Four Seasons Cartagena Review

There are certain moments that stay with you long after a trip ends. Sometimes it's a bad meal. Sometimes it's a view. Sometimes it's an unexpected conversation with a stranger. During my recent stay at Four Seasons Cartagena, it wasn't the rooftop pool, the historic monastery, or even the facial that left my skin glowing for days afterward that became the defining memory of the trip.

It was a sloth.

But before I get to the sloth, let's talk about the hotel itself.

Four Seasons Cartagena Brings New Life to Historic Cartagena

Cartagena is one of those cities that seduces you immediately. The pastel facades, the crumbling colonial architecture draped in bougainvillea, the Caribbean humidity that wraps around you like a warm blanket the second you step outside. It is romantic and chaotic in equal measure. Music spills from open doorways. Horse-drawn carriages rattle across cobblestone streets. The city feels alive in a way that many polished luxury destinations no longer do.

Four Seasons Cartagena somehow manages to embrace that energy while simultaneously offering an escape from it.

Located in Getsemaní, one of Cartagena's most vibrant neighborhoods, the property occupies a collection of meticulously restored historic buildings, including a centuries-old monastery whose cloisters now serve as some of the most beautiful common spaces on the property. While many luxury hotels could be picked up and dropped into another city without feeling particularly different, Four Seasons Cartagena feels inseparable from its surroundings. The history is woven into every stone wall, every courtyard, and every shaded walkway.

Walking through the property often felt less like wandering through a hotel and more like exploring a private estate that had quietly accumulated centuries of stories. Massive trees provide shade throughout the grounds. Historic architecture sits comfortably alongside contemporary luxury. The result feels sophisticated without becoming sterile.

In many ways, the monastery is the soul of the hotel.

The Monastery Cloisters Are the Soul of the Property

Our room, tucked within the historic cloisters, felt less like a hotel room and more like a private residence belonging to a particularly stylish Spanish aristocrat. The soaring wood-beam ceilings immediately drew the eye upward, creating a sense of grandeur that made the space feel even larger than it was. Warm natural materials, rich textures, and thoughtful details gave the room an elegance that felt authentic to Cartagena rather than imported from some generic luxury hotel design catalog.

My favorite feature was the expansive walk-through closet crafted in beautiful wood, which felt more like a dressing room than a place to store luggage. Between the Spanish colonial architecture, the oversized proportions, and the quiet atmosphere of the cloisters just beyond our door, the room achieved that rare balance of feeling both luxurious and deeply connected to the history of the property.

The cloisters are impossibly peaceful. In the mornings I sat in a cozy lounge chair in my robe, sipping coffee and getting some work done on my laptop while a handful of others woke up and went about their morning workouts. During the heat of the afternoon, I found myself lingering there simply because they felt so removed from the outside world. Cartagena can be wonderfully energetic, but it can also be overwhelming. The monastery offered a rare sense of stillness.

Each evening, returning to it after exploring Cartagena felt like retreating to a private sanctuary hidden within the walls of an old monastery.

It also offered something else: a certain atmosphere that comes with spending time inside buildings that have existed for hundreds of years.

Part of the monastery includes a crypt, which I happily chose not to visit. My curiosity only extends so far. 

Perhaps that was the right decision.

One morning during my stay, I woke unusually early and remained resting in bed with my eyes closed. The room was completely dark and silent. As I lay there, I distinctly heard a man's voice speaking. I'll spare you the details because they're not particularly important, and I fully acknowledge there are countless rational explanations. Maybe I was caught somewhere between sleeping and waking. Maybe my imagination was more active than usual. Maybe centuries-old monasteries simply have a way of making you more aware of the strange corners of your own mind.

Whatever the explanation, it remains one of the more unusual experiences I've had while traveling.

A Pool Day Under the Cartagena Sun

One afternoon we decided to spend the day at the rooftop pool, which seemed like an excellent idea until I discovered that every other guest at the hotel had apparently arrived at the exact same conclusion.

The pool area was buzzing. Lounge chairs were claimed early and occupied with the kind of determination usually reserved for prime real estate. After making a full lap around the deck, I managed to secure what appeared to be the final available chair tucked away in a far corner.

I accepted my victory.

