Curator’s statement
I had heard about Calala Island via a travel blog, and, upon further research, my husband and I decided it would be the perfect spot to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. This ultra-luxurious private island is not on most people's radars, but it should be. The whole island has only six suites, is all-inclusive, and has a strong focus on sustainability—think solar power, locally sourced food, and filtered water usage versus plastics. My favorite aspect of the destination is that the Calala Foundation protects Hawksbill turtles who nest on the island, and there are three rescued sloths who live high in the tree canopy.
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Getting to Calala Island is an adventure. You first fly into Managua, the capital, and spend the night there. The morning after, you will fly to Bluefields on the coast and then take a scenic speedboat ride through mangroves and open water to Calala (or, if you prefer, a helicopter can be arranged for an additional fee). Calala Island facilitates all transfers for you from when you land in Managua to when you arrive on Calala Island, and the long journey is well worth the wait.
Rest and relaxation
Smiling staff greet you with coconuts on the beach, and the warm island breeze immediately envelops you. Rooms are nothing less than stunning—with private decks, your own personal beach, rain showers, and thoughtful amenities. You will not want to leave your beautiful suite at first, but you will because the entire island is just as jaw dropping.
Stunning suites: light, airy, and overlooking your own private beach
Days can be spent poolside enjoying made-to-order cocktails, or you can choose to get a spa treatment, join a fishing excursion, or go on a trip to a nearby island. We enjoyed using the complimentary kayaks to paddle around the island and see our island home from a different perspective. During certain times of the year, the sea turtles also come to shore at night to nest on the beach. You can ask for a middle of the night wake-up call if staff spot any nesting, and you can share in the magical moment as you watch from a safe distance.
Our suite, seen from the water
Food is fresh, locally sourced, well presented, and included in your room rate. Every morning, we enjoyed tea and coffee delivered at a time of our choosing to our suite. We then sat out on our deck with our beverages and watched the sunrise before heading to the main restaurant for our breakfast. For lunch, when we were typically at the pool, we enjoyed à la carte items like fresh fish tacos. Dinner was served in a formal manner and multi-course, putting the creativity of the island's chefs on full display.
Fish tacos, ceviche, and coconut water
Dinner is more structured and allows the chef to shine. Each night was different.
Need to know
Are you visiting for a special occasion like a honeymoon or anniversary? Make sure this is shared with the concierge prior to arrival—for our anniversary, they crafted a beautiful, private dinner with twinkling tea lights on our deck.
There is no air conditioning on the island, but with the suite fans and the mindset of being on a private island, it is not missed.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Nicaragua page.
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Tess Smith
Tess Smith
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