Hotel Snapshot
Cartagena, Colombia’s Walled City, has never been static. Once a fortified Caribbean port of pirates, traders, and socialites, its colonial mansions still carry that history.
Casa Carolina sits at the center of it, housed in a 16th-century former rectory where the past was uncovered rather than polished away. Coral-stone walls, worn staircases, and murals layered across centuries remain exposed, inviting you to slow down and look closer.
Arrival is unhurried. Check-in opens with a brief energy-cleansing ritual before you’re handed your key—a pause that quietly resets the pace. With just 15 rooms, Casa Carolina folds Ayurvedic wellness, sound healing, and anti-inflammatory cuisine into a setting where ancient architecture and modern design meet without excess. The hotel feels anchored in Cartagena’s history, yet focused on restoration—of both the building and the people moving through it.
Design & Character
Casa Carolina’s balance between preservation and modernity traces back to its owner, Caroline Soetaert Tchekhoff, whose vision guided the restoration from the inside out. Rather than imposing a concept, she worked alongside local conservation specialists, allowing the building to determine its own outcome—an approach shaped by personal experience and close attention to how space is felt.
Restoration was led by Álvaro Barrera and Álvaro Andrés Barrera of Barrera y Barrera, the father–son firm behind several of Cartagena’s most respected conservation projects, including Casa Pestagua. As layers of paint were stripped away, murals dating from the 16th through the 20th centuries emerged. Strict heritage regulations prohibited new construction from touching the original walls, resulting in architectural elements that appear suspended: mirrors hover, bathroom partitions hang, and stone surfaces seem to float.
Interiors were developed with Asmayda Miami, with Tchekhoff deeply involved throughout. Moroccan cotton robes, handwoven linens, and natural fibers temper the space without competing with its age. Everything feels considered but unfussy—collected rather than styled.
The Rooms
Original wooden doors and traditional keys anchor each stay in the building’s earlier life, a reminder that this was once a home long before it became a hotel.
All 15 rooms feel distinct, though the suites leave the strongest impression. Pale frescoes stretch across high ceilings, turning each space into a quiet gallery where history remains present but never heavy. Thoughtful soundproofing creates a surprising stillness within the Walled City, while select suites open onto private terraces overlooking the plaza below.
Daily tropical fruit, crisp linens, and restrained modern comforts reinforce the hotel’s philosophy: preservation without sacrifice, luxury without excess.
The Food & Drink Situation
The culinary program centers on slow nourishment and local sourcing. The menu is fully anti-inflammatory, built around local ingredients and dishes that feel both restorative and satisfying. Expect thoughtfully prepared proteins, slow-cooked vegetables, homemade kefir, and golden milk lattes that feel more ritual than trend.
From the rooftop, the city opens up—cathedral domes, tiled roofs, and civic landmarks unfolding at eye level—making it a natural place for sunset cocktails rather than a formal viewpoint.
In the evenings, the terrace shifts tone through a partnership with El Barón, one of Cartagena’s most respected bars, drawing both guests and locals for drinks as the light fades over the Walled City.
Amenities
Casa Carolina offers two pools—including one set within the central courtyard—a rooftop gastrobar, a spa, and Just B Wellness Café, all open to the public. The hotel doesn’t operate in isolation; it stays porous to the neighborhood and the daily rhythm of the Walled City.
The yoga shala follows suit. Locals practice alongside guests, and sessions occasionally move into the plaza out front, blurring the line between hotel ritual and city life.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
Wellness is where Casa Carolina truly distinguishes itself. The spa focuses on ancestral and Ayurvedic treatments delivered without spectacle. Guests are welcomed with a brief palo santo cleansing, a simple gesture that immediately shifts the nervous system after the city’s heat and movement.
The four-hands Ayurvedic massage is a standout, performed by therapists trained through the Ayurvedic Institute in Bogotá. It’s deeply restorative and unpretentious—the kind of treatment that lingers well beyond checkout.
The Yoga Shala, led by instructor Tata Umaña, hosts daily practices ranging from Hatha and Vinyasa to Kundalini and Yin, alongside sound healing and breathwork. Sessions often extend into nearby public squares, reinforcing the idea that wellness here isn’t meant to stay behind closed doors.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Set across from Plaza de la Proclamación, a lively square in the historic center, Casa Carolina is steps from boutiques, galleries, cafés, and rooftop bars. Inside, the hotel remains remarkably quiet—a contrast that lets guests choose when to engage with the city and when to retreat from it. Nearby, you’ll find street musicians and dancers, Colombian design ateliers, and some of Cartagena’s best rooftops for golden hour.
Fast Facts
Location: Cartagena, Colombia (Walled City)
Vibe: Historic, soulful, wellness-centered luxury
Rating: Five-star boutique
Room Count: 15
Pricing: Rates start at $400 per night.
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Original frescoes revealed through restoration, paired with globally sourced, intentional design.
Dining: Anti-inflammatory, slow-food rooftop restaurant; café open to community
Amenities: Spa, two pools, yoga shala, rooftop dining, daily wellness programming
Nearby Attractions: Walled City plazas, fashion ateliers, cafés, galleries, sunset rooftops
Airport: Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), 15–20 minutes by car
