Calala Island Twitter Trip Review.
Feel free to ask questions and I'll probably respond in the main thread to keep information visible for others.
There is no continuity to this, but just random thoughts.
/Thread
#calalaisland
Feel free to ask questions and I'll probably respond in the main thread to keep information visible for others.
There is no continuity to this, but just random thoughts.
/Thread
#calalaisland
The layout of the island.
9.5 acres, 4 bungalows, 2 areas for food/bar on opposite sides of the island (4 minute walk), GM house and Staff village in the middle of the island, Spa is on the farthest end (5 minute walk). Bathrooms located by main food areas as well.
9.5 acres, 4 bungalows, 2 areas for food/bar on opposite sides of the island (4 minute walk), GM house and Staff village in the middle of the island, Spa is on the farthest end (5 minute walk). Bathrooms located by main food areas as well.
Transportation to the Island
Calala covers the RT MGA-BLU flights for you. These are about $200/person. They had Nester (Emp. of Calala) meet us at MGA terminal and walk us to the domestic terminal (La Costena Airlines) and check us into our flight.
Calala covers the RT MGA-BLU flights for you. These are about $200/person. They had Nester (Emp. of Calala) meet us at MGA terminal and walk us to the domestic terminal (La Costena Airlines) and check us into our flight.
There was a 25kg/bag weight limit. We had one bag exceed this by 7kg. Calala employee paid the overage and got us on our flight.
This flight is a 12 passenger plane and about 55 minutes.
This flight is a 12 passenger plane and about 55 minutes.
Calala Employees meet you in BLU, puts you in taxi to the port (15 minutes). You then board a long wooden boat and travel up a river for 75-90 minutes and then open ocean for last 20-30 min.
This is the most complained about part of the island experience.
This is the most complained about part of the island experience.
I watched an older couple in their 60s arrive the day we left and they were pissed about the boat ride. This is a bumpy 1.5 - 2.0 hour experience and not enjoyable. There are no nice boats in this part of the world. I'd recommend to just laugh for 2 hours. Drinks/Snacks provided.
Back to island Experience:
Greeted by entire staff upon arrival and departure.
GMs Gerrie and Hattie are South African couple in their 50s that run the island. They are amazing and will do anything for you. I highly recommend leveraging them if you ever have a problem or need
Greeted by entire staff upon arrival and departure.
GMs Gerrie and Hattie are South African couple in their 50s that run the island. They are amazing and will do anything for you. I highly recommend leveraging them if you ever have a problem or need
All of the workers you interact with will speak perfect English.
We had 4 we constantly communicated with: Ruben, Lilja, Mike, & Hubert! We always had someone assigned to us throughout the day that casually stalked us everywhere we went so we could always ask for anything.
We had 4 we constantly communicated with: Ruben, Lilja, Mike, & Hubert! We always had someone assigned to us throughout the day that casually stalked us everywhere we went so we could always ask for anything.
Information about the Rooms:
We had the Master Suite (#1) & Room #2 (offered for free upon arrival since we had 4 kids).
#1 is by far the best bungalow on the island and biggest beach. I would rank them in order: 1, 2, 3, 4. #3 and #4 don't have a lot of sand in front of them.
We had the Master Suite (#1) & Room #2 (offered for free upon arrival since we had 4 kids).
#1 is by far the best bungalow on the island and biggest beach. I would rank them in order: 1, 2, 3, 4. #3 and #4 don't have a lot of sand in front of them.
No TVs on the island. The Internet was sufficient on my phone for everything I needed (email/social media). No A/C on island, but Master Suite had 3 large fans with variable speeds. I believe other rooms have 2 or 3 fans as well. I never felt hot in my bungalow.
Wife had one big negative on the room:
They are all very "open" - no weather seals. The breeze runs through the bungalow. We had some bugs, ants, etc. roaming around that my wife hated. I didn't think it was big deal, but definitely don't leave food behind in your room.
They are all very "open" - no weather seals. The breeze runs through the bungalow. We had some bugs, ants, etc. roaming around that my wife hated. I didn't think it was big deal, but definitely don't leave food behind in your room.
Massages are only cost on the island ($85/hour).
