Hot water in Cartagena, Colombia is still considered a luxury and I found this out the hard way. I stayed in Medellin on the first leg of my trip and had plenty of hot water but there was a cooler more mountainous climate there. On the second half of the trip we knew we were going to a Caribbean beach so I packed my swimsuit and when I got there I hopped in the shower to shave and to my dismay, the water was freezing. I waited for it to warm up and it just kept staying cold. I naively called the hotel desk thinking something was wrong and discovered they don’t have hot water.
That then had me searching online to see if that was a common thing and here’s what I found out. Due to the historic buildings and infrastructure that make the city so charming, hot water is not the norm. This city close to the equator has a climate with humidity hitting 90 Fahrenheit and above daily, so many don’t have air conditioning and take cold showers to cool off.
I was pretty annoyed at the situation because it was unexpected and I wasn’t prepared, ending up with a crazy razor burn. Looking back, I realize how conditioned I am to expect convenience. Traveling yet again reminds me of this and as I read reviews of different stays in Cartagena, I see that many other travelers are used to their expectations. Because of this I'm sharing this information so you don't run into the same situation.
When searching for a place to stay with hot water it's not as simple as just searching for "hotels with hot water" since it's not a regular expectation. I've researched over 50 locations in different neighborhoods and even on an island to get you a list of places that have confirmations from guests of having hot showers. Now when you go you have a chance to be prepared, unlike I was, with a realistic expectation and the ability to select a place with hot water.
. 
There are 4 and 5-star hotels, resorts, and chains that don't have hot water, and yet hostels that have it. Some accommodations will even have hot tubs but no hot showers. Reviews share that because of the outside temperature many people don't mind the cold water so it's really up to personal preference. Some describe the temperature as cool, lukewarm, or simply cold and there can be a difference in the time of day as the tanks can be on the rooftop in the sun so it's not as warm in the morning. If none below are available or you prefer to do your own research you can find success by searching review sections for the words "shower" and "water" to find related comments. Most websites I researched didn't mention water temperatures and when people complain in the reviews about it Management avoids responding to it.
.
Castillogrande: bayside, peninsula, residential
1. La Gran Via Hotel
- 3-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/Kb64iMSEWDdYRPjMA
El Centro: alive, colonial, sites
2. Casa Movida
- Hostel with dorms and private rooms
- https://goo.gl/maps/uYFakwPzUkk8FG6w7
3. Charleston Santa Teresa Cartagena
- 4-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/6yErcUogx1WtY18X7
Getsemani: art, bohemian, colorful
4. Beautiful Townhouse in Historic Center, Getsemani
- Airbnb Plus with a Superhost
- https://abnb.me/PSlZRas3jzb
5. Casa Piña
- Airbnb Plus with a Superhost
- https://abnb.me/Dmdxemj3jzb
6. Hotel Boutique Casa Isabel
- 3-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/dTGCDuCJDmodXkBn7
7. Hotel Monterrey
- 3-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/iBhwyLLHdXiaW7RB6
8. Life is Good Cartagena
Isla de Tierra Bomba: beaches, Caribbean, relaxed
9. Blue Apple Beach
- 5-star boutique hotel
- https://www.blueapplebeach.com/
San Diego: historic, seafront, walled
10. The Best Location & Comfort at Walled City
- Airbnb Plus with a Superhost
- https://abnb.me/s7Jze4x3jzb
11. Ethnic Thematic Hotel
- Bed and breakfast
- https://goo.gl/maps/6ErGJwmi5QuTZUwY7
12. Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia
- 3-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/xdMWfVW8wCBhR8H97
13. Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
- 5-star hotel
- https://goo.gl/maps/T1r8waRQx3J3BueBA
Don't let the shower situation hold you back from enjoying the old-world beauty of this place. Do you know of any other locations that include hot water as an amenity? Would you be ok staying in a place with only cold water? What hacks can you share if you end up in a place with cold water? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments.
Related:
2 comments
Thanks Barb for the tip, will be sure to use this next time.
I learned that using an electric kettle and pouring hot water in the sink or tub can help you with these situations. Thanks for the information, haven’t been to Cartagena yet but want to go