Life is Good Cartagena Hostel — Hotel in Cartagena

I stayed a week at this hostel which feels more like a small hotel. The location is pretty quiet in comparison to other parts of Getsemani but still in the heart of the city. Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was that everyone knew my name and how clean it was.

I initially spent a few days there solo until my girlfriend arrived. We stayed in the spacious King private room which is right on the main floor next to the reception area. It was nice knowing there were staff around the clock especially as a solo female traveler. I felt safe at all times.

A couple times I was having difficulties with my bedroom lock and got locked in my room. And there were times when I didn’t lock the door at night which is something I’d never do otherwise. Once I was shown how to lock it, all was good. And the incidents became a running joke with us all during our stay.

Did I mention that every part of the hostel is extremely clean including the rooftop deck? The AC was a nice welcome. Breakfast was included and hearty, there were options to choose from and it kept me sustained until lunch.

Everyone seemed incredibly happy to work there which was refreshing to witness. They always had a smile on their faces and was patient with my basic Spanish. They were fun, genuinely wanted to make sure you were ok, having a good time and ready to assist if needed. They were happy to call a taxi anytime we needed. And I booked an island tour from them which was nice and low key.

I have a gluten sensitivity and was having issues with my stomach. The staff made sure all that I consumed didn’t contain any gluten. And adapted my meals to be gluten free. And staff followed up to make sure my stomach issue was resolved.

The onsite restaurant was a bonus. I ate dinner there twice. It was just as good as any of the other restaurants in the area! You have to try the sea bass!!! It was so tasty!!

The most memorable part of the trip was that I spent my 48th birthday there and the staff surprised me with a delicious flan fruit cake complete with music and singing. It was so thoughtful!!

The morning that I left, I fought back tears as I felt like I was leaving family. This really is a special place.

Thank you José, Jonas, Edith, José?, Oscar, chefs Omar and Jennifer, Mabel & Ingrid from housekeeping and all the other staff for making this an unforgettable and...

I don't know where to start with how I feel about my stay at Life is Good. I've traveled to many countries, and I've never felt so at home as I did here. This isn’t a party hostel—it’s the kind of place where you go to recharge, rest, and connect. The best part is, there's a ton of nightlife and a plaza right around the corner (less than a 5-minute walk). It was the perfect balance: I could go out for drinks and dancing, then return to a safe (secured by a locked gate), peaceful place to sleep.

The location is ideal, with everything you’d want to see in the city within a 15-minute walk. Breakfast is included, made to order, and absolutely delicious—with free water, coffee, and tea available all day. The hostel has its own restaurant, which is also great (I recommend the shrimp/crab pasta), and a 2-for-1 happy hour for drinks. There are lots of nearby restaurants, plus an ice cream place right next door. It's close to several other hostels too, which makes meeting other travelers easy.

The rooms are very clean (tended to every morning), with nice ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning. There’s even a rooftop hot tub—they were just finishing renovations on it during my last day.

What really makes this place special is the staff. I’ve never felt more welcome anywhere I’ve stayed. From Señora Maria (La Jefa/General Manager) to the amazing housekeeping team, every single person was kind, helpful, and genuinely caring. They rotate roles so you get to interact with everyone, and I didn’t even know who the general manager was at first—she was waiting tables! I mentioned I wanted to practice Spanish, and the entire team—including the manager—jumped in to help and encourage me.

The staff is available 24/7 and responds quickly to any concerns. Be sure to check out the cooking class and Paint/Brunch class—both were so much fun!

I didn’t want to leave at the end of my stay. I came as a solo traveler and left feeling like I had a Colombian family.

Gracias por todo....

I had a really pleasant 3 night stay at Life is Good Hostel. Edith and Nelson welcomed me with warm smiles upon entering the hostel, which is a much needed morale boost after a 3 hour queue at the airport immigration. Its location is very near to a lot of must-see places (old town, getsamani, Barajas castle, and sea ports for Rosario island) and streets leading to back and forth from the hotel to the places are safe and well-lit. I’m really impressed how they’re able to keep the place quiet though though it’s adjacent to night life spots in the neighborhood. I also did a cooking class with Chef Omar and Edith and it’s such a fun and great experience! It was an immersive cultural and historical experience. Breakfast everyday is always warm and cozy, well cooked by Chef Jennifer; it is served by Gabby who always tells us what the food is all about and what makes it uniquely Cartagenean. They also allowed my breakfast to be served a earlier because I had an early tour. They all speak great English and are all very helpful and nice. Edith went the over and beyond when she called the hotel I’ll be staying at in Bogota and spoke to them in Spanish on my behalf. Shoutout to the rest of the team, Oscar and Angelo, who were always there for our safety and needs early in the morning and at night. Travelled alone, but I never felt lonely here at this great hostel. Highly...