Hostel Cons: the hostel shuttle driver is a scammer, too hot/humid not to have a freezer to keep ice (workers have ice not guests) and a refrigerator that actually cool (2 would be ideal), need run the A/C continously (not everyone will sleep at night on a vacation), the bar is poorly managed & guest tabs are incorrectly and poorly managed, no way to warm food or cook food-knives are locked, an electric kettle and toaster would be great, no basic/seasoning or condiments, no towels given or offered as advertised, need covering for outdoor patio to protect from falling coconuts, rain etc, only place to hangout/socialize, 2 tvs & nothing playing on them, small sitting pool needs a covering bc its hot & not refreshing, hostel is not soundproof like advertised, 1 refrigerator shared by workers & guests, cant bring your own alcohol of personal liking, no prices for drinks, breakfast, & activities offered posted, no effective mosquitoes treatment for the only place to sit & socialize, inadequate COP for making change when needed, no fluent English speakers but many English guests... Hostel Pros: couples are welcome to share a sleeping pod, hostel has a WhatsApp #, privacy blinds, plenty of staff, friendly and hard working, clean overall, WiFi is excellent, daily activities for fee, ping pong table & games, workstation table, good music, has a bar & happy hour (inflated prices), small sitting pool, offer breakfast for a fee, multiple toilets/showers, sizable outside sink, cool outdoor vibe, plenty electrical outlets & lighting, offer fruit/mint water for guest...

Nice and clean hostel, aircon and blinds give lots of privacy, but the rooms are right on a main road so is very loud, and we were given a dorm room of 10 despite booking one for 4. The breakfast says it’s included but you have to pay for anything more than toast.

For those looking for a hostel in Cartagena: *DO NOT go to Santuario* in Getsemani! In recent months, reviews have already mentioned bed bugs several times. We thought, they must have cleaned it well by now. Bed bugs were found in the bed and when we reported it to reception, they acted as if this was the first time, until we indicated that this was mentioned in multiple reviews. Then suddenly we were offered our money back. The manager has apparently known about this for a long time but chooses to change the sheets and ignores hygiene. We find that really unacceptable, because everyone who goes here has the risk of contracting bed bugs due to poor management policy. Please avoid if your clothes and personal hygiene are important to you. Furthermore, we loved the kitchen and the staff was very nice. This however can not beat bed bugs.

Breakfast is included in the price and the ladies who prepare it are very nice and capable. Beds are okay albeit a bit hard. The reception staff doesn’t seem very well trained and/or interested in supporting their guests. You pay 6000 pesos for a dirty towel. Loud noises for the street next to the hostel.

I had a two nights stay with my boyfriend at Santuario Hostel. The location was great, close to the centro area, a lot of restaurants nearby and also close to La Serezuella mall. The common area of Satuario hostel was good too and clean. We booked a double bed in a dormitory room. When we checked in, they told us that we have to move to a different bed tomorrow as another guest is going to take our bed (which will stay up to 6 nights). We didnt really understand the reason why they asked us to move bed instead of just to give the other bed to the new guest. After that, we went to the room which was smelly (i think from the bathroom). Moreover, the room has a big door that opens towards the street (they closed it and used it as a wall) which makes a loud noises of cars from the street outside. We went to shower and there was no warm water at all. The AC was only operated from 7 pm - 9 am which makes it really hot to stay in the room during daylight. For us, sometimes in the middle of the night, the room temperature was really warm. We moved to the new bed the next day, and no one took the previous bed. So we moved for nothing. Despite all of the comments I wrote, the staff was really nice and everyone was just helping (it was hard because of the language barrier but all other than that was fine).

The beds in this hostel are amazing- the best dorm room beds I have ever slept in. The mattresses were comfy and you have your own pod with a pull down screen for privacy. The staff were kind and helpful. The outdoor area was very nice and the jacuzzi was lovely in the evening. Free breakfast was good too. Good location. Would recommend. My only complaint was that the shower was not the best and at night it was rather warm.

Pros. 1. You can have privacy with blinds. 2. There are plenty of shower rooms and toilets outside. 3. Good location. 4. The common area is very nice. 5. Breakfast is included. Cons. 1. People are allowed to smoke. (at a bar but the bar is in the common area so the smoke goes everywhere.) 2. No hot water 3. No hair dryer 4. Room (individual space) is very tiny. 5. Right next to a big road so it is noisy.

hostel with very little value. No strong fans in the room, very smelly, and they charge you for a towel. So many better options at that price points 2/5 stars

Cool hostel, I like the common areas, and the capsule dormitory was great. Although I found the double bed capsules a little weird because obviously those are couples, so you have these people in a dormitory sleeping the same bed... lots of giggling and making out, making things uncomfortable. AC in the room was good, but only turned on at night. The location is good, easy walk to the Castillo, and interesting restaurants are nearby. Although I think I wouldn't want to walk around this area at night personally.

