Lounge chairs with a view from the rooftop pool at Best Western Plus Santa Marta
Located on the Caribbean coast in northwestern Colombia, the city of Santa Marta may not be on every international traveler’s itinerary. But if you do visit this beachfront community that’s a gateway to Tayrona National Park, the Best Western Plus Santa Marta is a comfortable base for exploring the region.
Here’s the scoop:
Santa Marta is a 90-minute flight from Colombia’s capital, Bogota, or about four hours by road from Cartagena, Colombia’s busy Caribbean port.
In the historic center of Santa Marta, activity centers around Parque de los Novios, where restaurants, cafes, and bars line the surrounding streets. A few blocks to the west is a beach and walking promenade. The Best Western Plus Santa Marta is a short walk from both of these areas.
The rooftop Sky Bar has views of the mountains.
The best feature of this 16-story hotel is on the top: the Sky Bar and Terrace, the rooftop bar, sundeck, and swimming pool, where the vistas spread out over the city toward the sea in one direction and toward the mountains in the opposite way. Even if you didn’t go anywhere else in Santa Marta, you could get an overview of its layout and its natural features from the hotel terrace.
The pool isn’t large, but there’s enough space to cool off — a welcome amenity in the tropical heat.
Guest rooms highlight local textiles.
The hotel’s guest rooms are functional, with dark wood furnishings that include a long work desk/counter. The majority have one king bed; some smaller rooms are outfitted with two twins. Brightly colored textiles woven in the local style add a sense of place.
Rooms are equipped with TVs, mini fridges, coffeemakers, safes, and very welcome air conditioning. Bottled water is provided, as the local water isn’t currently considered safe to drink.
Wi-Fi was adequate in my room, although not especially speedy, and it kept dropping out on a WhatsApp call. The signal was stronger in the lobby and restaurant.
The lobby restaurant at the Best Western Plus Santa Marta serves an ample buffet breakfast.
Adjacent to the reception area, the Blue Ribbon restaurant serves guests an ample buffet breakfast with fresh fruits, pastries, cheeses, eggs and other hot dishes, and plenty of hot coffee or tea.
Among the helpful front desk staff, there’s usually someone who speaks English, although elsewhere on the property, including in the restaurant, and around the city, you’ll have an easier time if you can speak at least some Spanish.
Views over the city from the Best Western Plus Santa Marta
But if between your Colombian adventures, your objective is to relax on the roof deck and take in the views, at the Best Western Plus Santa Marta, you can do that in any language.
Rates
Standard double room rates at the Best Western Plus Santa Marta vary depending on the season from US$66-228/night. You can also check rates on Hotels.com or Expedia and see if you can get a better rate.
And if you’re traveling through Colombia’s capital city en route to Santa Marta, check out the Hotel-Scoop reviews of the Hilton Bogota Corferias and the Central Hilton Bogota.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller.
