Calala Island

Fantastic experience. -Mike and Cito were brilliant - and made the whole experience even more special. Everything about the experience was fantastic , including the boat ride to the island . Once on the island it felt very special and we were treated as part of the Calla community - VIP.

Calala Island was simply a dream. I’m not sure you could curate a more beautiful and relaxing experience if you tried. Every single aspect of the island, and our experience, was beyond our extremely high expectations. The staff was incredible as well. They were kind, good-humored, joyful, and ready to take care of any need or want you could possibly think of. Claudia and Leon do an amazing job of running a seemingly flawless operation. We loved talking to Claudia and Leon about their interesting lives and their passion for the island that they care for so well. The food was incredible as well. Every meal was delicious and made with fresh, high quality ingredients. From bread made there on the island, to fish caught from the surrounding turquoise waters, every meal had us thinking about the next great meal to come. Breakfasts were amazing, lunches were delicious, but the dinners were on a whole other level. Each night was a different theme, and each one was stunning. I am running out of superlatives to describe our stay here, but it deserves them all. The only regret we had the entire time was that we don’t book more nights there. We were truly sad to leave the last day, and we still are days later. I don’t want this place to be discovered and overrun with visitors, but Claudia, Leon, and their incredible staff deserve all the praises given and the more people that experience the bliss of this place, the happier the world will be.

We bought this wonderful break for our wedding anniversary. We were promised 7 nights and days of utmost paradise. We were treated so well by all the wonderful staff, nothing was too much to ask for. The food and drinks were forever flowing nothing was a miss, if you were thirsty you simply send a message via WhatsApp to a group called service and you got what you wanted where ever you are on the island. My husband went fishing with another guests on one day and I had a facial treatment on another so there is something for everyone to do. Or you could simply do nothing up-to you. We also saw a sloth on several days moving around in the trees. There were humming birds feeding off the trees right outside our cabana. The week we had at Calala was magical and we would highly recommend a visit. There were a couple of surprises prepared for us, our wedding anniversary was celebrated in style with gifts and decorations. We had some traditional themed evenings where we got to know more about the staff and their traditions and an explanation as to where they came from. You could sense a real sense of pride and they appreciated the tourists visiting their beautiful country. Our host Claudia and Leon were always available and gladly helped if anything was needed or a miss. The only thing that caught me by surprise was the transport to and from the airport to the island (is was explained but it still was a bit of a eye opener). I came back home with what looked like an outbreak all over my body. I was and still am covered in hundreds of red bumps although I smothered myself in the strongest bug repellent to mankin daily (night and day). I am not convinced it was just the bugs on land biting me I’m still not sure but I think it’s was a combination of land insects and what ever bit me in the sea that did the damage. My suggestion to anyone thinking of booking this trip would be; Be aware of the transportation; You might get bitten by bugs / get a rash from the sea; The weather might suddenly change; The sea is noisy outside the cabana at night making sleeping difficult; There is no air conditioner but they do have lots of fans; Just do a bit of research beforehand and you will be fine. We genuinely had an absolute ball. We had lots of fun as a couple relaxing and reading and doing our own thing. You also have a great opportunity to meet the other guests either at the pool bar or bar at night just before dinner. We sadly won’t be going back anytime soon as travelling there from the North of England UK isn’t as simply as 1,2,3. We stayed in different fabulous locations in Nicaragua for nearly 3 weeks in total and loved every minute. B&C x

