"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? A single set of monolithic, arched doors facing leafy Plaza San Diego—right at the northern edge of Cartagena’s historic district—set the stage for this converted 1621-built nunnery. Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures. What's the backstory? Converted in 1995, the 17th-century convent also includes two Republican-era wings (which now brace the deliciously cool outdoor pool) that the Accor hotel group subsequently renovated with equal savoir faire. Throughout, there are hidden staircases, doorways, a chapel, and halls filled with history’s footfalls. Past notables fill the guest book’s lineage of legend, good and bad, including exiled king Juan Carlos I of Spain. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? There are two types of rooms to choose from, depending on your preferred centuries. The oldest range from enormous, with windows set high enough above street level not to attract unwanted attention for the nuns, to small but beautifully furnished novice digs. The nineteenth-century alternative, and a handful of themed and butler-driven suites, are light, airy, and modern. The best are those on top floors with views of the pool or Caribbean Sea beyond city ramparts—uninterrupted for over 500 miles north to Jamaica. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? It's free, but spotty. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? 1621, open only for dinner, is quite formal for such a languid, laid-back city—so dress up (it’s well air-conditioned). The appeal here is a sophisticated mélange of local ingredients like lagoon crab and green mangoes, with traditional French cooking techniques applie. El Claustro, under cloister vaults, is perfect for a shady mid-day lunch of temperature-recalibrating ceviche. Don’t skip rum-tasting and live jazz at El Coro Lounge Bar—a crypt below is said to have contained a perfectly-preserved beauty with 70-foot-long red hair, inspiring, as it's said, local author Gabriel García Márquez to write Of Love and Other Demons. And the service? Old Cartagena is so easy to navigate on foot from the hotel that you’d hardly need assisted directions, though the concierge can arrange beach trips north by car, or south by boat. What type of travelers will you find here? Well-healed but not pretentious. Lots of small, sensitively-curated wedding parties, and a refreshingly chilled poolside crowd devoid of bling. Santa Clara is quiet, the pool area is calm, and it all feels appropriately grown-up. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? It's walkable to everything you might want to discover—from seaside city cannons to hole-in-the-wall gelaterias, and arcades selling a plethora of sweets. And while the building itself is instantly noticeable for its grandeur, the historic building is at home in Cartagena's walled city. Is there anything you'd change? Not a thing. Any other hotel features worth noting? The tranquil pool bears mentioning again—there's nothing quite like a cool midday dip when the city heat gets to be too much. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? For all of its recent hype, Cartagena remains one of the world’s most remarkable cities to visit. It’s hot and humid, most any month of the year, but worth it for color and tastes. Santa Clara, at the top end of choices of places to stay, guarantees you'll be comfortable throughout your stay." - David Jefferys
