Colombia

In the cities of Cartagena and Bogota there’s now a choice of top end international brands and cool boutique hotels with Colombian character. Out in the countryside and along the coast, things are a little more basic and underdeveloped. We believe that’s all part of the appeal and we’ll show you the best available.

This is one of those rare hotels which combines all the services of a modern 5-star hotel and an international brand with something uniquely local and a landmark of the city. We find that Sofitel always brings a bit of French flag to their hotels. The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara combines this with some amazing history slab band in the heart of the old city and near the waterfront. The building dates from 1621 as the Santa Clara Convent and is full of artfully restored historical features. The hotel takes up a whole block of the old city, with the courtyard pool and gardens as its centrepiece, somewhere to escape the heat of the city. We recommend dining in Restaurant 1621, where you’ll feel like you’re dining in the Spanish colonial court as galleons ply the nearby harbour.

In Cartagena, we think it’s vital to stay in the old town and the Bastion Luxury hotel certainly fits that bill and is one of the best picks. The main feature is a rooftop pool where you can relax and look over the old town, church spires and the harbour beyond. Bastion Luxury Hotel has been elegantly renovated from a 16th-century building and the restaurant is one of the best in the city. It’s that mixture of location, style and service which is hard to beat.

Like many of Sofitel’s hotels around the world, this combines plenty of character and local touches along with international standards. The rooms were designed by architect Miguel Soto and the hotel is full of ornate touches. A big reason to stay here is the location in La Cabrera and what they call the T zone, full of bars, restaurants and shops.

The Four Seasons Casa Medina is a landmark of Bogota and one of the city’s foremost addresses. Featuring all the luxury and world-class facilities expected of a Four Seasons hotel married with the design and style of the 1940s mansion. In the original wing of the hotel, no two rooms are the same. There’s an excellent selection of eateries, along with a convenient location in Zona G which is packed with restaurants of all types in Bogota’s dining hub.

Casa San Carlos Lodge is the place to stay in Colombia’s coffee region. In fact, you can do what the locals do and stay a bit longer. It’s a very unique concept as 140 local artists have come together to design the interiors, thus lending plenty of character. The style is like that of a plantation house, with a large pool and beautiful green gardens to unwind among. With just 23 rooms, an excellent restaurant serving fresh local produce and mountain views all around from its lofty position surrounded by coffee plantations.

Hotel Park 10 is a good standard 5-star city hotel in an excellent location in the heart of Medellin, close to Parque Lleras and the central square. It’s a comfortable base from which to explore Medellin and the surrounding countryside, reminding us of a classic American city hotel with brownstone features, casual dining and bars, large rooms and particularly friendly service.

Hotel Villa Maria Tayrona is our preferred pick for a beach hotel on Colombia’s wild northern Caribbean coast. It’s a peaceful and relaxing hideaway set between wild jungle and the secluded Mata de Platano beach. Each bungalow room is different and set around a 200-year-old colonial house. This isn’t the place to come if you want lots of facilities and 24-hour service. It basically feels like an old hippie hangout but doing it in some style, which fits the particular attraction to this undiscovered part of the world.