11 Great Cartagena Beach Resorts – The Best Cartagena Beach Hotels

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, it’s no surprise that one of Cartagena’s main attractions is without a doubt its beaches.

For that reason, spending some time staying at one of the best Cartagena beach resorts is all but a must while visiting.

However, I lived in Cartagena for over a decade and I’m going to let you in on a little secret:

Cartagena’s best beaches and, by extension, the best Cartagena beach hotels are located outside the city, with the very best ones located in the isolated Rosario Islands, an hour long boat ride away.

So, actually, while I definitely recommend considering staying for some of your time at one of the best beach resorts near Cartagena, I don’t recommend staying for your full stay at one of them, because you’ll miss out on all the city has to offer.

In this post, I’ll go over what to consider when deciding which of the beach resorts in Cartagena, Colombia might be best for you. Then, I’ll give you my picks for the best beach hotels in Cartagena. I’ll include some picks for great options in the islands as well as some picks for best beach hotels near Cartagena on the mainland.

And, don’t worry, if you do want to do your full stay at a beach hotel, I’ll give you some picks for the best hotels in Cartagena on the beach in the city proper too!

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Too long; can’t read it all quick picks for Cartagena beach hotels

I’ll go into lots more detail below, but if you’re in a hurry, here are some quick tips on the best Cartagena beach hotels.

I highly encourage splitting your time between a hotel in the historic walled city and a Cartagena beach hotel since the best Cartagena beach resorts are located out in the isolated Rosario Islands.

My number one pick for a luxury Cartagena resort would be the amazing bungalows at Las Islas, an amazing property. The Sofitel Calablanca and Isla del Encanto make for great alternatives for luxury Cartagena beach resorts in the islands. However, our personal favorite place is IslaBela, and it offers a great value in the islands. Just keep in mind you won’t want to spend your entire time in Cartagena out in the islands.

For places closer to town, the Estelar Manzanillo is my top recommendation for an all-inclusive beach resort in Cartagena on the mainland closer to town. Las Americas would be my top suggestions for a family friendly Cartagena beach hotel, and the Cartagena Hilton works well for just about any kind of traveler looking for a hotel by the beach in Cartagena’s city limits.

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What to Consider Before Booking a Cartagena, Colombia Beach Resort

As I said at the start, spending some time enjoying the sun and sand of Cartagena’s beaches is a must during a visit.

So, you might be asking yourself, why not stay at a Cartagena beach hotel or resort and have the beach close by?

I think that’s a great idea for part of your stay but not the entire time.

That’s because the nicer beaches are outside the city proper, and the very best ones are in the islands, where there really isn’t much to do but enjoy the beach. So, if you stay there for your whole stay, you’ll miss out an all the other things to do in Cartagena.

I actually personally think the best areas to stay in Cartagena are in the historic center and Getsemaní. It puts you within easy walking distance to many of the city’s top attractions, most of the best restaurants and the best Cartagena nightlife, not to mention immersed in the historic charm of the colonial city.

Now, it’s worth pointing out there are beaches in town, and they are ok, some are even pretty good. However, they pale in comparison to the islands. They can also get crowded and vendors can be pesky at the most popular ones.

So, if you’re only going to be in Cartagena for 4 nights of less, I’d encourage you to stay at one of the lovely boutique hotels or luxury hotels in town, preferably in the Walled City.

If that’s your case, I would definitely still encourage you to do a day trip to the islands, perhaps at our favorite spot (use code ExploreColombia20 to get a 20% discount on that day pass by the way). You could also do this great catamaran day trip or if you’ve got the budget for it, do it in style with a private boat rental.

See some more options at my picks for the best Rosario Islands tours here.

Now, if you have 5 or more nights, I do strongly recommend splitting your time in town and at one of the beach resorts in Cartagena, Colombia’s islands discussed below.

And, if you do want to do your full stay at one of the Cartagena hotels on the beach, I’ll give you some good options below too.

11 Best Beach Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia

This list of the best resorts in Cartagena, Colombia is a top 11 because, well, everyone does top 10s, 11 has a special significance for Cartagena since it declared its independence on November 11, 1811 (11/11/11), and I think you deserve just a bit more value.

As noted above, I recommend splitting your time between a hotel in town and a hotel in the islands. However, in the name of including a little something for everyone on this list, I’ve decided to split up this list of my top recommendations for Cartagena resorts and beach hotels by area to include some that also make good choices for full stays.

