Pamper Perfect Cartagena Spas: Relax in the best spas in the Caribbean

Chic white pebbles, a giant relaxation space, fresh fruits and five-star views of Cartagena's rooftops ensure this small yet perfectly formed spa is frequented by only the most discerning of beauty junkies.

Signature treatment

Santa Teresa Massage

Featuring hot basalt stones, the massage is designed to de-stress, revive and restore energy levels, at the same time removing those knots and tensions built up on the plane or smuggled in from the office. A nourishing facial using Germaine Di Capuccini products follows, to leave skin glowing and your spirit restored and ready to take on the Cartagena nightlife.

A must for anyone suffering from jetlag, excessive tiredness or in dire need of a body boost, this top-to-toe delight attracts the loyal endorsement of Colombia's glitterati, athletes and high fliers alike.

With a serene rooftop bar, generous pool and unrivalled limonada de coco (coconut lemonade), there's plenty of reasons to loiter after you've notched up your A-list pamper experience.

What's the damage?

COP$190.000 (USD$105.00) for 90 minutes

Balancing locally sourced materials with a distinctly Indo-Asian aesthetic,  Cartagena's SoSpa at the colonial Santa Clara hotel in San Diego is an otherworldly excuse to get your body back in balance.

Elegant teaks, bamboo and organic stone comprise a sleek, calming interior that's offset with soothing water features, low ambient candle light, a giant steam room that could host all your friends and almost regal relaxation zone where fresh fruits, teas and other saintly snacks can be enjoyed on reclining loungers post spa fix.

For serious beauty aficionados, spa treatments come courtesy of elite French beauty brand Sisley. They're designed like a restaurant menu so you can enjoy 'beauty aperitifs'  or indulge the senses in a series of sublime spa 'courses'. One treat we'd recommend ordering is the bespoke Phytoaromatic Facial; a perfectly tailored fusion facial of toning massage, purifying masks, skin-quenching essential active oils and plenty of hand and head massage pampering in between applications of facial goo.

The result? The closest thing we know to a facelift, only a billion times more blissful.

What's the damage?

COP200.000 (USD$112.00) for 60 minutes.

If you're looking for a luxury experience in Cartagena that's designed to boost body and mind, the Tcherassi Spa is a must.

Our money is on the Bamboo Massage, an excellent choice for those who want all the power of a deep tissue massage but want to feel pampered and uplifted, not pummelled!

Botanical oils from luxury spa brand Germaine De Capuccini are applied in firm strokes across limbs and back, before hot, oily bamboo sticks are rolled across muscles to untie knots, minimise aches and revive limbs to make you feel ten years younger (and lighter).

A refreshing limonada 'mocktail' is served up after the experience to wake you from your spa slumber.

Post treatment, keep your eyes peeled for fashion-conscious celebrities and A-listers flocking to Tcherassi for its slick city style and exquisite Italian restaurant, Vera.

What's the damage?

COP$175.000 (USD$98.00) for 55 minutes.

Out of all the lip-smacking experiences on offer at El Marques, the Caviar Facial's gets our vote.

An opulent, creamy, ultra-hydrating treat for skin that's been exposed to excessive Caribbean sunshine.

This gourmet jackpot for the visage begins with a thorough exfoliation and extraction, followed by a creamy masque and toning facial massage.

Caviar serums and a hydrating spritz complete the hour long passage towards pores that could appear on the big screen.

Just remember the caviar's meant for your skin - not your stomach.

What's the damage?

COP$180,000 (USD$$100.00) for 60 minutes.

Santa Ana Hotel in Cartagena's Getsemani offers a seductive space within which to live out your most romantic spa ideals.

Located on the hotel's roof with spectacular views of the 16th century San Felipe Castle, the spa offers a completely alfresco experience.

On the menu is a small yet elite selection of spa therapies from gourmet Italian brand Gerrards.

But the Petit Spa likes to do things differently, so they've also customised a series of unique rituals for guests (and lovers) to enjoy together on the peaceful, flower filled terrace with views of the bay and beyond.

Indulging ourselves in a ritual massage, we enjoyed a bespoke hour of full body exfoliation using orange oils and a skin softening almond scrub, followed by a hydrating deep tissue massage using botanicals oils to revive and restore.

The massage was unbeatable and the service too. You even get a crisp glass of white wine to enjoy post treatment - our kind of spa venue indeed.

What's the Damage?

COP$100,000 (USD$55.00)

The hotel itself is one of the most famous in the city, primarily for its grandiose colonial architecture that's been lovingly restored by acclaimed architect Álvaro Barrera.

The spa, therefore, is the icing on the cake. Entering this tiny sanctum of bamboo, candles and calming water features, you'll be guided up some stairs into an ambient candlelit den filled with hibiscus flowers, where pleasurable pampering is guaranteed.

Kick starting with a full body exfoliation using natural salts, this gentle, we opted for the Honey Massage, a skin softening experience that includes Gerrards products that are literally good enough to eat.

You're massaged with an exfoliating mineral salt scrub, before hitting the spa's ambiant aromatherapy shower.

Then it's back to the couch for a sleep inducing full body massage of rich honey infused lotions.

Another shower to re-awaken your senses before a light as air stroking massage on your newly softened, hydrated skin will leave you as close as is humanly possible to nirvana.

What's the damage?

COP$160.000 (USD$86.00) for 60 minutes.

Spa Karmairi forms part of a petite beachfront hotel that takes its name from the indigenous word for 'crab' and offers guests a full menu of sensory spa delights.

Recently included on the list of the 120 best new hotels in the world, Karmairi ticks all the boxes for those wanting to splurge and get away from the party atmosphere in the city centre. 

Take the plunge with Karmairi spa's delicious Wine Ritual, an anti-oxidant rich treat that incorporates grape seed extracts and skins into a body and skin boosting extravaganza.

It's the healthiest (and beautifying) wine overdose you're ever likely to experience.

After you've relaxed body and mind, enjoy a sumptuous seafood lunch on the hotel veranda.

What's the damage?

From COP$200.000 (USD$108.00) for a 60 minute massage.