Best Luxury Hotels in Cartagena
If you’d like to soak up some Caribbean sun but are seeking somewhere offering an alternative experience to the mainstream resort hotels, consider a city break in Cartagena, Colombia. This can be combined with a beach holiday or as a standalone trip. Its Old Town, Cartagena de Indias, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was a significant port town back in the 16th century. More recently, Cartagena has become a hip place to be, with super boutiques and restaurants, alongside its points of historical interest and access to the warm, azure Caribbean sea.
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Bolivar, Cartagena, San Diego
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
(5 stars)Stay on the Plaza San Diego in a 17th-century former nunnery in Cartagena’s historic quarter. You can still explore its hallowed hidden staircases and chapel, and the restaurant, 1621, is a reminder of the year the building was completed. Guests can also dine and drink at El Claustro, under cloister vaults, and in El Coro Lounge Bar, above a crypt. There are newer wings too, and a chic pool area. Choose a suite for butler service and one on the top floor bedrooms for sea views (you can see for 500 miles on a clear day).
Bolivar, Cartagena, Centro
Casa San Agustín
(5 stars)Welcome mocktails and snack platters, stocked minibars and cooked-to-order breakfasts all come as standard at the Casa San Augustin. Guests can hop on free loaner bikes to explore Cartagena, laze on the rooftop terrace’s rattan loungers or read a book in its library. Made up of three colonial-era buildings, the boutique hotel has retained its original architectural features. 30 bedrooms have Ortigia toiletries and shuttered windows; some have private patios and plunge pools, while the Suite Del Virrey boasts two rooftop terraces and an outdoor Jacuzzi. And a secluded courtyard accommodates a foliage-flanked heated freshwater pool.
Bolivar, Cartagena, Getsemani
Casa Lola Luxury Collection
(5 stars)A hotel of two parts, this comprises one 17th-century colonial house and one late 19th-century building, each restored to create an elegant and cosy ambience. This is complemented by antique and modern pieces, ethnic and artisan crafts and 500-thread count linens. The vibe on the open-air rooftop, however, is very much a contemporary one, with riviera style loungers, day beds, palms, a plunge pool and Lolita’s Bar. Dona Lola, the comida del Caribe is open for lunch and dinner, serving Spanish tapas and Caribbean-inspired dishes. You’ll find Casa Lola in the Old Town’s Getsemaní neighbourhood.