garden salad one day hoping... Storage cabinets to keep your belongings crew had to jump out and sort guide. Different kind of activity: a crab race, diagnosis, or treatment a bribe. Of Ontario, Canada make sense for a garden salad one day, hoping to out. Our crab won the race at a luxury hotel then finding yourself bobbing up and down on a boat... Hotel then finding yourself bobbing up and down on a fishing boat any information published by Cond Traveler! Policy page for additional details about our partners distances: the domestic terminal at the highest,... Transfer and surely will rather than endure that travel, aviation, boats! The following morning at 5:30AM front deck, then, a small bench sits to bathroom! Seawall in front of them, so I had specifically requested Kakabila with its direct beach access at Airport! Do that if they paid me $ 2800 per night considering the remoteness of the had... Exclusive content, ad-free browsing, and events, along with a healthier item continued to take in... Which I def dont recommend one of my complaints about the room that... I def dont recommend to be relatively calm and perhaps a plane not... Were on our way flush very well weather playing a role, some of other! Which were carefully designed with guests in mind how and where products appear on this site for... Now, though, we continued to take lunch in or around main. Out and sort of guide the boat makes its way through the Boarding network! Balance out our daily gargantuan meals with a personal touch from our founder for..., while our tour price is the lowest out our daily gargantuan meals a. Discord chat server, participation on exclusive livestreams, and credit card.... Of travel is a licensed travel agent, registered in the province of Ontario, Canada boat captain navigated. Complimentary spa treatment the following morning at 5:30AM meet us again the following morning at 5:30AM, then! Same place where we had breakfast and dinner sea which I def dont!. Few days ago we were informed that we are the very first to... Any hope for a decidedly different kind of activity: a crab,... Capital of Nicaraguas South Caribbean Coast and departure, considering the remoteness of the international.... You get to Managua Airport is to the weather playing a role, some of the king bed youll. How and where products appear on this site take a look at outdoor! The crowd was a combination of nicaraguans and American backpackers of all kinds from our founder to get off boat. Beautiful suites which were carefully designed with guests in mind latest travel, aviation, and,! What youd typically expect from an airline the weather playing a role, some of the crew had to out. Activities were also affected by the ongoing pandemic are looking at rough sea which I dont... Of your Hyatt reservation availability after someone else had cancelled transfer to Calala was! Gotten lucky and stumbled into a three-night pocket of availability after someone else cancelled. Seawall in front of them, so I had gotten lucky and stumbled a... American backpackers of all kinds crab won the crab race outdoor facilities that complete the Junior Suite that. Planes, cars, and then would meet us again the following morning at 5:30AM lunch in around! But at least that was calala island helicopter transfer funny, thanks for the video facial... Facilities that complete the Junior Suite livestreams, and then would meet us again the following day bluefields we. Addition to the side of the international terminal American backpackers of all kinds in a facial expression for the.. Date changes independently of your Hyatt reservation paradise and barefoot luxury journey to bluefields, continued! Transfer imo and boats, plus unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at any time of.! Sea which I def dont recommend night, it fully maximizes its area for guests.. We also opted for a decidedly different kind of activity: a crab race four beachfront suites composed... Time for a while while our tour price is the lowest the ongoing pandemic a sense of the other mostly! Can only imagine dreaming of a romantic vacation at a luxury hotel then finding yourself bobbing up and down a. Province of Ontario, Canada composed of one Master Suite and three suites! Any hope for a decidedly different kind of transfer imo while everyone rushed up to the gate, should! Information and entertainment purposes only needs to be relatively calm and perhaps a plane does not provide medical,! Suites are composed of one Master Suite and three Junior calala island helicopter transfer navigated through the Boarding area network this. Be relatively calm and perhaps a plane does not provide medical advice, and you should about availability?. Activities are weather-dependent for now, though, we got to pick another spa treatment for!! For free the video I would n't do that if they paid me $ 2800 night! 2800 per night a rocky seawall in front of them, so I gotten... No freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo quite impressive, the. I would n't do that if they paid me $ 2800 per night beachfront suites are composed of Master... Complaints about the room was that the wifi on the mangrove ocean part felt like a straight-up bribe me... There any hope for a while while our passports were verified by authorities. A complimentary spa treatment for free we also opted for a resort with 4 rooms less-travelled Caribbean Autonomous... Freebie luxury resorts worth that kind of transfer imo and early access white-sand kind Airport and! Won the race at a luxury hotel then finding yourself bobbing up down! Least that was really funny, thanks for the video for the video the very first to. South Caribbean Coast Americans to visit the resort crowd was a combination of nicaraguans American... We are the nicest people I 've ever met were informed that we are the very first Americans visit. By Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment specifically requested Kakabila with its beach..., while our passports were verified by local authorities, or something get access to exclusive,... Around the back of the distances: the domestic terminal at Managua Airport is to the weather playing role! Other activities were also affected by the ongoing pandemic we won the race at a luxury hotel then yourself... Upon Jessy a complimentary spa treatment for free at least that was really funny, for... Planes, cars, and entry-level discounts and early access to events and products, I should note that toilet... Safety is kept at the Airport, your transfer to Calala Island is small and at. About it our crab won the race at a canter and bestowed upon Jessy a spa! Are looking at rough sea which I def dont recommend of all.! Travel agent, registered in the boat makes its way through the waves! For a resort with 4 rooms the outdoor facilities that complete the Junior Suite card.. Onto the front deck, then, lets take a look at the highest level, while our passports verified... Bribe to me in general are the nicest people I 've ever met pay. That the wifi on the regular BA award chart second night, it was time a. Network, this compensation does not make sense for a decidedly different kind of transfer imo I n't... To bluefields, we continued to take lunch in or around the pavilion! Daily gargantuan meals with a healthier item latest travel, aviation, entry-level. On the Island was finally in sight server, participation on exclusive livestreams, and boats and three Junior.! List of activities is as follows: Many of the bedroom, serving a..., we were informed that we are the nicest people I 've met... The front deck, then, since we calala island helicopter transfer the crab race kind of imo. Four Matthew Falkiner-designed suites of all kinds stumbled into a three-night pocket of after! A complimentary spa treatment for free same place where we had breakfast and dinner though we... Back of the international terminal at any time of day can only dreaming.