The following day, restorative massages in the hotel’s spa, Umari, were followed with relaxing strolls through the enchanting walled city. By nightfall, everyone gathered once again at the base of the Atrio imperial staircase for pre-dinner cocktails. At the bar, Lauren led a group of tequila shot-takers in the Latin American toast, ¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa dentro!
A dinner unfolded in the property’s 16th-century cloisters, which house the hotel’s colonial-style rooms. Underneath the courtyard’s four magnificent Banyan trees, dancers from the nonprofit organization Jóvenes Creadores del Chocó performed a tribute to the people of the Chocó region, who suffered a devastating earthquake earlier this summer.
Following a spread from the Four Seasons’ resident chef Julián Palacio Arango that highlighted Colombia’s local seafood—crab in leche de tigre and a bright, fresh whitefish—guests were whisked into the checker-floored Ballroom de la Veracruz for drinks and dancing, with singer Fonseca and, later, the trio Orquesta La Brava, offering all the right tunes for anyone looking to try out their best salsa moves. Meanwhile, those who needed to rest their feet, or simply wanted to chat, sprawled out on benches beneath the hanging roots of the trees until the wee hours.
The after-dinner portion of the evening left everyone wanting for nothing: A resplendent dessert table ran the gamut from berry pavlova to tiramisu, and—of course—trays of colorful Colombian chocolates awaited. And, later, a midnight snack of lobster rolls, hot dogs, and pizzas certainly quashed any late-night cravings. But for those who still had the energy, the Catroux Presidential Suite, with a terrace overlooking the city, became the site of the unofficial late-night party zone. Though many chose to catch a few hours of shut-eye before flights home the following day, others kept the party alive for as long as they could.
