1. Casa San Agustín – The Best 5 Star Hotel in Cartagena

The Casa San Agustín is undoubtedly the very best of the 5 star hotels in Cartagena, Colombia. It is considered to be the overall best hotel in Cartagena without a doubt.

Located in the space of what used to be 3 large former colonial mansions, it has amazing rooms, a pretty pool, and its restaurant Alma is one of the best in the city (see it on this list of the best restaurants in Cartagena).

The hotel is recognized and widely regarded for outstanding service. It has even won a number of rewards and is regularly featured at places like Forbes and Conde Nast Traveler.

If your budget permits it, this should definitely be your choice for the best Cartagena 5 star hotel and lands a deserved first place on this list of Cartagena, Colombia luxury hotels.

Really and truly, if you can get a room at this Cartagena luxury hotel, just stop reading, book it, and check out everything else on the site to plan what will without a doubt be one of the best vacations you’ve every had!

2. Santa Clara – Former Convent Turned Cartagena Luxury Hotel

The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara takes a worthy second place among the best 5 star hotels in Cartagena, Colombia.

This gorgeous Cartagena luxury hotel is located in a former convent on the San Diego Plaza in a bit quieter part of the historic center of Cartagena.

You’ll feel more like a prince or princess than a nun staying in this Cartagena luxury hotel though.

The rooms are luxuriously furnished with high, vaulted ceilings. They blend classy colonial elegance and charm with modern comfort perfectly. Some have views of the lovely gardens, and some even have views of the Caribbean.

It’s really the perfect atmosphere for a 5 star hotel in Cartagena, capturing the magic of the Walled City perfectly.

Just steps from the hotel you’ll find some of the best restaurants in town, including the famous La Cevicheria. That is if you want to leave at all as the restaurant here is terrific, not to mention located in the gorgeous colonial courtyard and garden. I actually proposed to Susana at the restaurant here!

While we’ve never actually stayed in the hotel, we have been back many a time to the restaurant and terrific bar that serves some great cocktails.

Plus, the courtyard pool is stunning!

Oh yea, and there is a great rooftop bar at this Cartagena 5 star hotel too!

The charm, beauty, and amenities at this Cartagena luxury hotel combine to make it a truly special place to stay and a worthy second choice for the best hotel in Cartagena to the San Agustín. It would be a fine choice for just about any age or type of traveler and is a particularly good fit for a romantic getaway or family vacation.

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*If you’d like to get access to the great pool at Santa Clara and enjoy a luxurious experience at a slightly more friendly price, check out Las Bovedas de Santa Clara, located next door and with access to the pool at the Sofitel Legend.

3. Santa Teresa – Another Convent Turned Cartagena 5 Star Hotel

Next up on this list is another one of the best 5 star hotels in Cartagena, and another one located in a former convent with all its colonial magestry.

The Charleston Santa Teresa has a lovely central courtyard with its own terrific restaurant (make sure you try the crab nachos whether you stay here or not!). The courtyard bar out front is also a great spot for a drink.

There is also an amazing rooftop pool and terrace with an amazing view overlooking the city wall and Caribbean.

Rooms are elegantly furnished with the right blend of colonial charm and modern comfort that you’d expect at one of the best luxury hotels in Cartagena. It’s a bit larger than either the San Agustín or Santa Clara and offers something closer to a luxury hotel chain experience, but the location ensures it keeps that intimate charm.

In sum, it is another great option among the best Cartagena, Colombia luxury hotels.

Really these first three options are the top of the top best hotels in Cartagena. They all are great options for romantic stays, and I’d give a slight edge to the Santa Teresa over the Santa Clara if you are traveling with kids due to the larger pool and slightly more laid back restaurant.

4. Movich – Luxury Hotel in Cartagena with the Best Rooftop Views

Hotel Movich is probably best known for their amazing rooftop bar and pool.

It is, in my opinion the best view in the city. Rather you stay here or not, it is definitely one of the top places to see the sunset in Cartagena.

Set in a more modern era building, it still has a classy and elegant decor to its rooms.

They have a nice blend of the historic feel of Cartagena with modern comfort and class. I think it makes for a really good medium between the more colonial feeling places above and more modern high rise Cartagena luxury hotels.

Plus, that rooftop bar and hotel is just amazing!

The pool itself isn’t as large as the ones at the Santa Clara and Santa Teresa, but it’s not too shabby either. It probably does make this a slightly better option for couples, solo travelers, and younger travelers than families though.

All that is not to mention the location, which is also great.

This Cartagena luxury hotel is just off the Parque Bolívar in the heart of the Walled City and within a short walk from the Clocktower and San Pedro Claver Church.

All of that combines to land this luxury hotel in Cartagena Cartagena high up this list and just barely behind the best 5 star hotels in Cartagena in the tier above.

5. Casona del Colegio – Luxury Boutique and a Great Value

If you can “settle” for a luxury 4 star hotel in Cartagena, consider La Casona del Colegio.

One of the newer Cartagena luxury hotels, it is in a great location within just a stone’s throw of the Clocktower. Susana and I actually treated ourselves to a staycation here and thought it was terrific (see a full writeup on the experience here).

While not cheap, I think it offers a great value for a Cartagena luxury hotel, practically as nice as the the best 5 star hotels in Cartagena above here but at much better prices. We also thought the service was terrific, and the food and drinks from the restaurant were top notch.