Just keep in mind the places listed in the first two sections, in the Rosario Islands and Tierra Bomba, are not good choices for your entire stay.

The third section of beach hotels near Cartagena are ok for full stays but are still a bit far from town.

Finally, the fourth section includes hotels on the beach in Cartagena proper and make the best choices for doing a full stay at a Cartagena beachfront hotel.

Where applicable, I’ve included a few extra suggestions in these areas too just in case these are booked up or you want to do some comparison shopping.

So, now without further ado, let’s get to this list of the best Cartagena, beach resorts!

Part 1: Best Cartagena Resorts in the Rosario Islands

As I mentioned above, the Rosario Islands have Cartagena’s prettiest beaches and would be my top recommendation for where to stay at a beach hotel in Cartagena. The catch is they are around 60-90 minute boat ride away and there is basically nothing else out here.

If you have the time to make even just one night out here work, it’s totally worth it though!

I’ve included the 3 best Cartagena luxury beach hotels in the islands here plus our personal favorite spot and, in my opinion, the best value in the islands. I also have a few more alternatives listed below that as well.

1. Hotel Las Islas – The Most Unique Luxury Cartagena Beach Resort

The first place on this list of the best Cartagena, Colombia beach resorts is located among the mangroves at the tip of the Island of Barú and is hands down the finest luxury Cartagena beach resort.

Las Islas offers amazing bungalows whose interiors that rival just about any 5 star hotel room.

Some are nestled in the forest, while others are waterfront. Some even have their own private pools, jacuzzis, or ocean access. This Cartagena island resort is even considered one of the very best Caribbean resorts with private pools anywhere. All are the perfect mix of luxury, nature, and exclusivity.

Somehow this place just seems to have nailed the perfect mix of classy luxury and rustic beach vibes. We haven’t had the luxury of staying here yet, but it’s on our list of places we’d like to stay one day soon.

There’s no doubt this top beach resort near Cartagena is very pricey, but it is undoubtedly the very finest cream of the cream, so to speak, and an easy choice for the very best of the best beach hotels in Cartagena, Colombia.

Check Prices at Booking.com

2. Sofitel Calablanca – Newest of the Cartagena Luxury Beach Hotels

The Sofitel Barú Calablanca is the newest luxury beach resort in Cartagena. It opened in 2022 and is located in a secluded part of Barú where there is basically nothing else around it.

This luxury beach hotels near Cartagena is a bit of a unique offering compared to the other two luxury resorts in this area above and below it on this list.

While those two offer more rustic bungalow style accommodations in smaller properties, the Sofitel offers something more akin to a larger, resort style experience, and why I would say it would be best for families in addition to those who want a more traditional hotel stay.

In another unique touch, they offer transportation to the resort in a luxury catamaran. While a bit slower, it makes the trip out there more of an actual enjoyable trip than just jetting there on a speed boat.

One thing I really like about this Cartagena luxury beach resort and why I think it makes an especially good choice for families is that they offer a lot of activities like sailing lessons and outdoor movies. There are also adult activities like mixology classes for mom and dad.

So, I’d actually say it would also be great for a couples’ getaway or even a friends’ getaway. In fact, it would also be my top choice for something like a destination wedding or honeymoon.

I have no doubt this place will quickly become known as one of if not the best beach resort in Cartagena. Its sister property in town, the Sofitel Santa Clara, is one of the finest hotels in Cartagena, so I’m sure anyone looking for a luxury stay at a Cartagena beach hotel will love it here.

Check Prices at Booking.com

3. Hotel Isla del Encanto – Another Great Luxury Cartagena Island Resort Option

Also located on the isolated end of Barú, Isla del Encanto is another great option for a luxury Cartagena resort on the beach.

Susana and I have stayed here for a few nights on a staycation once (the photo at the top is there), and we really loved it (you can read our full review here). We thought the service was great, and we loved having dinner on the beach. It was a terrific little romantic getaway in our own town for us.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a Cartagena beach hotel that feels like a luxurious, get away from it all, escape, these top 3 options are without a doubt your best options.

The bungalows at this Cartagena beach resort aren’t quite as secluded and exclusive looking as Las Islas since they are a row of townhouses with an upstairs and downstairs room. We thought our room was lovely though, and is on par with most 4 and 5 star hotel rooms, complete with TV and A/C, which you won’t find at all the Cartagena island resorts lower on this list.

