Casa de Leda – a Kali Hotel

Casa de Leda - a Kali Hotel offers a stylish escape from the hustle and bustle of Santa Marta. The hotel is located inside a purple and white colonial-style building. This mix of colonial architecture and modern, vibrant art and colors continues inside. Public spaces have high ceilings held up by white columns on stone-tiled floors. Potted plants pop against the whitewashed walls, while chandeliers and historic furniture add just a touch of elegance. There are colorful statement walls and a large Da Vinci art piece over the front desk. The main public space is the rooftop terrace where breakfast is served. An awning covers outdoor woven furniture and a blue and white bar. The fun style of the boutique hotel mostly draws couples who are in good enough shape to handle the fact that the hotel lacks an elevator. 

Casa de Leda has a centralized location in Santa Marta, which means it’s surrounded on all sides by dining options and shops. The nightlife area of Parque de Los Novios is just a five-minute walk away, while the marina takes nine minutes to reach on foot. The popular Rodadero Beach is a 19-minute drive away. Quinta de San Pedro Alejandro, the home of Simon Bolivar, takes 20 minutes to reach by car. It’s about a 30-minute drive to the Simon Bolivar International Airport. Plan on over a two-hour drive to Barranquilla. 

Casa de Leda combined local wood and colorful decor to design the rooms and suites. Room designs vary slightly, but generally feature light tiled floors and white beds that contrast with wood heavy accents in the platform or canopy beds, wicker armchairs, and window shutters. Brightly colored statement walls and colorful art pieces create a lively atmosphere. The aromatherapy machines that spray scents of rosemary, oregano, and eucalyptus are a nice little perk. All rooms have air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, safes, flat-screen TVs, and stocked mini-fridges, though they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities. Bathrooms are clean and stylish, too, with trendy vessel sinks and showers (usually) with colorful tiles. Suites are equipped with jetted showers or tubs. Verana toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Guests aren’t thrilled to find that some rooms lack windows or have interior windows, and therefore, can’t be opened without other guests being able to look in.

The hotel offers the right amount of features to equal its size. There are two small pools, one located indoors (decorated with a black lion water fountain) and the other is located on a rooftop terrace which has a few loungers. The spa lacks a gym but offers beauty treatments, massages, and a steam room. As far as food goes, there’s a free breakfast in the morning with local and western hot and cold options that has received rave reviews. The outdoor bar serves drinks in the evening, but beyond that, there’s no full restaurant on-site. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.