What I underestimated was the Cartagena sun.

Within a few hours I had transformed from "vacation glow" to "freshly boiled lobster." No amount of sunscreen, shade breaks, or wishful thinking seemed capable of stopping it. The Caribbean sun operates under its own set of rules and apparently those rules did not favor me.

The resulting sunburn became an uninvited travel companion for the remainder of the trip. Every photo I took afterward featured a face that looked noticeably more enthusiastic about UV exposure than it should have.

Thankfully, the spa was just a few steps away and could help me soothe my poor skin.

The Spa at Four Seasons Cartagena Is Worth Booking Immediately

If you're staying at Four Seasons Cartagena, I would strongly encourage booking a treatment. Travel has a way of accumulating on my face. Flights, dehydration, restaurant meals, and too little sleep inevitably leave evidence behind. My boyfriend and I had traveled around Europe for about a month just before this trip, so by the time I arrived in Colombia, my skin was practically begging for intervention.

I booked the Reparative facial as i'd gotten a bit too much sun the day prior. It's a 60-minute high-performance facial to restore, replenish, and rejuvenate all skin types. It calms inflammation, strengthens the skin barrier, and accelerates repair for a visibly renewed complexion. The facial I received was exceptional. The treatment itself was wonderfully relaxing, but what impressed me most was the environment. The spa feels integrated into the property's historic architecture rather than separated from it. There is something deeply calming about receiving a treatment inside walls that have witnessed centuries of history. I emerged looking considerably more rested than I actually was, which is arguably the greatest compliment one can pay a facial.

As wonderful as the spa was, however, the highlight of my trip occurred outside the hotel.

One afternoon, we wandered into the park across the street. I wasn't hoping for anything particularly exciting to happen, we just enjoy a leisurely stroll through the park here and there.

Then I looked up.

There, hanging lazily from a branch, was a sloth.

I cannot adequately describe how excited I was.

The sloth, meanwhile, seemed completely indifferent to my excitement. It continued doing exactly what sloths do best: absolutely nothing in a remarkably committed manner.

For several minutes, I stood beneath the tree staring upward like an overexcited child. In a trip filled with beautiful architecture and luxury amenities, this was the moment that stayed with me. There was something oddly moving about finally encountering a creature I had wanted to see for years. 

(I want to add that I assume the sloth was placed in the park as a tourist attraction, it probably wasn't wild. BUT, it was something we stumbled upon and weren't expecting to see, so that was fun.)

My Honest Thoughts on the Food at Four Seasons Cartagena

Of course, no hotel review would be complete without discussing the food.

This is where my experience becomes slightly more complicated. 

The service throughout the property was excellent. Every member of the staff I encountered was warm, professional, and genuinely eager to help. Unfortunately, the food and beverage program didn't consistently match that level of excellence.

The most memorable issue involved a latte.

I realize how ridiculous that sounds. Complaining about coffee while staying at one of the world's most luxurious hotel brands is not exactly a hardship. But good coffee matters, particularly when you're starting your day. Especially when you're in a place known for its coffee.

I am an avid coffee drinker, and I am not a particularly difficult customer to please. But, on this day, the latte arrived with an unusual taste and aroma that immediately struck me as off. I returned it and opted for a Coke, how very "American" of me lol. After discussing it with management, the team investigated and eventually discovered that a water filtration component required replacement. Once addressed, the hot water tasted and smelled noticeably better.

What impressed me wasn't the issue itself. Every hotel encounters occasional operational challenges. What impressed me was how seriously the team took the feedback. They listened, investigated, followed up, and worked toward a solution. That level of attentiveness deserves recognition.

The rooftop pool lunch unfortunately proved less successful. Despite the beautiful setting, the meal itself fell short of expectations. The fish tasted... too fishy. The meat was, bland. The drinks were... just okay. It's difficult to create a memorable dining experience when the atmosphere ends up being the strongest part of the meal.

Dinner at the Grand Grill was, okay. The group of us shared an array of items and I remember the steak being good enough for us to say, "This is good." The cheeseburgers were inedible, though. That's saying a lot considering I am an equal opportunity burger lover.

