Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Originally built as a convent in 1621, the Sofitel Santa Clara is a legendary landmark in the heart of Cartagena's walled city. Transformed into a luxury hotel in 1995, the Sofitel Santa Clara, unique in style, combines the allure of history with local hospitality and the art of French savoir-faire. Mixing Colonial and Republican-style architecture with modern comfort, the hotel features gourmet cuisine, exceptional service, a world-class spa, meeting facilities and state of the art technology for events, conventions and weddings.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Accor Hotels.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Quiet
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
Calle Del Torno 39-29 Barrio San Diego, Cartagena 130001 Colombia
Name/address in local language
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
4.7 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara garners acclaim for its exceptional amenities, such as attentive service and a well-maintained pool, creating a comfortable atmosphere. While the hotel's cleanliness is often celebrated, opinions on the rooms are divided, with some highlighting spaciousness and views, but others noting issues with upkeep. The atmosphere is generally regarded as enchanting, offering a charming experience with live music, despite occasional noise complaints.
Its prime location is praised, although noise can sometimes be a concern. Service is typically seen as professional, yet experiences of inconsistency arise. Value for money, however, is a contentious point, with many travelers questioning the pricing.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Enchanting
Rooms
Mixed
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Outstanding
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Absolutely wonderful and magical in every way! This was a luxury experience before I even got to Cartagena. I was traveling solo for a friends wedding that was at another hotel. The staff here took such great care of me to give me recommendations and feel safe in Colombia as a single woman. I loved my room- it was a two story suite. The food here was delicious. I loved breakfast lunch and dinner! The hotel is beyond beautiful and historical and such a great location. The service here was just unbeatable. I need to give a special shoutout and thank you to Resfa who works in guest services, WOW she was so kind and helpful to me- on the night of my friends wedding, my dress actually came apart and I didn’t know what to do. She came to my room to help me and we ended up calling housekeeping, Resfa and another staff member sewed me into my dress with green thread even that matched my dress and saved the day. After that she spent a good twenty minutes with me walking around the hotel to take photos of me all dressed up! I will add the photo here. Thank you again Resfa! The butler service is absolutely amazing. I texted them all the time and they were ALWAYS there quickly to take care of any needs with a smile. Carlos and Diego were some of my butlers who were outstanding and helped me when I needed it the most. Traveling solo, I ate at the restaurant alone a few times and the staff were so kind to me there and made it a fun experience. I absolutely adored Leandro as my server at the restaurant in the garden. I also visited the spa one day for a facial and massage- it was very nice! And then had a pool day in a cabana and the service at the pool was great as well. Truly I love this place!!! I cannot wait to come back again.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SOFITEL LEGEND SANTA CLARA, Otro at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
Responded Nov 25, 2024
Bonjour! Thank you for sharing such a candid and detailed review of your stay. We are delighted to hear that your experience was magical from start to finish. From the warmth of our team to the comfort of your suite, we are delighted that every aspect of your visit has left a lasting impression. The creativity and kindness of Resfa in helping her with her dress is a perfect reflection of the care and commitment we strive to offer. Carlos, Diego and Leandro, along with the rest of our team, will be delighted to hear that you made your stay so memorable. We appreciate your compliments on the restaurant, spa and pool services and look forward to welcoming you back for some unforgettable moments. Sincerely, Johan Scott Guest Relations Manager.
