Facilities

Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
Tour desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent staff service
Lovely location
Cons:
Dirty rooms
High prices for poor quality

Categories

Cleanliness
7.25
Multiple reviews indicated issues with dirty rooms and unclean facilities.
Service
10
Many comments highlighted the incredible and attentive service provided by the staff.
Location
9.75
The location was generally appreciated, though some found it complicated to reach.
Room Quality
8.75
Rooms were noted as nice but reported to be unclean, affecting the overall impression.
Amenities
9.25
Amenities were mentioned positively but noted as not fully meeting luxury expectations.
Value for Money
8.25
Prices were criticized as extremely high relative to quality, impacting perceived value.
Food and Beverage
8.75
Food was rated as good but also had complaints about quality in some instances.
Overall Experience
10
Despite some criticisms, the overall sentiment reflected positive experiences during stays.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 15:36

Property Description

Luxurious Amenities

Indulge in a stay at Soy Local Islawa with its outdoor swimming pool, private beach area, and lush garden - perfect for a relaxing getaway.

Exceptional Services

Enjoy top-notch services with a 24-hour front desk, room service, and free WiFi throughout the property for a seamless and comfortable stay.

Exciting Activities

Embark on thrilling water sports adventures and explore the underwater world through snorkeling, all while staying at Soy Local Islawa.

Book now to experience the ultimate blend of luxury and relaxation at Soy Local Islawa in Cartagena de Indias.

Important information:

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 243 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.25
Service: 10
Location: 9.75
Room Quality: 8.75
Amenities: 9.25
Value for Money: 8.25
Food and Beverage: 8.75
Overall Experience: 10
A
Andres • couple • co
10
Excelente ambiente! Recomendado 100%
Pros:

Lugar tranquilo y limpio, un sitio apropiado para pasar en familia, el personal es muy servicial y amable, recomendado 100%

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jajn • family_with_children • co
7
2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
L
Lewis • couple • gb
1
Strongly advise against visiting.
Cons:

Horrible experience from start to finish. The place is overpriced, poorly maintained, and run in a way that feels both careless and shady. Considering the amount we paid and the fact they use a private driver, you still need to pay an extortionate taxi fee where bags get launched into an open back pickup truck and get thrown around the whole journey, then you’re taken to a tiny dock where a boat waits for you. This boat was not there for us and we waited 20 minutes in an area completely unknown to us which made us feel seriously uneasy. The room was dirty—bugs everywhere, stained sheets—and when we raised it, they changed it into more dirty sheets which we decided to just accept, for which there was no apology.The food is massively overpriced for what it is: a limited, low quality menu where most options are just pizza or pasta, all charged at ridiculous prices (and that’s coming from people used to London prices). You’re essentially forced to pay because there are no alternatives. The setup itself is unacceptable. The so-called air conditioning is useless because the windows are just shutters that don’t properly close, meaning insects, birds, and even cockroaches and lizards can get into your room freely—which they did.Worse, staff disappear completely overnight (from around 8pm to 7am) and are unreachable—their phone is switched off. On a remote, man-made island that’s only accessible by the property’s private boat, that’s not just inconvenient, it’s unsafe.We ended up leaving a day early. My girlfriend became ill overnight, and with no way to contact staff or leave the island, the situation felt genuinely risky. Beyond that, the whole place just has an uncomfortable, off vibe. Despite all this, they still added a service charge for our stay. This was the only negative experience in nearly three weeks in Colombia, and it was bad enough that we would strongly advise others to avoid it.

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • family_with_children • us
8
Great hotel with some room for improvements.
Pros:

It was a beautiful location, great rooms, very comfortable and strategically designed.

Cons:

Towels availability was an issue. They only have us bath towels and getting beach towels was very complicated. Also, they promote free use of kayaks and paddle boards but they were in very poor shape. Lastly, food takes very long time. We once waited 1 hour for breakfast.