We bought this wonderful break for our wedding anniversary at a charity ball. We were promised 7 nights and days of utmost paradise. We were treated so well by all the wonderful staff, nothing was to much to ask for. The food and drinks were forever flowing nothing was a miss, if you were thirsty you simply send a message via WhatsApp to a group called service and you got what you wanted where ever you are on the island. My husband went fishing with another guests on one day and I had a facial treatment on another so there is something for everyone to do. Or you could simply do nothing up-to you. We also saw a sloth on several day moving around in the trees. There were humming birds feeding off the trees right outside our cabana. The week we had at Calala was magical and we would highly recommend a visit. There were a couple of surprises prepared for us, our wedding anniversary was celebrated in style with gifts and decorations. We had some traditional themed evenings where we got to know more about the staff and their traditions and an explanation as to where they came from. You could sense a real sense of pride and they appreciated the tourists visiting their beautiful country. Our host Claudia and Leon were always available and gladly helped if anything was needed or a miss. The only thing that caught me by surprise was the transport to and from the airport to the island (is was explained but it still was a bit of a eye opener). I came back home with what looked like an outbreak all over my body. I was and still am covered in hundreds of red bumps although I smothered myself in the strongest bug repellent to mankin daily (night and day). I am not convinced it was just the bugs on land biting me I’m still not sure but I think it’s was a combination of land and what ever bit me in the sea that did the damage. My suggestion to anyone thinking of booking this trip would be; Be aware of the transportation; You might get bitten by bugs / get a rash from the sea; The weather might suddenly change; The sea is noisy outside the cabana at night making sleeping difficult; There is no air conditioner but they do have lots of fans; Just do a bit of research beforehand and you will be fine. We genuinely had an absolute ball. We had lots of fun as a couple relaxing and reading and doing our own thing. You also have a great opportunity to meet the other guests either at the pool bar or bar at night just before dinner. We sadly won’t be going back anytime soon as travelling there from the North of England UK isn’t as simply as 1,2,3. We stayed in different fabulous locations in Nicaragua for nearly 3 weeks in total and loved every minute. B&C x

This is a hard review to write, so many things great and some glaring issues. The staff overall was wonderful with standouts Ivan and Mike. They all work long hours and are very pleasant. Leon was delightful and easy to talk to. The food was mostly good but far from Michelin star quality but I was never hungry! I really enjoyed fishing. The logistics getting to the island was very smooth and I enjoyed the adventure of the boat ride. The stars were stunning and I had a great time getting to know the other guest. The island is beautiful and its a unique experience. I think a realistic price point would be 700-900 per night. The bugs were relentless. They were in everyone's rooms and you could not sleep without them even with the doors closed all day and the lights off even thought they fog the island daily. One couple had the inside of their room fogged and some people looked like they had chicken pox after a few days with everyone bathing in all kinds of bug repellent. Everyone had tons of bugs in their rooms. One couple ate the cost of a plane ticket and left the island 3 days early because of this. I dont see how they can take steps to avoid this at times. The nights were very hot, set your thermometer at home to 82 and try to sleep. I cant ding them for this though as I knew this would be the case going in. We saw rats but it was no big deal to us and never saw them when we were eating or in our room. I am glad I had the experience but cancelled my return trip. After a long day of traveling the 45 minute phone call the night before you go to the island would be appreciated as an email.

My partner and I just returned from our stay on Calala Island (January 2024) and even though I almost never write reviews, I feel compelled to write this one. We stayed four nights and had an absolutely amazing stay that lacked nothing. The entire staff is so lovely and went above and beyond to accommodate our every need or request. My partner has celiac disease and requires a gluten-free diet. The Calala staff had a gluten-free version of every.single.item on the menu available for the entirety of our stay. It was absolutely insane-- this NEVER happens, even at the most exclusive/expensive resorts with multiple kitchens and fancy grocery stores nearby. The care and thought that goes into doing something like this in such a remote area of the Caribbean truly makes me tear up to think about. We're talking about a place where you can truly unplug if you let yourself (they do have WiFi). I didn't wear shoes once in four days. I read a book cover to cover. I didn't check my email once. We met the loveliest people and staff members, and learned a lot about the region of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua where Calala is located (and where, mind you, there is close to zero tourism). The days here are long but flew by way too fast, and I'll be dreaming of the incredible pool and our little beachside cabana until we're lucky enough to return one day. To me, this place was paradise. Sure, it's more challenging to get to than most massive, cookie-cutter all-inclusive resorts, but in my opinion that makes it even more exciting. Yes, there are bugs, but on Calala Island nature leads the way in all aspects. If that's not for you, that's fine, but don't ruin the magic for others who appreciate when a place is still a little bit wild. The understated elegance and experience of being in this special place will stay with us forever. All in all, what Calala Island is able to pull off given their remote location is nothing short of incredible, and I can't imagine thinking otherwise.