Rating7.2
Rating7.1
Rating6.4Average
Based on 3.1k reviews
Prime Location
Guests consistently praise the resort's exceptional beachfront location in Bocagrande, offering easy access to the beach, local attractions, and a short ride to Cartagena's historic Old Town.
Lively Entertainment
The resort's vibrant atmosphere is enhanced by its popular live entertainment and nightly shows, providing engaging experiences for guests of all ages after sunset.
Family-Friendly Fun
Families appreciate the dedicated amenities, especially the new children's water park and daily supervised activities, ensuring kids are well-entertained throughout their stay.
Ongoing Improvements
Recent and significant renovations in 2024, including new restaurant and room updates, demonstrate Decameron's commitment to enhancing the guest experience.
All-Inclusive Convenience
The comprehensive all-inclusive program, covering meals, drinks, and activities, offers a hassle-free vacation experience, allowing guests to relax without constant worry about costs.
Property Condition
Despite ongoing renovations, several guests note that parts of the resort appear dated or 'run down,' suggesting a need for more extensive modernization across the property.
Food Quality
Dining receives mixed reviews, with buffet options frequently described as mediocre. Guests recommend making reservations for the generally better à la carte restaurants.
Accessibility Challenges
The resort presents significant accessibility hurdles for guests with mobility issues due to a reported lack of ramps and limited elevator access to certain areas.
Slow Elevators
A frequent complaint is the slow and often inefficient elevator service, which can cause delays and frustration, particularly during peak hours.
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Eco-Certified Property
Certified
Unspecified Eco-Certification Body
Decameron Cartagena has been operating in Bocagrande for over 30 years — it is not a new resort, and its market position is honest: a functional, high-value-relative-to-price all-inclusive in one of South America's most historically interesting cities. The most recent renovation (2017) touched the pool, bars, and buffet restaurant; June 2024 added a new children's water park and renovated the 3rd-floor rooms and activity spaces. The property is 7.4km (3 miles) from Rafael Núñez International Airport, with a 10–15 minute taxi transfer.
The location is Bocagrande's greatest argument: the resort sits directly facing the beach, a short walk to shops, restaurants, and services, and a 10–15 minute taxi ride to the UNESCO-listed Historic Old Town (Ciudad Amurallada). Unlike Decameron Barú (the secluded peninsula property), this is an urban resort — the city is the complement to the all-inclusive, not an afterthought. Guests who want to explore Cartagena's colonial architecture, restaurants, and markets can do so easily.
The dining structure is practical: four à la carte restaurants for dinner (reservation required, generally preferred over the buffet), one main buffet (mixed reviews), and a snack program around the pool. The standout venue is Príncipe Galeotto on the 23rd floor — seafood restaurant with panoramic views of Cartagena Bay and the illuminated Walled City at night. This is a genuinely special setting, not a standard resort restaurant.
Cafe San Pedro is an unusual inclusion: it operates in the Historic Walled City itself, with resort transfers included. À la carte dinner in the Old Town as part of an all-inclusive program is logistically interesting and worth booking early.
The drawbacks are consistent: elevators are slow and criticized in nearly every review, limiting access for guests with mobility concerns; the main pool is described as too small for the number of guests during peak periods; and buffet quality is generally described as mediocre. The property acknowledges being 'dated' in areas despite recent renovations.
