Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena has remained a popular destination for adventurous travelers, from bands of plundering pirates in the 1700s to today’s luxury-seeking tourists. With its pastel-colored Colonial houses, gourmet restaurants, and electric nightlife, the city’s burgeoning appeal is no surprise. Best of all, the flight from New York is a mere 4.5 hours.

Following a four-day trip to Bogota with microfinance organization Accion, Dan and I visited Cartagena for the weekend and stayed at the delightful boutique Quadrifolio Hotel. The name means “four-leafed clover,” a lucky charm for travelers in search of old-world Colombian mystique combined with modern luxuries like a rooftop jacuzzi and Hermes toiletries. In addition to eight rooms designed by renowned Colombian architect Miguel Soto Casas, the hotel houses a substantial collection of museum-worthy decor, from Spanish colonial tables to African war shields.

After settling in, Dan and I made our way to Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara, our favorite spot for a drink. The hotel is carved from the shell of a 17th-century convent in the quiet San Diego neighborhood, and the lounge bar, El Coro, attracts locals and guests alike with its unique cocktails and live music.

For dinner, I highly recommend VERA at the Tcherassi Hotel. The 40-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant is set within a lush courtyard garden. Long white banquets offer the perfect vantage point for admiring a magnificent, backlit stone wall that stretches all the way from the imported Australian floor to the sophisticated wood-beamed ceiling. VERA’s impressive wine list features top labels from Italy, Spain, California, and Chile, the perfect complement to chef Daniel Castano’s authentic Italian coastal cuisine.

For my shopping fix, I always spend an afternoon perusing the meticulously curated racks at St Dom. Started by a Colombian-Croatian couple, this unique design concept store features high-end Colombian fashion alongside art books, furniture, and ceramics made by local artisans.

I also love Galeria Cano and LA Cano for beautiful gold jewelry inspired by pre-Colombian art. While both brands are sold throughout Cartagena, I first discovered LA Cano during a visit to El Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum) in Bogota. We now feature a selection of LA Cano pieces at DARA.

Finally, I never leave Cartagena without a trip to Getsemani. Located just outside the city walls, this up-and-coming neighborhood has been compared to SoHo in New York City. Go for the captivating street art, intimate boutique hotels, underground dance halls, and hip tapas restaurants like Demente.