2/5 Stella H (Miss A. 1 year ago on Google
This
place
should
be
amazing.I
didnāt
know
what
to
expect,
so
itās
not
that
I
had
high
expectations.
The
scenery
is
amazing
and
the
serenity
of
switching
the
phone
off
and
just
being
present
in
the
moment
is
truly
fabulous.
The
concept
of
the
Ecohabs
is
great
but
itās
insanely
expensive
for
what
it
actually
is
and
our
experience
was
marred
by
a
number
of
things.
Getting
there
is
a
total
nightmare.
I
acknowledge
that
is
not
the
fault
of
the
accommodation,
as
such
however
the
information
on
their
website
and
in
the
guidebooks
is
misleading.
We
took
the
Berliner
bus
from
Barranquilla,
as
recommended
by
local
family
members,
to
be
the
best
option
due
to
being
unable
to
take
the
car
in
to
the
park,
the
driving
etc.
The
journey
from
Barranquilla
to
Santa
Marta
took
5
hours
instead
of
3
due
to
massive
amounts
of
traffic
and
closing
the
roads
to
reduce
the
flow/weight.
The
road
traffic
has
to
be
regulated
because
of
the
volume
of
trucks
which
supply
the
northern
part
of
the
county
with
everything.
Granted,
this
would
be
the
same
had
we
travelled
by
car
but
still,
the
journey
time
should
be
mentioned.
The
journey
does
however
highlight
some
sobering
sights
of
Colombia.
Once
in
Santa
Marta,
we
were
advised
to
get
the
bus
to
the
park
entrance
we
needed
for
the
accommodation.
Fine
in
theory,
however
the
buses
are
overcrowded
(seats
full,
aisles
full,
passengers
standing
on
the
step
of
the
bus)
and
given
that
the
journey
from
Santa
Marta
to
the
park
entrance
is
around
an
hour
(by
taxi)
we
didnāt
fancy
our
chances
on
the
bus.
Taxi
was
the
only
option
to
get
us
there
before
park
closure
at
5pm
(we
left
Barranquilla
at
9am!).
Of
course,
the
taxis
take
advantage
a
bit,
even
when
you
are
traveling
with
a
local.
We
went
straight
for
food
at
the
restaurant
at
4pm
and
ordered
red
snapper.
It
was
delicious
although
Iām
not
convinced
it
was
the
fish
we
ordered!
A
quick
walk
to
the
beautiful
beach
before
sitting
in
the
Ecohab
with
a
view,
watching
the
sun
go
down,
listening
to
the
waves.
A
(very)
cold
shower
before
peacefully
dropping
to
sleep.
Perfect.
But
then
it
rained
in
the
middle
of
the
night
and
our
roof
leaked
directly
on
to
the
bed/pillows.
Not
so
perfect!
Not
much
we
could
do
in
pitch
darkness
in
the
middle
of
the
night.
We
did
report
it
the
next
day
but
nobody
was
very
interested.
Up
for
breakfast
the
next
day.
Breakfast
was
disappointing.
Freshly
scrambled
eggs
with
some
very
dry
sweet
bread
and
two
less
than
average
small
arepas.
Some
(not
so)
fresh
fruit
and
luke
warm
coffee.
Itās
not
how
I
envisaged
my
day
starting,
given
the
price
tag
of
the
visit.I
must
mention
that
I
ordered
the
ācontinental
breakfastā
which
was
offered
to
us
by
the
waiter
as
opposed
to
the
Americano.
We
werenāt
offered
the
menu,
nor
the
other
breakfast
items.
Looking
at
the
menu
on
the
website
as
I
write,
we
were
given
the
Americano.
My
advice,
save
yourself
the
30,000COP!
We
checked
out
and
weāre
told
that
we
could
use
the
hotel
Facilites
all
day.
We
checked
that
we
could
use
the
beach
towels
and
that
we
could
clean
up
before
leaving.
Yes,
no
problem,
so
headed
to
the
hotel
beach
only
to
be
told
no
towels
available
despite
them
having
requested
them
from
the
hotel
an
hour
before.
When
we
finally
got
one
(after
nearly
an
hour)
we
had
to
leave.
The
nearest
shower
is
a
short
walk
back
near
the
hotel
but
we
were
not
allowed
to
leave
the
beach
with
the
towels.
Back
at
the
hotel,
nowhere
else
to
shower
or
clean
up
other
than
than
restaurant
bathroom
which
is
just
a
toilet
and
a
sink.
We
then
started
the
mammoth
5
hour
journey
back
to
Barranquilla
which
again,
required
a
taxi
back
to
Santa
Marta
(another
hour)
because
the
bus
option
wasnāt
an
option!
Note
that
there
are
2
fees
to
enter
the
park-one
is
insurance
and
the
other
is
park
entry.
One
would
have
thought
that
the
hotel
would
have
a
deal
with
the
park
that
if
you
are
staying
in
official
accommodation,
that
park
entry
(at
least)
is
free/reduced.
Thereās
also
a
fee
for
the
bus
inside
the
park
to
take
you
to
the
Ecohabs.
A
very
expensive,
unrelaxing
and
disappointing
trip
and
yes,
we
DID
research
it.