Hotel Playa Manglares
It is hard to call Hotel Playa Manglares a "hotel"... and Air BnB does not do it justice, either. This place was the highlight of our trip! If you are looking for a secluded, quiet, rustic, tropical get-away, Hotel Playa Manglares is IT! The white sandy beach is divine and the sound of the waves lapping the shore is simply mesmerizing. One afternoon, I laid in a hammock for two hours without a single thought popping in my head. Zen!! The hotel is situated in a bay, so it does not have turquoise blue Caribbean waters. But that also means it is perfectly quiet - no tourists, no boats, nothing but a gentle breeze, moist salty air, and the waves.
As advertised, the hotel is secluded. Other than the resort area, there is no place to walk and no restaurants or shopping nearby. That suited us just fine, since we were there to relax and rejuvenate. Anywhere you want to go, though, Olga will arrange transportation. It can be a bit pricey. Round-trip to Cartagena is about US$80 and takes no less than two hours.
Breakfast is included in the price of the hotel room, but lunch, dinner, and beverages are additional expenses. If you do not plan to go into Cartagena, the hotel is your only dining option. Fortunately, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable at about US$15-$20 per person per meal. The hotel accommodates a variety of dietary needs. While we were there, they served grilled sea bass, nicely-seasoned potatoes, and salad with picante oil and balsamic vinegar for lunch. For dinner, we had pasta with pesto, salad, and ice cream for dessert. My husband also had beef one evening and the staff made me grilled fish instead (since I do not eat beef). Oh! and Olga makes the best mojito that I have ever had! She has ruined all future mojitos for me!