George helped us with everything. Good accommodation for exploring Cartagena and good AC! Even the shared rooms give a lot of privacy. But we weren't happy with the breakfast.

If you wanna avoid bed bugs you better stay away. The bunk bed looked not that clean when I arrived and - after a really bad experience with bed bugs also infesting also my luggage - I checked immediately the bed and one black spot left a blood stain which was a clear sign for me to leave right away. Hotel staff was friendly but told me I need to get my money back from the platform where I booked and paid. Will see how that works.

Was recommended by another traveller to try this hostel as they tried to make each pod seem like a mini bedroom. The rooms are spacious with a coat hook for each person, but the bathrooms are subpar. It wasn’t aesthetically pleasing and water pressure was just ok. We also have a mop to wipe the ground after use. Grateful they have free breakfast though it is super basic (toast, a slice of watermelon, small portion of scrambled eggs). Location is just outside the wall which isn’t always the safest. It’s not the hostel’s fault but we were in the area within 6 min away (near the parque) when a guy ripped the necklace off my friend’s neck. She was thrown to the ground and her dress strap and necklace chain broke. The guy just ran away. The reception said this happens a lot in areas outside the wall, especially after sunset. If it is nighttime and you are a female, perhaps it’s better to take a taxi. Do not wear any jewelry or have your phone visible. This happened to my friend though I was standing right next to her in a lit area and there were other people around. Cartagena is a hub for petty theft.

We made our own individual ceviche. A very fun experience.

Wish they where selling locks for the lockers. Maybe a suggestion. Bring your own lock. The bed is amazing comfortable cabin.

Would I stay here again? No. Staff were ok depending on who you spoke with but not very helpful. Breakfast is nice. The idea of the pod is excellent but it’s too hot & only 1 shared bathroom for 14 people (unless you go through the main area). Air con only operates at night when sleeping. On day 2, last minute we were told that we must evacuate for them to fumigate the hostel. We were then rushed to clear all our belongings from the pod after we’d already unpacked for our stay. No apology for the inconvenience or no advanced warning.

Nice hostel For the price you pay. Excellent location. Each bed feels like a tiny private room, with a small locker, shelves, and space beside the bed, which is nice. You feel like having more privacy than what you expect from a hostel. Even the big rooms don’t feel crowded. Nice pool, with a lot of chlorine. No hot water on the shower. Nice breakfast included (toasts, eggs, fruits). I had a small inconvenient. On the check-in the person noticed I had only 2 nights booked. I said it was 3. We understood that it had been corrected, but all my stuff was removed, for my surprise, as the cleaners supposed I should have checked-out. Still, I think it was an isolated issue, and the problem was solved promptly. Hope they reinforce and train the staff in the reception, so it won’t happen again.

Pros: friendly staff, nice breakfast and the hotel cat! Negative: location is great for partying but very loud if you want a good rest as it’s by the main road. My bathroom also would constantly flood as water escaped from the shower so the hotel staff should get this fixed. Everything else was ok. Bring your own locks!

Excellent service, delicious breakfast, clean bathrooms, and air cooling in the beds. Big standing places... Five stars hostel

This wasn't really my place which doesn't means it would fit you. I just didn't liked the vibe but I'm more the quite kind of guy and there where some younger party folk around. The mattresses where comfortable and I liked the fact that you can separate your bed with a jealouie. The bathrooms could use some more attention, there where quite a lot of hair on the floor. Else I can't really complain it was just not my thing.

I loved their vibe and individual beds with privacy. Take a towel to use there: they don't offer/sell it. Gracias, Santuario team.

This is def one of the worst Hostels I have stayed at. They turn the AC off so the room became incredibly stuffy hot boxes as there are no windows and blackout curtains. There was no vibe from other travelers who seemed like they were fine living in poor conditions in the hostel. No english at the front desk so hard to communicate with them. They did manage to book me a beach trip with short notice, which was nice. Besides being in a niche neighborhood like Getsemani, this was not a good stay. Stay inside the walled city instead.

Unfortunately a bad experience. I would stay there only for WiFi. Pros • good Wi-Fi for working (video calls) • good location in Getsemani (close to many bars and restaurants) • modern looking • decemt breakfast Cons • no decent customer service - hostel was overbooked (I did my reservation through booking.com weeks before) and when we arrived we just waited 3-4h. They seemed to fix sth only when I asked what’s happening. No apologies or anything, just that it was the site’s mistake. When I finally asked should we find a new place for one night, they said yes (but after 4h of no communication) • they found one bed and when they took me there it was not cleaned (2h after check-in time) - no bedsheets changed, trash, etc. • indoors area is actually small and the workstations get occupied quickly, also it’s noisy in case you want to do video calls • the planning of the beds are really bad for half of the beds. I had to keep my suitcase in my bed because there was no space. • no hot water for shower

Had a great time here. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Place was very clean and comfortable. Really liked the open air layout and the bed setup was great. Definitely recommend this place if your in Cartagena