Calma Chicha

Pleasant rooms and staff, despite unpleasant owner.

This was my 4th visit to Mendihuaca and I thought I'd try somewhere new. Never again. Like other reviewers below, I was quite shocked by the unpleasant attitude of the owner. There are two reasons why I wouldn't book this place: 1. Firstly, the very unusual restrictive check-in window of 4 hours between 2-6pm. This isn’t a problem if you’re staying very nearby, but if you’re coming from Santa Marta or Palomino, and your transport or plans are delayed beyond 6pm, then you risk being stranded without a room (and still having to pay for it). 2. Most importantly, as other reviewers mention, the owner is quite unpleasant, and doesn’t seem to give a heck about his guests once the money is in. In my case, I paid for my stay in full upon arrival. But during my stay I made use of my friends car to store my heavy luggage to make travelling easier in future days. Unfortunately the cleaners made an assumption and assumed I had checked out early. On my last night I returned to find my room locked and occupied by other guests, and the room key which I had hidden behind a door frame was no longer there. All the staff had gone home. I rang the hotel WhatsApp and sent many messages to ask for help as I could see someone had made an error and double booked the room (which remember I had paid in full for), but no one responded. So at 1am I had to walk along the beach and finally I found a hotel that had a room free. But here's where it gets even more weird… the next day I returned to the front desk, the staff apologised for the misunderstanding, but the owner has since just ignored all communications. No answer, no refund, no response to multiple calls, just didn't care that he'd taken our money, sold the same room again, left his guests without accommodation, and how that might feel. I have screenshots of the calls made, timed photos etc, but still no response. I am curious to see if he finally responds here and with what story.

Lovely staff and views right on the beach

Basic, but we expected it, and grew to like it

It’s location is amazing and you fall asleep to the sound of the waves

The rooms are very basic so if you want luxury this won’t be for you

Stunning bedrooms, couldn’t get closer to the sea if you tried. Friendly helpful staff at check in. Comfortable, cool and clean. Nice spacious bathroom too.

Filtered water would be a great addition as buying bottles all of the time isn’t great.

Relaxing stay right on the beach. More of just a basic room, the place doesn’t have much of an atmosphere, but the views and the sound of the ocean is so calming. Restaurant just opening 2 doors down.. ‘El conche y nancar’ - best fish I’ve eaten in Colombia!

Very good food! The breakfast-bowls are amazing and so is the toasted bread with eggs (it is named:mendihuaca)...stuff and owner are supernice…every room has seaview…