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 straightforward selection: you wish to expertise the posh accommodations 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 over time. I’ve stayed within the historic middle and on the outskirts and in addition cruised out to the blue water across the Rosario Islands. I’m positive I’ll be again for a trip too as flights to Cartagena are sometimes a terrific deal.
Colombia is a fast-emerging tourism vacation spot that will get extra standard yearly. It’s a terrific 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 accommodations in the principle cities and the Espresso Triangle, the largest focus of them are in Cartagena, the true jewel for upscale vacationers. Because it’s simple to get there from the U.S. and Canada and the town is studded with good retailers and eating places in a walkable space, Cartagena is form 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 out of doors bar, small spa, and a big swimming pool shaded by huge timber. Since opening in 2007, the spacious, serene, and romantic Casa Pestagua has established itself as a basic within the historic middle of Cartagena. In 2016 Casa Pestagua acquired the Relais & Chateaux certification.
Positioned 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 engaging 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 house for the restaurant and bar. On the rooftop is a solarium with a view, comfortable lounge chairs on the prepared for catching some rays, showers close by for cooling off once more.
The Charleston Santa Teresa Lodge is within the historic middle, 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 the town, the partitions, and the ocean.
The Karibana Seaside and Golf Resort
That is the largest luxurious resort in Cartagena, positioned nicely 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 completely different administration. Click on the hyperlink to see the complete evaluation.
This stunning boutique lodge within the historic middle has loads of historical past, however has well-designed rooms with fashionable facilities, a pleasant courtyard eating places, and a roof deck with views. The 24 suites and a few of 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 Lodge Boutique Ananda.
If you wish to keep on the status deal with in Cartagena, that may be the Lodge Sofitel Santa Clara, a “Legend” property within the assortment, the best obtainable within the French Accor chain. It is a full-service luxurious Cartagena lodge in a prized location within the historic middle, with a extremely regarded restaurant and a full spa. the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara provides the sense of place and historical past of many native boutique accommodations, however with extra services and clean service from a big, well-trained workers.
If you wish to earn or use some IHG Factors, the Intercontinental Cartagena is a contemporary high-rise in a seaside space, however not removed from the middle. Right here you’ll get worldwide business-standard rooms with loads of facilities and charging shops, together with a well-trained workers. It has a big infinity swimming pool going through the seaside that’s lengthy sufficient for laps.
This seven-unit lodge is sufficiently small to function 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 positioned 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 Lodge Cartagena, Curio Assortment by Hilton
This lodge initially opened as Tcherassi Lodge + Spa, named after and based by a widely known clothier. She finally bought to a different proprietor and two properties bought mixed into Nacar Lodge Cartagena, a Curio Assortment by Hilton lodge. It saved a lot of its unique design touches, however added a extra internationally skilled workers 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 accommodations in Cartagena. You’ll be able to go snorkeling and seaside 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’ll trip a horse-drawn carriage down the slender streets of centuries in the past.
A lot of the million–plus individuals who name the town dwelling reside far past the partitions. So whereas there might 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 whole. The seaside resorts fanning out in each instructions from the town partitions have as many home vacationers as international ones, with a great portion of these foreigners being from Latin American nations. A solar and enjoyable trip right here has a far completely different really feel than one in Cancun or Ambergris Caye.
See our full tour function 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.