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In my short stay and my occupations I did not manage to enjoy the beautiful pool of the Hotel, but if you enjoy the other services as was the attention of Room services, with a delicious breakfast and some exquisite breads I take advantage and recommend the chocolate bread. The Garden Restaurant I loved for its attention and service and the best of all the Restaurant 1621 where I invite some customers who were fascinated with the food, service, wines and in general all the attention and friendliness that characterizes the people who work in this cute Hotel, it is difficult to appoint a particular employee because everyone in their positions strive to make you feel at home and are very attentive. In the room I managed to work quietly with the excellent WIFI service, my connections and my remote work meetings do them very well since there was no noise in the room, I managed to enjoy my music by being able to connect to the Bose with spectacular sound. I will return to the hotel on holiday to enjoy the SPA and the Pool. Thank you very much for such a nice experience
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip:Â Venir con suficiente tiempo para disfrutar de todos los servicios y vivir la mejor experiencia
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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The hotel is truly incredible! an old convent preserving all its beauty and modernized to offer comfort to its guests. Beautiful courtyards and internal gardens and spacious rooms with beautiful views. Excellent restaurants and wonderful breakfast!!! The pool and the view from the Bar are unforgettable. However, the room (housekeeping) and pool (bar) services need to be improved. During the three days I was at the hotel I had to request that towels be (re)placed in the bathroom. The cleaning was done and the bathroom set was not replaced or was left incomplete. One of the times, there were no towels available. Surprising (negatively) for a hotel of this category. The bar service at the pool also left something to be desired, mainly due to its slowness, despite there being a fairly large team on site. Anyway, adjustments that I understand can be made to make the hotel experience even more unforgettable!
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is well located and apparently very nice. The entrance area, the main patio and the rehabilitated areas are exceptional and very beautiful. The breakfast is super pleasant, located in the garden of the central patio with a great variety. All the staff are great, although the receptionist doesn't worry too much about making sure the guest is 100% accommodated. The pool is quite good but very very crowded so it is not easy to find free sunbeds at some point. The rooms are not up to the standard of the rest of the hotel: damp stains on both walls and ceilings, extremely small bathrooms, very very noisy, you can even hear conversations from the nearby street, etc. We had selected a room with a balcony and views of the garden or pool. Well, the rooms on the first floor (they are on the ground floor, not the first floor) are dark, gloomy and without any views; since those in the pool face the back of the pool loungers or the bar and those in the supposed garden face a WALL with vines which they call a vertical garden. Given this circumstance we asked to change the room on 2 occasions since the options were always on the first floor (it is not a first floor, it is a ground floor). We ended up on a second floor with views of the wall (which they call the garden). It's not worth paying the cost of a room with a view and a balcony if there is no view, and the so-called balcony is useless.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Pedir habitaciĂłn en planta 3 o superior, nunca en planta primera ya que corresponden a la planta...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Check in was about as unwelcoming as it gets—the man who checked us in never said “welcome” or anything about the hotel only “your breakfast isn’t included and if you want it included you need to pay more taxes” even though it actually WAS included. I had to dig out emails and confirmations to prove it—which is ridiculous, as the hotel itself is the one who confirmed it to begin with!
We were supposed to have two connecting king rooms—we didn’t—it was a king connecting to a queen, then the man who checked us in said he’d bring an extra bed, which never arrived. I also asked housekeeping for an iron—that also didn’t show up, even though when I called to check on it they said “it’s on the way!” It never arrived. Lastly, our bathroom was dated and dirty (see pictures), with dots of mold on the ceiling.
On the plus side: Breakfast was excellent and the hotel itself is beautiful architecturally speaking. And the pool and bar staff are AMAZING at what they do—always watching, always helping you get a spot, ensuring everyone is comfortable.
Overall a beautiful space and I’d definitely return but the man at the front desk was terribly off putting and considering he’s in the hospitality business—he was as inhospitable as they come.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angie Amaris, Otro at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
Responded Apr 29, 2023
Dear @Tour64533216038 We are truly sorry to hear that your recent stay with us did not meet your expectations. Please accept our sincere apologies for the unwelcoming check-in experience you encountered and for the inconveniences with your room accommodations and amenities. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we will be sure to address these concerns with our team to ensure that they are providing the highest level of service to our guests. On a positive note, we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the breakfast and that our pool and bar staff exceeded your expectations. We are also glad to hear that you appreciated the beauty of our hotel's architecture. We appreciate your honest feedback and hope that we can make it up to you on a future visit. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly if you would like to discuss your stay further or if we can assist you with any future reservations. Sincerely, Angie Amaris Guest Relations Manager Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Front Desk: 1/5 Checked me in and asked for immediate payment of 4 day stay total. Only after the charge was made was I informed no room was available even though it was 3:30pm and check in was at 3pm. No estimate was given for when room would be ready.
