Casa En El Agua: The Ultimate Hostel in Colombia

Why Casa en el Agua should be on your Bucketlist

Casa En El Agua deserves a top spot on everyone’s travel bucket list because, trust me, this hostel is nothing short of amazing! Picture this: floating amidst the pristine San Bernardo Islands in the Caribbean Sea, it’s the coolest place I’ve ever had the privilege to stay. In this blog post, I’ll take you on a journey to discover what makes Casa En El Agua so extraordinary and why it’s an absolute must-visit. From its unique location to the warm and welcoming staff, this hostel has all the ingredients for creating a truly magical escape from the mainland of Colombia.

How did we end up staying at Casa en el Agua?

One day whilst scrolling through Instagram, I saw a friend posting photos of himself in the sea, sipping on a beer looking at a colourful, straw house that was floating in the sea. I  showed Daniel and we pretty quickly changed our travel plans through South America- Colombia to make sure we could squeeze in a visit to this island paradise. We stayed for 2 nights and it’s our favourite thing we have done so far in Colombia. Therefore, if you are interested in visiting Casa en el Agua too, then scroll down for all the information you need.

What is Casa en el Agua?

Casa en el Agua, which translates to ‘House in the Water,’ is a remarkable eco-friendly establishment. It’s nestled amongst a cluster of ten small islands. The unique charm of this destination lies in the sensation of being semi-stranded on a private island. You have the opportunity to take a jump into the clear, blue waters from nearly every corner of the property. Notably, Casa en el Agua is an integral part of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park. It’s a protected area that requires an entrance fee of 23,000 COP (approximately $6) for access.

What makes Casa en el Agua ECO Friendly?

Obviously being in the middle of the sea requires some adjustments to the way you operate. As we were told by our lovely host on day 1, you are going to get salty, so embrace it! Meaning, you stay salty because the hostel has limited amounts of fresh water and actually imports it from the mainland. Therefore, when having a shower you get 3 minutes at the end of the day between 6pm-9pm and its not a power shower!

HOWEVER, every article on the internet including Casa en el Aguas own website says the shower is a bucket… I am pleased to update that information. It is now a normal shower and you don’t get a bucket of water to wash with…pure luxury. The toilet is also eco friendly, but surprisingly clean and smell free with the power of the dust. When you enter the toilets you will see a sign that says sit, sh*t and dust …this eliminates any smell and goes into a separate tank from your pee. Overall the washing facilities were well kept and super efficient.

Casa en el Agua Restaurant

Furthermore, the food at Casa en el Agua is super fresh and is got directly from the ocean and the surrounding islands. Everyday we had whatever fish and crustaceans were caught, as well as whatever fruit and vegetables were available from the island. Unfortunately, it meant that not everyday we could have Pina Colada’s, but when we did get them- oh my goodness!

It’s important to note that for fresh crab, octopus, or lobster caught on the same day, there’s an additional charge. We tried the crab, priced at 40,000 COP, and it was definitely worth it. If you’re not a seafood enthusiast, there’s a satisfying vegetarian option with delightful flavors. Additionally, if you prefer not to spend extra money, you can stick with the regular menu, which is equally enjoyable. They did serve a unique fish lasagna one night, which was a bit unusual but still quite tasty.

What Types of Accommodations Can You Find at Casa en el Agua?

The word ‘hostel’ often conjures images of crowded dorm rooms filled with 18-year-olds on gap years. However, Casa en el Agua offers a diverse range of accommodation options that go well beyond the typical hostel experience and not everyone is 18. There are dorms, private rooms and even hammocks to sleep in if that’s more your vibe. Now we are in our early 30’s so we did want a private, but because of the popularity of the place we stayed in an 8 bed dorm called Isla Tintipan and it was perfect! Wherever you choose to sleep, you wake up to the most amazing view of the ocean and its just so peaceful.

Cost of Accommodation at Casa en el Agua- Per night per person

• 8 bed dorm- $77
• Hammock- $62
• Private- $141
• Super Nice Private- $177

There are other similar options on their website and these are the prices as of September 2023. Definitely not terrible prices considering the location and the overall experience you get. However, if you are on a super cheap, shoestring type budget it might be out of your budget. This is why I have titled it a bucket list activity because its not cheap if you need it to be a cheap stay.

Cost of Food and Drinks

When you book a room at Casa en el Agua, your stay includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. The cuisine is primarily seafood-themed. During your tour of Casa en el Agua upon arrival, you’ll spot the sizable crabs and lobsters intended for dinner. To secure one of these yummy crustaceans, you can purchase one for 40,000 COP, which is just under $10. These freshly caught giant crabs, lobsters, and sometimes octopuses are definitely worth the additional cost.

Plus, alcohol is an extra charge and can rack up a large bill if you aren’t careful at this party palace on the water. You will get given a bracelet upon arrival that all extra charges go to. The beers were around 2$ and happy hour cocktails were 2 for $12, so if you don’t like beer it can rise in price. However, those cocktails were strong and delicious because all the ingredients were fresh…so well worth it.

