Sofitel Santa Clara
The modern and stylish hotel has been beautifully converted within the shell of a convent built in the 17th century.
The rooms and suites have views over the old city, the Caribbean Sea or the hotel's internal gardens. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with satellite TV and wireless internet access.
Facilities include a large outdoor swimming pool, a gym, sauna and steamroom, and a spa offering a variety of treatments and massages.
In addition to the hotel's two restaurants, there is also a bar overlooking the fortress walls which makes a good spot for sundowner drinks.
Why We Love It
The hotel's French restaurant (recommended) occupies the former nuns' dining room.
Ananda Boutique Hotel
Located in the heart of the walled city of Cartagena, in a hip area full of trendy boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, and just a few streets away from the city's historic centre.
Ananda is also the name of a seriously luxurious spa hotel in the Himalayas, and the word means a state of bliss in Sanskrit, but if you stray from the Indian sub-continent Cartagena isn't a bad place to end up.
Ananda itself is a restored 16th Century colonial house, with just 23 suites (no mere rooms here, you understand), all different, and all charming - some are double height with mezzanine floors, while others have private terraces.
The restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes in the atmospheric dining room or on under the shade of a large almond tree in the courtyard. The hotel also has a bar, swimming pool and gym.
Just around the corner from the hotel is the ancient city wall- Las Murallas - that protected the city from pirates, and which serves as a great vantage spot for views over the city.
Why We Love It
The original colonial cistern water tank has been converted into an open air patio from which there are great views across the city rooftops.
Casa San Agustin
Casa San Agustín is located in the historic centre of Cartagena, a city steeped in centuries of history and one of Latin America's most beautiful, vibrant, and romantic destinations.
This property effortlessly combines traditional Colombian style with modern day living. From the original frescoes in the library to centuries-old wood-beamed ceilings in the guest rooms, Casa San Agustín's art and architecture evoke the city's rich history as a 17th century Spanish stronghold.
The 24 guest rooms and six suites are found throughout the white-washed, beautifully-decorated former residences in Cartagena's UNESCO-protected Old Town, separated by flower-filled terraces and cosy, book-lined lounges. Because of the set-up, each room has a different layout and view (street or garden); some have shared gardens, private plunge pools, or original elements like wooden-beamed ceilings or frescos, while a couple of the suites are duplexes.
A small swimming pool beckons in the main courtyard, as do a couple of white sofa-lined nooks for al fresco refreshments. The Alma restaurant serves delicious local seafood, conch, ceviche and dishes like Colombian-style bouillabaisse, as well as house-cured meats and fresh seasonal produce. Additional facilities include a palm filled sun terrace which has fantastic views and definitely comes alive at night
Why We Love It
There are jugs of fresh fruit-infused waters in all the communal areas, and little home made sweets on your pillow at night!
