There’s nothing quite like being able to enjoy the finer things while on vacation!
And what better way to do that than staying at swanky, luxury hotel?
It just so happens if you’re looking to treat yourself while enjoying Colombia’s premier Caribbean destination, you’re definitely in luck!
A testament to its former colonial riches and status as Colombia’s premier travel destination, there are a number of really nice luxury hotels in Cartagena, Colombia, including a few downright lavish Cartagena five star hotels.
You can choose from elegant former colonial era mansions and convents to modern high rises with views of the Caribbean stretching across the horizon.
So, if you want a truly luxurious experience while visiting the colonial charm and Caribbean beauty of Cartagena, read on to see my picks for the best Cartagena, Colombia 5 star hotels and best luxury hotels in Cartagena based on my 11 years living there!
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Best Luxury Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia – Introduction
Cartagena is well known for its beaches, islands, charming colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and fascinating history.
Walking the streets, you’ll wander under gorgeous flower covered balconies and past tall, ornate wooden doors. They stand as testaments to the wealth and excess the merchants and colonial officials of yesteryear enjoyed in this colonial era hub of trade and commerce.
If you want to get a slice of that luxurious life yourself, you might be asking what are the best Cartagena, Colombia 5 star hotels or where can I find the best luxury hotels in Cartagena.
There are only a small handful of true 5 star hotels in Cartagena, but there are lots more great Cartagena, Colombia hotels for luxury seekers that offer a great experience.
One of the nice things too is that prices for Cartagena, Colombia hotels with 5 star quality come at prices much cheaper than 5 star hotels in the US or Europe. So, you don’t have to be a colonial era duke or duchess to enjoy the finest Cartagena, Colombia hotels’ luxury.
Below, I’ll go over my picks for the top Cartagena five star hotels and other luxury hotels in Cartagena. If you saw my picks for the best boutique hotels in Cartagena, you’ll notice there’s a good amount of overlap here, but I’ve included both smaller properties as well as larger ones on this list of Cartagena luxury hotels.
Best 5 Star Hotels in Cartagena Quick Picks
If you’re in a hurry, check out these quick picks for the best five star hotels in Cartagena. I’ll go over them and others in more detail below.
- Finest Hotel in Cartagena: Casa San Agustín
- Neatest Colonial Style 5 Star Hotel in Cartagena: Sofitel Santa Clara
- Best Value Colonial Boutique Style Luxury Hotel in Cartagena: Casona del Colegio
- Best Modern High Rise Cartagena Luxury Hotel: Hyatt Regency
- Best Beach Luxury Resort Near Cartagena: Sofitel Barú Calablanca
*Want to take the hassle out of planning your trip to Cartagena? Let the experts at our partner BnB Colombia Tours help you! Fill out this form and they will get back to you with a free, initial personalized itinerary based on your interests, then work with you to design a truly unforgettable trip!
My Picks for the 11 Best Cartagena, Colombia Luxury Hotels
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 value.
The first three are pretty much hands down the very finest five star hotels in Cartagena, all inside the historic Walled City, my pick for the best area to stay. There are several other luxury hotels in Cartagena’s Old City on the list, plus a few from the modern beachfront Bocagrande district.
I should l note that a Four Seasons is set to open in Cartagena soon, and I imagine it will be very high if not in first place on this list once it does.
However, as of this last update in mid 2024, construction is finishing up. It’s set to be located in a series of gorgeous old colonial buildings in Getsemaní just across from Cartagena’s iconic Clocktower. If you’re reading this in late 2024 or beyond, you may want to check to see if it’s open.
The list concludes with a luxury resort in Cartagena’s islands. It’s my pick for the best beach Cartagena luxury resort.
However, you’ll want to stay here only as a complement to a stay in town, not for your full trip.
So, keep that in mind, and if you don’t have enough time for a few nights out there, check out my picks for the best Rosario Islands day trips, a must do if you don’t spend the night.
Now, let’s get to this list of the best luxury hotels in Cartagena, Colombia!
1. Casa San Agustín – Very Finest Hotel in Cartagena
The Casa San Agustín is undoubtedly the very best of the 5 star hotels in Cartagena de Indias. It is considered to be the overall best of the small luxury hotels 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 widely recognized and highly regarded for outstanding service, part of the group known as Leading Hotels of the World and often featured in travel logs and write ups in travel magazines.
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 ever had!
2. Sofitel Santa Clara – Convent Turned Cartagena Five Star Hotel
The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara takes a worthy second place among the best Cartagena 5 star hotels.
This gorgeous Cartagena luxury hotel is located in a charming former convent on the San Diego Plaza. You’ll probably feel more like a prince or princess than a nun staying here 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 city walls and Caribbean beyond.
It’s really the perfect atmosphere for a 5 star hotel in Cartagena, capturing the magic of the Walled City perfectly, and it would make an especially good choice for a romantic getaway.
Just steps from the hotel you’ll find some of the best restaurants in town, including the famous La Cevicheria. This area, besides being close to lots of restaurants is also a quieter part of the historic center of Cartagena.
Of course, you might not want to leave at all! The restaurant here is terrific, not to mention it’s located in the gorgeous colonial courtyard and garden. I actually proposed to Susana at the restaurant here!
There is also a terrific bar where we’ve enjoyed some great cocktails, and there is a great rooftop bar too. The courtyard pool is also stunning!
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.
*If you’d like to get access to the great pool at Santa Clara and enjoy a luxurious experience at a slightly more affordable price, check out Las Bovedas de Santa Clara, located next door and offering access to the pool and common areas 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 magic.
