Travel This tiny boutique hotel, hidden in winding colonial streets, is the perfect place to let the bustling city fade away Beautiful Cartagena de Indias is described as the jewel of the Caribbean sea. The city has a well-deserved reputation for great food, music and crystal-clear waters which make it a must-see for any visitors to Colombia. And for anyone seeking a bit of rest and relaxation, Amarla is the place to go.
A tiny boutique hotel (it has just six rooms) par excellence, it combines affordability with luxury in a way that has made it a favourite for travellers, new and returning. As far as location goes, Amarla can’t be beaten: tucked into the maze of winding old streets in Cartagena’s centre, it’s mere steps away from some of the city’s biggest tourist attractions (including the iconic Torre del Reloj city gates), and yet you wouldn’t be able to tell from how quiet it is inside. More importantly, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump away from some of the city’s best food and drink: the award-winning restaurants Celele, Candé and Alma are less than a fifteen minute walk away, while trendy bar Alquimico (itself a go-to for its rather bonkers cocktail offerings) is two minutes walk.
In other words, there’s no excuse for not making the most of what the city has to offer while you stay at Amarla. Like most of the buildings in Cartagena’s city centre, the hotel is located inside a gorgeous townhouse which dates back to the 1700s — and it still retains .
