La Martina Ecolodge

A canoe slides onto the Joví River, guided by local paddlers who know its bends and its birds. That is how mornings often start at La Martina Ecolodge, set on Playa Guachalito near Utría National Park on Colombia's Chocó coast, where jungle meets tide and rooms look out over river or sea. The Colibrí y Tucán cabin has two double beds, a private bathroom, and a view over both water and forest. Martín Pescador y Pelícano rooms share the same two-bed layout with river views, while the simpler Halcón y Gaviota room holds one double bed. All units come with a balcony, a fan, linens, and a wardrobe. Power here runs on solar. Guests are asked to charge devices by day, since stored energy after dark goes only to lighting. Beyond the lodge, kayaks cross calm river channels and mangrove edges, and guides lead trips to natural hot springs fed by underground heat. Humpback whales pass the coast between July and October, arriving to calve in warmer shallows. Turtle release outings run some nights, weather depending, and a river tour follows the Joví past exotic birds and dense native plant cover. The front desk runs around the clock, with airport transfer and room service on request.