9 Things You Should Know About the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias in Colombia [Review]

I got an absolutely smashing deal on 3 nights at this IHG property in Cartagena, set on Colombia’s northern coast. The InterContinental Cartagena de Indias had a good location and a nice room, but some oddities made this stay just good — not great.

Here’s a look at the positives and negatives from a 3-night stay in late May 2026.

Booking InterContinental Cartagena de Indias

I booked the first 2 nights at InterContinental Cartagena de Indias using a hotel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. New for 2026, this credit offers up to $250 in statement credits for bookings with certain hotel brands, including IHG, and requires booking through The Edit for at least 2 nights. The card also offers up to $250 in statement credits against bookings with The Edit, available twice per year.

This 2-night reservation cost $527.17, dropping to $27.17 after both credits. Bookings through The Edit include daily breakfast for 2 people, a $100 on-property credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout. I booked the third night using 33,000 IHG One Rewards points.

As a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card holder, I have automatic Platinum Elite status, which was recognized throughout my stay.

Hot Tip:

Finding IHG properties that qualify for The Edit and the hotel-chain credit can give you up to $500 back per stay when you combine 2 credits on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

InterContinental Cartagena de Indias Location

The InterContinental sits in the Bocagrande area west of Cartagena’s walled old city, on Colombia’s northern coast. It’s 15 to 20 minutes by taxi from Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), with the walled city about 8 to 10 minutes away. Walking to the old city takes 40 to 45 minutes.

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1. My Room Was Nice

I stayed in a Classic King With Ocean View room — a 1-category upgrade over the standard room, thanks to my status and benefits from The Edit. The room had a mix of earth tones and pastels, matching the ocean vibe and the fun colors seen around Cartagena.

The room had a comfortable king bed and 2 types of pillows: more fluffy and more firm. Each side of the bed had a marble-topped nightstand, reading light, and a lamp, as well as several outlets. One side had a phone; the other had a clock radio.

Near the floor-to-ceiling windows, there was a loveseat and a small table holding a welcome gift of bottled water, fruits, and a note thanking me for my IHG loyalty.

My room on the 21st floor overlooked the pool and the beach across the street.

There was a closet near my room’s entrance. It had hangers, an iron and ironing board, some shelves, and a small safe.

There was a small minibar area nearby, offering bottled water and coffee supplies. Below, a minifridge had drinks and snacks for sale.

Bathroom

The bathroom was next to the room’s entrance. It had a mix of dark gray, marble, and wood that made for a nice look. There was a ton of space around the sink, and shelves underneath had extra towels and a hair dryer.

There was a walk-in shower with rainfall and handheld showerheads. Pump bottles of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner sat on a shelf inside.

The toilet sat in a small room with a door, found to the left of the sink.

Hot Tip:

Oddly, the room didn’t have any washcloths.

2. The Pool Was the Place To Be

The pool was on the same floor as the lobby (sixth floor) and closed at 10 p.m.

The outdoor pool deck faces the ocean, with loungers at the water’s edge, a glass wall that provides safety without blocking views, and padded seating near the poolside bar. This was a popular spot throughout my stay.

3. Beach Works Were Ongoing

The beach immediately in front of the hotel was closed for improvements during my stay. Other beaches nearby were still accessible.

4. Most Amenities Were on the 15th Floor

The hotel’s most important amenities were on the 15th floor: the lounge, the spa, and the gym.

Club InterContinental was available for guests booked in club rooms and offered light bites and complimentary drinks.

The hotel’s fitness center was farther down the hallway. It was open 24 hours a day.

A full-service spa was across from the gym’s entrance.

An amenity that wasn’t on the 15th floor was the shop near reception, which offered handmade goods.

5. Technology Was Great

I appreciated the touchless elevator panel and clearly labeled light switches in my room.

6. Service Was Friendly but Imperfect

Check-in was great. This was the best service element during my stay.

The desk employee already knew I had 2 reservations and told me I could stay in the same room without checking out and checking in again. He also provided a letter outlining my Platinum Elite benefits and restaurant hours.

I also could choose a welcome gift of points or welcome drinks. In the end, I was inexplicably given both items — 600 points and 2 drink tickets. And even though breakfast isn’t a guaranteed benefit for Platinum Elite members, I received breakfast on the night I booked with points, not just the nights booked through The Edit. The employee said it was so the desk team wouldn’t have to keep track of separate credits, but whatever the reason, I liked it.

Another great element of service was when I used a local laundry company, including pickup and drop-off service. The reception employees were really friendly when I left my bag of laundry there for pickup and notified me when my clean laundry was dropped off the next day.

However, not everything was perfect. I was surprised to unfold the step-on towel and find a stain on it.

With the winds on the pool deck, it was also common to find trash lying around — trash that had blown off people’s seats and tables and stuck around for a while before being picked up.

I also had a weird interaction with a housekeeper. The “Do Not Disturb” light in my room didn’t work, and I saw her when I was returning to my room for a nap one day. I stopped to tell her that I was about to take a nap, so she could skip my room and just let me sleep.

About 5 minutes later, as I was drifting off, she knocked on my door. She had come to tell me to turn on the “Do Not Disturb” sign but woke me up in the process and then spent 5 minutes trying to make it work — when all I wanted was to take the nap she was sabotaging by trying to fix my door panel.

7. Food Was Mediocre

I had 3 days’ worth of breakfast and a lunch at Kanuu, the hotel’s sole restaurant. None of it was great.

Kanuu sat between reception and the pool deck, and it had ample seating in the front and rear areas.

The restaurant had a bar near the entrance to the pool deck, and there was a small bar outside, as well.

I had breakfast at Kanuu daily. The buffet had pastries, fresh fruits, cold cuts, several salads, and hot dishes that rotated daily.

Staff could bring coffee to your table, and there were multiple juices available at the front of the buffet.

Unfortunately, the layout for the buffet was bad. It used a U shape, and the egg station (with chefs taking orders) was at the end of the U. There was 1 way in and 1 way out. On the first morning, the line for the egg station was so long that people blocked half the buffet.

Though there were numerous foods, they weren’t all good. Many of the fruits on the buffet weren’t ripe, such as these nowhere-close-to-ready mangoes.

I had lunch at Kanuu to use part of my $100 on-property credit, and I ordered the Mediterranean mezze plate. It was just plain not good; there’s nothing else to say about it. The hummus and baba ghanoush were runny like applesauce, and I have no idea where the veggies in tomato sauce idea came from.

8. Temperatures in the Hotel Were Strange

The hallway on my floor felt like a sauna. The heat smacked me in the face every time I came out of my room or walked out of the elevator. There was no circulation or air conditioning at all out here.

The air conditioning in my room was also strange. I got the impression that it turned off when there was no motion in the room — meaning when I was gone or when I was sleeping. I would return to the room or wake up in the morning to find the thermostat several degrees warmer than what I’d set it for.

9. Traffic to and From the Hotel Can Be Bad

Bocagrande’s 2 main roads each have just 1 lane in either direction, making dinnertime traffic genuinely bad. Those planning frequent trips to the old city should budget 15 to 20 minutes each way.

Final Thoughts

I mostly enjoyed my 3 nights at the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias. My room was good, and I got a heck of a deal on the reservation.

Service was friendly but had a few misses, and the food quality was definitely subpar.

Once the beach project is finished, that will add another benefit to staying at this hotel. Overall, I’d likely stay here again, but I would come with tempered expectations.