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • couple • gb
7
2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
S
Sonia • couple • cr
9
2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
C
Cristián • couple • cl
8
2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
L
Lyda del Pilar • couple • co
9
Paradisíaco
Pros:

Es un lugar paradisíaco, excelente opción si te quieres desconectar de la rutina. El personal siempre estuvo muy atento a nuestros requerimientos

Cons:

Teniendo en cuenta que es una isla donde solo puedes tomar la alimentación en el hotel, deberían tener una menú más amplio

2026-03-26 • via Nuitee
A
Alexandra • couple • fr
4
Séjour décevant malgré un cadre magnifique
Pros:

L’endroit est très joli mais c’est la seule chose de positive

Cons:

L’endroit est absolument magnifique, avec un cadre naturel exceptionnel qui pourrait promettre une expérience inoubliable. Malheureusement, le reste n’a pas été à la hauteur de ce standing annoncé.

Le personnel s’est montré très peu professionnel et particulièrement désagréable durant notre séjour, ce qui a fortement impacté notre expérience. La seule note positive concerne un serveur, dont je ne connais malheureusement pas le nom, qui a été aimable et attentionné.

L’hôtel est présenté comme un établissement de luxe situé sur une île privée, mais cela est loin de la réalité. Il y a un passage constant de jets ski qui s’arrêtent toutes les 10 minutes devant le balcon, notamment au moment du petit-déjeuner, pour proposer des tours. Ils étaient très insistants, ce qui enlève toute sensation d’intimité et de tranquillité.

Enfin, la restauration ne justifie absolument pas les prix pratiqués. Le rapport qualité/prix des plats est très décevant.

En résumé, un lieu splendide mais une expérience globale très loin des attentes pour un hôtel de ce standing.

2026-03-26 • via Nuitee
A
Albanta • couple • es
9
Ideal
Pros:

lo acogedor que es

2026-03-24 • via Nuitee
I
Irma • couple • cl
9
Excelente estadía en Islawa
Pros:

La atención de Alberto Osorio, quien nos hizo sentir como en casa, con una muy buena disposición y alegría

Cons:

Mejoraría la comunicación con respecto a los traslados entre ciudad principal hacia y desde el hotel

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
E
ELIZABETH • couple • co
10
Fantástico y relajante
Pros:

El personal muy atento y el lugar muy confortable

Cons:

Un poco más de variedad en el desayuno

2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
B
Buchmann • couple • dk
8
2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jefferson • solo_traveller • br
7
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
I
IreneSolis • extended_group • es
9
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
C
Camille • couple • be
8
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
D
Dario • extended_group • it
8
Unique island escape in nature, but poor organization and communication
Pros:

This property offers a very unique experience completely immersed in nature. The arrival by boat already makes the stay feel special, as the hotel is located on a small isolated peninsula with only a few rooms and very limited facilities, which adds to the charm of the place. The beach area is beautiful and includes a pier and a small spa hut. Guests can also use kayaks for free to explore the surrounding waters. In the center of the island there is a pagoda that works as the main meeting point, restaurant and bar. The rooms are spacious and very nice, and the overall atmosphere is peaceful and disconnected from the outside world.

Cons:

There were several issues related to organization and communication. The check-in process was slow and not well managed, and we were initially assigned a room that was already occupied. Communication with the staff was often unclear. We also arranged a transfer in advance specifying the number of people and requesting a large vehicle, but a small car arrived instead, which made the transfer difficult. Another downside is that guests are very dependent on the staff, who are not available after around 8 pm. After that time it is not possible to request food, water or assistance if needed. During our stay there was also strong wind at night, which made the rooms quite noisy and affected the overall comfort. In addition, local vendors occasionally arrive by boat offering services and asking for tips, which can be a bit intrusive.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
D
Daniela • couple • cl
10
Pros:

Me encantó el lugar muy cómodo ideal para desconectarse y relajarse! El personal muy atento

Cons:

Nada

2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
C
Claudia • couple • pe
9
2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
B
Baudouin • family_with_children • fr
8
Séjour agréable dans un joli coin calme et tranquille
Pros:

L’emplacement loin de tout est incroyable

Cons:

Les jets skis qui tournent autour de l hôtel bien qu on finit par s y habituer après quelques jours

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee