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 lodges in Cartagena.
I’ve been to this lovely walled metropolis (the historic half anyway) a number of instances, plus we’ve had extra visits from a few of our contributors through the years. 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 certain I’ll be again for a trip too as flights to Cartagena are sometimes an important deal.
Colombia is a fast-emerging tourism vacation spot that will get extra common yearly. It’s an important 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 lodges in the principle cities and the Espresso Triangle, the largest 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 the town is studded with good outlets 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 large timber. Since opening in 2007, the spacious, serene, and romantic Casa Pestagua has established itself as a traditional 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 area 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.
Charleston Santa Teresa Resort
The Charleston Santa Teresa Resort 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 Seashore and Golf Resort
That is the largest luxurious resort in Cartagena, positioned effectively exterior 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 overview.
This lovely 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 among the public areas have decorations from world wide, 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 handle in Cartagena, that may 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 middle, with a extremely regarded restaurant and a full spa. the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara presents the sense of place and historical past of many native boutique lodges, however with extra services and easy 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 seashore 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 seashore 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 Resort Cartagena, Curio Assortment by Hilton
This lodge initially opened as Tcherassi Resort + Spa, named after and based by a well known clothier. She ultimately offered to a different proprietor and two properties bought mixed into Nacar Resort Cartagena, a Curio Assortment by Hilton lodge. It saved lots 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 experience away from a colonial metropolis with stout fortification partitions is one other plus once you keep at one of many luxurious lodges in Cartagena. You may 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’ll experience a horse-drawn carriage down the slender streets of centuries in the past.
Many of the million–plus individuals who name the town residence reside 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 whole. The seashore 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 because the mid-2000s. He has visited every nation we cowl a number of instances and is predicated in a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis in central Mexico, the place he owns a house. See contact info right here.