There are two great pools, including one exclusive to overnight guests, and a wonderfully large beach area with plenty of lounge chairs and shade.

There is a kids section to the overnight guest exclusive pool as well as a small playground, so this would be a good beach resort for families too. They don’t have quite as many activities as the Calablanca, but they do offer boat rides to the islands for snorkeling or to visit the Oceanarium. They also can organize visits to the well done Aviary nearby, and there is a spa on site too.

Stays here include your meals, and the we thought the food was above average for an all-inclusive type place. Note that alcohol is not included, but we thought drinks were fairly reasonably priced and not jacked up like at many beach resorts. By the way, I do have another post with some picks for the best all-inclusives in Cartagena if you are looking for more options that include food and/or drinks.

Check Prices at Booking.com

4. IslaBela – Our Favorite Cartagena Beach Hotel (and best value in the islands!)

Located on Isleta, just past Isla Grande, IslaBela has one of the best beach areas of any of the hotels in the Rosario Islands (that photo above with the chairs under the umbrella is there). The view out over the little bay with the tiny house on the island is really great.

We have also stayed here and it’s probably one of our favorite places in Cartagena, period. You can read about our experience and see lots more photos at my review of IslaBela.

I think it’s also a really good value compared to the most of the other hotels and resorts in islands. It’s obviously not as luxurious as the three places above, and there are cheaper places too, but I found it to be almost the perfect meeting point between value and quality.

In fact, although our room at Isla del Encanto was certainly more luxurious and had amenities like A/C, TV, and hot water, in some ways our quaint little bungalow at IslaBela was more charming. This comes down to a little bit to personal preference and comfort, but we certainly didn’t miss TV for a few nights. The cool island breezes also made it cool enough at night for us to sleep fine with just a fan.

All of the small handful of bungalows here (I want to say there were only 4 or 5) are really pretty and each has its own little private waterfront area. There is one slightly larger one with multiple beds that would work for a small family too.

Check Prices at Booking.com

Alternatives in the Rosario Islands

If the Cartagena beach resorts on the islands above are all booked up or you want some more options to compare, check out Bora Bora Beach Club for a party style atmosphere and Hotel San Pedro Majagua for a more relaxed place.

You can see mroe options at my full list of the best Rosario Islands hotels.

Part 2: Hotels on the Closer Tierra Bomba Island

Tierra Bomba is the island that sits at the mouth of Cartagena’s bay. It’s only a short 10 minute boat ride away, so those that aren’t crazy about the idea of the longer hour plus boat ride to the Rosarios or Barú might consider this a good alternative.

Also, since the boat ride is entirely inside they bay and avoids the choppy waters coming back from the islands, you can also stay until later in the day your final day, which is nice (most boats coming back from Barú and the Rosarios will depart around 2 or 3 pm).

I’d personally still choose one of the options above over these, but they offer a nice, happy medium between the crowded beaches in town and the more secluded beaches of the farther islands.

I’ve included two choices for hotels by the beach in Cartagena’s closest island, one that is a bit more exclusive and another that we’ve gone to many times and think is a really good value.

Do keep in mind, like the options above, these are best for 1-3 nights to complement a stay in town and are not recommended for your entire stay in Cartagena.

5. Blue Apple Beach Club – Fun Vibes on a Secluded Beach

I think Blue Apple Beach is one of the most unique beach clubs and beach hotels in Cartagena.

While we haven’t spent the night out here, we have done a day trip and we really enjoyed it. There’s a nice big beach area, that while technically isn’t private, is basically deserted since it’s on the far side of Tierra Bomba where hardly anyone else goes.

There’s also a great pool, some cool beach beds, and a lovely garden.

We were really impressed with the food and drinks here too. They offer some unique drinks more like what you’d find at a trendy cocktail bar than the typical drinks at most hotels. The food was also a combination of more traditional local inspired flavors but also American beach bar fare, also a bit unlike what you’ll find at most Cartagena beach hotels.

You can read more about our experience at Blue Apple here.

Honestly, the place just had a cool vibe. I think it’d make an especially good choice for younger travelers, whether you’re going as a couple or in a group. We took our niece, so it’s still a good spot for families too.

For overnight stays there are rooms in the main house as well as several small bungalows, some of which have their own little private splash pools or jacuzzis. They all looked very nice.

I think this would make a really great spot for a few days of seclusion if you didn’t want to go all the way out to the Rosarios. It is a bit farther of a boat ride than my other pick on Tierra Bomba below since it’s on the far side of the island though. If you do go out here, do consider checking out the neat and very well preserved forts of Bocadchica nearby too.