Breakfast at Four Seasons Cartagena Was the Best Meal on Property

Ironically, despite my mixed feelings about portions of the hotel's food and beverage program, breakfast was consistently excellent. In fact, it became one of my favorite parts of each day.

The staff quickly learned that we were slightly particular about our eggs. Not difficult, just specific. The kind of people who know exactly how soft they want a yolk or how a scramble should be cooked. Every morning our waiter greeted us with genuine warmth and remembered our preferences without missing a beat. By the second day it felt less like hotel service and more like being welcomed back by an old friend.

What I'll remember most, however, is the passion fruit.

I ate an almost embarrassing amount of it during our stay. Thankfully, I have a boyfriend who has fully accepted this aspect of my personality. Each morning, without fail, he would casually commandeer three passion fruit from the breakfast buffet and place them beside my plate before I even had the chance to ask. It became our unspoken morning ritual.

Fresh Colombian fruit has a way of ruining you for fruit anywhere else. The passion fruit was intensely fragrant, sweet, tart, and impossibly vibrant. By the end of the trip I was fairly certain I had consumed my body weight in it, and honestly, I regret nothing.

Fortunately, Cartagena offers no shortage of excellent restaurants.

Salon Tropical Was My Favorite Meal in Cartagena

One of my favorite meals of the trip came at Salon Tropical. After a few underwhelming culinary experiences elsewhere, lunch there felt like a reminder of why Cartagena has become such an exciting food destination. The atmosphere was relaxed and vibrant, the food was beautifully executed, and the dessert was memorable enough that I found myself thinking about it days later.

Celele, on the other hand, was a restaurant I desperately wanted to love.

Celele Cartagena Review

Its reputation precedes it. The restaurant has received international acclaim and appears on nearly every serious Cartagena dining guide. Naturally, my expectations were high.

Perhaps too high.

While I admired the creativity and ambition behind the menu, the experience never fully connected for me. The most memorable moment involved a bread course called "Journey Bread." After tasting it, my dining companion and I spent the remainder of the evening joking that it had not, in fact, taken us on much of a journey.

At least not one we were eager to revisit.

Still, restaurants are subjective. Some travelers will undoubtedly adore it. That's the beauty of travel. Not every experience lands the same way for every person.

Celebrating a Birthday in Cartagena

Part of the reason for our visit was to celebrate a friend's birthday, which gave us the perfect excuse to experience Cartagena after dark.

One evening our group headed to a restaurant that somehow managed to strike the perfect balance between dinner party and dance floor. There was a DJ spinning music throughout the evening, the energy in the room was infectious, and before long our entire table was dancing between courses.

The food was genuinely delicious, the cocktails flowed freely, and the atmosphere captured everything people love about Cartagena. It felt festive without trying too hard, glamorous without becoming pretentious, and joyful in a way that can't really be manufactured.

Walking back to the hotel proved difficult for me for no reason other than my shoes were incredibly uncomfortable and the thought of walking barefoot through the town gave me the chills. Luckily for me, I have the sweetest man ever and he happily picked me up, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me giggling all the way back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I cannot remember the name of the restaurant.

This is either a testament to how much fun we had or a sign that I should take better notes while traveling.

When I eventually track it down, I'll update this post. Until then, it will remain forever known as "that amazing birthday dinner place with the DJ where everyone danced and nobody wanted the night to end."

Is Four Seasons Cartagena Worth It?

Looking back, what I appreciate most about Four Seasons Cartagena is that it feels distinct. In an era when many luxury hotels seem increasingly interchangeable, this property possesses genuine character. The historic setting, the monastery, the beautiful spa, and the thoughtful service create an experience that feels uniquely tied to Cartagena.

Was every aspect perfect? No.

Would I return? Absolutely, if I found myself needing to visit Cartagena again. I feel like i've been twice now and that's probably enough for me.

Because long after I've forgotten the disappointing rooftop lunch or the taste of the latte, I'll remember standing beneath a tree watching a sloth move at its own pace through the Caribbean afternoon. I'll remember wandering through centuries-old cloisters. I'll remember emerging from the spa looking suspiciously well-rested. And I'll probably continue wondering about that strange voice I heard one morning.

The best hotels don't simply provide accommodation.

They give you stories.

Four Seasons Cartagena gave me several.