Sol y Mar

Island life here is straightforward: your room, the sea, a terrace and a restaurant, without a long list of resort distractions to work through. Sol y Mar sits on Isla Fuerte for travellers who want the beach close by and a practical base for exploring the Atlantic around the island.

Private entrances and balconies give the accommodation an easy, self-contained feel. Sea views add something worth looking up for, even when the day's diving has left you more interested in a chair than in sightseeing. Family rooms make the address suitable for groups as well as couples, while the on-site restaurant keeps dinner simple when you would rather stay put.

You are in Isla Fuerte, Colombia, with direct access to a white-sand beach. Sun loungers and parasols are set out by the shore, so getting from your room to the water does not require a taxi, a timetable or a heroic sense of direction.

The hotel occupies a central position on the island. The nearest listed airport is Golfo de Morrosquillo Airport, 41 miles away; Los Garzones Airport is 44 miles away and Corozal Airport 60 miles away. El Galpón and Portugal del Caribe are 25 miles away, while Restaurante Costa Paisa and the bars Estadero Don Burro, Amnesia and Matuk are 26 miles away.

The room choice is mainly about how many people need to sleep under one roof. For two, the Standard Double Room keeps things uncomplicated, while the family rooms give larger groups separate beds alongside a double bed. The Family Cabin on Boat sleeps up to six and is the obvious option when the priority is keeping a group together rather than spreading everyone across several rooms.

Every room has a private bathroom, tiled floors, a private entrance, a balcony and sea views. That combination matters once you return sandy, salty and ready to sit down: you can come and go without passing through a formal lobby, leave the day's gear to one side and take the evening at your own pace.

The rooms are non-smoking. Children of any age are welcome, although cots and extra beds are not available, so the existing bed layout needs to suit your party. Pets can stay on request. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

The on-site restaurant is the practical centre of the evening. You can eat without setting off across the island, which is useful when a day in the water has sharpened your appetite and reduced your enthusiasm for logistics. The restaurant is part of the property rather than an off-site recommendation.

An outdoor dining area and a terrace give you the option of eating or sitting outside. The available details do not set out a meal plan, breakfast arrangement, menu style or bar service, so the useful point is simpler: Sol y Mar has a restaurant on the premises and somewhere open-air to linger afterwards.

The beach is the main answer when you are not in the water for work. Direct access to white sand, with loungers and parasols, gives you the sort of afternoon plan that requires no briefing: find a seat, watch the tide and let the island get on with itself.

The terrace adds another place to settle with a drink, a book or the person who has been patiently waiting for your dive stories. Sea views run through the accommodation, and the outdoor dining area keeps the evening connected to the coast rather than sending you indoors straight after the meal.

There is no long programme to follow. You can make the beach and terrace your schedule, which suits a couple looking for unhurried hours as well as a family needing a simple place to regroup.

Check-in runs from 05:00 to 23:30, with check-out from 06:00 to 10:00. There is no age requirement for check-in, and children of every age are welcome. Guests aged 18 or over are charged as adults, so enter the ages in your booking details when arranging a family stay.

Payment is by cash. Cancellation and prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation selected, so check the terms attached to the room you choose before confirming. Pets are accepted on request, and the property has family rooms for larger groups.

Golfo de Morrosquillo Airport is 41 miles away, with Los Garzones Airport at 44 miles and Corozal Airport at 60 miles. Airport transfer arrangements are not detailed here, so you should settle the journey to Isla Fuerte with the hotel before travelling rather than leaving the final leg to chance.