Casa Bustamante Hotel Boutique

I found this place online and was glad I did. It’s a beautiful old house turned into a hotel, decorated in a way that gives it the feel of the old colonial city. The rooms are roomy, with nice bathrooms and natural light, and there’s a good-sized pool. The free breakfast was a highlight, with a variety of authentic home-cooked food. A park, convenience stores, restaurants, and the beach are all within an easy walk, and it’s easy to get a taxi too. The location is close enough to walk into the old city, but far enough away to avoid its high prices, cramped rooms, and poor lighting. The service was excellent, although hardly any of the staff speak English, which may be why it seems less popular online. That won’t be a problem for everyone. It was great value, and I really enjoyed my stay.

The staff were friendly and helpful, the breakfast was delicious, and we slept well in comfortable beds. Casa Bustamante felt like an oasis, far enough from Cartagena’s bustle while still convenient for getting around. The rooms are gorgeous, the pool was clean and refreshing, and the house itself is charming and unique. They also let us store our luggage for free during our two-night island stay, which was very nice. We had no complaints and would love to come back.

A lovely, authentic hotel with beautiful decor and a really nice pool.

The main drawback for me was having no fridge in the room, which matters a lot in Cartagena’s heat. You also have to pay for water. That aside, I found the hotel clean, comfortable, and very good value. It’s on a small street in a quiet, safe area. The beach is a four-minute walk away, a well-stocked grocery store is seven minutes away, and there’s a small mall with a few shops inside the city walls, about 11 minutes away. The main plaza and old city take around 20 minutes on foot, whether you go along the beach or through the city. The neighborhood felt safe even at night. Our room was spacious, with high ceilings, a clean and well-kept interior, an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower, and air conditioning, which is essential in the heat. The pool was the best part of the trip. We’d head out early, come back around midday, then cool off there through the afternoon. Towels were provided, and there was a shower and outdoor toilet by the pool. There are only three sunbeds, but we were fine laying a towel on the floor to relax. Breakfast was basic but enough: coffee or tea, fresh-squeezed juice, fruit, eggs, and bread. We asked for papayas, and the staff brought fresh ones right away, a kind touch. The hotel was clean and maintained throughout our stay, and we saw staff working on small repairs during the day. We had no cleanliness or maintenance problems. Check-in and checkout times are strictly enforced, which makes sense for a small boutique hotel. The staff were friendly and did their best to help, even though they don’t speak English. I appreciated the effort. It’s a good fit if you want a peaceful area, though kids riding scooters around the property can disturb the quiet. Having someone on staff who speaks English would improve things for international guests.