Aura Hotel Barú

Family dining experience for lunch during our most recent trip to Cartagena Bolívar Colombia. We always take a day to rent a private boat from Boats4U to cruise around the Caribbean and explore the islands and visit floating bars, beaches and our favorite restaurant located in this beautiful island hotel.

The service is always on-point: not at all invasive, but rather perfectly attentive.

The food exquisitely prepared, presented in an exceptional 5-star manner, and stunningly delectable. I ordered the SHRIMP AND BLACK-EYED PEA RICE ($87,000 Colombian Pesos=$23.50USD) Coconut seasoned apastelado rice (local risotto) with cilantro, chives, shrimp white clams, and black-eyed peas. OUTSTANDING dish recommended by our guide Andes!

My son had a CHEESEBURGER that he described as the best he’d ever had—it looked moist and handmade.

My wife had the FRIED RED SNAPPER ($25USD): Whole fresh snapper, perfectly fried and served with traditional coconut rice, crispy patacones, and a salad. I tasted the Snapper—PERFECTLY DELICIOUS!

My daughter ordered the PESCA DEL DÍA (fried catch of the day—Sea bass—about $25USD)
served with patacón (fried green plantain), coconut rice, and salad. I also tasted this dish including the fried plantain and it was delicious.

Finally, we had a variety of non-alcoholic tropical mocktails!

We didn’t stay at the hotel. We went there with a daily boat trip from Cartegena.
The restaurant was said to be 5 star by the agency that made our reservation.
The food had to be ordered 1 day before we went there.
Our expectations were too high but the restaurant couldn’t deliver.
The fish was dry and untasteful.
The coffee less than mediocre.
Too expensive, more like a tourist trap.
Go somewhere else or bring your own food to the boat.

We have been here for almost one week and had a wonderful, relaxing time. Everything was just perfect - rooms, pool, food and infrastructure. But the best have been all the friendly people working at Aura: Lordi, Oswaldo, Natalia, Richard, David and all the others. Muchas gracias 🙏

he hotel is very beautiful, very well maintained facilities, the spectacular pool, very nice decoration, the service of the staff is extraordinary, all very friendly and very attentive to make your stay pleasant, the two things that for me were negative is that the food is expensive for the little they serve and the access by car is terrible, it is an uncovered road and with tremendous gaps that no taxi gets there, I had to walk about a mile with suitcases to the hotel, it was quite frustrating ....

PROS:
Peaceful place
Amazing food and drinks
Great staff kind and very helpful

CONS:
Access is a bit of a challenge cause bad roads. Specially if it rained

5/5.
The beaches are well maintained, and for our stay mostly free of other people. The pool is a great place to relax and is very relaxing. The service team are super welcoming. Huge menu of delicious food. Highly recommend!

This hotel is absolutely stunning. Located right on the beach, it offers breathtaking views and direct access to the sea. The property is beautifully maintained, with every detail designed to create a sense of peace and comfort. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming, making me feel right at home from the moment I arrived. The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor—every meal was a delight. I truly loved every moment of my stay; it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a beautiful seaside escape.

My recent stay at Aura Baru Hotel fell far below expectations. From moldy bathrooms to missing amenities, the room conditions overshadowed any positives.
The common areas were neatly kept and lush with tropical vegetation. The staff was very friendly, but if you don't know much Spanish, you will need a translator app on your phone
.- There was no television or radio in the room, leaving me with almost nothing to do during downtime.
The rooms are best described as austere, which further enhances the feeling of being trapped.
The hotel doesn't provide any activities beyond kayak and paddle boards, so after dark there is absolutely nothing to do There isn't even music playing
.- The hotel is completely isolated with no nearby shops, cafés, or alternative dining options.
- Without a car or shuttle service, guests are stuck relying on the hotel for everything.
- Food and beverages at the hotel were priced significantly higher than standard Cartagena rates.
- Quality was noticeably lower: weak drinks, and minimal variety on the menu.
Additionally, there a stray (not at all cute) dog that roamed the restaurant while we're eating.
When we checked in we were told, "I'm giving you one of our best rooms, you will love it".
I do not recommend.

Was great

If you want to be one with nature this is the spot for you. Staff is very welcoming and pleasant. It's a peaceful and beautiful place.

We LOVED our stay at Aura. Honestly, the photos online don't do the property justice. It is a beautiful property! Everything about the hotel was great for our family. For our 2 year old daughter, we loved the pool, the quieter and protected beach area, the common areas with swings, and very accommodating staff. In addition, the food was outstanding, as were all of the drinks from the bar. And, every tour and service we booked was great and all of the staff were extremely helpful, kind, and welcoming. We would definitely recommend Aura to travelers with and without kids!

Richard was great! The food was very good as well. The avocado ceviche was delicious and we will definitely be back! Aura is decorated very nicely and they have fans too for the heat. They have a full bar with plenty of wine as well. This place is underrated

We had really a nice time at hotel Aura. Lordi at the reception was super helpful with everything we need. The pool was very agreeable and the breakfast buffet very nice.

Aura Hotel is on a small private beach with a beautifully designed outdoor pool. There are comfortable lounges with some shade. Breakfast is served overlooking the sea and was plentiful. Our great room with a full walk in storage closet made unpacking easy. Our room and balcony overlooked a peaceful sea & pool view.
The only recommendation I would make that would help create a more peaceful and relaxing experience is to significantly lower the music volume and turn it off during the morning until noon. Also please play local Caribbean calming music!
The staff was awesome!

Nos hicieron esperar ya que la habitacion no estaba lista, el servicoo del restaurante es muy lento y ese primer dia es perdido porque entregaron la habitacion a las 4, en lo que uno almueza ya no dio tiempo para bajar a la alberca que cierran a las 6, de ahi podria decir aue le suma tener alberca pero no invertiria de nuevo, la carta de alumentos es muy limitada y los alimentos llegan frios...

Accueil sympa, grande chambre, belle piscine, organisation efficace pour les transferts et excursions

This place is beautiful, clean and very well cared for. Great beach, water and pool. The restaurant serves very good food. You can paddle board and kayak. The staff are attentive, kind and personable. It is clear that they work w/ great pride

The hotel is very chill with not alot of guests which we prefer. Many activities to do like kayaking, SUP, ping pong and swimming. We were even able to see some cool fish right off both of their beaches. Richard at the restaurant is the best. Plenty of seating by the beach and the pool area.

It is a bit out of the way, so prepare accordingly. As a result, it's a nice peaceful place to relax.

Terrific restaurant with, incredible ambiance, great food and best service. Would highly recommend. Daniella and Richard were fabulous. Don't miss this gem of a setting on the enchanting Roserio Islands. This break for lunch during our day boat rental made the trip especially memorable.

Muy agradable y cómoda la estadía en el hotel Aura.