Late Flight Out of Cartagena? What to Do Between Checkout and the Airport

Checkout is in the morning and your flight is at nine at night. That gap is the worst part of a Cartagena trip if you don't plan it, because dragging a suitcase over cobblestones at 1pm in this heat is nobody's idea of a last memory.

Here's how we handle it. We'll keep your luggage safe at reception while you go up and use the pools, flip over our pancakes and drink a freshly prepared juice, with a shot of something optional. The rooftop is open to the public from 8am to midnight, with a cocktail bar, an all day diner and two little plunge pools, and happy hour specials run daily. Breakfast is served until midday, or 11am at weekends, so if your checkout is late-ish you can still eat properly before you start the waiting.

If you want the pools but not a room, our pool day pass is 25 euros for two people. If you'd rather keep the room, the shower and somewhere to lie down, late checkout is available for 100,000 pesos. Which one is right depends on whether you care more about privacy or about price; most people with an evening flight take the bags-at-reception route and spend the difference on lunch.

Book the car before you settle in upstairs. Our airport transfer costs 120,000 COP for up to four passengers, and 200,000 COP for groups of five or more. Rafael Núñez sits close to the Old Town, which is the single best thing about flying out of here, but international departures still want you there early, so set an alarm you'll actually hear over the music.

One caveat worth saying plainly: after 8pm the rooftop is adults only, and it gets loud. If you're killing time with kids before a night flight, do the swimming in the afternoon and be downstairs with the bags before eight.