NAIO HOTEL & VILLAS

Once a quiet fishing village untouched by tourism, Palomino has lately developed into a popular vacation spot. The setting, right at the point where the snowcapped Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and the Río Palomino meet the Caribbean Sea, is a natural wonderland for surfing and river tubing. Many hotels have popped up to accommodate the influx of visitors, but Naio Hotel & Villas, with its modern design and gorgeously landscaped grounds, is one of the only luxury options.

Situated on the water’s edge, amid a dense thicket of palms and tropical foliage, Naio is spacious and peaceful, with palapa-shaded chaises longues on the sand. A collection of thatched-roof villas and suites are set around a lagoon-like pool lined in stone and turquoise tile, and long decks with shaded daybeds stretch out beside it with direct views of the Caribbean. Villas have sizeable private pools in the same style, with sliding glass doors opening into airy living rooms with sectional sofas, fully equipped kitchens, and multiple bedrooms. The décor is rustic-chic and minimalist, though suites are on the simpler side, with high vaulting ceilings, hardwood flooring, and recessed lighting. The hotel’s restaurant and bar are a touch upscale, in contrast with many backpacker-friendly venues in the village, and the region’s many outdoor attractions — the reason everyone’s here — are easily accessible.