6. Palmarito Beach – Overall Best Value Beach Hotel in Cartagena

We have been out to Palmarito Beach a lot of times. We’ve spent the night several times, and we’ve done many more day trips. We’ve always been more than satisfied here.

It’s our overall favorite spot on Tierra Bomba, and I think it offers the best value of the beach hotels in Cartagena’s Tierra Bomba area.

You can read about our experiences at Palmarito here.

I like that the beach here is set apart so it feels semi-private much more so than most of the other places on Tierra Bomba. The jetty in front also means the water is nice and calm, not to mention it adds a nice touch to the gorgeous view of Bocagrande you get across the bay.

There’s a good many beach beds and chairs here, there is a small pool, and there is even a little soccer field. We’ve always been more than happy with the food, and they have some of the best coco locos and piña coladas anywhere in Cartagena.

When we’ve spent the night, we have always thought the rooms are not particularly fancy, but they perfectly fine, clean, and comfortable. They do have TVs and A/C.

In sum, it makes for a great option for a Cartagena beach resort on Tierra Bomba for those looking for a good bang for their peso.

Alternatives on Tierra Bomba

For more options for Cartagena beach hotels on Tierra Bomba, consider Fenix Beach, which offers a bit more of an upscale luxury feel in a neat secluded area with nice rooms and a large beach area. Namaste, where we’ve been several times for day trips also has fairly new cabins, a small pool, and cool, bohemian vibes. The relatively new Vista Mare is also well regarded and has a cute, fun looking property.

Part 3: Cartagena Beach Resorts on the Northern Outskirts of the City

North of Cartagena, you’ll find a few beaches that are not nearly as nice as those in the Rosario Islands but get much less crowded than the beaches in town proper. On the mainland, it’s also much easier to go into town for the day or part of a day if you stay here.

So, while I’d still choose to split my time between a hotel in the Walled City and one of these, you can make them work for your full stay if you want to maximize your beach time without switching hotels during your trip.

I’ve included two properties in this area. They are probably the best choices for all inclusive resorts in Cartagena and are in Manzanillo about half an hour outside of town.

7. Estelar Playa Manzanillo – Great All-Inclusive Cartagena Beach Resort

First up in this area is the Estelar Playa Manzanillo.

We treated ourselves to a few nights here as a special staycation, and we really enjoyed it (read about our experience here).

There are 2 nice pools here, a huge beach area with lots of chairs and a great view of sunset, and the property overall is just really pretty.

We also thought our room was pretty nice and thought it wasn’t a bad value for an all-inclusive.

We thought the food was all around solid, and, as a true all-inclusive, it does include alcohol (mostly bottom shelf stuff), buffet style food, snacks, and optional dinner at a few restaurants. There was a show at night, and there were little activities for kids in one of the pools throughout the day.

I really think it’s a great beach hotel in Cartagena, Colombia for escaping it all for a few days.

However, for those looking to do more in town, you might want to consider Las Americas or one of the Cartagena beach resorts in Bocagrande below, as it can be a bit hard to get transportation out here on your own, especially at night.

In a nice touch though, they do offer a free daily shuttle into town so this could be a good happy medium for beach bums that also want to be able to go into town for just the day, which you can’t do at the Cartagena resorts in the islands listed above.

Check Prices at Booking.com

8. Dreams Karibana – The Only Golf Resort in Cartagena

If you want to get some golf in during your stay in Cartagena, Dreams Karibana is really your only choice.

This Cartagena beach resort is located just a bit past the Estelar Manzanillo. That means, like it, I’d probably recommend not staying your full stay here since you are pretty far away from town. Still, it’s doable get into town and do things.

The rooms here look lovely, and there is a gorgeous pool, not to mention a luxurious spa. Plus, you are right by the beach.

Honestly, if you don’t care about golfing, I’d probably choose the Estelar over this or just do an option in the islands or in town.

If you do want to golf it’s a really great choice, especially since from what I understand, the course is only open to members, residents of the community, and guests at the hotel. So, if you want to golf in Cartagena, you’ll need to stay here for at least part of your stay.

Alternatives on the Northern Edge of the City

There are a handful of nice Cartagena beach resort style properties closer than these two in the area known as La Boquilla or Los Morros. The area here has a pretty solid beach, and is only about a 15 minuter taxi ride into town and much more accessible.

