Fodor's Expert Review Dolphin Island Lodge

One of the oldest hotels in Guna Yala, this lodge occupies most of the small Uaguinega Island, which is across a channel from Achutupo. This means you get more exposure to Guna life than at most lodges, but the water isn't clean enough for swimming and snorkeling. The thatched bungalows here are rustic, but comfortable, with private bathrooms and back porches that view the sea and mainland. They are spread along the shore of a grassy island which has hammocks strung between palm trees and a dining hall on one end. The lodge's guides take guests on daily excursions to islands with beaches and coral reefs for snorkeling (equipment is available to rent) and a tour of Achutupo. Guests who stay several days have the option of a river trip, or a hike into the forest to a waterfall.