The Charleston Santa Teresa has a lovely central courtyard with its own terrific restaurant (Susana and I love the crab nachos here!). 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 Sea.
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 setting 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, in my opinion, 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 first two if you are traveling with kids due to the larger pool and more laid back restaurant.
4. Movich – Cartagena Luxury Hotel with the Best View in Town
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 classy and elegant rooms.
The entire hotel’s decor has 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 next on this list.
Plus, that rooftop bar and pool is just amazing!
The pool itself isn’t as large as the ones at the Santa Clara and Santa Teresa, but it ain’t shabby either. It probably does make this a slightly better option for couples, solo travelers, and younger travelers than families though.
Oh, and the location is great too!
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, and well, really everything in the historic district.
All of that combines to land this luxury 4 star hotel in Cartagena Cartagena high up this list and just barely behind the best 5 star hotels in Cartagena in the tier above.
5. Casa del Gobernador – Cartagena 5 Star Hotel Fit for a Governor
The Hotel Casa del Gobernador is located in an elegant mansion that dates to the 16th century and was home to the governor of Cartagena and is the last of these top 5 best luxury hotels in Cartagena within the Walled City.
It offers an experience a lot like the San Agustín at a slightly lower price point.
Today, much of the hotel has been elegantly restored. However, the main corridors actually are unrenovated and still boast their original brickwork and 400 year old architecture.
Rooms here are gorgeous, decorated with wood furniture befitting its colonial heritage but with a touch of modern sensibility, color, and comfort to create the perfect ambiance for a lovely stay. With 12 rooms, it also offers a very private and exclusive feel.
There is a terrific restaurant here, that Susana and I have enjoyed as a date night before. There is also a small but nice pool, and service here is highly regarded. The location, right in the heart of the Old City is tough to beat too!
6. Hyatt Regency – Best High Rise Luxury Resort in Cartagena
Located in Cartagena’s more modern Bocagrande neighborhood, the Hyatt Regency is one of the newest high rise Cartagena luxury hotels. It’s also one of the very tallest buildings in Cartagena.
So, it’d be my pick for the best more modern, chain style luxury hotel in Cartagena.
At the very top there are several terrific pools that look out directly over the Caribbean. In fact, I’d hazard to say these are the best rooftop pools at any Cartagena luxury resort.
The rest of the rooftop has a great sitting area that has a terrific view of the bay too.
The rooms here are also terrific, exactly what you would expect for a high end luxury hotel in Cartagena with the name Hyatt. They are modernly, yet elegantly, furnished and many have amazing views out to sea.
The location is close to the beaches of Bocagrande, lots of great shopping, a slew of restaurants, as well as being just a short taxi ride away from the historic Walled City.
If you are looking for all the amenities that a larger chain hotel like the Hyatt can offer or just want a more modernly styled room than the more colonial, boutique style places higher on the list, this may just be the very best luxury resort in Cartagena for you!
7. 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 on one side and of the bay on the other.
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 or even business travelers, 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.
8. Casona del Colegio – Great Value Boutique Luxury Cartagena Hotel
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 (read a review of our stay 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 but at much more reasonable prices. We also thought the service was terrific, and the food and drinks from the restaurant were absolutely 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 three 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 de Indias!
9. 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 have quite the the view of Movich or Casona del Colegio, it’s still pretty decent. The pool is also a bit larger. So, it’s 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.
Bastion is 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 a bit more intimate, closer to the feel of a boutique, this might just be the best luxury hotel in Cartagena for you.
10. Hotel Capellán – Historic Luxury Outside the Wall
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.
The 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 small 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!
11. Sofitel Calablanca – Best Beach Luxury Resort in Cartagena
For a long time, I recommended Hotel Las Islas as the best of the Cartagena luxury resorts on the beach. Its rustic bungalows are still a great option, especially for those looking to feel like they’ve escaped it all and are immersed in nature.
However, I think the more modern Sofitel Barú Calablanca offers an experience appealing to more travelers, including families.
The hotel is absolutely lovely and is set apart on its own on an isolated part of Barú Island, giving it an exclusive and private beach.
Rooms are lovely, and there’s also a great pool.
One of the things I really like though, and why I think it’s the best overall Cartagena 5 star resort on the beach, is that the hotel offers a lot of activities, ranging from mixology classes, to cooking classes, to movies under the stars, to coffee tastings.
Just keep in mind it’s at the bottom of this list because it is roughly an hour away from Cartagena proper. So, you won’t want to stay here for your entire trip.
If you’re looking for a beach escape for a few nights to complement your stay at one of the 5 star hotels in Cartagena above, there’s no better place for it though. You can also check out all my picks for the best Rosario Islands resorts if you don’t manage to snag a room here.
Ready to plan your stay at a Cartagena Luxury Hotel?
There you have it a complete guide to the top 11 best Cartagena hotels for luxury stays!
You can choose from Cartagena five star hotels set in former convents or colonial mansions, or you can opt for a Cartagena luxury hotel set in a modern high rise, or something in between.
Really you can’t go wrong though!
Whichever of the Cartagena, Colombia luxury hotels you choose, you’re sure to have an excellent stay. Be sure to check out all the other resources on the site to help make your visit to Cartagena unforgettable!
Cheers and Happy Luxurious Exploring!
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Be sure to check out my tips for safety in Cartagena and my guide to Cartagena nightlife. You might also want to see my picks for the best foods to try in Cartagena. Oh, and if you like staying at nicer places on your travels through Colombia, check out my guide to the best luxury hotels in Bogotá too!
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 complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena, 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.