Informed me that a tip had been included in the charge, even though it was not disclosed at time of booking or on the confirmation email. Did agree to remove it.
Did not provide any place for me to wait for room to be ready. The three tables in the courtyard were taken. So I sat down near the front desk on a decorative wooden chair and miraculously a room was found ready. This turned out to quite likely be the worst room in the hotel location wise.
When they handed me the key they pulled out a one off locally printed paper saying I had to sign or they would cancel my room. The paper stated I agreed not to permit anyone else in my room. I was not planning to in any case, but my problem was the timing and delivery. There was no notice of this policy on the website, confirmation email, or any of the follow up emails from the concierge etc prior to my arrival. Instead they wait for me to show up. I refused to sign and was told that I would be kicked out if I violated their policy. Of course I did not violate it.
But the check in process sets the tone for the stay and quite frankly it was ruined right from the start by the female front desk employee and what I assume was the male assistant manager. No follow up of course.
Breakfast: 5/5 Truly outstanding!
Hotel Staff: 5/5 Fabulous. Excluding front desk staff
Location: 5/5
Hotel and Rooms: 4/5
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We as a family come here every year and love it. It is absolutely beautiful- the floral arrangements, the decor, and the warm and very attentive staff are world class. The breakfast is divine!
Over the years, however, we have noticed details being overlooked, and going down in quality- which is a shame because details really make all the difference, especially considering that this is a Sofitel Legend.
For example, upon arrival we have on more than one occasion have had to wait long periods for our rooms to be ready, and then they were still not fully equipped, like with appliances and toiletries. We call and they are delivered right away, but those kind of details should be taken care in advance at an establishment like this.
Also, now more than ever there are regular large wedding parties that go into the night and disturb the tranquil nature that once was the standard at the hotel. We dont mind the celebrations, just how loud and late they go into the night.
Lastly, they could improve how they monitor access to common areas, or require a certain dress code to avoid a specific type of inappropriate tourism.
Bring back el sanchoco de costillas in the pool menu :) And more variety of cocktails!
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay was spectacular. Visiting Cartagena is always a very special experience but staying at Santa Clara is just the perfect way to make you stay perfect. Definitely, the absolutely best place to stay in town.
Shoutout to Kevin (main floor) who since the moment we checked out to the moment we left, would make sure all of our needs were met and the treatment was just beyond special from his part.
And also to Bryan in the pool area for making everything absolutely perfect and beyond comfortable for us.
Thank for pampering us always, Sofitel.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hot water changes temperature if someone else opens the tab nearby. The place wasn’t clean. Construction debris on the staircases. There was leftover food in the balcony and insects on the floor. Housekeepers forgot at least one thing every single day: to leave water bottles, or teabags, or coffee. Then they said coffee is only for your first day, otherwise you should buy coffee. For a hotel that charges several hundred dollars per night, maybe they could buy some k-cups for 20 cents. But they have few housekeepers who can’t possibly keep up with the workload. Instead, they have 4-8 guards at the door at any given time.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Choose a different hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel does have a car service, its around $20. One issue as with all airport pickups at CTG is that there is no designated area. You will be met outside arrivals and asked to go around the corner to wait for a car. There is an authorized taxi line and a cab will cost $4-5. The trip is about 15 minutes. The hotel car will be a lower end SUV like a Renault Duster (Dacia Duster in Europe). You may get a pre check in form from the Sofitel asking if you want a car to meet you and other items but they aren’t always consistent in sending it.
The Sofitel does have a concierge and will book tours and things for you and my experience is that they are very good. Most tours in Cartagena don’t need much advance booking.
The only issue with ATMs in Colombia that some are fairly restricted on the draw. Bancolombia for example is COP 600,000 little more than $140 these days - there is also a COP 22,500 charge plus your banks charge if it has one. Yes, potentially you can do multiple draws but it is also a likely way for your bank to flag an issue with your card.
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