Río & Fuego Lodge

Río & Fuego Lodge is a two-bedroom cabin set directly on a river in Minca, in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Río and Fuego rooms each hold a double and a single bed, open onto a terrace over the water, and can be closed off with glass or left open behind a screen door to let the river sound in. A third space, El Refugio, sits one level down with hammocks and floor cushions closer to the water.

The property runs off-grid and without Wi-Fi in the rooms, though a connection is available in the common areas. A wood sauna is included when booking directly with the lodge; a bonfire is lit every night near the river with no fixed end time. There's also a wood-fired oven for bread or pizza, which takes close to three hours to heat, and a separate outdoor shared kitchen with a gas stove.

It's a five-minute walk from Minca town, about 45 minutes from Santa Marta and an hour from Santa Marta's airport. Pets are allowed, and the lodge sleeps up to four guests between its two rooms. Birdwatching with a local guide and yoga sessions can be arranged directly at the lodge, with yoga needing a day's notice.

Rates start at $55 a night and go up to $69 depending on group size, with booking handled directly through the lodge rather than a third-party platform. Reception hours are listed as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.