Colombia's Hidden Gems

Overview

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.

Overview

In the heart of the Quinta Camacho neighbourhood of Bogota, surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, cafes, galleries and shops, you’ll find Casa Legado. This family owned bed and breakfast adorns a pretty, almost 1950’s aesthetic, with lots of natural light coupled with delicate pastel colours to ease the mind when retiring at night. The seven spacious rooms each boast a unique style, inspired by the natural beauty of the country and all rooms are perfectly designed to ensure you feel right at home. Some rooms offer balcony spaces, with views of the relaxing garden space.

A delicious breakfast buffet can be enjoyed in the spacious communal kitchen area before you make the most of the free bikes on offer on which to explore the wonders of this amazing city. Also, here you can enjoy a Thai massage or a yoga session to help you wind down at the end of the day.

Overview

Located near the bars, restaurants and boutiques of Usaquén, is the W Bogota – a sleek hotel with a thoroughly contemporary feel.

The W is inspired by the legend of El Dorado, a mythical chief who was covered in gold dust before setting sail on Lake Guatavita, into which his attendents threw gold and emeralds. There are several elements that allude to this magical tale throughout the hotel.

There are 168 rooms, ranging from the Wonderful, Spectacular and Fabulous rooms to the impressive Marvellous, Wow or Extreme Wow suites. Decor is modern with splashes of bold colours and shimmering bathroom tiles. Beds are shaped like the raft aboard which the chief travelled across Lake Guatavita.

Relax with a tropical fruit juice or a lulo mojito at the W Lounge. The lounge is the heart of the hotel and features delicate gold chain curtains and a huge graffiti mural depicting an interpretation of the El Dorado legend. For casual dining, head to The Market Kitchen which embraces the farm-to-table concept.

There is a fitness centre that looks out over Bogota’s skyline as well as a spa with steam room, treatment rooms and hydrotherapy pool.

Overview

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.

Overview

Lying within the walled city of Cartagena de Indias is Casa Pestagua, which has been declared a historical and cultural heritage by UNESCO. The hotel preserves its colonial structure of double-height ceilings and Moorish-inspired arches, alongside its internal gardens of exuberant vegetation that recreate an atmosphere of romanticism, relaxation, and luxurious comfort.

10 spacious suites and 6 harmonious rooms form the space available to guests at the hotel. Views of the interior garden, the bustling street, or the sea can be found in every room, alongside king-size beds and generous bathrooms.

You will find one of the best options for ancestral gastronomy of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of the Colombian territory within Casa Pestagua. When you dine in restaurant Ánima, meaning ‘soul’ in Latin, your palate will be delighted by the authentic menu created by the hands of the executive chef Heberlo Eljach. Attached to the restaurant is the bar Animate, where you can relax with cocktails in an idyllic setting.

Casa Pestagua hosts a range of activities, including many at their sister properties: at the Acasí private beach you can indulge in an exclusive Caribbean experience, whilst at Aurum spa in Hotel Casa San Agustín you can personalise a treatment to reinvigorate your body and soul.

Overview

Bastion Luxury Hotel is located in Cartagena’s charming old town in a restored 16th-century private home. A colonial aesthetic runs though the hotel balanced perfectly with more contemporary touches.

Its 51 elegant rooms and suites have a neutral colour scheme and feel bright and fresh. Some come with a separate living area and outdoor terrace.

The hotel’s restaurant, El Gobernador, showcases the best of Colombian cuisine and offers a nine-course tasting menu, while the patio restaurant offers more relaxed dining. El Gobernador also has a small patio which is a lovely space to enjoy breakfast.

The rooftop terrace is a real highlight of the hotel with a good sized swimming pool, ample space to relax under a cabana and a bar where you can enjoy a drink and light bites as the sun goes down of the beautiful city of Cartagena.

There is also a small spa with treatment room and outdoor Jacuzza and relaxation area, as well as a small gym.

Overview

With a history dating back to 1621, the former convent of Saint Clare of Assisi is now one of Cartagena’s grandest and most illustriest hotels. The Sofitel Santa Clara is still home to crypts, wells, confessionals and paintings which have been expertly resorted to fit its new life as a modern luxuiry hotel.

At the centre of the hotel is a large courtyard filled with lush tropical plants and framed by the original stone arches of the convent. There are 123 rooms and suites, including four ‘iconic’ suites, two of which are insired by famous Colombian artists, Fernando Botero and Enrique Grau Araujo. More modern rooms complete with contemporary republican décor are  available, many with views of the city wall and Caribbean Sea. There’s also the option of staying in the cavernous and colourful colonial rooms adorned with grand antique furniture.

Enjoy modern cuisine with a Caribbean touch at the Santa Clara’s two restaurants, El Claustro and 1621, and make time to relax with a drink in the beautiful garden.

The hotel is home to a large outdoor swimming pool as well as a spa and small fitness centre.