15 Best Hotels in Cartagena, The Caribbean Coast

Alfiz Hotel

$$$$ | Calle Cochera del Gobernador #33--28, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

Airy public areas blending whitewashed walls and exposed original brickwork with a lush green minigarden in the middle are perfectly in tune with this ancient city’s style. The cool interiors of guest rooms, which are impeccably furnished with dark-wood antiques, complete the glance into the way the wealthy lived in Cartagena in colonial times. The building, lovingly restored over two years, is typical of early traders' homes, with the high-ceilinged first floor used for warehousing and the second floor as living quarters. Each of the eight rooms is carefully decorated to tell the story of a different era in the city's history, and many details, including the oversized brass showerheads and elaborate woodwork, were crafted by local artisans. The walls are well over a foot thick, keeping rooms cool and insulated from all but the most gentle reminders of salsa from the party in the streets outside.

Anandá Hotel Boutique

$$$$ | Calle del Cuartel #36--77, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

In a city renowned for plush, storied accommodation, it's no easy feat to stand out, but Anandá does so with a welcoming and inclusive sense of luxury, backed by excellent design and attention to detail throughout. The hotel is laid out around two interlinked courtyards, the larger housing one of the city's finest restaurants, Carmen, where tables are arranged on a wooden deck over a gently running water. Above, wooden balconies blend with muted tones of red and blue, with some rooms overlooking the first-floor pool area, a patch of azure with a small palm set against exposed original stonework. Rooms, divided into three categories, are all spacious, with polished wood floors, quality furnishings, and heavy wooden beams above; grand four-poster beds set the suites apart. The pool area, with several white-draped daybeds, is more spacious than most and offers spectacular sunset views.

Casa India Catalina

$$ | Calle del Coliseo #5--67, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

This is a solid choice for the budget-conscious traveler looking to stay right in the heart of the historic center with all the sights and nightlife close at hand. The basic hotel retains plenty of colonial character from the bougainvillea-covered entrance to the cheerful yellow interior and balconies with wooden balustrades overlooking a small pool surrounded by exposed brick arches. Rooms are colorful and clean, although they could do with a touch of maintenance and upgraded towels, but they have basic showers, a/c, and cable TV. Avoid streetside rooms if you're a light sleeper.

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Casa La Fe

$$$ | Calle Segunda De Badillo #36--125, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

The best of the midrange options in the old city, Casa La Fe has a much-loved location on the leafy Plaza Fernandez de Madrid and is comfortable and colorful throughout. The room's design and furnishings are somewhat dated, but they are well-sized and welcoming, and the pricier options with balconies overlooking the plaza are well worth the extra cost. Breakfast is served at charming wrought-iron tables in the green central courtyard, and the third floor offers a small splash pool and bar, where the barman whips up some tasty cocktails.

Casa Lola

$$$$ | Calle del Guerrero #29--108, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia Fodor's Choice

Less than a block away from the central Plaza de la Trinidad, Casa Lola is leading the way in accommodations for the booming Getsemaní neighborhood. The soothing modern interior is impeccably fitted into a finely restored historic building. The entrance charms and sets the tone with a mix of antique furniture and modern art, while the central hallway lulls with a series of burbling channels and pools that you cross on wooden walkways on the way to the rooms or up to the third- floor deck and pools. Rooms are uniquely laid out and decorated with a brashly modern flair by Spanish owner and interior designer Ignacio Garcia de Vinuesa that ensures you'll fall for the space regardless of your personal taste.

Casa San Agustín

$$$$ | Calle de la Universidad, No. 36--44, Cartagena, Colombia Fodor's Choice

This intimate and luxurious boutique's distinctive rooms are scattered throughout the white-washed, beautifully decorated former residence in Cartagena's UNESCO-protected Old Town, separated by flower-filled terraces and cozy, book-lined lounges. Because of the setup, each room has a different layout and view (street or garden); some have shared gardens, private plunge pools, or original elements like wood-beamed ceilings or frescoes, while a couple suites are duplexes. All come with free Wi-Fi, Frette linens, Ortigia bath products, HDTVs, and on-request iPads. A small swimming pool beckons in the main courtyard below an ancient aqueduct, as do a few white couch-lined nooks for alfresco refreshments. Staff are professional and genuinely caring, making visitors feel at home, avoiding airs and graces that can so often mar similarly establishments. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, the Alma restaurant highlights local seafood. Along with the sexy vibe and relaxed-luxury style, the hotel's biggest plus is the central location in the vibrant Old Town.

Casablanca B&B

$$$$ | Calle del Tejadillo #38--71, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

Slightly removed from the bustle of the historic center, Casablanca's cool, whitewashed walls and aquatic theme add to the impression of an old city oasis, a welcome hideout from the tropical heat on the other side of the heavy wooden door to the street. Just past reception at the entrance to this grand republican home, a wooden walkway leads past a narrow pool in a leafy, open-air gallery with rooms adjacent or on the second floor. The 14 rooms are large and well-appointed, with particularly spacious bathrooms of white stone and marble stocked with L'Occitane products. Faux weathered wooden furniture detracts a little from an otherwise superbly finished space.

