With the colonial charm of its gorgeous architecture, it’s no surprise there are some absolutely lovely boutique hotels in Cartagena, Colombia.
Many of the best Cartagena boutique hotels are located in the former mansions that were the homes of the colonial era rich and powerful inside the city’s iconic city walls, offering easy access to many of the city’s top sights, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.
Quite simply put, staying in one of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena really allows you to capture the magic of the city’s fascinating history and charm. It’s enough to just fall in love!
If you close your eyes, you may very well be able to imagine yourself back in the 17th or 18th century!
I lived in Cartagena for over a decade, and if you want my honest advice on where to stay, I’d say staying in a boutique hotel in Cartagena’s Walled City is my top recommendation without a doubt. Not only is this by far the best area to stay in my experience, but there’s just something so special about staying in a Cartagena boutique hotel that just goes with the rest of the experience.
Luckily, there is no shortage of Cartagena boutique hotels to choose from to get that full, immersive experience in the charm and romance of Colombia’s historic Caribbean gem.
While we haven’t stayed in all of the Cartagena boutique hotels ourselves, we have stayed in some and been to the restaurants or bars in several others. I also put in lots of research and reading over reviews to decide just which of the Cartagena boutique hotels to include on this best boutique hotels in Cartagena list.
So, if you want to enjoy a truly charming stay during your visit, read on to see this list of the 11 best Cartagena boutique hotels to learn which is the best boutique hotel in Cartagena, Colombia for you!
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Best Cartagena Boutique Hotels – Contents
- Introduction – Why Pick a Boutique Hotel in Cartagena?
- Some Words on Location and Price
- 11 Best Boutique Hotels in Cartagena
Too long; can’t read it all overview
- Best Small Luxury Hotel in Cartagena: Casa San Agustín
- Best Value for a Luxury Boutique Hotel in Cartagena: Casona del Colegio
- Best Budget Friendly Cartagena Boutique Hotel: Las Carretas
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Best Boutique Hotels in Cartagena – Introduction
If you’re currently planning a trip here, stop and ask yourself why you were drawn to this gem on Colombia’s Caribbean coast?
Perhaps it was the lovely beaches of Cartagena or the even more lovely Rosario Islands nearby. Perhaps it was some combination of the vibrant culture, the tasty food, the many terrific restaurants, and the fun Cartagena nightlife.
However, surely the lovely and charming colonial era atmosphere was at least a part of why you chose to visit Cartagena!
The city’s walls and clocktower, flower draped balconies hanging over its narrow streets, and the lovely wooden doors and trim around the windows are all iconic images of the city that have been drawing visitors from all around Colombia and the world for years. That charm is a big reason why Cartagena is without a doubt one of the best cities in Colombia for travelers.
All that historic charm is also best complemented by a stay at one of the best Cartagena, Colombia boutique hotels.
Cartagena was an important seat of Spanish commercial and military power, as the massive Castillo San Felipe Fort, the city’s walls, and the gorgeous churches like that of San Pedro Claver attest.
Just strolling it’s narrow, historic, and flower draped balcony streets will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. If you have every visited Old Havana in Cuba or Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, two of Cartagena’s sister colonial cities, you have a good idea of what to expect.
Picturesque, flower covered balconies, colorful exteriors, incredibly high ceilings, and lovely tall wooden doors with elaborate knockers characterize the former mansions of the colonial era aristocracy and merchants.
Their former homes are where you’ll find many of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena, and staying in one of the lovely Cartagena boutique hotels is truly the best way to capture the essence of Cartagena.
What’s better after a day wandering those narrow, flower lined historic streets than to plop down on a comfy bed in a gorgeous room with vaulted ceilings in a historic home?
I don’t hesitate for a second to recommend that most travelers will be happiest staying in one of these Cartagena boutique hotels during their stay, and not only for the charm, but also the location.
Some Words on Location and Price
Most of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena are in the historic city center. Lots of times this is referred to as the Walled City.
It stands in contrast to the more modern buildings, including plenty of nice hotels in the beachfront Bocagrande area. While I can’t fault anyone for wanting to have 30th+ floor views of the Caribbean, I just think most travelers will get more out of being in Cartagena historic downtown where it’s easy to walk to almost everything.
