El Cactus Luxury Apartments in Historic Center

We slept well because it was quiet at night, and the rooftop was lovely and peaceful. The rooms were unbelievably spacious and luxurious, with high quality services and kind, attentive staff. We were allowed to leave our bags for free while visiting Tayrona for two days, and after check-out we could use the pool all day and shower, also at no charge. Wonderful experience, highly recommend!

The two pools have plenty of room to sit outside and unwind, and the shower actually had hot water. Inside, the rooms were quiet and felt safe and secure. Ours was large and spotlessly clean, with an incredible bed I'd love to take home. The staff were lovely and patient with our limited Spanish. They also kindly stored our bags for four days while we went farther up the coast, which was a huge help. Amazing place, deserves more than five stars!

At checkout, right at the official 11 a.m. time, nobody was there to help with our bags, so we carried them down two flights of treacherous stairs. We were also told there'd be no room cleaning during our stay unless we paid extra, and there were only two coffee pods, with a charge for more. The biggest loss from our earlier stay is breakfast. It is no longer included, and the food photo on the website is five years old. Reception wouldn't acknowledge that it could mislead people. Her only response was, “If you're not happy that we no longer serve breakfast, cancel your reservation and go somewhere else.” She said I had booked through booking.com and been notified, but I booked directly, usually for better service. Not this time. We loved staying here several years ago, which makes this especially disappointing. Keep looking, and book here only if you have to.

The only small thing I'd add is a bench or rack for suitcases in the room. That's minor, though, and didn't take away from a memorable stay. The rooms are very large, with a fully equipped kitchen, big bathroom, and lots of space. Both pools are incredible and give the property a peaceful, tranquil feel. The location is convenient for walking to bars, restaurants, and landmarks. Camila and the rest of the staff were tremendous, friendly, and helpful. A gem in Santa Marta and great value.