Click Clack Hotel Medellin

Casa San Agustin is a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Cartagena’s vibrant old town. The hotel comprises three connecting 17th-century buildings, in the middle of which are the remains of an aqueduct which was used to collect rainwater for the walled city. There are 31 rooms and suites, some with their own Jacuzzi and small balcony. Rooms have maintained their colonial charm with dark wooden beamed ceilings and tiled bathrooms, but the soft blues and greens and natural fabrics add a fresh, contemporary edge. The large duplex prestige suite is ideal for small groups or families with two large en suite bedrooms, living room and small kitchen. There are beautiful orchids, Colombia’s national flower, in each room. The open-air swimming pool sits at the heart of the hotel with the aqueduct towering above. It is the perfect place to cool off and relax after a day exploring the city of Cartagena. There is a small rooftop terrace as well as a library, which features original frescoes uncovered during the renovation, where a daily afternoon tea is served. The Alma Restaurant is the perfect place to try traditional Colombian cuisine, with seafood casserole and ceviche perennially popular. The Alma Bar is a beautiful space and ideal for unwinding with a G&T. Breakfast can be enjoyed indoors or on the patio. The Aurum Spa is inspired by the gold Colombia is so famous for, and is a beautifully relaxing space where guests can indulge in a treatment.

Kasamar is a private villa on the outskirts of Tayrona National Park – a great option for families, groups of friends or people who are after an exclusive getaway. The house has four en-suite bedrooms with air conditioning and ample space for relaxing and eating. The upper levels of the house have open sides so you can enjoy the sea breeze as you recline in the hammocks or on the wicker chairs with a good book. The views out over the ocean and jungle really are something very special. There are two swimming pools, which is great as the ocean, although stunning, can be a little too rough for swimming. Guests staying here will enjoy the services of a personal chef so you can enjoy delicious meals at times that suit you. The nearby river can be explored by canoe and Tayrona National Park is a short drive away.

The beautiful Four Seasons Casa Medina was the creative vision of Santiago Medina Mejia, a Paris-educated artist and architect from Medellin. He salvaged local architectural treasures, such as stone columns and hand-carved wooden doors from two recently demolished colonial convents, to create was declared a monument by the country’s Ministry of Culture in the 1980s. The hotel features 62 rooms and suites, where beamed ceilings and aged leather accents coupled with fresh, contemporary touches making them a sophisticated blend of old and new. The hotel has two restaurants; the lively La Bodega that focuses on tapas and Colombian coffee, and Castanyoles Raciones y Tapas, where guests chave the option to dine in the beautiful glass atrium with Spanish tiles, living walls and drop lights. There is also a gym and a spa with treatment rooms, relaxation room and steam room.

Surrounded by peaceful gardens and beyond these, tranquil countryside hills that ripple on forever, Sazagua is a lovely little boutique-sized guesthouse that triumphs in both comfort and character. A surprising level of mod cons are installed in its ten very spacious rooms including WiFi and flat screen TVs, and there’s a small spa with a sauna and treatment rooms offering massages and other wellness remedies. The house is in the style of a typical Colombian farmhouse with eclectic details such as colourful colonial tiles and furniture and indigenous inspirations and art, to more international antiques and furnishings. However, its wraparound balconies and central courtyards root the hotel firmly in the region and welcome in its serene views and laid-back countryside temperament. The food is good and the menu is fairly bold for the scale of the hotel. The staff have also helped seal Sazagua’s reputation as being one of the best places to stay in the area, and are immensely friendly and helpful.