Among the best choice for hotels here are the Radisson Ocean Pavillion and the Holiday Inn Morros, both of which have nice beach areas, restaurants, and rooms. There are a variety of apartments and condos in the Morros buildings located here too such as this one.

Part 4: Best Cartagena Beach Hotels in Cartagena Proper

9. Las Americas – Best All-Inclusive Beach Resort in Cartagena Proper

Las Americas have two adjacent properties just north of the airport in Cartagena.

I think this is the first place on this list so far that I would actually say would be a good fit for those looking to stay their entire trip in a Cartagena resort. It’s only about a 10 minute taxi ride into the Walled City, so you can still get around and aren’t isolated like at the other Cartagena resorts mentioned above.

This is also one of the best known all-inclusive Cartagena, Colombia beach resorts. It’s a huge complex and has several restaurants, pools, bars, and playgrounds.

I visited a friend and her family staying here once and was impressed with the property. They had good things to say about the food and service too.

I think it’s a particularly good idea for families or those looking for a relaxed stay (note: you can choose to do the all inclusive option or not).

I recommend the Casa de Playa property which is a bit smaller and has a more exclusive feel, but the Torre del Mar is a great option as well and has a more modern, sophisticated feel.

Check Prices at Casa de Playa

Check Prices at Torre del Mar

10. Hotel Hilton – Best Cartagena Beach Hotel in Town

The Hilton was one of the first beachfront hotels in Cartagena, and it remains amongst its very finest. If you’re looking for oceanfront hotel suites in Cartagena, it’s a great choice.

It is located on the far end of El Laguito lagoon and has a great beach area overlooking the bay. While not totally private, its location means there aren’t a lot of crowds here besides guests at the hotel. There are several pools and even tennis courts at this Cartagena beach hotel as well.

The only downside is it is a decent distance from the Walled City compared to some of the other beach front hotels in Bocagrande like the one that’s next on this list.

Still, it’s a good oceanfront hotel in Cartagena for families, couples, or even solo travelers. It’s also the overall best option for staying in the city but on the beach in my opinion.

Check Prices at Booking.com

11. Hotel Caribe – Classic Cartagena Beachfront Hotel

The Hotel Caribe is one of longest running oceanfront hotels in Cartagena. It’s located right across from one of the best areas of beach in Bocagrande and closer than the Hilton to lots of great restaurants and shopping options nearby.

I also appreciate that they have a little beach club area that is roped off on the upper part of the beach. We had a work Christmas party here once and it’s a nice area and at least offers a place where you can use a proper bathroom without having to go back inside the hotel, something not many Cartagena beachfront hotels have.

Rooms here are very nice, and there is a charming pool and garden area where there are some rescued animals like macaws and sloths that hang out. It rounds out this list of the best beach hotels in Cartagena as a great option for any kind of traveler looking for a hotel by the beach in Cartagena in the city itself.

A Few More Cartagena Beachfront Hotels in Bocagrande

While I’ve only included two here on this list, the truth is there are plenty of other beach hotels in Cartagena’s Bocagrande district. A few that stand out are the Hotel Intercontinental, which is priced pretty decently for a luxury Cartagena resort, the Hotel Almirante, and the Capilla del Mar, another solid value and actually where my mom stayed on her very first visit to Cartagena.

\While technically not beachfront because the shore here is rocky, there are two more terrific oceanfront hotels in Cartagena that are among the city’s newest and nicest. They are the Hyatt Regency with terrific rooftop pools overlooking the Caribbean, and the Estelar Cartagena, which has the highest rooftop bar in Cartagena. They are just a short walk from the beach, and would also make good choices in Bocagrande.

Which Cartagena, Colombia beach hotel will you choose?

There you have it, a complete guide to the top 11 best beach hotels in Cartagena, Colombia.

I hope you found it useful and that you enjoy your stay beach bumming it up at whichever of these Cartagena beach resorts you pick!

If you did stay at one of these Cartagena beach hotels or if you have another one you’d recommend, do let me know in the comments!

Be sure to check out all the other great content on the site to make your trip to Cartagena terrific!

Cheers and Happy Exploring Beach Bumming!

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You might also want to learn about visiting the famous Tayrona National Park up the coast or enjoy the hipster vibes at the tiny beach town of Palomino. For a more luxurious experience, head to the Island of San Andrés or see some of Colombia’s best kept secrets in the San Bernardo Islands.