The place do you have to go in Colombia if you wish to get pampered and sleep in a high-end property? That’s a simple alternative: you need to expertise the posh inns in Cartagena.
I’ve been to this stunning walled metropolis (the historic half anyway) a number of occasions, plus we’ve had extra visits from a few of our contributors through the years. I’ve stayed within the historic heart and on the outskirts and likewise cruised out to the blue water across the Rosario Islands. I’m certain I’ll be again for a trip too as flights to Cartagena are sometimes an excellent deal.
Colombia is a fast-emerging tourism vacation spot that will get extra common yearly. It’s an excellent worth for these coming in with {dollars} or euros and the word-of-mouth buzz has translated into extra media protection within the shiny journey magazines.
Whereas there are a couple of luxurious inns in the principle cities and the Espresso Triangle, the most important focus of them are in Cartagena, the actual jewel for upscale vacationers. Because it’s simple to get there from the U.S. and Canada and town is studded with good outlets and eating places in a walkable space, Cartagena is type of a self-feeding ecosystem for luxurious vacationers.
This transformed three-story mansion has 11 visitor room set round a double inside courtyard and luxurious backyard with a reflecting fountain, al fresco restaurant, sitting areas, an outside bar, small spa, and a big swimming pool shaded by large bushes. Since opening in 2007, the spacious, serene, and romantic Casa Pestagua has established itself as a basic within the historic heart of Cartagena. In 2016 Casa Pestagua acquired the Relais & Chateaux certification.
Situated a couple of blocks from the Sixteenth-century Spanish Colonial fortress wall and the water past, Casa San Agustin is within the thick of historic buildings and attractive cafes. It mixed three adjoining homes and has remnants of an unique aqueduct that ran excessive. Two courtyards are within the areas in between the unique properties, one containing a swimming pool, the opposite out of doors eating area for the restaurant and bar. On the rooftop is a solarium with a view, cozy lounge chairs on the prepared for catching some rays, showers close by for cooling off once more.
Charleston Santa Teresa Resort
The Charleston Santa Teresa Resort is within the historic heart, combining a historic constructing with 12 rooms and a a lot bigger newer constructing with bigger rooms. On the prime is the swimming pool pictured above, with terrific views of town, the partitions, and the ocean.
The Karibana Seashore and Golf Resort
That is the most important luxurious resort in Cartagena, situated effectively outdoors of the middle however subsequent to the water and with a full golf course. The Karibana Resort first opened as a Conrad by Hilton and was constructed to these requirements earlier than later transitioning to totally different administration. Click on the hyperlink to see the complete evaluation.
This stunning boutique lodge within the historic heart has loads of historical past, however has well-designed rooms with trendy facilities, a pleasant courtyard eating places, and a roof deck with views. The 24 suites and among the public areas have decorations from all over the world, giving it a cosmopolitan air. There’s a second pool in one of many courtyards, so it’s simple to discover a good place to lounge at Resort Boutique Ananda.
If you wish to keep on the status tackle in Cartagena, that will be the Resort Sofitel Santa Clara, a “Legend” property within the assortment, the best accessible within the French Accor chain. This can be a full-service luxurious Cartagena lodge in a prized location within the historic heart, with a extremely regarded restaurant and a full spa. the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara affords the sense of place and historical past of many native boutique inns, however with extra amenities and clean service from a big, well-trained employees.
If you wish to earn or use some IHG Factors, the Intercontinental Cartagena is a contemporary high-rise in a seashore space, however not removed from the middle. Right here you’ll get worldwide business-standard rooms with loads of facilities and charging retailers, together with a well-trained employees. It has a big infinity swimming pool dealing with the seashore that’s lengthy sufficient for laps.
This seven-unit lodge is sufficiently small to characteristic each room on its web site. La Pasion by Masaya is strolling distance from the subtle eating places and bars of the Barrio San Diego and situated very near the inquisition Museum, the Plaza Santa Domingo, and stylish boutiques. Because it’s adult-only, you’re assured of calm and privateness as a pair.
Nacar Resort Cartagena, Curio Assortment by Hilton
This lodge initially opened as Tcherassi Resort + Spa, named after and based by a widely known dressmaker. She finally offered to a different proprietor and two properties obtained mixed into Nacar Resort Cartagena, a Curio Assortment by Hilton lodge. It saved lots of its unique design touches, however added a extra internationally educated employees to the administration combine that’s able to cater to international luxurious guests.
Having coral reefs and tropical islands a brief boat trip away from a colonial metropolis with stout fortification partitions is one other plus once you keep at one of many luxurious inns in Cartagena. You possibly can go snorkeling and seashore bumming by day, bar hopping and wall strolling at night time. There are nice out of doors cafes with a view of postcard-perfect buildings lit up at night time and you may trip a horse-drawn carriage down the slim streets of centuries in the past.
Many of the million–plus individuals who name town dwelling dwell far past the partitions. So whereas there could appear to be as many vacationers as locals within the coronary heart of the outdated metropolis, even on cruise ship days the international invaders don’t dominate the full. The seashore resorts fanning out in each instructions from town partitions have as many home vacationers as international ones, with a superb portion of these foreigners being from Latin American nations. A solar and enjoyable trip right here has a far totally different really feel than one in Cancun or Ambergris Caye.
See our full tour characteristic on the world right here: Magical Cartagena and the Rosario Islands of Colombia.
Article by Timothy
Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxurious Latin America and has been overlaying the area as a journey journalist for the reason that mid-2000s. He has visited every nation we cowl a number of occasions and is predicated in a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis in central Mexico, the place he owns a house. See contact info right here.