Everything else is 100% covered. Gerrie and Hattie (GMs) would always say, "this is a private island, you can have whatever you want, where you want it, whenever you want it as long as we have the means."
Everything else is 100% covered. Gerrie and Hattie (GMs) would always say, "this is a private island, you can have whatever you want, where you want it, whenever you want it as long as we have the means."
Activities:
They have kayaks, SUP, fishing, snorkling, island hopping, pool, and swings.
There is nothing amazing about any of these, but more something to do. I personally enjoy fishing with my kids (caught 20 snappers in an hour with hook and line and ate for dinner).
They have kayaks, SUP, fishing, snorkling, island hopping, pool, and swings.
There is nothing amazing about any of these, but more something to do. I personally enjoy fishing with my kids (caught 20 snappers in an hour with hook and line and ate for dinner).
Animals & Nature on the island:
3 Sloths, 3 parrots, Iguanas, and thousands of coconut and Noni trees. Night there are lots of sand crabs. Apparently, there are some turtles that lay every once in a while on the island.
No formal way to see these, just notice them during week.
3 Sloths, 3 parrots, Iguanas, and thousands of coconut and Noni trees. Night there are lots of sand crabs. Apparently, there are some turtles that lay every once in a while on the island.
No formal way to see these, just notice them during week.
There is a "menu" for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but you can ask for anything you want. Breakfast/Lunch menu never changed. Dinner changes every night.
I stuck to the menu 80% of the time and enjoyed the food. Nothing to brag about, but never had a bad meal.
I stuck to the menu 80% of the time and enjoyed the food. Nothing to brag about, but never had a bad meal.
Alcohol and Bar Options:
I have nothing for you here. I don't drink and don't act like I know anything about drinking. But there were 2 bars on island and manned 100% of the day anytime you want something. Looked like they had 40-50 bottles of stuff on the shelf.
I have nothing for you here. I don't drink and don't act like I know anything about drinking. But there were 2 bars on island and manned 100% of the day anytime you want something. Looked like they had 40-50 bottles of stuff on the shelf.
Length of Stay:
We did 5 nights. I thought this was perfect for us as 2 days were fairly windy and overcast so wasn't a lot to do. However, I would say 3 nights is minimum, 4 is sufficient, and 5 or 6 is probably maxed you would ever want. It's a long treck to get to island.
We did 5 nights. I thought this was perfect for us as 2 days were fairly windy and overcast so wasn't a lot to do. However, I would say 3 nights is minimum, 4 is sufficient, and 5 or 6 is probably maxed you would ever want. It's a long treck to get to island.
We broke up the travel with a week in Guatemala (highly recommend) the week before. We also broke it up on the way home staying one night in MGA at IC before long haul flight the way home.
This worked well for us with 4 kids, but up to how much time you have to travel.
This worked well for us with 4 kids, but up to how much time you have to travel.
Cost/Value Proposition:
Considering the Master Suite was $3,950/night and 2nd bungalow was $2,950/night. I'd say the 40,000 hyatt points for flights and combined $7K/night of rooms was worth the value from a "stand price" perspective.
Great cpp valuation.
Considering the Master Suite was $3,950/night and 2nd bungalow was $2,950/night. I'd say the 40,000 hyatt points for flights and combined $7K/night of rooms was worth the value from a "stand price" perspective.
Great cpp valuation.
Do I plan to ever go back?
Probably not. Yes, the value proposition of cpp valuation is high, but the opportunity cost wasn't there for me for 40K/points/night.
It was a novelty trip to stay on private island, but I can list dozens of places I enjoy better for less points.
Probably not. Yes, the value proposition of cpp valuation is high, but the opportunity cost wasn't there for me for 40K/points/night.
It was a novelty trip to stay on private island, but I can list dozens of places I enjoy better for less points.
I hate comparing vacations. But I would rather go to Bora Bora, Maldives, or Necker 1000x more than go back to Calala.
That doesn't mean I hated Calala, it was a great memory and a great trip. But they are not even comparable in my mind to those other experiences.
That doesn't mean I hated Calala, it was a great memory and a great trip. But they are not even comparable in my mind to those other experiences.
The Motu view at Bora Bora is unbeatable at the IC or SR Bora Bora. The SR Maldives is by far the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at as far as room and architecture.
