Sofitel Baru Cartagena

Secluded, luxurious hotel w amazing views, beautiful property & friendly staff. The pools & beach are first rate w comfy lounges/beds w canopies. This is a very laid back & family friendly place- no loud parties/ drinking. It appears as though the resort is commonly utilized by Colombians looking for a safe, quiet vacation. The grounds & rooms are immaculately maintained. Concierge are bilingual ( or more!) and can recommend & arrange quality activities outside of the resort. The transit to & from is best by a beautiful catamaran if possible as the roads aren’t great. This is a very remote resort about 1-2hrs from the airport with no other facilities/stores nearby so bring your favorite snacks with you as the gift shop does not carry anything. There are many food options which are good & available all day/night. The spa is a must do- very affordable & luxurious. The best thing is the friendly people; every single person was pleasant & so helpful. I will definitely be back. My only issue was the mattress wasn’t as comfortable for such a high end hotel. The beach beds were actually better- beyond that, it was perfection.

I originally planned to book only a 60-minute massage at the Sofitel Barú Calablanca spa, but the second my massage therapist, Sandiris, laid hands on me, I immediately asked if I could extend it to 90 minutes. Her hands are magical, to say the least. The only mistake I made was checking just a few boxes for areas I wanted her to focus on—I should have simply let her do her thing from the beginning! She was absolutely incredible and completely stole the show. The front desk staff was also very helpful, knowledgeable, and welcoming, although I unfortunately forgot the gentleman’s name. This was easily one of the best massage experiences I’ve had, and I would genuinely travel back from the U.S. just to experience it again. If you’re staying at the Sofitel Barú—or even visiting Cartagena and looking for an exceptional spa experience—I highly recommend booking here and asking for Sandiris. 10/10 experience. I’ll be back!

Very nice hotel. Well built up in the middle of vegetation, quiet and relaxing. Rooftop very nice with great food (sushi). Tennis court not free (always free and normal concrete). Not at the same level the service. Almost begging for towel at the beach or moving the beds and, unbelievably with the presence of smoking attendants. That was not acceptable.

My wife and I travel all over the world, and I stay in hotels nearly every week for work. We rarely leave reviews, but Sofitel Barú has earned every single one of its five stars. It is truly exceptional in all categories. For me, this is the absolute best Accor property I’ve ever stayed at—and I’ve stayed at some of their finest. The Vibe & Property This resort is lively, energetic, and elegant. It is the polar opposite of the overcrowded, generic all-inclusive hotels commonly found throughout the Caribbean. The size-to-guest ratio could not be improved; you can easily tuck away to be secluded and private, or engage with the community and activities. The grounds are stunning. The gym is perfectly sized—while not massive, it more than accommodates every guest's needs and features a beautiful view of the cascading pools. Down by the water, the incredible beach and pool areas have an abundance of seating and lounges. You never have to worry about arriving early just to claim a seat. Activities for Everyone The family-friendliness here is on a level I haven’t seen anywhere else. Imagine a beach perfectly serene for a couple on a romantic getaway, yet equally great for a group of friends or a family looking for a variety of activities, from e-foiling to playing on an oversized wooden version of the traditional Battleship board game. The Spa If you are looking to relax, the spa is fantastic. My wife received a facial during our stay and said it was a truly great experience that she highly recommends. Dining & Drinks The food was delicious and the variety was fantastic. You will genuinely look forward to every single meal for your entire stay. While I do partake in alcohol, I just chose not to on this trip. However, my wife enjoyed several of their cocktails. I had a few sips, and they were expertly crafted with fresh-squeezed juices and premium liquors—don't worry about cheap, hangover-inducing spirits, as we didn't see them anywhere on the property. I highly recommend the exceptional alcohol-free Piña Colada and the coffee smoothie! The Exceptional Staff Even better than the stunning hotel is the incredible staff. Within a few hours of arriving, I knew I would be writing a review just to thank them. This was so unlike any other hotel stay I have ever had that I actually started writing down their names so I could recognize them here: Sara (Welcome Concierge): Sara, did an excellent job making us feel at home right away and took care of all of our needs when we first got to the hotel. Lila (Concierge): Lila, was attentive to our every need and even when things weren’t possible she worked to make something happen. My family really appreciated the extra effort she put in throughout our stay. Javier (Server): Javier, was an awesome server and did an absolutely awesome job. He turned a great breakfast buffet into a cultural and culinary experience that my whole family enjoyed. He made solid recommendations and always made sure we had more than we needed. As one example, for our last breakfast he brought out different fruits for us to try from the region and explained a little about them. William (Pool Staff): William, sets the stage for everything you will experience at this hotel. It doesn’t matter if you are up on the patio a shout away — he will smile wave and ask about your day. It seemed like he was always available and if you need a smile during your stay all you need is to be within 100 feet of his proximity. It never felt forced, he genuinely wanted you to have a great day. Ignacio (Beach Staff): Ignacio, probably doesn’t realize how often he saves the day. In my case, he was there when I needed him most. I had just finished running and desperately needed a glass of water. Without even asking he arrived with an ice cold glass. It was perfect timing, and really does personify what you will come to expect at Sofitel Baru. Esteban (Transportation): Sometimes you just need a ride, luckily for you, when Esteban drives by he will offer one to you. My daughter and I really appreciated when he offered to take us back up to our hotel room when he was passing by. I’m sure he had a million things he could have been doing, but it meant a lot to us that he offered and my daughter loved the ride in the golf cart. We enjoyed the people, the hotel, and the life of this place so much. My daughters (4 and 6) keep asking if we can come back during Christmas. We have already started making plans for early December with several other families. Thank you, Sofitel Baru!

What an amazing experience! Hector led us through a tasting tour of Colombian rums, and as someone who doesn’t normally like rum this completely changed my perspective. Extra points for the homemade plantain chips, ceviche and chicharrones that came with the tasting. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, experts and newbies, I promise you won’t be disappointed!