The Best Travel Destinations in 2022
#9: Calala Island, Nicaragua
Arrive at the docks of this luxury private island to the sounds of Caribbean guitars. With only four beachfront suites and a max of eight guests, Calala Island offers the ultimate in exclusivity. At this “Ultra All-Inclusive” island, you will be treated to experiential meals crafted by the executive chef who traded in the Michelin starred restaurants of Europe for this picturesque Caribbean Island. Local and sustainably sourced meals and virtually all drinks and activities are included in the stay.
Start the day with a steaming hot French press made from locally sourced Nicaraguan coffee beans while watching the morning waves lap the shore outside a private bungalow. Once breakfast has settled, grab some snorkel gear and head out for some island hopping. You’ll be whisked away by boat to uninhabited islands that were first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Enjoy refreshments as you hop from island to island, pausing occasionally to explore these deserted lands and the vibrant ocean life below.
If you arrive in the spring, watch the island birth new life with the hatching of the endangered Hawksbill turtle that nests on the island, and keep an eye out for one of the three sloths that make Calala Island their home. Upon request, the über accommodating staff will even wake you up at night, so that you don’t miss the hatchlings making their way into the world.
If you’re due an island getaway, consider letting the waves of this unspoiled slice of Caribbean paradise wash away the daily stresses of life and reinvigorate your soul.
