Cartagena

The hotel

During my stay in February 2022, I stayed at the charming Hotel Casa del Arzobispado, a boutique hotel located in the historic center of the city. A 17th century colonial mansion that was purchased and restored by Grupo del Sol in 2002. The hotel has 11 rooms, a swimming pool, spa and a café called Época, where breakfast is served every morning.

The location of the hotel is wonderful, even compared to other hotels we thought about staying and they were sold out. Super central within the walled city, with several cool restaurants and shops just a few steps away. The decor is in colonial style, no room is the same and they are all beautiful and very charming. The service is ok, I have nothing to complain about my stay there, but for very demanding guests, it may leave a little to be desired.

My sister, on the other hand, stayed at the Casa de Alba boutique hotel. Also located in the historic center of Cartagena, the hotel is located in one of the first houses built in Cartagena in 1576, has 7 rooms and can accommodate up to 30 guests at a time, with the possibility of a buyout. The hotel has super charming decor, good service and has already won some awards within its category. The hotel was highly recommended by my sister.

Other accommodation options are Casa Pestagua Relais Châteaux and Casa San Agustin, both were options for us to stay but they were full when we went, they were very well recommended and based on my research, they are excellent, however, I still prefer the location of Casa del Arzobispado . As for the Sofitel Santa Clara, it was one of my first accommodation options and it was also unavailable. I booked a lunch in its garden to get to know it and in the end, I thought it would be great not to have stayed there. It's a beautiful hotel, but very big, some parts are beautiful and others are completely charmless, in a resort style. It's worth scheduling a lunch to enjoy its garden and internal courtyard!

To Do

• Boat trip: There are many boat trip options departing from Cartagena. In the city center you can find people selling packages and advertising various tours to the beaches close to the city. I don't recommend this type of tour, the beaches are ugly and the boats are crowded.

The ideal is to organize a private boat trip to the islands close to Cartagena, such as Isla Barú and Islas del Rosário. Some hotels have their own boat to take their guests and those that don't can make an appointment with local companies according to the guest's needs.

Another option is to reduce the number of days in Cartagena and combine the itinerary with Barú, where there is the incredible Las Islas hotel, perfect for disconnecting. For those who cannot extend their itinerary, Club Matimba is a good option with day use.

• Torre del Reloj: historical monument that marks the entrance to the walled city, with its old clock and Spanish colonial architecture, representing the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• San Pedro Claver Sanctuary: The sanctuary honors the Jesuit priest who defended the rights of slaves and is an important pilgrimage site, highlighting his dedication to justice and human rights.
• Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alexandria: a majestic Renaissance-style church that stands out for its impressive facade and ornate interior, being a historical and architectural landmark of the city.

• Plaza de la Aduana: historic square that houses the city hall, surrounded by well-preserved colonial buildings.
• Plaza de las Bóvedas: a historic square that was once used as a prison and now houses shops and art galleries.
• Plaza Santo Domingo: central square surrounded by restaurants, cafes and shops.
• Palácio de la Inquisición: an impressive historic building that once served as the seat of the Inquisition court. Today, it houses a museum that details this dark part of the city's history.
• Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas: an imposing and well-preserved colonial fortress designed to protect the city against attacks. It is an important historical landmark and offers spectacular views of the city and sea.
• Cartagena Wall: a fortification that surrounds the historic city, served as protection against attacks by pirates and corsairs in colonial times and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cerro de la Popa: a hill that houses a historic convent with panoramic views of the city and the Caribbean Sea. It is an important religious and tourist site.

• El Menú Literario de García Márquez: The coolest program we did in Cartagena was certainly the street food tour passing through tourist spots mentioned in works by Gabriel García Márquez. It was a 3 in 1 program, we learned a little about Colombian literary culture, gastronomic culture and the important tourist attractions of the walled city and its history. You can book the tour using this link https://www.foodies.com.co/product/el-menu-literario-de-garcia-marquez/

To Eat

Restaurants

• Mix: Delicious for lunch, fusion menu.
• Mar y Zielo: Beautiful and pleasant atmosphere with rooftop and super delicious food, one of my favorites.
• Taqueria Municipal: Mexican, we didn't go but it was highly recommended.
• Celele: On the Latin America's 50 best list, wonderful contemporary Colombian menu.
• Cevicheria: Good option for lunch with seafood.
• Juan Del Mar: The best pizza in Cartagena and seafood menu.
• Sofitel Santa Clara: For lunch in the internal courtyard.
• Lobo de mar: Cool atmosphere and delicious food, go for dinner.
• Agua de Leon: Cool atmosphere and great drinks.
• Café del Mar: Super touristy rooftop bar, go to see the sunset.

Bars

• Alchemical
• Café Havana
• El Baron
• Demented
• Townhouse Rooftop
• Hotel Movich Rooftop

To Buy

• Ábaco: Bookstore and cafe
• Agua de Leon: There are two units with different styles, one with more street pieces and the other with Colombian designers and super charming pieces.
• Agua Bendita: Cartagena has its own Agua Bendita brand store. The store is beautiful, super complete and with much better prices than those we find here in Brazil.
• Territory: There are two stores, one with bags and decorative objects and the other just with beaded accessories. Both are beautiful and very close to each other.
• St Dom: The best multi-brand in Cartagena, with "The best of Latin design".
• Casa Chiqui: one of the most incredible decoration stores I’ve ever been to. The owner, Chiqui Echavarría, travels the world sourcing wonderful furniture and decorative objects for her store in Cartagena. The prices are steep, but the store is a feast for the eyes.

Local crafts: local crafts are very rich and can be found throughout the city. Don't forget to negotiate when purchasing.