Friends to Be

$$ | Calle del Espíritu Santo #10C--105, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

A attractive, refurbished home on a popular but not too raucous street in Getsemaní is just steps away from some of the neighborhood's best restaurants. The hotel is dominated by a central open courtyard that features a plunge pool and lounge bar, which is great for the socially inclined but can be a problem for those seeking a quieter atmosphere. Rooms with tall wooden doors and windows surround the courtyard on two levels; they are comfortable, spacious, and have some charming details like wooden pallet bases for the beds and colorful mosaic tiling in the bathroom. The hotel is clearly aiming for a more budget-conscious market, so quality finishes are lacking, and rooms aren't very quiet.

Hilton Cartagena

$$$$ | Carrera 1 No. 4–00, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

At this hotel on the tip of the Bocagrande peninsula, the spacious, airy guests rooms can provide wide views of the city or sea, but the unattractive surroundings that lie far from the old city may disappoint. White-tile floors, pastel hues, and light wood, as well as updated baths with a rain shower, add a soothing vibe. Some rooms have great views of the terrace and its gardens and four pools, including one for kids. The beach past the impressive pool area has essentially been claimed by the hotel and is less populous than others on the peninsula, but despite touches of green remains a rather drab, gray-sand affair. Guests may feel far removed from the bustle of the old town, so decide your priorities in advance.

Hotel 3 Banderas

$$ | Calle Cochera del Hobo No. 38–66, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

In the historic and increasingly popular San Diego neighborhood in the walled town, this attractive little 19th-century hotel is a decent medium-range option. The simple and sometimes overly colorful rooms, all of which border a pleasant green courtyard, combine colonial style with modern amenities. A lounge area with an oversized Jacuzzi on the third floor offers a space to relax and take in views over the city.

Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa

$$$$ | Carrera 3A No. 31–23, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

Occupying the historic Convento de Santa Teresa, this 16th-century showplace inside the walled town combines colonial and republican architectural styles with colorful attention to detail, preserving the building's character from the plant-laden multistory interior courtyard to local design touches in guest rooms. Rooms and suites, sumptuously appointed with rich fabrics, some antique furnishings, and modern pieces, look out onto the ocean or the walled town. The best views are from the rooftop pool (overlooking San Pedro Claver church) and restaurant.

Hotel Playa Manglares Isla Barú

$$$$ | Km 12 Via Playa Blanca Isla Barú, Cartagena, 130017, Colombia Fodor's Choice

If you are looking to stay on outlying Isla Barú, this beautiful beachside home turned intimate B&B run by friendly host Olga is a perfect getaway tucked into a quiet corner of the island. The white-painted rooms are cool and spacious, open to the elements beyond the flowing white curtains, and though simple, have real rustic heart. There's no a/c, but a fan takes the edge off the heat. The shady beach, although not perfect white sand with crystal clear water, remains empty most of the day, and the calm waters are good for swimming. The hosts will happily help organize snorkeling trips to the Islas del Rosario or a visit to nearby Aviario de Colombia, the country's best and newest bird sanctuary, with some 135 species. The food is reasonably priced and well-prepared, and after dinner, all that remains is to take a seat next to the bonfire on the beach, dig your toes deep into the sand, and relax.

Hotel San Pedro de Majagua

$$$ | Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

As long as you have realistic expectations for an isolated hotel that caters to day-trippers, you'll find Majagua to be the best, most well-priced hotel on Isla Grande. The tiny beaches are decent, but most guests spend their days out and about, snorkeling the reefs, kayaking through the mangrove forest, or visiting the nearby aquarium. Once the day-tour crowds and hawkers leave, overnight guests can rent a stand-up paddleboard and head out for sunset, or simply grab a hammock or a deck chair and a cold coconut cocktail—this, after all, is why you're here. Food options are limited to the on-site restaurant, which offers tasty, seafood-driven fare at surprisingly reasonable prices. The hotel boats—which are an additional charge—leave Cartagena at 9 am and return at 3 pm; the trip can be choppy. Snorkeling tours with Dive Planet including transportation.

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

$$$$ | Calle del Torno 39--29, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia Fodor's Choice

The magnificent Santa Clara—a former 17th-century monastery—deserves its position in Sofitel's Legends category, reserved for properties with true historic status. Beautiful arched walkways, atmospheric plant-filled courtyards, and original details from confessionals to water wells abound, adding character and making the place more romantic than its Clarist nun founders could ever have intended. Guest rooms are spread out over an original Colonial wing and a more modern Republican one; all have Caribbean views, wood ceilings and floors, and elegant, muted contemporary decor, plus all the expected upscale technology and amenities. The nuns' former dining room is now the highly rated Restaurante1621, featuring superb French fare fused with New World ingredients and an outstanding wine list. A pool and vast terrace help the place feel like a resort in spite of its central location, while the So Spa has a hammam and locally influenced treatments.

Tcherassi Hotel and Spa

$$$$ | Calle del sargento Mayor #6--21, Cartagena, 130001, Colombia

Internationally famed fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi leaves a personal stamp throughout this stylishly renovated 18th-century mansion, from the three-story green wall that towers over the central courtyard to little details like feathered lampshades and bedspreads made of hundreds of golden dress labels. Elements from the original house are prominent, like the original brick and coral stone arches and walls, while the wooden balconies and exposed beams are painted white to create a cool, modern contrast. Rooms are massive, the smallest measuring 400 square feet, with soaring ceilings and flowing white curtains that amplify the feeling of space. Dark wooden flooring and low, voluptuous lighting are the norm, and freestanding tubs or skylight rain showers complete the sensation of luxury. On-site restaurant Vera offers a coastal Italian cuisine, and the fresh pasta dishes are easily among the city's best.

The Caribbean Coast

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