I also think most travelers will benefit so much more from heading out to the Rosario Islands than bumming around the beaches in Bocagrande, which tend to get crowded. Please do check out my picks for the best Rosario Islands resorts and hotels if you think you might spend the night out there or see my picks for the best Rosario Islands day tours if your time is more limited.
For these reasons, I’ve chosen to limit the places on this list of best Cartagena boutique hotels to places inside the historic Walled City.
If you’re looking for some ideas in Bocagrande to compare, you could also check out my list of the best Cartagena luxury hotels, which includes some modern high rises there. The first three hotels on this list of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena are actually also on that list.
Now let’s just briefly discuss price.
This is a best of list after all, so most of the Cartagena boutique hotels I’ve included here are on the higher end price range wise.
In fact, some of them are downright opulent.
You’ll find on this list of the best Cartagena boutique hotels the former mansion of a count and one owned by an archbishop.
Nearly every place on this list also has a nice rooftop or courtyard pool, and most have nice other amenities like spas and restaurants.
Some have a bit more of a modern touch, while others have more of a classic look where you’ll feel transported back to the 18th century.
They all offer an intimate feeling and great, personalized service.
I did include on more budget friendly Cartagena boutique hotel at the bottom of this list. You can find some more budget friendly boutique hotels in Cartagena’s Getsemaní neighborhood, adjacent to the Walled City, a few of which I’ve mentioned below.
11 Best Boutique Hotels in Cartagena
This 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.
While I’ve presented this as a numbered list, it shouldn’t be seen as a strict countdown. The best Cartagena boutique hotel for you may depend a bit on the type of traveler you are, so be sure to read over the descriptions and click the links to check them out in more detail.
The truth is there are not bad options here though!
So, without further ado, let’s get to this list of the top 11 best boutique hotels in Cartagena, Colombia!
1. Casa San Agustín – The Finest Hotel in Cartagena
The Casa San Agustín is frankly just the finest hotel in town, Cartagena boutique hotels notwithstanding.
It is just a tad larger than most of the other places on this list since it is located in what used to be 3 large former colonial mansions now joined together.
However, it still feels like a small, intimate property.
And, it is absolutely gorgeous!
It is considered the not only the best boutique hotel in Cartagena’s walled city but the best hotel in Cartagena period. The rooms here are absolutely gorgeous, there is a nice little pool, and the hotel has been recognized and awarded many times over for its impeccable service.
Plus, the restaurant Alma is one of the better gourmet restaurants in the city (and is worth visiting rather you stay here or not).
This is the absolute finest hotel in Cartagena so if your budget permits it, this should definitely be your first choice for a Cartagena boutique hotel.
2. Sofitel Santa Clara – Located in a Gorgeous Former Convent
I debated whether the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara truly fits on this list as a best boutique hotel in Cartagena. It is the largest hotel on this list.
However, it is just stunning!
After the San Agustín would be my pick for the second best overall hotel in Cartagena, period.
Rooms are absolutely lovely, and the setting in a former convent still gives it an elegant, intimate, and charming colonial vibe even if it is larger than the other Cartagena boutique hotels on this list.
The pool and courtyard are stunning, and the restaurant here is also terrific (it’s actually where I proposed to Susana!). The little bar and newish rooftop bar are also great with some of the better crafted cocktails in town, and it’s in a terrific location right on the Plaza de San Diego.
In short, I think it more than qualifies as a great boutique hotel in Cartagena. If you want to take a look at a few other properties that are also on the slightly larger side but have the charm of a boutique like this one, the Charleston Santa Teresa, also in a former convent, the Capellán, and the Bastión Luxury Hotel are more good options.
3. Casona del Colegio – Solid Value Small Luxury Hotel in Cartagena
Casona del Colegio is in my opinion one of the best values among the luxury boutique hotels in Cartagena.
It has a luxury quality that is just barely a cut below places like the San Agustín and Santa Clara, however at much more reasonable prices.
Susana and I actually treated ourselves to a little staycation here, and absolutely loved it (read a review here).
