Nestled in the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, a couple of hours from Cartagena by boat, you'll find one of the world's most unique hostels. Casa en el Agua.

Casa en el Agua, which translates to 'House on the Water,' is exactly what it says on the tin. You find the hostel in blissful isolation, slap bang in the middle of the San Bernardo Archipelago.

Since opening its doors in 2014, this eco-hostel has become a backpacker favorite. It's become famous for its party atmosphere, internally run activities, fresh food, friendly staff, and idyllic locale.

If you're hoping to spend a few days here, you'll need to book a month in advance, and you'll need to pay 70% of the total cost then and there. Book as early as possible, and remember you only have a limited window as dates are available just two months in advance.

The jumping-off point to reach Casa en el Agua is Cartagena. It's a simple journey. From Cartagena's port of Muelle de la Bodeguita gate No.5, a daily boat service takes you directly to the hostel. You can book the journey via Casa en el Agua's website, costing 200,000 COP for a return ticket. You'll receive a booking confirmation email that serves as your ticket. Book in advance as spaces fill up a couple of days before departure.

Only one boat departs Cartagena daily, leaving at 9 AM sharp. You can't afford to miss it and must be there at 8:30 AM. Also, make sure you have a plan for reaching the departure point on the waterfront just outside Cartagena's Walled City. 

When the time comes to leave Casa en el Agua, the boat departs for Cartagena once a day at 12 PM.

There are further considerations to make when planning your trip to Casa en el Agua.

• You'll need to pay a one-off charge before departure, covering the entrance to the national park. The cost is 16,500 COP.

• On the boat, you'll face a limited luggage allowance of 8KG. Pack the night before.

• There are no ATMs on Casa en el Agua. So you'll need cash—lots of it. Remember, you must pay the remaining 30% of your stay upon arrival. We advise planning any activities you want to do at the hostel beforehand, so you know how much cash you'll need.

• No refunds are issued if you need to cancel less than 72 hours before your reservation.

• There is a 4% PayPal transaction fee when booking.

• You are entitled to change your booking date if you test positive for COVID-19 and won't make your reservation.

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission should you use them, for which we are incredibly grateful. However, the recommendations are still our own and intended to advise on the very best experiences Casa En El Agua has to offer.

Update: January 2022

Due to new laws from Colombia's governments and national parks, the company behind Casa en el Agua has been temporarily closed. However, the local community of Islote de Santa Cruz has taken over the house, controlling bookings and running the same services. To book Casa en el Agua you must now do so via this link, or if you want to get in touch with the community at Islote de Santa Cruz, you can do so here.

Enjoy The Hostel

Arguably, the best thing to do at Casa en el Agua is do nothing. Revel in your freedom from the rest of the world. Paddle aimlessly through the shallows surrounding the hostel. Sit back and worship the warm Caribbean sun. Get lost in a good book. Make new friends. Indulge in the all-day happy hour.

It's a great way to spend a couple of days.

Bioluminescent Plankton Tour

Possibly the best tour that Casa en el Agua offers. The bioluminescent plankton tour centers around one of the ocean's most extraordinary natural wonders.

At night, the hostel transports you to the secluded mangrove forest of Isla Mucura by boat.

Once there, you'll be unceremoniously chucked overboard and left to gleefully roam the shimmering waters around you. Or, as the hostel describes it, underwater fairy dust.

Being left to swim amongst the plankton is a surreal experience. Bring your GoPro to capture it.

The tour will set you back by 40,000 COP. A small price to pay for memories that will last a lifetime.

Snorkeling

Casa en el Agua is located in an archipelago teeming with corals. So, it should be no surprise that snorkeling around the hostel is superb.

If you're inclined to keep the hostel, or more importantly the bar, in view, the hostel can provide snorkeling gear free of charge. This option leaves you free to explore the waters near the hostel.

Alternatively, there is a snorkeling tour, priced at 30,000 COP. The tour takes you to one of nine nearby islands, the most popular being Isla Maravilla.

Isla Maravilla was once lined with mangrove forests. However, the island is permanently submerged beneath the sea due to climate change and a lack of protective measures. It's a sad story. However, the remains of the mangrove forest are teeming with life, making it an excellent area to explore.

