Where to stay in Watamu
Where to stay in Watamu : The little parade along the Indian Ocean Watamu is located south of Malindi and north of Mombasa. Compared to Mombasa and Diani, Watamu is less frequented by tourist and that makes it the most tranquil Kenya safari destination. It is made of white sand beaches, protected marine park, scattered coral islands, and abundance of bars and restaurants, it resembles a picture-perfect paradise. Watamu is a small, rural town, but it’s home to a large number of hotels, villas, resorts, and tiny cottages. Where in Watamu you choose to stay depends on the weather. As near to the sea as your budget will allow is your only option during the sweltering months of January through March. A sea breeze becomes a lifesaver in this scorching day. Anything but front row creek or the coastline is a glittering heat cloud of beaded sweat and sluggish palm trees in the summer months.
Mida Forest/creek is the ideal location in the winter. The wind whips across the waves at the beach, machine-gunning you with fine sand pellets. It becomes more about taking control of your life and less about unwinding when you are sunbathing beneath coconut-laden palms. The sound of the waves roaring endlessly and the trembling of the trees disappears as you drive into the creek. Step inside a tranquil area with swaying palms and the gentle rustle of lizards across rooftops warmed by the sun. It’s warm enough in the forest all year round for shorts. When it rains or gets chilly during the winter, you should dress warmly when at the beach.
Watamu is fortunate to have a large number of diverse coves and lengthy beach sections. Turtle Bay Beach is covered in seaweed and regrettably littered with plastic during the winter, but Garoda Beach, which is located a kilometre farther down the coast, has clean sand free of trash from the sea. Turtle Bay is the spot to be in the summer. You are free to leave your home and go on foot to restaurants. The same small stretch of beach is home to Ocean Sports, Hemingway’s, Turtle Bay, and Medina Palms, all of which welcome outside guests. Sundowners will love Creekside, Pilipan, Lichthaus, and The Crab Shack. The magnificent Papa Remo restaurant and its seven coral islands can be found at Papa Remo Beach on the northern beaches. Even farther north is Jacaranda Beach, a solitary stretch of breathtaking coastline where, in the spring, you may stroll for miles along sandbars.
In the forest and creek, the year-round presence of mosquitoes and creepy crawlies is more intense. If you’re concerned about malaria and what to pack for a beach vacation in Watamu, check out my piece on important information to know before visiting Kenya. Consider the season when selecting your Watamu lodging (hotels or villas).
Accommodations in Watamu
Turtle Beach Hotel
This is a five-star resort devoid of all exaggeration and prestige. That pretty about covers up what this Watamu hotel has to offer: ‘all the comfort and amenities of a hotel with the seclusion of your own special holiday home or apartment’. It’s not a hotel; rather, it’s a collection of exquisite Moroccan-style apartments housed in an upscale building. The apartments at Medina Palms Watamu are where the resort really shines, but there are also general amenities including a gym, spa, kids club, café, restaurant, swimming pools, and non-motorized water sports. Every exquisitely built stand-alone unit is equipped with international TV channels and WIFI. You can include a private chef and babysitter in the price if you choose one of the upscale packages. I adore it because of its laid-back atmosphere; it’s a luxurious hotel where you won’t have to worry too much about your kids running wild in the pool. It’s warm and inviting.
Kobe suite resort
The Kobe Suite Resort is situated in Watamu Marine Park, directly across from the breathtaking Garoda beach. The resort is located far south of Watamu, this is a serene location with amazing views. The Watamu hotel features a number of suites with Italian and Swahili decor elements. The air-conditioned rooms are part of a complex that also features a wonderful Italian restaurant, a cocktail bar, two swimming pools, tropical gardens and an on-site spa. Kobe is a beautifully designed coastal apartment that makes the most of its environment with flowing pools, white terracing and bleached wood furnishings.
Similar to Kobe, this Watamu lodging is situated directly on the Garoda beach. The expansive resort boasts two enormous pools and a bar located beside the pool, a restaurant, and luxurious air-conditioned rooms. It has perfect view of the Indian Ocean, day beds are situated atop a hill overlooking Garoda beach. Gecko Resort offers simple lodging. It’s simple, tidy, and ideal for family safaris. There are family rooms and babysitter services available. Adjacent to the restaurant and bar is the main, stunning pool. Better yet, the hotel has incredibly low rates. This wonderful resort is most suitable for households with small children.
Seven Island Resort
Seven Island Resort receives great marks because of a few important factors. First of all, it’s next to the Papa Remo restaurant and directly on Papa Remo beach. It is the best place to visit without having to deal with beach boys, you may stroll straight from the hotel to the restaurant or beach and find sunbeds on the warm white sand dunes. Second, it’s efficient, tidy, and air-conditioned in the rooms. Feels a bit like Gecko Resort, but a little more expensive. The resort itself is beautiful, but the restaurant’s food is subpar. Fortunately, you can make up for this by filling up on as much pizza and calamari as you can at Papa Remo. The Seven Island Resort Watamu offers family accommodations, a large pool, a kids’ pool, a playground, and childcare services.
Temple point Resort
The mouth of Mida stream, where the ocean and stream waters converge, is where Temple Point Resort is situated. It’s a gorgeous location with breathtaking sunsets. The highlight of this Watamu hotel is Lichthaus, a beach bar that floats over the creek’s waters. It’s basic, with a decent dive school, restaurant and roomy air-conditioned rooms, and it’s reasonably priced. The food is amazing, the cocktails are potent, and you can spend all day lounging in hammocks staring at puffer fish. The bar is accessible to the public and quite popular, therefore you should ask the hotel to make reservations.
Palm Garden Resort
Located in the quiet lanes of Mida Forest is the serene oasis that is Palm Garden Resort Watamu. The rare enormous white-washed mansion, goats, poultry, and a canopy of tall palms that sway above mud and timber-framed homes. High-end boutique hotel Palm Garden Resort has a modest number of rooms, a shop, a spa, a pool and an on-site bar and restaurant. Because it’s so peaceful and tranquil it is more suitable for couples or adults than for kids.
