About this hotel
General information
Casa Pestagua occupies an 18th-century colonial mansion inside Cartagena’s walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The house follows the Andalusian tradition, with Moorish touches adapted to the Caribbean climate: double-height ceilings, Moorish-inspired arches and an inner courtyard garden shaded by tall palms. Restoration kept these features intact and left the house a lived-in home rather than a museum piece.
With just 16 rooms – 11 suites and 5 rooms – it has the feel of a private residence. Interiors mix colonial and republican pieces with contemporary art. The hotel is a member of Relais & Châteaux; the AniMare restaurant sits in the courtyard beneath the old arches, and a pool lies deep in the garden among palms and native plants.
Location
The hotel stands on Calle Santo Domingo, in the heart of Cartagena’s walled old town. Rafael Núñez International Airport is 5.5 km away, roughly 15 minutes by car, and the concierge arranges private transfers. There is no on-site parking.
Spa
There is no spa within the house itself; guests use Aurum Spa, a four-minute walk away. Treatments include a 60-minute Moroccan hammam with a scrub of coffee, volcanic mud and tobacco, a relaxing massage with herbal oils, and the Pure Gold ritual with a nourishing golden emulsion.
Sports & leisure
A 24-hour gym opens onto an outdoor relaxation area, and a garden pool sits at the centre of the hotel. Beyond that, the focus is on the city and Caribbean culture:
- bikes for guests and walking routes through the old town planned by the concierge
- a private guided visit to the San Felipe de Barajas fortress
- trips to the hilltop Convent of La Popa, with views over the city, the bay and the Caribbean, and to the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría
- artisan boutiques and design pieces around Plaza de San Diego
- rum tasting, coffee tasting and a cooking class on request
- boat trips to the hotel’s own Acasí Rustic Beach on Barú island
For children
Babysitting can be arranged on request.
Restaurants & bars
Dining revolves around the colonial courtyard and garden:
- AniMare Restaurant – Colombian cooking rooted in the traditions of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, served in the courtyard under the original arches
- AniMare Bar – crafted cocktails and snacks, with Wine O’Clock, a glass of wine and a bite, on several evenings a week
- Breakfast in the Garden – for hotel guests only, beneath the colonial arches
- Afternoon tea by the pool on several days a week
- In-room dining – around the clock, from the AniMare menu
Swimming
The pool is tucked away at the heart of the hotel, ringed by palms and Cartagena’s native plants. For the sea, there is Acasí Rustic Beach, the hotel’s private stretch of white sand and turquoise water on Barú island, reached by boat from Cartagena; it has six simple eco-bungalows and serves Caribbean food such as fish, coconut rice and fried plantain patacones.
Rooms
Sixteen colonial-style rooms and suites, from Deluxe rooms to the Signature Suite with its jacuzzi terrace; most have high ceilings and look onto the inner garden or an old-town street.
Every room has a king-size bed with Frette linen and a pillow menu, a bathroom with rain shower and Ortigia Sicilia toiletries, robes and slippers, a desk with armchair, a minibar with complimentary soft drinks, a Nespresso machine, a safe, a smart TV, a Bose speaker, individual air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, with housekeeping twice a day including turndown.
Deluxe
A spacious colonial room with a high ceiling, a king-size bed and a rain-shower bathroom, looking onto the inner garden or the street. For two guests.
Junior Suite
A suite with two areas – a bedroom with a king-size bed and a sitting room with a sofa bed – overlooking the inner garden; some have a mezzanine. Up to three guests.
Suite de Madariaga
A light-filled suite with a private balcony over an old-town street, a sitting room with a sofa bed and a rain-shower bathroom. Up to three guests.
Grand Suite
A large suite with two separate living spaces, a street-view balcony, a king-size bed and a bathroom with both bathtub and shower. Up to three guests.
Signature Suite
The house’s three-room flagship suite, with private lift access and a private terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the garden, the city and the sea; the bathroom has a bathtub and rain shower. Up to three guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.