The staff is very friendly and courteous. I was pleasantly surprised by the cocktail offerings. Our room was overall pretty comfortable, though it was a bit loud due to the lack of real windows and some ongoing construction projects. The beach was nicer than I expected based on previous reviews. Yes, the mangroves affect the beach a bit, but if you want a pristine beach situation you'll have to go elsewhere in the Caribbean and pay for it. I thought the swimming area was perfectly enjoyable. PLUS the pool is open now! They were still closing it for maintenance pretty often--probably working out some kinks in getting it running--but it is beautiful.

The no-see-ums are fierce here. I was recovering from the bites for days. There's some construction projects going on at the property, so that may prove disruptive for some. We had issues with the wifi in our room. It effectively did not work there so we had to go down to common areas to get a good signal. The water in the shower isn't particularly hot. It didn't bother us much, but something worth noting for future guests to consider.

The pool has a really good vibe and everyone seemed to enjoy it respectfully. At night, the sound was minimal and we were right by the pool. The beds were comfortable, the hammocks and chairs as well. The food was very good, albeit expensive.

We gotten bitten pretty badly during the nigh despite not leaving the window open at all during the day... The hotel could perhaps make sure the mosquito screens are better installed or simply invest in bug nets. There weren't many vegetarian options, but the few they had were pretty good!

It is small but has everything needed for a beach vacation from loungers to kayaks to excursions. The staff was super friendly and helpful.

There is a loud beach party every day at the resort across the way from noon to 4 pm.

The pool was amazing, rooms were comfy (AC is a gift in this climate!) Staff was very sweet and accommodating and communicative. Breakfast was great, the remainder of the food felt a little limiting as there were no other options around.

Location was challenging to get to — roads were very uncomfortable to drive and the boat is expensive. Felt pretty isolated with nothing around once you arrive, so it’s best to treat it like an all inclusive resort that you don’t leave. We were there for two days which felt like enough time. If we had been there longer I think it would have felt isolating.

Our stay at Aura Hotel Baru was fantastic! The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, starting with a complimentary drink upon arrival, which was a lovely surprise. The landscape was just as beautiful as we imagined, perfect for our getaway. We made great use of the kayaks and SUP boards, and my husband and son enjoyed fishing right off the boat dock. Lorde (hope I’m spelling her name correctly) organized everything for us, including an unforgettable snorkeling trip for our family. The rooms, especially the supreme bungalow where we stayed, were spacious, clean, and very comfortable. The restaurant has a wonderful ambiance, offering a relaxing dining experience without any rush. The food was both delicious and satisfying. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would definitely stay here again!

If you're traveling to Aura Hotel Baru from Cartagena, I highly recommend taking a boat. We drove to the hotel, and the trip took around 2.5 hours due to traffic and the partially paved road to Baru. On the return, we opted for a boat, which was much faster and a far more scenic experience. One thing to note is that the hotel is currently building a beautiful new pool, so part of the grounds are off-limits. It didn’t impact our stay much, but it’s worth mentioning. As for the restaurant, the only improvement I’d suggest is offering gluten-free options. If you require a gluten-free diet, your choices will be somewhat limited. That said, I managed just fine and still enjoyed the meals.

Very luxurious room with sea view (ask for 3rd floor), surrounded by nature, beautiful facilities to relax, free kayak and SUP, breakfast terrace with sea view, incredible attention and service from staff (never seen anything like this), very peaceful vibe, perfect for families with small children (our daughter is 1,5) because the beach has no waves and the mangroves provide shade, variety of fresh fruit for breakfast, delicious lunch and dinner options

Very few vegetarian or vegan lunch & dinner options and food in general a bit pricy for local standards, but a variation of side dishes was a good replacement. The beach entrance has ingrown algae on the ground and the water is muddy and therefore you can’t see the ground. Probably due to the mangroves. They have constructed a pool to compensate which was about to be opened.

The property is great ! What we liked the most are the staff, the pool and the restaurant. Special thanks to the women at the reception + Richard & Osvaldo !

The cocktail glasses are filled with ice. An usual trick to increase the margin but it is very disappointing for the customer as we pay a lot for a small quantity of beverage. Additionally, the beach & the sea are not amazing compared to other hotels in the region.

We came as a family with 2 small children and we all loved it. The hotel is beautiful with a lovely new pool which the children loved and great views. Our room was clean and very spacious. The staff were very friendly and attentive and the food was great. We were going to go to an all inclusive and decided to go to Aura instead. I'm soooooo glad we did this.

I genuinely loved it here and would come back! One small thing is that the netting on the balcony by our room had holes in places so we had to be vigilant with the kids.

The property itself is very nice. The rooms felt really modern, lovely bathrooms and good amenities. The beach and bar were great and the staff very accommodating and the food at the hotel was delicious with loads of options to choose from. We did a couple of activities through the hotel and all were great (especially the snorkelling one!). To top it off we had one of the best massages by the beach - highly recommend!

It’s very noisy in the middle of the day with jet skis and music coming from across the water at Cholon island - not quite the tranquil days by the beach we were expecting which was a shame. However first thing in the morning (until 10am ish) and then in the afternoon around 4:30pm it quietened down, There was also some work going on at the property which wasn’t great but didn’t get in the way too much.

The air conditioning. If you're budget traveling and coming from Cartagena or the other islands, youll understand the extent to which we appreciated the air conditioning and the rare feeling of being a little chilly. The air conditioning was consistent and functioning. The food was also delicious and the staff were great. We had one server in particular that was a pleasure to be around. He was attentive, gave great recommendations and even practiced my boyfriends Spanish a little. Someone was always around if you needed something or had a question. The free breakfast included was yummy and lunch could be served on the beach. The beach itself was small but beautiful and well furnished. Comfortable and shady hammocks, lounge chairs, etc. The water was beautiful.

Coming from an American, I realize how ridiculous this may come across.. but some simpler menu options. I know at some points I was certainly craving a simple sandwich with some french fries. Even though fries weren't on the menu, I was able to request some. There isn't anything outside of the hotel, unless you take a tour to go to the town center which is about a 45 minute drive away. If you're taking a shuttle to the airport, be prepared for a long drive and unpaved roads. We were fortunate to have left at 3am, so we didn't experience the hustle bustle traffic rush of Cartagena. Additionally, the salesman that come and nag you from the party beach across the way (which I would not recommend visiting). Great for a short stay of 3-4 days, but might get a little boring after that.