Sofitel Baru Cartagena

This was our first time staying at a Sofitel resort, and I truly hope it is not representative of all their properties. Although we had a good stay overall, it definitely did not meet the 5-star standard we were expecting. - Highlights / Positives Location – The hotel has a great location, right on the beach, with beautifully maintained gardens and several different pools, including an adults-only pool. Rooms – The rooms are very well designed and have a warm, spacious feel. Depending on the floor and location, you can have a fantastic sea view — which we did. Amenities – Excellent bedding, towels, and coffee and tea-making facilities. Complimentary water is provided in the room and throughout the resort. Activities – They offer short workshops you can join (some are complimentary). Welcome touch – A nice welcome letter in the room upon arrival. Food – Excellent breakfast with many healthy options (fresh fruit and vegetables). Lunch and dinner were also quite good, especially at the Caribbean restaurant. Service recovery – Sarah, the Manager of the Client Relations team, did an excellent job trying to resolve some of the issues we experienced. We appreciated her efforts, although it did not change our overall impression. Spa facilities – Good sauna in the spa. - Things to Consider We did experience several issues during our stay. Staff – Some staff members were very friendly (such as the bell boys, beach staff, breakfast team, and the team at the Caribbean restaurant). However, others were not always friendly or professional. Storm response – There was a storm for two days with heavy rain and wind. Unfortunately, it felt as though half of the (relatively new) hotel was falling apart. Even after the storm had passed, it took the hotel two additional days to get everything fully operational again, which felt too long. For example, the beach was only cleared on the second day of sunny weather, meaning it was unusable for about 1.5 days. Arrival experience – There was no welcome drink or refreshing towel upon arrival — just a straightforward check-in. Most 5-star hotels offer a small extra touch to make guests feel instantly welcome. Many hotels we visited during our travels in Colombia — even more basic ones — did this. Spa service – Although the massage itself was fine, there were some issues that were not handled properly. I made a complaint and was told I would be called back, but no one followed up. Restaurant reservation – Our reservation at the Asian restaurant went wrong, and the hostess was so unprofessional and unkind that we decided to leave and have dinner again at the Caribbean restaurant (where the staff are friendly and professional). Food – On our last day, one of us unfortunately got really sick from the food the day before. Of course, this can happen, but it was disappointing. Room amenities – No umbrella was provided in the room. Overall, while we did have a pleasant stay in some respects, we expect more from a 5-star resort experience.

Beautiful Hotel with Excellent Customer Service. Jorge at reception was very helpful. Danilo in Bahia, Javier Salas in Calablanco restaurant and Claudia and Edwin at La Plaage bar were all so friendly and great customer service. We have enjoyed our stay here

What an incredible resort by the ocean! The different pools are amazing and the Caribbean beach is a wonderful spot to relax and get tanned. One of its kind and second-to-none within Colombia. The gastronomy is a true highlight here with an array of locally inspired dishes to discover across its numerous restaurants and bars. I have loved the rooftop terrace which has live music in the evening and serves delicious drinks. Also the snacks in the lobby bar are divine - you have to try the mushroom croissants! Thanks so much to Sandra, Andres and Ana at Bahia, Jeyson at the pool and Mario at the food truck for an excellent service during a memorable holiday experience.

Our stay at Baru Calablanca, was truly exceptional. What made it so special wasn’t just the beautiful property — it was the people. At the front desk, Osman was incredibly helpful with our check-in and so kind from the very beginning. Criseyra completely stole our hearts — we absolutely love her! She is so sweet, welcoming, and thoughtful. She even sent little gifts to my niece, who loves the ocean, which meant so much to us. Anything you need, she will be your girl. She goes above and beyond. The pool team made our days unforgettable. Jennifer, Edwin, Claudia, Jesus, Jeison, and Luis were attentive, professional, and always checking in to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Their energy made the pool area such a fun and relaxing space. And a very special thank you to the manager, Patricia — you can truly see her leadership reflected in the quality of the service And of course, Jorge at the Bahía restaurant bar deserves a shoutout! Such a genuinely nice person, always smiling, great recommendations, and he just makes everything more fun. We always looked forward to seeing him. A special thank you to Jose, the lifeguard, who was incredibly helpful beyond his responsibilities. He assisted us with finding the perfect tan spot, guided us around the pool area, and was always checking in with a smile to see if we needed anything. That extra level of care did not go unnoticed. This team made our stay feel personal, warm, and memorable. We can’t wait to come back.

Beautiful Property. The staff was amazing and the food was excellent. Loved the beach access along with pool and amenities. Rooms are world class. Special shout out to Manager Yannick and Ms. Long for making me feel very welcomed.