Hotel Casa San Agustin's 30 rooms and richly decorated communal spaces evoke the building’s 17th-century grandeur, and there is locally made artisanal furniture and custom artwork throughout. A stunning interior courtyard with a mosaic tile pool and a gorgeous rooftop with city views are real highlights, but the property’s best amenity is its acclaimed on-site restaurant, Alma. The fine-dining restaurant and its upscale bar are widely considered some of Cartagena’s best, and reservations are nearly impossible to come by -- which is perhaps why its so-so breakfast buffet is a real letdown, even though it’s free. 

The four-pearl Bastion Luxury Hotel is an excellent option for travelers seeking Old World charm and modern comforts. With 51 rooms, Bastion is one of the larger upscale hotels in the walled city, and has top-notch features such as a rooftop pool, an acclaimed on-site restaurant, a small spa, and a fitness center. Rooms feature gorgeous colonial-inspired decor with luxe amenities like Smart TVs, iPod docks, and Nespresso machines -- but all rooms overlook the hotel’s interior courtyard, which might be disappointing for those who enjoy watching Cartagena’s vibrant street life. 

Staying at Hotel Quadrifolio feels like staying at a friend’s house -- you know, that friend who just so happens to own a marvelously restored 17th-century Colombian mansion. The stunning, upscale property feels like a private home, and staff members welcome guests like family. Eight individually decorated rooms are scattered across three floors, and overlook the gorgeous interior courtyard or Cartagena’s bustling city streets. On-site amenities include a pool, a rooftop hot tub and sundeck, and two multi-purpose common areas. However, the hotel doesn’t have a spa, fitness center, or restaurant. 

Hotel Boutique Casa del Coliseo is a four-pearl property that feels more like a private residence than a hotel. Casa del Coliseo’s 12 individually decorated guest rooms and grand living and dining spaces feature sophisticated decor, but still feel homey and comfortable. A gorgeous rooftop pool and lounge area is a standout feature, but the hotel lacks amenities like an on-site restaurant, spa, or fitness center. Freebies include excellent daily breakfast and Wi-Fi, and the hotel’s central location in Cartagena’s walled city is a definite perk. But, the property has lots of stairs and doesn’t have an elevator or ground-floor rooms, which may be a problem for some travelers.

Meaning “House of the Archbishop” in English, Casa del Arzobispado is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel located across the street from Cartagena’s famous cathedral, Catedral de Santa Catalina. During the 17th century, the hotel building was used by priests and bishops, in a time when the church played an important role in everyday society. Casa del Arzobispado’s religious background is evident throughout the property, and many of the building’s original art pieces (read: paintings of Jesus) are still on display. For those who don’t mind the ecclesiastical references, Hotel Casa del Arzobispado is a real gem, with 10 spacious, individually decorated rooms, a beautiful pool and courtyard, and free breakfast and Wi-Fi. It also has a prime location in the center of Cartagena’s walled city. 

There are a lot of great things about San Lazaro Art Lifestyle Hotel. Opened in 2015, San Lazaro is one of Cartagena’s newest hotels -- and it shows. Fresh modern decor fills the bright, open spaces of this 36-room, upper-middle-range property, where local artwork hangs in the hallways and glass walls offer stunning vistas of Castillo San Felipe across the street. Top-notch amenities include an on-site restaurant and a sleek rooftop pool, as well as an auditorium that serves as a multipurpose room for local functions. The one glaring issue here is the hotel’s location in a developing area outside the walled city. The historic walled city is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel, but we’d recommend taking a taxi at night.