The room was gorgeous with a unique and colorful vibe (every room is decorated after a particular element of Colombian geography and culture), there is a great rooftop pool, and the drinks and food at the restaurant were top notch.
Service was great as well!
For an especially romantic stay, consider booking one of the corner suites with private balconies and mini-pool/jacuzzis at this boutique hotel in Cartagena. We booked a suite called the Magdalena that had a one but it was sort of receded and shaded by trees. It was pretty, but the corner ones looked better!
For prices similar to what you’d pay for a standard room at the very top end Cartagena boutique hotels, “settling” for staying in one of those seems like it’d be well worth it.
In short, I really think that this belongs among the very best of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena and really is a decent value too.
4. Casa Claver Loft – Apartment Rooms Here Best Fit for Families
The Casa Claver Loft has one of the best backdrops for any rooftop pool in Cartagena!
It is located just beside the San Pedro Claver Church, and you can take in the pretty towers, rooftop, and dome of the cathedral up close from the pool.
The rooms are also pretty and cozily furnished. All the rooms here make it a very solid choice for a boutique hotel in Cartagena.
However, what lands it fourth on this list and above some other places that have nicer rooms are the loft style apartment lodgings on offer here.
That makes it my top recommendation for a Cartagena boutique hotel for families. There are full kitchens in all of them, some have 1 bedroom plus a sleeper sofa, and others have multiple bedrooms and the sleeper sofa. For those looking for the intimate feel of a boutique hotel in Cartagena but not wanting to put children in a separate room all together, it really is the best of all worlds.
If you are coming as a couple and don’t care much about having the kitchen, I would probably suggest one other places on this list that are a bit nicer, but you would also be happy in the standard room here, and that view is pretty darn enticing!
You can’t beat the location of this boutique hotel in Cartagena either. So, especially for those traveling as a family or group, this makes a terrific choice for the best boutique hotel in Cartagena for your stay.
5. Hotel Quadrifolio – An Opulent Cartagena Boutique Hotel
Next up on this list of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena is the Hotel Quadrifolio.
Set in a historic mansion, it still feels like one with its luxurious furnishings. You’ll feel like a true colonial era Cartagena aristocrat in its elegant rooms.
The architecture of this entire Cartagena boutique hotel is just beautiful with high ceilings and windows that overlook the beautiful courtyard.
You can also enjoy the rooftop jacuzzi, and the hotel even has its own speedboat you can rent to visit the Rosario Islands or party it up at Cholón Island.
All of that combines to land it a deserved spot on this list of the best Cartagena, Colombia boutique hotels.
6. Casa Pestagua – Stay in a Count’s Former House
If you want to really feel like an aristocrat, why not stay in a house formerly owned by a Count?
The Casa Pestagua Relais Châteaux is set in a mansion built for the Count of Pestagua in the 18th century, during the late colonial period.
There are only 11 suites here, all of them with lavish furnishings truly fit for a count, not to mention someone needing some proper R&R and pampering! The small size of this boutique hotel in Cartagena’s walled city also mean it has a very intimate and private feel.
You can enjoy the pool in the courtyard or the lovely spa, all while sipping champagne and snacking caviar and imaging yourself a true aristocrat of old.
This classy property is a more than worthy choice for a top boutique hotel in Cartagena and would make for a great stay.
7. Casa de Alba – Where Francis Drake Stayed in Cartagena
We have already seen the home of a Count and an Archbishop on this list of the best hotel boutiques in Cartagena. How about one of a famous sailor (or pirate depending on who you ask) that was knighted by Queen Elizabeth of England?
Ok, maybe that’s cheating. Casa de Alba is located in the home where Francis Drake stayed when he occupied and sacked the city in 1586, not his actual home.
The home did belong to one of Cartagena’s wealthiest early merchants though.
Today, this former colonial home willingly opens its doors and lovely inner courtyard and pool to paying guests. It has a great location in the heart of the Walled City, and the rooms are both charming and luxurious.
That makes it another great option amongst the best boutique hotels in Cartagena.
8. Casa del Arzobispado – Former Home of the Archbishop
If a mansion where a Count lived doesn’t do it for you, how about one where an Archbishop lived?
The Casa del Arzobispado was once the colonial Archbishop’s residence. However, this church official certainly didn’t appear to be one to give up worldly comforts and live in poverty.