Island Tours

If you're spending several days at Casa en el Agua, you may experience a spot of cabin fever. Luckily, there is plenty to do on the surrounding islands. The hostel dutifully offers tours to explore them.

One of the hostel's most popular island tours takes you to Santa Cruz del Islote, the most densely populated island on the planet. Islote is home to 1,200 people crammed into a semi-artificial island spanning just 2.4 acres. The island is 5 minutes from the hostel by boat. Once there, you'll be dropped off and left to explore for a couple of hours. Most staff working at Casa en el Agua come from Islote. Be sure to ask about the history of the island and its culture. The tour costs 15,000 COP.

Casa en el Agua also offers a tour for the sun-worshipers amongst you. This beach day tour goes to one of Isla Tintipan or Isla Mucura and costs 25,000 COP. The beaches of Tintipan and Mucura are postcard-perfect, holding their own against those on Providencia or Parque Tayrona. Pair the locale with a couple of Pina Coladas, and you're living the dream. Tours are full or half-day, depending on what you and your fellow backpackers prefer.

The final island tour sees you spend a full day exploring Islote, Isla Tintipan, and Isla Mucura. You'll be accompanied by a guide, offering greater insight into life on Islote and greater exploration of Mucura and Tintipan beyond their pristine shores. The multi-destination tour is priced at 50,000 COP.

Kayaking

Whether venturing out alone or with friends made at the hostel, hiring a kayak is a great way to spend an hour or several at Casa en el Agua.

You can rent kayaks directly from the hostel. A single hour on the water will cost 20,000 COP. A three-hour rental costs 50,000 COP.

Kayak rental offers unadulterated freedom to venture out and explore the waters surrounding Casa en el Agua. Whether that takes you to the flooded mangrove forests or one of the nearby islands is entirely up to you.

The hostel will provide accompanying snorkel gear when renting out a kayak.

Wakeboarding/Disc-Go

Like jet-skiing, but on a water snowboard, what's not to love? If you have experience with watersports, Wakeboarding is the activity for you. It's an exhilarating journey for pros or the downright brave.

If you've less experience with watersports but still want to give it a go, Disc-Go may be for you. Simpler and less frustrating than Wakeboarding, all you really need to do is lie down and hold on for dear life.

Both activities cost 50,000 COP, giving you 30 minutes out on the water.

Subwing

Being dragged along on a Wakeboard or Disc-Go might not float your boat. You may be looking for a tad more adventure. In which case, the Subwing activity may tick your boxes.

The Subwing gives you the chance to fly through the waters of this stunning national park. You'll spend a full hour gliding underwater with the grace of a dolphin via some underwater wings.

Bring your GoPro. It's magical. The activity costs 50,000 COP.

Casa en el Agua offers an array of sleeping arrangements to cater to everyone and all budgets. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, bottomless coffee, and water are also included in the cost of your stay. Not to mention whatever the tour of the day happens to be.

Hammocks - 160,000 COP Per Night

Ah, hammocks, the backpacker staple. Since opening, Casa en el Agua has offered guests a room of 13 hammocks. However, in light of COVID, that capacity has been stripped back to 4. The hammock room is open-air, which can get pretty chilly at night. On the flip side, you get 360-degree views of the Caribbean Sea. Sounds like a fair trade to us.

If you've never slept in a hammock and find the prospect daunting, you may worry about the novelty wearing off quickly. Fear not. Complaints as to a good night's sleep are few and far between.

It's also the cheapest way to stay at Casa en el Agua.

Dorm Rooms - 200,000 COP Per Night

Perhaps hammocks just aren't your thing. However, you still want the communal atmosphere of sharing with your fellow travelers. If that's you, then Casa en el Agua does offer a limited number of dorms.

Casa en Agua's dorms sleep four in bright, airy rooms featuring high ceilings and windows.

Islote - 320,000-410,000 COP Per Night

Islote is the smallest private room available at Casa en el Agua. This is ideal for those who value their privacy but don't want to break the bank. It makes a secluded spot for couples backpacking together.

The 320,000 COP price is for one, so if you are traveling as a couple and wish to book this room, you'll need to pay an additional 90,000 COP.

Isla Palma & Mucura - 340,000-610,000 COP per night

Perfect for those traveling with a small group of friends. The Isla Palma and Mucura rooms are comprised of 2 small double beds. The 340,000 COP price makes these an attractive option if you're not sold on the hammocks or a dorm room.

