A Place That Won't
Let You Leave

Awatawaa sits on a narrow strip of land between two worlds: the Caribbean Sea in front, the Ciénaga de Mababita lagoon behind. Two entirely different natural spaces, both reachable directly from your terrace. On one side: waves, pelicans in formation, open horizon. On the other: still, fish-rich water where flamingos, herons and roseate spoonbills wade close enough to make out the colour of their feathers. The lodge itself: twelve teak-wood cabins, built with care, right on the beach — six family cabins (for three to six people) and six double cabins, one of them with its own jacuzzi.

You wake up to birdsong. Not as background noise — as a concert. The lagoon begins just behind the cabins, and walking there requires no map and no guide. Early morning is when the light is finest and the birds most active. Flamingos, ibises, pelicans. Then back to the beach: swimming, lying still, reading. No programme, no entertainment. Many guests extend their stay spontaneously — not because there is more to see, but because they have surrendered to the rhythm of the place and do not want to let go.

In the evening, the fish arrives directly from the fishermen you have watched all day from the shore. What Yoleida — the lodge’s cook — does with it is what guests still write about weeks later: fresh, Colombian, surprisingly good. Better, many say, than in far more expensive restaurants in the region. Dinner by candlelight. Falling asleep to the sound of the sea. Neither needs explaining.

Behind all of this is Paula — founder, manager, host with genuine heart. She speaks German, English and Spanish and is always available. Her team comes from the surrounding community and from families she knows personally — their children, their worries, their birthdays. She trains, pays fairly, buys from local fishermen and farmers. It is wonderful to see how something like this can work on a community level.

The cabins suit couples as much as families. The couples’ cabins are especially striking: a private jacuzzi on the terrace, sea view, candlelight. A genuine moment of luxury — set within the wildest nature. Some evenings there is a bonfire on the beach, and occasionally a music group comes from the neighbouring village. It is a real way to learn about the local culture and the people who live here — something truly special.

For those who want more movement, it is close at hand. Right outside the door: river tubing on the Río Jerez in Dibulla — and with it, a first encounter with the region's cultural diversity, where Wayuú, Wiwa, Kogui and Arhuaco communities live side by side. A little further, about an hour or so away: the Río Don Diego, also known for jungle river tubing, with howler monkeys along the banks. Along the way lies Taironaka: an archaeological site of the Tayrona people, where Kogui community members still live today. The landscape itself shifts within a short distance: mangrove forests, several species of cactus, and close by, the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with its towering old trees. The local fishing community has plenty to show too — from boat to market. For those who want to go the full distance: the same magazine carries a dedicated article on the Lost City Trek with Wiwa Tours. The natural order: the trek first, then the sea.

For travellers who want to immerse themselves in Colombian culture — and who want both luxury and closeness: a jacuzzi with a sea view and a dinner that surprises, alongside genuine proximity to the people who work and live here, to the families of the village, to the wildlife of the lagoon. For anyone who wants a few unhurried days on the beach and something truly rare in Colombia.