Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena is an iconic hotel in Colombia infused with French art de vivre where heritage meets modernity. Originally built in 1621, the property was first a convent then centuries later was transformed into the Santa Clara hotel in 1995. In 2012 the hotel became Sofitel Legend, joining a collection of landmark properties located in cities with a rich cultural heritage all around the world.

The hotel swimming pool, which is the largest in Cartagena’s city center, used to serve as the convent’s orchard where the nuns grew and maintained various crops for daily consumption. To learn more about the property’s legendary history, the hotel butlers offer free 30-minute tours around the hotel.

Sofitel Spa at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena is a luxurious oasis of relaxation where guests can enjoy a vareity of holistic treatments from around the world, along with various face and body treatments featuring the Sisley Paris range. The spa’s amenities include a fitness gym, Hammam, relaxation lounge and seven modern treatment rooms.

The property also recently debuted a new stay and spa offer called The Colombian Royal Treatment. Designed for two people, the experience includes two nights at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara in the old town of Cartagena with the Emerald Spa Ritual for two, followed by two nights at sister property Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort, which includes the Vida de Reyes Spa Ritual. Learn more here.

We interviewed Carina García Girone, Spa Director at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, to learn more about treatments to try, insider tips, and more.

Why You’ll Love It: The guests of Sofitel Spa Santa Clara can enjoy a personalized attention through the French philosophy “joie de vivre” combined with Colombian and particularly Caribbean flair, heritage and unique hospitality. Guests love the way each of their senses are considered—from the music, aromatherapy, design and treatments, we ensure that every sense is touched in a thoughtful way. The unique historic setting offers an incredible ambience.

Key Features: Inside the Sofitel Spa, guests can find a Hammam, a relaxing lounge area, and lockers for men and women with all the necessary elements for a great experience.

Insider’s Tip: Relaxation starts from within. Even before you arrive at the spa, we would suggest that you prepare the body and mind by cozying up in your plush slippers and robe and taking a moment for reflection.

Bonus: For guests celebrating a special occasion, we offer a complimentary mimosa or a dessert.

Snacks Served: To bring inner balance and harmony, we offer special cold tea made from mango and passionfruit. We strategically offer this beverage at the beginning and end of the experience. To seal the experience, we also provide our spa-goers with nuts, raisins and pecans in our lounge relaxing area.

Splurge Treatment: Inspired by the Colombian flagship product, our 90-minute Coffee Ritual is an experience featuring the techniques of the lymphatic drainage massage promoting elimination of toxins and excess water. The skin feels nourished, firmer and smoother due to the coffee. It includes: 30 minutes of coffee body scrub, 30 minutes of a localized massage, and 30 minutes of a coffee body wrap. At the end of your experience, you can enjoy your favorite coffee beverage, hot or cold.

Unique Treatment: The Emerald Ritual is a 150-minute euphoric, energetic ritual that offers all the benefits of the precious Colombian stone. The experience includes body scrub, aromatic pindas bath, relaxing massage and a facial. The emerald stone is characterized as a wisdom stone, calms emotions, eliminates negativity, transmits mental clarity, and broadens global vision and unconditional love.

The Ritual will allow a complete cleansing of your energy centers; the stones used during the ritual are mainly the emerald and quartz. We made a special ritual under the full moon to equilibrate and maintain the energy. The experience also includes a half cup of emerald elixir to embrace the full benefits of the precious stone.

Insider’s Favorite: Since the pandemic, the interest in health and well-being has increased tremendously, both in women and in men. Our Sisley Phytoaromatic Hydration Facial is the most requested treatment by both genders. We have an alliance with the renowned French luxury brand Sisley Paris. We recommend combining this facial with the Zen Harmony warm oil massage for a complete relaxing experience.

Featured Products: Our wellness and relaxing experiences are tailored made with professional spa products from France, Switzerland and Italy. As mentioned, we have a partnership with the renowned Sisley Paris brand, which has offered plant-based products since 1976 and has been giving pride of place to phyto-cosmetology through unique skin care. We also have two spa suites branded by the French brand for guests to have the 360 experiences.

For more information, visit Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena’s website. Follow on Instagram: @sofitellegendsantaclaractg

[Photos courtesy of Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena]

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

Calle del Torno 39-29 Barrio San Diego

130001 Cartagena de Indias

Colombia

Phone: +57-60-5-6504700