Casa Mary

Casa Mary
Calle del Guerrero 29-89, Getsemani, Cartagena, Bolivar
(035) 660.5497

Overview: Casa Mary is a great mid-budget option if you are looking for quality accommodations in Cartagena at a reasonable price. The staff is friendly, the hotel has a family environment, the location is spectacular, and there are amenities like beautiful balconies, an exquisite hotel lobby, and a third-floor terrace with some of the best views you'll find. Casa Mary is located in Getsemani, in the southeastern portion of Cartagena, just steps from Calle de la Media Luna, and just a five minute walk to the Torre del Reloj, the Muelle, and the Cartagena Convention Center. Just to the north of Torre del Reloj you'll find the Centro and San Diego, with all of the cultural, historical, culinary, and nightlife attractions they offer.


Neighborhood: The Calle de la Media Luna is a major east-west thoroughfare in Cartagena: anyone will know where it is, and you are just steps south of it, at the intersection with picturesque Calle del Guerrero. Just south of Casa Mary you'll find the delightful plaza Iglesia la Trinidad where friendly locals peddle authentic Colombian street food, and cheap cold beer, water, and soda. It's a great place to hang out if you want to practice your Spanish or meet locals, and they also show major sporting events (football, baseball, etc.) on a big projection screen that is owned by the neighborhood.

How to Get There: Casa Mary is readily accessible for both Colombian and international guests. The hotel offers a free shuttle for its guests from the airport. When you call or email your reservation, provide hotel staff with the airline and number of your flight, and a chauffeur will be waiting for you at the airport. It's a great service, and Casa Mary goes to great lengths to make sure guests have a comfortable, safe, and convenient experience in Cartagena.

Management/Staff: The staff at Casa Mary will quickly make you feel right at home: they are experts in the surrounding area, and have some knowledge of English.

Rooms: Casa Mary offers nine bedrooms with queen-sized beds, cable tv, air conditioning, free wifi, and coffee all day long.

The rooms are comfortable, well-decorated, and tidy, and Casa Mary has a very cozy, homey feel, with exquisite mattresses, which are obviously quite new.

There are also several rooms which have their own balconies opening onto Calle del Guerrero: it's a great option for soaking up the rich flavor of Getsemani.


Amenities: Up on the terrace, you'll find one of the best hotel breakfasts in all of Colombia! Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am daily, and is included in the price. Hotel staff serves up eggs to your liking (huevos al gusto): you have the option of scrambled, fried, over-easy, or cooked with tomato and onion, toast, fruit, coffee, juice, and there is a sandwich bar as well.

The hotel is decorated with hardwood furniture, and features a delightful tropical waterfall and foliage motif throughout the hotels common areas. Upon passing through the lobby, you will cross over a romantic bridge, where several gentle waterfalls trickle down large bronze plates, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The hotel has clearly put a lot of work into decorating the lobby, hallways, common areas, and the rooftop terrace: the attention to detail in the selection of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowering plants is exquisite. 

During high season (July, August, December, January, Semana Santa) there is also rooftop bar service.

At Agencia Marlin, which is located right next to sister Hotel Marlin, you can get expert advice on booking trips to Panama, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Isla Rosaria, Playa Blanca, Parque Tayrona, as well as purchase bus and plane tickets. Additionally, if you're heading on to Barranquilla, for just $20.000 transportation company Marsol will pick you up at Casa Mary and take you to Barranquilla in an air-conditioned bus, and drop you off anywhere you like along Carrera 40, Barranquilla's main drag.


Conclusion: Casa Mary is an ideal spot for couples, families, single travelers, or corporate travelers on a budget. It's close enough to all of the amenities you'll find in the Centro and San Diego, but without the big price tage, and a great value at around $50 a night. With its great location, friendly staff, reasonable prices, and quality rooms, Casa Mary is sure to be a tourist and traveler favorite for those seeking accommodation in Cartagena. And if you're on more of a backpacker budget, just head half a block north and half a block east, and you'll find just what you're looking for at Hotel Marlin.

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