The included breakfast was amazing, and everything we tried off the lunch and dinner menus was as well. I appreciated that they had some creative dishes, and they also had some really tasty craft cocktails.

Pro tip: I wish we had gotten one of the suites on the corner that have balconies with private mini pools.

In all honesty, I can’t think of a better spot for a romantic getaway than having a private balcony jacuzzi overlooking the colonial streets and skyline while staying at a luxury hotel in Cartagena. Plus, these rooms are similarly priced to the standard ones at the top places on this list.

In other words, if you want the best bang for your peso at a Cartagena luxury hotel, while also having a really romantic and relaxing place to stay, book one of the corner suites here and thank me later.

All the rooms at this Cartagena 4 star hotel have certain themes to their decoration that embody different aspects of Colombia. All are gorgeous and blend the elegance and charm of the colonial and modern.

There’s also a great pool overlooking the Cathedral here if you don’t manage to snag one of those suites (of course, even if you do, be sure to enjoy those views at the rooftop pool too!).

In short, it’s another easy addition to the list of the best luxury hotels in Cartagena, Colombia.

6. Bastión Luxury Hotel – Classy and Elegant Cartagena 4 Star Hotel

Bastion Luxury Hotel Cartagena has a gorgeous rooftop pool located in the heart of the Walled City. While it doesn’t quite have the view of Movich or Casona del Colegio, it ain’t shabby either. The pool is also a bit larger, so not the worst tradeoff.

It is also located in a pretty and charming building.

The rooms here have a Victorian era decor. There is a nice restaurant on site and it offers easy access to the main attractions downtown.

It’s also on the smaller side compared to some of the other places on this list of top luxury hotels in Cartagena, so if you’re looking for something more intimate, closer to the feel of a boutique, this might just be the best luxury hotel in Cartagena for you.

7. Hotel Capellán – Newer 4 Star Hotel in Cartagena

Located a block outside the Walled City in the equally historic neighborhood of Getsemaní, the Hotel Capellán is one of the newest luxury hotels in Cartagena.

Its location still offers easy access to the attractions inside the wall as well as being close to some of the best nightlife in Cartagena on the Calle Media Luna.

There’s a rooftop pool and a well regarded spa here too. We have eaten and had drinks at the restaurant and enjoyed it a lot as well.

Its rooms are very nice with a blend between a classy, historical style, and modern comfort. They also offer a few larger multi-bedroom suites that would be a good place for small families and groups.

Really, though, I think this would make a good choice for couples and solo travelers too. It manages to really hit that perfect balance of being a great place for any kind of traveler.

So, it’s an easy inclusion on this list of luxury Cartagena hotels!

9. Estelar – Another Great High Rise Cartagena Luxury Resort

Located right across the street from the Hyatt Regency is the Estelar.

It is basically the same height, meaning it is also one of the tallest buildings in Cartagena and also looks out directly over the Caribbean.

You’ll find an infinity pool here overlooking the Caribbean from on high. Although, unlike the Hyatt, the pool here is not on the roof but on a deck about half way up.

Instead of a pool on the roof, here you’ll find 51 Sky Bar, the highest rooftop bar in Cartagena. It has a fun vibe and some terrific views of its own out to sea and of the bay. And the pool, though not rooftop, is pretty awesome, and slightly larger than any of the pools at the Hyatt.

Rooms are are also gorgeous, comfortable, and modernly furnished.

For a more modern luxury Cartagena hotel experience, these two options really belong at the top of your list. They both work well for any kind of traveler, from couples to families, and I’d say the Estelar is a bit more casual, while the Hyatt is a bit more top of the line.

*Estelar’s sister property in Manzanillo is located about half an hour outside of town on the beach if you want a get away from it all, all inclusive, by the beach Cartagena luxury resort experience.

10. Radisson Ocean Pavilion – Beachfront Cartagena Luxury Resort

The Radisson Ocean Pavilion is located about 15 minutes outside of town along the beach known as La Boquilla, or sometimes also called Zona Norte.

It is nestled in among beachfront condos and a few other high rise Cartagena luxury resorts. These include the Holiday Inn Morros and Hotel Las Americas (both of which also make other good options, especially Las Americas for families with younger kids).

There are also some great rental apartments in the condos here like this one (if you’re looking for more options, look for ones in the buildings named Morros, of which there are several that are all really nice).

I honestly tend to encourage people to stay in the city proper, as there just isn’t much to do here within walking distance. Some similar places on the beach in the Bocagrande district include the Cartagena Hilton, Hotel Caribe, and Intercontinental and offer good alternatives with easier access to stuff in town.

However, this area is best for those who want a lot of beach time and are less concerned with being able to walk around at night. The beach here gets much less crowded than the ones in Bocagrande.

In my opinion, the Radisson is the best option in this area and makes for a great option for a Cartagena luxury hotel for those looking to spend lots of time on the beach.

Rooms are also modernly and stylishly furnished. So, if you don’t mind sacrificing being right in the heart of the main attractions downtown, this makes another good option amongst the best Cartagena luxury hotels.

You could also opt to split your time between staying at another Cartagena luxury hotel and here to get some relaxing beach time. Although, I actually recommend you do that beach relax time at the next and last place on this list of luxury resorts in Cartagena.