Things to do at Casa en el Agua

1. Visit Islote and Experience the most crowded place in the World (Free Tour Included)

As part of the Casa en el Agua experience you get an included tour of ‘Santa Cruz del Islote’ which is in the Guinness Book of Records for the most densely populated island on earth. It is located opposite the hostel and the tour itself is around an hour long. When you go over, you walk around the very narrow alleys of the makeshift island and see the local life. They have everything they need to live and don’t have a government. Once there you pay 8000 COP to enter the island and be shown round. You also have the opportunity to swim with turtles and bottom feeder sharks that are harmless. At the end of the tour you then get the opportunity to buy a Coco-Loco drink which was the most delicious coconut with a twist I have ever tasted- wish I had the recipe.

2. Snorkel for Free around the outside of the Casa

You can grab a snorkel and see the intense blue waters from beneath if you wish.

3.Go on a Night Time boat trip to see the glowing Plankton

Ah, the plankton tour! it will cost you 50,000COP ($12) and you go by boat in the night to swim with the glowing plankton. We had never done it before, so were expecting a neon light show from beneath the surface. However, its not quite like that, but still super cool. It’s definitely something I’m glad I did, but basically your hands light up like glow sticks. I would show you a picture, but its impossible to capture the light.

4. An early trip to snorkel to see colourful fish

If you fancy a snorkel trip to see some cool, colourful fish then it will cost you 40,000COP and be around 3 hours. We chose not to do this because we wanted to spend as much time as possible at the house itself. However, I would have liked to have seen it. If you have gone and done it…let me know!

5. A beach trip to Tintipan or Mucura

Another trip offered is the beach day at either Tintipan or Mucura. On the website it says you can spend half a day or a full day here and it looks beautiful with the white sand. However, we wanted to just stay at our unique stay on the beach, so didn’t end up doing this one. If you do get hostel fever, then it will cost 30,000 COP.

6. Dive into the Carribbean from the Second Floor!

On the exterior of the hostel, there’s a ladder you can climb for a fun jump if you’re up for it. This area became a popular hangout, especially for the guys, who had fun trying out different jumps and capturing their water antics on camera!

How to get to Casa en el Agua?

So, you’ve secured your ticket to Cartagena and made the exciting choice to experience the enchanting Casa en el Agua. However, you might be wondering about the logistics of reaching this extraordinary destination. Accessible solely by boat, advance booking is imperative. The round-trip boat ride comes at a price of 300,000 COP (approximately $73), and the journey each way takes approximately 2 hours. When you consider the accommodation costs and any additional expenses, Casa en el Agua can be seen as a slightly higher-priced adventure, but a great bucketlist hostel all the same.

The boat company is called Tranq It Easy and you can find a link here to book your boat ride, just make sure you book for both ways. This link seems to be a bit more expensive than we paid. I added the company on whatsapp and was sent a link to pay that way. Here is the whatsapp number +57 301 4043633 and they were extremely helpful and friendly.

How much luggage can we take on the boat?

After paying for the boat ride, it’s essential to manage your luggage. The limit is 8kg, and many opt for a small bag on their laps. Some passengers with larger bags place them at the front of the boat. If you’re unsure, you can store your large bags at the Tranq It Easy office near the harbor for 20,000 COP. We chose this option, and it was convenient and straightforward.

The address for the Tranq It Easy office is Banco de Bogota Building– the one diagonal to Monumento Torre del Reloj. This wasn’t easy to find, but you go past the bank and through a door in the car park. Once you go through the door, go up the elevator to the 5th floor and you will see the turquoise door for the office. If you get stuck, just message the WhatsApp number and they can help you.

WARNING– the office hours are from Monday- Friday 10AM- 12AM/ 2PM-4PM and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10AM-12AM. For us, we had to go the day before to store our luggage as we wouldn’t have time the morning of catching the boat.

Where does the boat leave from?

The boat will leave from Muelle La Bodeguita Port door 4 and you will have to get there an hour before to check in. The boat normally leaves at 9AM so we arrived at 8. Everything is well sign posted and entry is easy enough. This is when you will pay the National Park fee as well.

Top Tips for visiting Casa en el Agua

• Cash is King! Make sure to take plenty of cash to pay for the drinks, food and extra activities you may do on the trip. If you do get stuck, they will let you pay some on card. However, cash is much preferred.
• Be careful of those steps into the water- they are slippery!
• Take plenty of Sunscreen as it gets hot and you will burn if you are super white like me!
• A good time to shower is when people go on the Plankton tour which starts at 7pm.

Final Thoughts about Casa en el Agua

If I were to craft a travel guide highlighting the finest places to stay in Colombia, there’s no doubt that Casa en el Agua would claim the top spot. It’s an absolutely unique and enchanting experience that elevated our time in Colombia to something truly extraordinary. Let me emphasize that I have no affiliation with this hostel, and I stand to gain nothing by singing its praises. However, if you’re seeking an out-of-the-ordinary and deeply relaxing adventure, Casa en el Agua is the place to be.

During our stay, we had the pleasure of meeting some wonderfully friendly and entertaining individuals, adding an extra layer of delight to our experience. If you happen to be on a tight budget, one night at Casa en el Agua is sufficient – in fact, most guests opt for just a single night. However, if you’re on a shorter trip and wish to indulge a bit, I’d recommend two nights so you can also explore the enticing tours they offer. In either case, Casa en el Agua promises an unforgettable and magical stay that will leave you with cherished memories of Colombia.