Sofitel Barú Cartagena Beach Resort

Character and identity

Forty minutes by catamaran from Cartagena's old city, this 188-room resort opened in late 2021 on its own cove on the north coast of Isla Barú, and reads less Caribbean kitsch than contemporary art museum: stacked concrete volumes, walls of glass, and freestanding guestroom blocks in stone and native wood, each named for a local bird. All rooms face the sea with private balconies or terraces. Cooking comes from French chef Patrice Guaus across three restaurants and seven bars, including the robata grill Humo and rooftop sundowner spot La Pérgola. The spa leans on Ayurveda and Colombian botanical line Éccora. Service is warm without hovering. LEED-certified, the only such property on the Colombian Caribbean.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is architectural ambition and serious food on an island that, until 2021, had no luxury beachfront option at all, with the beach itself the weakest link in an otherwise strong package. Spend the money if you're pairing it with nights at the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara in town; book a top-floor suite in towers four through ten for the cleanest sea views, and arrive by catamaran rather than car.