Villa Maria Tayrona

Hotel review

No trip to Colombia is complete without a visit to the Tayrona National Park. This unique hotel, just 3km from the entrance and surrounded by 18 hectares of its own land, offers the opportunity to get back to nature without any of the attendant dangers and discomforts. It belongs to the charming Kali Hotels collection and is run by attentive, smiling staff.

The best of the 27 rooms are in palm-thatched deluxe bungalows with picture windows. Wake up to glorious views and sounds of the jungle, where it’s hard to tell which makes more noise — the monkeys or the macaws. As if to echo the landscape, all the rooms are natural and stylishly simple: handsome wood floors; the occasional unpainted brick wall; striking furniture, handmade by craftsmen from local timber. Creature comforts are not neglected and there are good quality beds, fridges, hot showers and air conditioning. Bungalows have balconies with sun beds and a hammock, perfect for siesta time.

A suspension bridge links the rooms to the main building, housing a small spa, bar and restaurant. Here, from a varied menu, the locally caught fish is a must have, and avocados come from the hotel’s own farm. A 10-minute walk down through trees and flowers ends at an unspoilt white-sand Caribbean beach. If the sea’s too rough, spend the day by the lovely pool and watch hummingbirds sip nectar from the bougainvillea. Choose between a hammock and a lounger — there are plenty to go round!

Leonie Glass Review published: 31/10/2018