And Necker completely stands on its own. I've been 3x and still my all-time favorite.
Calala has nothing notable.
And Necker completely stands on its own. I've been 3x and still my all-time favorite.
Calala has nothing notable.
The pictures on Calala website are a little deceiving on the color of the water. Water is fairly nice with some blues and greens, but nothing like what you see in Bahamas or other Caribbean islands or even Cancun.
Also "sand bar" is pretty much washed away from pictures as well
Also "sand bar" is pretty much washed away from pictures as well
Also, I should have put a h/t to @OneMileataTime on the master thread. I wouldn't have ever booked this over Christmas and gone if I didn't see Ben's blogpost.
Find Availability: Check Calala's primary website for open dates, and then look at Hyatt to find point availability.
Find Availability: Check Calala's primary website for open dates, and then look at Hyatt to find point availability.
@OneMileataTime Failed to mention. Calala did provide a full-time nanny to us for the kids as well. Lilja was amazing (21 year old girl with perfect English). Kids loved her.
We never abandoned our kids with her, which I'm sure we could have, but she was more of an assistance entire time.
We never abandoned our kids with her, which I'm sure we could have, but she was more of an assistance entire time.
@OneMileataTime Also, if you do plan to take children, you definitely want to call the number on website and let them know before as they book flights and make arrangements.
They gave us free Master Suite upgrade because of children at time of booking as well.
They gave us free Master Suite upgrade because of children at time of booking as well.
Few “unedited” pictures from my phone for context on hotel to website pictures.
Calala means Passion Fruit in Nicaragua. They had passion fruit drinks, jam, ice cream, etc.
Although I never saw any Passion Fruit plants/trees on the island.
They actually ran out the morning we left. Sourcing food/supplies has got to be brutal for Calala as it's so remote.
Although I never saw any Passion Fruit plants/trees on the island.
They actually ran out the morning we left. Sourcing food/supplies has got to be brutal for Calala as it's so remote.
Flights to MGA:
Most airlines only fly 1x-2x/week to MGA from the states with RT the same date. The ATL-MGA runs on Saturdays, which we took on trip home.
We took a LAX-GUA flight on way there and Avianca Miles for GUA-MGA flight.
DFW the airport for AA. Unsure on others...
Most airlines only fly 1x-2x/week to MGA from the states with RT the same date. The ATL-MGA runs on Saturdays, which we took on trip home.
We took a LAX-GUA flight on way there and Avianca Miles for GUA-MGA flight.
DFW the airport for AA. Unsure on others...
Mosquitos:
I came home with two bits (wrist and ankle). Everyone in the family seemed to have 1-3 bites. I never felt like there was a mosquito problem so we never used repellant, but I'm sure you could avoid completely if you use some repellant.
I came home with two bits (wrist and ankle). Everyone in the family seemed to have 1-3 bites. I never felt like there was a mosquito problem so we never used repellant, but I'm sure you could avoid completely if you use some repellant.
Trip Advisor Complain on Falling Coconuts:
I asked workers if a Coconut has ever fallen on anyone and they said only one has grazed the shoulder of a worker in the 3 years.
I wouldn't worry about this, but yes, there are thousands of coconut trees on this little island...
I asked workers if a Coconut has ever fallen on anyone and they said only one has grazed the shoulder of a worker in the 3 years.
I wouldn't worry about this, but yes, there are thousands of coconut trees on this little island...
Trip Advisor Complaint on Seaweed:
Yes, there is seaweed. There are spots on island where you can wade out in the ocean and it's fine. Other spots after 4 feet hit coral/rock. Use the SUP/Kayak.
It's not prime for swimming in the ocean, but the pool is nice for wading in water
Yes, there is seaweed. There are spots on island where you can wade out in the ocean and it's fine. Other spots after 4 feet hit coral/rock. Use the SUP/Kayak.
It's not prime for swimming in the ocean, but the pool is nice for wading in water
Helicopter option:
I don’t have details but one worker mentioned helicopter would be about $3K one way, so $6K RT.
They said they have few guests do the helicopter option handful times a year.
I don’t have details but one worker mentioned helicopter would be about $3K one way, so $6K RT.
They said they have few guests do the helicopter option handful times a year.