The 340,000 COP is reflective of a booking for one person. Staying in either of these rooms with others will cost an additional 90,000 COP per head.

El Nido Amor - 340,000-430,000 COP per night

Casa en el Agua's king-size room is best suited to couples and travel buddies and is the largest available room at the hostel. The bed is as vast as it is comfy. Perfect for sprawling out, a night without arguing over the covers, and not being kicked by a stray foot.

The room is priced at 340,000 COP for single occupancy and 430,000 COP for two.

Mangle & Panda - 390,000-480,000 COP per night

A new addition to Casa en el Agua, Mangle and Panda are private rooms featuring a balcony overlooking the sea, a double bed, and a hammock for relaxing.

390,000 COP is the price set for single-person stays. Staying in either room with a friend – or as a couple – will add 90,000 COP to the cost.

Maravilla - 440,000-890,000 COP per night

One of the best private room options on the property. Maravilla has two small double beds, two hammocks, and a balcony with panoramic views of the ocean beyond. The maximum occupancy for this room is six people – two in each bed, and two in the hammocks.

440,000 COP is the set price of Maravilla for one person. Traveling in a group increases the price by 90,000 COP for each additional person.

Queen Bed - 490,000-580,000 COP per night

The best room in the house. Though the sleeping arrangements are slightly smaller than the king-size bedroom, the queen-size room makes up for it with its view: A 180º panorama of the ocean beyond. Perfect for snapping some pics for the 'Gram.

As a side note, this is the only room in the hostel where you won't have neighbors, making it great if you're hoping for a quiet night.

For one, the room costs 490,000 COP. For two, the price jumps to 580,000 COP per night.

Food, glorious food

There's hardly an extensive list of places to eat on a tiny artificial island in the middle of the ocean. Thankfully, the food at Casa en el Agua is excellent and leaves you wanting for nothing. And with meals included in the price of your stay, why would you want to go elsewhere?

Meals at Casa en el Agua have a very communal vibe, providing you with the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers. Menus are based around seafood. However, alternatives catering to veggie or vegan dietary requirements are available.

The hostel also serves up several specials, including delicacies such as lobster. These meals aren't included in the price of your stay and will cost 80,000 COP. Lobster is sourced from under the hostel, where a small tank containing a pregnant lobster is kept. This ensures the hostel has a steady supply of freshly caught lobster without impacting the local population.

Should you get peckish during the day, various snacks are available. Fruit salad is available for 7,000 COP, while a bowl of chips will set you back by 4,000 COP.

Bottoms up

Beer, spirits, cocktails, and wine are available when hitting the bar.

Beer is the wallet-friendly option when picking your poison, costing between 6,000 and 8,000 COP.

For cocktails, make the most out of the all-day happy hour, where you can get two for 30,000 COP or 2 for 40,000 COP, depending on the cocktail.

In the 2-for-30,000 COP deal, you can choose between a G&T, Vodka Lemonade, Cuba Libre, and Tequila Sunrise. Shots are also available in this price bracket.

In the 2-for-40,000 COP bracket, you can choose from Margaritas, Pina Coladas, Mojitos, Coco Locos, Mai Tai's and so on.

A bottle of wine proves the most expensive means of getting a little tipsy, setting you back 65,000 COP.

Non-alcoholic drinks are also available with fresh juice, cherry lemonade, and cocos lemonade costing 7,000 COP.

As a word of warning, the hostel has a strict policy against BYOB. Don't try to sneak a bottle in.

Temperatures in the San Bernardo archipelago, and by extension Casa en el Agua, are constant regardless of the time of the year. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 28ºC. April is the hottest month, with average temperatures sitting at 29ºC. As temperatures don't fluctuate, deciding when to go to Casa en el Agua becomes a game of avoiding the rainy season.

December, January, and February see the least rainfall. However, precipitation nearly doubles in March and continues to rise until August, when it begins to decline again.

So, December, January, and February are the best months to visit weather-wise. But, it's worth remembering that December and January is the high season for tourists in Colombia.

Based on the above, We recommend booking your trip for February. This gives you the perfect blend of great weather and fewer tourists, making it somewhat easier to book your stay at the hostel than in busier months.