Cartagena
An arresting seven-room boutique hotel wrapped in a handsome colonial mansion, the San Pedro manages to balance authentic historical touches with genuine…
Must-see hotels in Caribbean Coast
Minca
When they say the location here is 'above Minca' they're not kidding – just getting to this fantastic place is an adventure and ensures that only the…
Santa Marta
A superb hotel that could almost be recommended as a city highlight, the Farol hides a wealth of little luxuries behind its plain red facade. The large,…
Riohacha
La Bona Vida is so good that it had to add a second branch in 2017, only a year after opening the first. Behind the turquoise colonial facade lies a…
Cartagena
Firmly established as Cartagena's finest hotel, the Casa San Agustin enjoys a central location that would be wonderful for any establishment. However, it…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Finca Barlovento may be the single most beautiful spot in the area, and it's located just outside PNN Tayrona right on the beach at Playa Los Naranjos…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
The most comfortable, well-run spot in Sapzurro has beautiful gardens with flourishing guava, coconut and mango trees; open-air showers for campers; and…
Caribbean Coast
This beautiful hotel was created by a British journalist and his momposina wife inside a restored 17th-century mansion overlooking the river. It has…
Santa Marta
This fabulous hostel in the town center takes some beating. A clever and stylish multilevel conversion of an old mansion, it has superb-value dorms and…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
Megapopular Gecko has simple wooden rooms that are great value; smarter options include rooms with air-con and private bathroom. The place is known for…
Cartagena
Two wonderfully restored 15th-century homes make up this lovely 28-room, open-air boutique hotel, replete with exposed-brick archways, original stone…
Caribbean Coast
This incredible place lives up to its name – it's literally a house in the middle of the water – a wooden holiday home built on an artificial island that…
Palomino
Like a backpacker hostel relocated to a tropical beach setting, Tiki Hut is paradise on a budget, a beautifully designed place set around a large pool,…
Cartagena
Despite steadily rising prices in Getsemaní, rates here remain reasonable and you'll get personal, four-star service, beautiful communal areas with…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
This gorgeous place very stylishly caters for discerning backpackers who want to explore the park without giving up all comforts. It's very rustic but…
Caribbean Coast
Friendly, safe, clean and charming, this is the best place in town whatever your budget. The private rooms lack natural light, and can get some noise from…
Cartagena
One of Getsemaní's best midrange deals, this charming place is like an urban hacienda, with a large, rustic wooden courtyard hidden behind the walls of a…
Cartagena
At this adults-only, made-for-romance hotel in a restored colonial building where old and new features seamlessly meld, guests can enjoy both opulence and…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
Built beside a reef at the edge of the village, this wonderful place is set in an alluringly unkempt garden and presided over by Rubén and Myriam, two…
Barranquilla
You can’t beat a grande-dame hotel, and El Prado is so storied it’s virtually a cliché. Polite bellboys dash out to carry your bags, copious palm trees …
Minca
This extraordinary place is perfect for isolating yourself in the mountains above Minca. It has a self-contained hippyish feeling, with a spectacular…
Santa Marta
Although it's housed in the former mansion of a drug cartel family, there couldn't be anything less shady about this bright and breezy hostel. Ask for a…
Palomino
Matuy is the quintessential 'anti-resort' resort, where the 'disconnect' is taken literally: there's no electricity in its 10 inconspicuous cabins shaded…
La Guajira Peninsula
On the far side of the village, within walking distance of El Faro lighthouse, is the best ranchería in town. The adjoining rooms, fashioned from the…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Located a few kilometers east of PNN Tayrona, this recently constructed beach villa with its gabled thatched roof and exquisite tropical garden is a self…
Santa Marta
A very high-end, self-contained and intelligently designed hostel, the Dreamer has rooms clustered around one of Santa Marta's best swimming pools. Even…
Palomino
Compared to Palomino's other backpacker-oriented places, Aité is a bit more grown up and manicured. Set on a secluded hillside with closely cropped grass…
Palomino
Aiming for the romantic crowd, La Sirena is a collection of beachfront eco-cabins with a healthy, holistic vibe. Employing the local building materials …
Palomino
The football pitch, outdoor gym, yoga classes and surf school suggest that this large beachfront complex is run by a bunch of fitness fanatics, but it…
Palomino
Like a resort for backpackers, the Dreamer has a kidney-shaped pool, a large, florid garden and a restaurant that knocks out good pizzas. The supersocial…
Cartagena
Cartagena's ultimate party hostel is paradise for some and rather too much noise for others. Etched with a grand colonial feel, it's undoubtedly the hub…
Caribbean Coast
This excellent option offers you the chance to stay on the islands at an affordable price. Right on the beach, this place has a laid-back vibe and…
Taganga
Run by French resident Lucie, who has spent 20 years in Taganga and is a passionate campaigner for the town, this charming and colorful place has 13 rooms…
Minca
This fantastic place is all about creating an environmentally friendly project that gives back to its community. Housed on a former cattle farm, Mundo…
Santa Marta
The 'Crazy Breeze' is the choice of a young, festive crowd, who pack out the 100 or so beds. Dorms sleep four to 10, and there's an array of private rooms…
Camping Cabo San Juan del Guía
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Most backpackers end up at this campground, which has the air of a music festival in high season. There are two gorgeous swimming beaches as well as a…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
This group of 14 rustic-chic cabañas is a five-minute walk from the car park that marks the end of the drivable road into Tayrona national park. Each two…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
On the main street, just back from the dock, this excellent option has six private rooms and a couple of six-berth family rooms, each with fan, private…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
Owner Clemencia will make you feel instantly welcome at this rustic wooden guesthouse. The two rooms are on the jungle-covered mountainside and have…
Taganga
Feeling like a bit of the old, mellower Taganga, this French-run hostel is the best budget option hereabouts. It's also very secure, though be sure to…