There’s a beautiful courtyard here with vine draped balconies, and a lovely little pool that feels like an oasis in the heart of the city.
The rooms are also gorgeous with luxurious furnishings.
It’s a really charming place and another worthy choice for one of the best boutique hotels in Cartagena de Indias.
9. Casa La Merced – Lovely Hotel in a Lovely Location
The Casa La Merced by Mustique is one of the newer Cartagena boutique hotels to open its doors. It’s in a renovated building on a corner overlooking the wall with views of the Caribbean and the neat looking Teatro Adolfo Mejía, one of the Walled City’s prettiest buildings.
The pool is lovely and located in the pretty central courtyard. The common areas have nice furniture, and the little rooftop patio has that great view mentioned above.
Rooms are also gorgeous and manage to blend modern luxury and colonial charm perfectly. The location is also great in a close vicinity to lots of the best restaurants in the Walled City.
Despite being so new, this Cartagena boutique hotel also has one of highest review scores of any hotel in Cartagena, so people have certainly been pleased. I think you will be too if you choose to stay here.
10. Casona del Porvenir– Modern Sophistication and Style
Like the Casa La Merced, Casona del Porvenir is also one of the newer boutique hotels in Cartagena, and it also has among the highest review score of any place in the city.
It’s located right in the heart of the Walled City, giving you easy access to everything.
While the exterior and the lovely balconies and terrace have that classic charm like so many of the other Cartagena boutique hotels, the interior of the hotel and the decor in the rooms has a modern, sophisticated look. Many of them also have neat, almost even eclectic decorations.
Honestly, the rooms here are among the slickest in Cartagena in my opinion.
There is a small pool, and those high reviews consistently mention the great service and hospitality of the staff.
So, really, it’s got absolutely everything you could ask for in a best boutique hotel in Cartagena, Colombia!
11. Las Carretas – Best Budget Cartagena Boutique Hotel
As noted in the introduction, all of the other hotels on this list of best boutique hotels in Cartagena are on the higher end price wise, but I wanted to make sure I gave you at least one great option that was a bit budget friendly.
Hotel Boutique Las Carretas is my pick for the best Cartagena boutique hotel that is budget friendly. It’s got terrific reviews. There is a small pool here. The location in the heart of the Walled City is great. Plus, the rooms are lovely and the whole hotel is just all charming.
In short, it’s got just about everything that all of these other best Cartagena boutique hotels have but at a much more friendly price point.
I also appreciate that it has rooms with two twin beds, not that common at many of the boutique hotels in Cartagena. That means this could work well for families with siblings who can share a room but may not want to share a bed or also for friends traveling together.
While not quite as luxurious or with as many amenities as the other Cartagena boutique hotels on this list, I really think this is one of the better overall values in all of Cartagena.
A few other nice Cartagena boutique hotels that are really good values in my eyes are the Casa Córdoba Estrella, the Casa de la Factoria, and Hotel Bantú all also located in the Walled City. In neighboring Getsemaní, you can also find the Casa Isabel and the Casa Tere, both of which are lovely Cartagena boutique hotels at good values too.
Ready to book your stay at a boutique hotel in Cartagena?
There you have it, a guide to the top 11 boutique hotels in Cartagena.
You really can’t go wrong regardless of which of these Cartagena boutique hotels you choose!
I hope it helped you plan your stay, and, most importantly, you do in fact fall in love with whatever Cartagena boutique hotel you do end choosing and that your entire trip is aweseome!
Cheers and Happy Exploring!
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You might also want to check out my guide to the best places for sunset drinks in Cartagena. If you’re traveling elsewhere in Colombia, you might want to check out my picks for the best luxury hotels in Bogotá or the best hotels and hostels in Minca. If you love the historic charm of Cartagena’s boutique hotels, you’ll also love the quaint towns of Villa de Leyva and Barichara.
Planning a trip to Cartagena?
Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!
In particular, you might want to check out my guide to the best areas to stay, my list of over 75 things to do, my picks for the best Cartagena tours, the best day trips from Cartagena, my suggested packing list, my guide to the Rosario Islands, and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena.