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Like any tourist, you want to know what to do in a city you don’t know. Ask us and we will make a personalized tour. You will be able to visit places that tourists usually don’t visit.

We can create private tours and take you to explore every corner of the city in complete safety, in your language and answering any questions.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

5 islands with snorkeling and plankton

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Snorkeling and mangroves with lunch

Scuba diving beach day and lunch

Yachts and boats.

Cholon boat party with 2 drinks and lunch

Boat party sunset with open bar

Yachts and boats rentals

Fishing and surfing.

Mangroves in black heritage village w lunch

Beach tours.

Bocachica beach and Historic tour w lunch

Playa blanca, quiet beach area with lunch

Horse Back Ride Sunset

All day, hourly & local tours.

Hourly rental, when you have a delayed flight

$8 usd per hour.

Barranquilla & Santa Marta all day

Local real city tour

Rosario Island

Palmarito beach Day pass

Bora Bora day pass

Fenix island Day Pass

Trekking at Tierrabomba island with lunch

Miscellaneous.

Airport trasfer to Bocagrande or old town

Salsa classes

Totumo mud volcano with lunch

Travel insurance

$3 usd per day.

What Our Clients Say About Us

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I liked giving food to the fish excellent experience. I recommend the fried fish lunch, very crunchy and fresh.

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Different experiences in Cartagena with the best attitude, thank you very much

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I booked a few amazing and memorable tours while I was in Cartagena with Alex. He was so knowledgeable and helpful and sweet. I would highly recommend him to everyone and can’t wait to return to Cartagena soon!!

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Restaurants

There is a great deal of things to do in Cartagena, even if simply taking a stroll through the city's beautifully preserved Old Town with a distinct colonial flare. Some of the highlights include an obligatory visit to the imposing Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a walk along Cartagena's defensive ramparts, a trip to the chilling Inquisition Palace (which still contains the original torture devices used to extract "confessions"), and a deep dive into the incredibly hip neighbourhood of Getsemani, teeming with eateries and bars where locals mix and mingle with guests from far and wide.

Although Colombia exports some of the world's finest coffee beans, it is only as of recently that these have become increasingly available to country natives, rather than shipped off to be sold abroad. Beans that don't reach export quality continue to get brewed as the ubiquitous 'tinto' (which translates to "ink water"): a popular brew that's sold at every cafe and street corner, and often needs plenty of sugar to camouflage the bitterness. Colombia's budding coffee culture, spearheaded by young entrepreneurs, aims to introduce Colombians to unique flavour profiles originating in their own lands. Colombian beans are famously on the acidic side, with pronounced citrus notes (although coffee that comes from Colombia's north is known to be relatively less acidic, with more body). In Cartagena, one of the best places for an in-depth acquaintance with modern Colombian coffee culture is Café San Alberto, which offers a number of thematic workshops and courses (including tours of the plantation in Quindio, where all of their beans come from); for something quick and easy there are also multiple outlets of Juan Valdez Cafe (dubbed "the Colombian Starbucks").

Bars & Nightlife

Cartagena is a blast to explore after dark: rhythms that were made for dancing sound from nearly every open door in Getsemani, setting the mood for a party that lasts into the early hours. If dancing is your thing, there is no shortage of salsa bars to explore (some even offer salsa dancing courses to those who are serious enough about the art), as well as places where champeta is the dance of choice (Bazurto Social Club is the place to be for the latter). For a low-key evening, kick back and enjoy a drink or two in an outdoor terrace of one of Cratagena's many inviting plazas.

Must-buys range from food stuffs to hand-crafted accessories and interior decor items. Coffee tops the list of the former, given that Colombian beans are among the world's most revered. Beans from all corners of the country may be purchased in Cartagena, but if you're looking for as local as it gets, look for beans from the Quindio region (Café San Alberto is the primary distributor). Other edibles (and drinkables) include Colombian chocolate, made with regionally harvested cocoa beans, and drinks like Aguardient, the Colombian national drink with a potent tone of anis, and rum. Fruit will likely prove difficult to transport, but it's definitely worth purchasing and sampling some of the local favourites like mango, soursop and granadilla. Hammocks, mochila bags and leather goods are some of the other best things to buy in Cartagena (and Colombia in general), and if you're looking for that extra something special, emeralds may be a great item to purchase — Colombia is the world's largest producer, and great deals are to be had.

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Cartagena Travel Guide

Courtesy of Enzo Figueres | Getty Images

Why Go To Cartagena

During the Spanish colonial period, Cartagena functioned as a key foothold for the Spanish empire in Colombia and South America. The coastal city's colonial walls (which began construction in 1586) defended against pirates, who were drawn by Cartagena's status as an economic hub. These walls were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, and they are now one of Cartagena's most well-known attractions, drawing history enthusiasts from around the world.

The city boasts an astounding number of historical attractions in addition to its famous walls. Travelers can wander the streets taking in the architecture, or opt to spend an air-conditioned day in one of the many museums populating Cartagena. Plus, with the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Cartagena Bay to the south, this South American city provides a number of playas for even the most selective sun-seekers.

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# 7 in Best Places to Visit in Central and South America in 2023
# 18 in Best Places to Visit in Winter
# 26 in Best Cities in the World to Visit

Best of Cartagena

Best hotels in cartagena.

in Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa
in Hotel Las Americas Torre del Mar
in Hilton Cartagena

Best Things to Do in Cartagena

# 1 in Old City Walls
# 2 in San Felipe de Barajas Castle
# 3 in Plaza Santo Domingo

Popular Tours

Bora Bora Cartagena Beach Club Full Day Experience

(413 reviews)

from $ 108.11

Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling

(441 reviews)

from $ 94.00

Full-Day Rosario Islands Including Barú, Cholon and Playa Blanca

(1437 reviews)

from $ 63.75

Cartagena Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Cartagena is December to April. The city's tropical climate means that, although temperatures tend to stay around the mid-80s year-round, the amount of precipitation each season varies wildly. The dry season, December to April, coincides with Cartagena's summer and is also when the city welcomes the most visitors. Fighting the throngs of tourists turns out to be worthwhile though, as the winter seasons brings near-constant precipitation, accompanied by overbearing humidity, which makes it difficult to take advantage of the outdoors.

Weather in Cartagena

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

Be wary of street vendors Aggressive street vendors swarm many of the popular attractions . If you're not interested in their services, clearly say no to avoid awkward confrontations.
Keep cool Average temperatures in Cartagena typically stay between 75 and 89 degrees year-round. Travelers should be prepared to invest in sunscreen and sunglasses before their trip.
Learn Spanish phrases Although Cartagena caters to tourists, most of its English speakers are concentrated in the most heavily-trafficked areas (such as the walled city). If you plan to venture outside of the tourist areas, plan to learn a few key Spanish phrases. It makes you a better tourist and (hopefully) helps you avoid scams.

How to Save Money in Cartagena

Try some street food With food stands perched on every corner, travelers can experience a smorgasbord of culinary options without ever setting foot in a restaurant. What's more, street food is generally cheaper than a traditional sit-down eatery.
Avoid public transit The Cartagena bus system is inconvenient and hard to navigate. What's more, many of the areas are walkable with some rudimentary planning, while hailing a taxi only costs a small premium.
Budget for small purchases While lodging, flights and excursions are best budgeted out in advance, set aside a small pool of pesos for small purchases from street vendors and the like.

Culture & Customs

Cartagena features a diverse culture, though visitors will primarily notice the Spanish colonial vibes that permeate the city. Consequently, Spanish is the dominant language of Cartagena; though, as a tourist city, most establishments can recognize the relevant English phrases. That said, travelers are more likely to avoid overpaying for services if they know a few simple Spanish words such as hola (“hello”), por favor (“please”), gracias (“thank you”), cuánto cuesta (“how much is it”) and dónde (“where”).

Visitors to Cartagena ought to recognize the roles that different meals traditionally play in Colombian culture. Breakfast and dinner are auxiliary meals, with small dishes accompanied by coffee or water. Meanwhile, the majority of a Colombian's calories are typically consumed around lunchtime. While the role of each meal is more of a guideline, travelers have no reason not to subscribe to the country's dietary habit during their visits.

After dinner, music-lovers should plan to spend at least one night out dancing to the sounds of the city. Music plays a particularly significant role in Colombian culture, with an eclectic variety of genres like champeta, cumbia and salsa echoing from the city's bars and clubs.

What to Eat

Cartagena's street food provides a cost-effective and delicious option for full meals or snacks. Travelers can purchase an assortment of tropical fruit from las palenqueras , or local women selling fruit from the carefully balanced bowls on the tops of their heads. You'll be able to easily spot them thanks to their colorful dresses. Alternatively, Colombians and tourists alike enjoy feasting every morning on arepa de huevo , a deep-fried breakfast dish that consists of cornmeal dough and eggs.

The city's coastal perch means that fresh seafood is also abundant. Ceviche, a hodge-podge of fresh seafood and vegetables, delights travelers from around the world. La Cevicheria is the most well-known ceviche eatery, in no small part because Anthony Bourdain once visited and praised the restaurant. Other traveler favorites include La Pescaderia Ceviches y Piqueo, Mangata and Porton de San Sebastian.

A culinary trip to Colombia isn't complete without sancocho , a soup that combines local ingredients like seafood, plantains, yucca, corn and cilantro. Soup isn't the only liquid worth trying though, and a variety of bars, like El Arsenal: The Rum Box and Sinko Bar , wowed recent patrons with their expansive menus of custom cocktails.

Following the Colombian government's 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, violent crime in Cartagena has drastically declined. That said, Cartagena is still plagued by many of the same petty crime that you'll find in other major metropolitan areas. Because street crime is the most common threat to tourists, visitors should take common sense precautions: travel with friends, be aware of your valuables at all times, and stay alert for pickpockets and other scams.

Getting Around Cartagena

The best way to get around Cartagena is by taxi. Taxis make it easy to get between distinct points in the city, including Cartagena's Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), while short jaunts ought to be made on foot. According to area hotels, taxi rides from the airport to the central tourist areas cost about $10. Rental cars are available in Cartagena (an international driving permit is required), but the U.S. State Department advises against driving in Colombia due to lax traffic laws and poor infrastructure.

For the same reasons, travelers should avoid taking the busses from nearby cities into Cartagena. Instead, visitors should opt to arrive by air, which is the most common means of arrival in the city. Local buses are also available at the airport and stops throughout Cartagena, but public transit can be challenging to navigate and is not recommended for tourists.

Entry & Exit Requirements

A valid passport is required for entry into Colombia, and tourists from the United States can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. A yellow fever vaccine is required for travelers entering Colombia from Brazil, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department's website .

The Public Clock Tower is a major attraction in the Old City Walls .

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Cartagena is a charming colonial port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. A Spanish fort overlooks the walled city bursting with historic treasures mostly relating to a rich melting pot of diverse cultures. Picturesque centuries-old cobblestone streets enclosed by ancient walls. Cartagena is a vibrant open-air museum, overflowing with culture and history, including colonial churches and plazas, colorful fruit vendors, street art, refined restaurants and lush flowering balconies.

Best Cartagena Vacation Packages:

Cartagena getaway, 5 nights from $260*.

Discover one of Colombia's most popular tourist destinations! Imagine strolling through labyrinthine alleys adorned with pastel-colored facades, each whispering secrets of a bygone era ... this is incredible Cartagena , a colonial city on the shores of the vibrant Caribbean Sea. The historic walled city is famous for its castles, culture, history, and colorful buildings as well as the iconic palenqueras - Afro-Colombian women in bright dresses selling fruit in Cartagena's plazas. The air is filled with a symphony of captivating aromas; the tantalizing scent of freshly cooked empanadas, the intoxicating aroma of strong Colombian coffee, and the salty embrace of the Caribbean Sea . Each breath becomes a moment of pure ecstasy, intertwining with the essence of Cartagena and etching itself onto your very being. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

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Other Cartagena Vacation Packages:

Cartagena - San Andres Island - Bogota by Air

Bogota - Medellin - Cartagena - Baru Island

Bogota - Bucaramanga - Cartagena by Air

Medellin - San Andres Island - Cartagena by Air

Hotel for 3 nights in Cartagena
Flight from Cartagena to San Andres Island
Hotel for 3 nights in San Andres Island
Flight from San Andres Island to Bogota
Hotel for 2 nights in Bogota

Hotel for 3 nights in Bogota
Flight from Bogota to Medellin
Hotel for 2 nights in Medellin
Flight from Medellin to Cartagena
Hotel for 2 nights in Cartagena
Transfer from Hotel in Cartagena to Hotel in Baru Island
Hotel for 2 nights in Baru Island
Transfer from Hotel in Baru Island to Cartagena Airport
Flight from Bogota to Bucaramanga
Hotel for 2 nights in Bucaramanga
Flight from Bucaramanga to Cartagena
Hotel for 3 nights in Medellin
Flight from Medellin to San Andres Island
Flight from San Andres island to Cartagena

Map of Cartagena

Hotels & activities, explore colombia.

An important industry sector revolves around this ancient bean and the area in Colombia known as `The Coffee Triangle` is where most of the country`s coffee is produced. It`s also one of Colombia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Colombia is packed full of islands: it’s the only country in South America that has both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, and lots of coast means lots of islands and beaches! Colombia is home to some of the most incredible paradises world.

If you`re looking for adventure, Leticia should be at the top of your list, as you can cruise down the world`s longest river, swing through the trees of the Amazon forest, and visit three countries in one day without taking a plane.

Highlights of Colombia

When you visit Colombia, certain cities can be like traveling back in time. Often set in a beautiful backdrop of mountains and lush jungle, Colombia still retains traces of its colonial past.

Pamper your palette with the unique blend of Colombian cuisine comprised of six main regions of culinary traditions within the country (Pacific, Amazonian, Andean, Orinoco, Caribbean, and Insular).

The Western Caribbean coastline from Mexico down through Central America to northern South America offers some of the most desired honeymoon vacation destinations in the world. Come and enjoy it!

More to Explore

Best of South America

There are 12 incredible nations packed into the fourth largest continent in the world, which make up South America with vast colorful terrain and a variety of interesting cultures. There is so much ground to cover and an abundance of exciting attractions and activities to enjoy. This incredible region boasts the largest river basin in the world, the longest mountain range, the second largest river, and more.

The Amazing Amazon

Declared in 2011 as one of the `New 7 Wonders of Nature`, The Amazon, also called the Amazon Rainforest or Amazon Jungle covers parts of Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. So large that it accounts for over half of the world`s remaining rainforest, the Amazon is the greatest collection of worldwide biodiversity.

Wine and Dine in South America

For food and wine lovers, South America has some of the best culinary offerings; from high-end restaurants to mouthwatering street food, there’s incredible diversity to be discovered. South America is also home to some of the world's most breathtaking and varied landscapes, and it shouldn't be a surprise that the soil from those landscapes is as fertile as it is stunning.

SUGGESTED Cartagena VACATION PACKAGES:

Flight from Bogota to Cartagena
Transfer from Hotel in Cartagena to Hotel in Barranquilla
Hotel for 2 nights in Barranquilla
Flight from Bogota to Pereira
Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Pereira
Hotel for 3 nights in Pereira including: Coffee Experience at "Finca del Cafe"; visit the Natural Reserve of Cocora Valley and visit Salento town with English speaking guides.
Transfer from Hotel to Airport in Pereira
Flight from Pereira to Cartagena

Flight from San Andres Island to Cali
Hotel for 2 nights in Cali
Flight from Bogota to San Andres Island
Flight from San Andres Island to Cartagena
Hotel for 1 night in Bogota

Transfer from Airport in Pereira to Hotel in Salento
Hotel for 2 nights Salento
Transfer from Hotel in Salento to Pereira Airport
Flight from Bogota to Armenia
Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Armenia
Hotel for 3 nights in Armenia including: Coffee Experience at "Hacienda San Alberto"; visiting the Natural Reserve of Cocora Valley and Salento town with English speaking guides.
Transfer from Hotel to Airport in Armenia
Flight from Armenia to Cartagena
Transfer from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park
Hotel for 3 nights in Tayrona National Park
Transfer from Hotel Tayrona National Park to Airport in Santa Marta
Transfer from Airport in Medellin to Hotel in Guatape
Hotel for 2 nights in Guatape
Transfer from Hotel in Guatape to Medellin Airport
Flight from Bogota to Leticia
Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Leticia-Amazon
Hotel for 3 nights in Leticia-Amazon including: most meals, transfers and excursions.
Transfer from Hotel to Airport in Leticia-Amazon
Flight from Leticia-Amazon to Cartagena
Flight from San Andres Island to Santa Marta
Hotel for 2 nights in Santa Marta
Transfer from Hotel in Santa Marta to Hotel in Cartagena
Transfer from Hotel in Cartagena to Hotel in Santa Marta
Flight from Bogota to Santa Marta
Hotel for 3 nights in Santa Marta
Transfer from Hotel in Santa Marta to Hotel in Barranquilla
Transfer from Hotel in Barranquilla to Hotel in Cartagena
Flight from Cartagena to Bogota
Flight from Bogota to Cuzco
Hotel for 3 nights in Cuzco
Full day Machu Picchu tour including train station transfers, round-trip train ride, round-trip bus ride to the ruins, guided tour and lunch.
Transfer from Hotel in Barranquilla to Hotel in Santa Marta
Transfer from Hotel in Cartagena to Tayrona National Park
Transfer from Tayrona National Park Hotel to Airport in Santa Marta
Flight from Bogota to Quito
Hotel for 1 night in Quito
Flight from Quito to Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos Island)
Hotel for 2 nights in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos Island)
Transfer followed by Public Speedboat to San Cristobal Island (Galapagos Island)
Hotel for 2 nights in San Cristobal Island (Galapagos Island)
Flight from San Cristobal Island to Guayaquil
Hotel for 1 night in Guayaquil
Hotel for 2 nights in Lima
Flight from Lima to Cuzco
Flight from Cuzco to Cartagena
Flight from Cuzco to Bogota
Flight from Medellin to Cali
Flight from Cali to Cartagena
Flight into Medellin and out of Cartagena
Flight from Medellin to Pereira
Flight from Medellin to Armenia
Transfer from Bogota Airport to Villa Leyva
Hotel for 2 nights in Villa Leyva
Transfer from Hotel in Villa Leyva to Hotel in Bogota
Transfer from San Jose Airport to Hotel in Arenal Volcano
Hotel for 2 nights in Arenal Volcano
Transfer from Hotel in Arenal Volcano to Hotel in Monteverde
Hotel for 2 nights in Monteverde Cloud Forest
Transfer from Hotel in Monteverde to Airport in San Jose City
Flight from San Jose City to Bogota
Transfer from Hotel in Medellin to Hotel in Guatape
Transfer from Hotel in Arenal to the Airport in San Jose City
Flight from San Jose City to Panama City
Hotel for 2 nights in Panama City
Flight from Panama City to Cartagena
Transfer from Hotel in Monteverde to San Jose City Airport
Flights from Panama City to Bogota
Flight from Bogota to Cali
Flight from Bogota to Barranquilla
Flight from Bucaramanga to Medellin
Flight Panama City to Cartagena
Full day Machu Picchu tour including round-trip train ride, all transfers, guided tour and lunch.
Transfer from Airport in Bogota to Hotel in Villa Leyva
Transfer from Hotel in Panama City to Hotel Playa Blanca
Hotel for 3 nights in Playa Blanca
Transfer from Hotel in Playa Blanca to the Airport in Panama City
Hotel for 3 nights in Panama City
Transfer from Hotel in Baru Island to the Airport in Cartagena
Transfer from Hotel in Barranquilla to Hotel in Santa Marta-Sierra Nevada
Hotel for 2 nights in Santa Marta-Sierra Nevada
Transfer from Hotel in Santa Marta-Sierra Nevada to Hotel in Santa Marta-Beach Area
Hotel for 2 nights in Santa Marta-Beach Area
Flight from Cartagena to San Andres
Hotel for 2 nights in San Andres
Flight from San Andres to Santa Marta -Beach
Hotel for 2 nights in Santa Marta - Sierra Nevada
Transfer from Santa Marta - Beach to Santa Marta - Sierra Nevada
Transfer from Santa Marta - Sierra Nevada to Santa Marta Airport
Flight from Bogota to Santa Marta-Beach Area
Transfer from Hotel in Santa Marta- Beach Area to Hotel in Santa Marta-Sierra Nevada
Transfer from Santa Marta-Sierra Nevada to Barranquilla
Transfer from Barranquilla to Cartagena
Hotel for 3 nights in Guayaquil
Flight from Guayaquil to Cartagena

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

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Orientation

Sample Itinerary
Neighborhoods
Getting Around
Tipping in Colombia

More of Colombia

Cartagena
close X Cartagena Walk through Cartagena`s welcoming alleys and streets and you will discover one of the most fascinating towns in the Caribbean, with a uniquely romantic atmosphere and well-preserved colonial architectural treasures. To add to its Caribbean Sea appeal, Cartagena guards inside its walls the largest fortification in the Americas built during Colonial times to protect it from pirates and buccaneers. Throw in the cultural mélange resulting from the Spanish-indigenous mix and you have a vibrant city that should be on every traveler must-see list. Explore the Old City, Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, Street Food Tour, Visit a Mud Volcano, Islas del Rosario, Mercado de Bazurto, Playa Blanca, Convento De La Popa, and so much more!
Medellin
close X Medellin The innovative metropolis of Medellin is fast becoming one of the `IT` cities of the world. The city boasts warm weather and clear blue skies that create spectacular sunsets. The city sits in the Aburra Valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains offering visitors wide open green spaces covering acres of land and miles of hiking and walking trails through vibrant wildflowers and nature. The city is overflowing with attractions including magnificent museums, spectacular sculptures, huge public parks and plaza and restaurants offering world-class fine dining. Visit the Arvi Park, Comuna 13, Botero Square, Museo Casa de la Memoria, Castle Museum, El Poblado Promenade, Paisa Village, Metropolitan Theatre, Park of Lights and much more.
Bogota
close X Bogota The modern city of Bogota is an exciting city offering a vibrant culture and an important architectural heritage. Stunning colonial architectures and colorful buildings line the ancient cobblestone streets in the city. Fantastic museums, futuristic architecture, delicious cuisine and a fantastic nightlife can be found in the city. Explore the Salt Cathedral, Usaquen, Bogota Botanical Gardens, Simon Bolivar Park, Monserrate Hill, El Museo del Oro, La Candelaria, Bolivar Square and much more.
more cities ►

Colombia Plus

Ecuador and Galapagos

1 Understand
2.1 By plane
2.3 By boat
3.1 On foot
3.3 By bike
3.4 By taxi
3.5 By chariot
3.6 By boat
3.7 By scooter
5.3 Beaches southwest of Cartagena
6.1.1 Banks
6.2 Handicrafts
7.2 Mid-range
7.3 Splurge
8.2 Nightlife
9.2 Mid-range
9.3 Splurge
10.1 Money-changing magicians
10.2 Dodgy tours to Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca
10.3 Long-distance buses
11.1 Hospitals
12.2 Internet
13.1 Consulates
13.2 Libraries

Cartagena or Cartagena de Indias is a city and a world heritage site in Bolívar , Colombia . The city was one of the first sanctuaries of freed African slaves in the Americas. It is populated by an ethnic mix representative of Colombia's own variety.

Understand [ edit ]

Cartagena has almost 1 million inhabitants, and is on the northern coast at the Caribbean Sea. Founded by the Spanish in 1533, it was fortified and functioned as the center of the Inquisition in the region. The impressive buildings from the Spanish time today make up a UNESCO World Heritage site .

Cartagena is the most visited city in the country by tourists. It gets extremely crowded in the December holidays and the holy week, when schools are out and most Colombians take their vacations. The city has basically two main parts where tourists go: the walled colonial city ("ciudad amurallada"), which is truly amazing and has many fancy restaurants, clubs and hotels; and a long strip of hotel towers and condos fronting onto the beach, known as Bocagrande. It is also nice to visit the exclusive neighborhood of Castillogrande, filled with modern condos, places to jog, and a quiet beach to soak up some sun.

Being in the tropics, the climate of the city is defined by dry and rain seasons. The dry season is from December to April and it also rains a little less in July. Nevertheless, there are still on average more sunny than rainy days per month in the rainy season. Apart from September and October, the monthly amount of rain isn't much more than 100 mm. Thanks to this, the temperature is also quite constant around the year with daytime highs of +32°C and nighttime lows of +23°C.

10.42156 -75.55042 1 Turismo Cartagena de Indias , Plaza de la Aduana , ☏ +57 5 660 1583 . M-Sa 09:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, Su 09:00-17:00 . The main tourist office. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Also, there are small Tourist kiosks on Plaza de San Pedro Claver and on Plaza de los Coches.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

At the airport you can find several ATMs and an exchange bureau where you can change cash and traveler's checks. To get downtown, go to the taxi stand which will give you a receipt with the exact amount you'll have to pay to the driver, around COP$20.000 or 35,000 depending on your destination (2019 rate). To get into town more cheaply, walk about 50 m (150 ft) to the street and hail one of yellow cabs. You should be able to get a cab to take you into town for about COP$10,000. A still more affordable alternative are the "Transcaribe" new public transportation service going from the Calle 70 near the airport (COP$2,500)(A bus driver doesn't accept the money. Locals use a plastic card to go inside a bus. August 2023) to the entrance of walled city that place is called "Paz y Concordia" which is in front of "La Serrezuela" what is a shopping Center at the western edge of downtown. On the way back from the downtown to the airport take the "Transcaribe" bus in the station of the system to the airport ( T102 portal - Crespo, this is the notice in front of the bus).

By bus [ edit ]

The 10.40082 -75.45851 2 bus terminal is 11 km east of the old city. Orange and white air-conditioned Transcaribe buses (X104, this is the notice in front of the bus) go to the old city and cost COP$2,500 (depending on the traffic goes between 45-70 minutes). Taking a cab costs COP$30,000, a late night surcharge of COP$500 applies after 20:00. Another fast and cheap way to reach the center is to take a taxi to the Transcaribe Portal terminal 3 km away from the main terminal. From there, the Transcaribe buses which have their own lanes, reach the centre in 30 minutes. The Transcaribe travel card costs COP$4000 and one trip costs COP$2,300.

Expreso Brasilia [dead link] has buses:
from Medellin : 13 hours (6 per day or more)
from Bogota : 18 hours
Unitransco [dead link] has buses:
from Barranquilla : 2½ hours
from Santa Marta : 4 hours
from Mompox : 6 hours
from Tolú : 3 hours
from Montería : 4½ hours (every 45min)
Rapido Ochoa [dead link] :
from Riohacha : 8 hours (daily)

If you are coming overland from Panama , your first bus will be from Turbo . Turbo to Monteria is COP$25,000 (4 hours) and Monteria to Cartagena COP$35,000 (4 hours) for express services.

Expreso Brasilia, Expreso Amerlujo and Unitransco have a daily connection to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas via Barranquilla, the two former for COP$200,000 taking 20 hours. If you travel with Unitransco it's a bit cheaper but it entails an additional transfer of buses at the border.

You may be able to bargain down prices for long-distance tickets, locals do that too.

By boat [ edit ]

Cartagena is an important port for charter boats between Colombia and Panama . There are several private boats doing this trip, but expect to have to wait several days to find a boat. Fares vary between US$300-550 depending on the size of the boat and the on-board services. The trip usually takes 4 nights and 5 days and includes a 2- or 3-day stopover in San Blas Islands . At the Panama end, the boats either leave from the Portobelo Area or from Carti Islands Kuna Yala rather than Colón . Reliable information about departure dates and captains can be found at the hotel Casa Viena [dead link] . One option is Ave Maria Sailing .

Especially during cooler months in North America, cruise ships regularly pay day-long port calls here. Depending on their size and numbers on any day, available shore excursions can vary from visits to the city proper, to beaches and islands nearby. Very few will venture to cities elsewhere. The 10.4049 -75.5323 3 harbor for cruise ships is about 3 km southeast of the old town, probably best accessible by taxi or by foot.

By car [ edit ]

The city is connected to the rest of Colombia by good roads. Ruta 90 ( Transversal del Caribe ) goes along the coast connecting Cartagena to places line Barranquilla and Turbo and has been built out to limited-access highway. You can drive here from Bogota too, but that's a drive of more than 1000 km.

Get around [ edit ]

On foot [ edit ]

The old town in particular is best explored walking . Most places in Bocagrande are also within walking distance.

To reach other destinations such as the San Felipe fort, Bocagrande, Castillogrande, airport, etc. there are many buses running all over the city. Ask the driver or other people who are waiting which bus goes to your destination. An urban bus ticket cost COP$2,300 sold by the driver (A bus driver doesn't accept the money. Locals use a plastic card to go inside a bus. August 2023). On the downside, buses drive slower, stop at each corner and seldom take the direct way so expect a bus ride from A to B to take several times that of a taxi ride.

By bike [ edit ]

Bike & Art , Media Luna 10 #23 , ☏ +57 311 4185883 , [email protected] . Bike rental. 1 hour COP$4,000, 3 hours COP$10,000 . ( updated Jun 2016 )

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis don't have meters in Cartagena, fares should be negotiated. There are printed fares, but they are more like minimum fares. Even negotiated rates are often higher, especially in high season. There are also night and air condition surcharges each of a few hundred pesos. Confirm your fare before getting in the taxi. Taxi drivers may demand ridiculous rates if not negotiated in advance.

Taxis are generally easy to find, although in the old town you may have to walk a few blocks away from the center, toward the wider road close to wall. From the old town to Boca Grande or vice versa or any transport inside Bocagrande or inside old town expect to pay COP$6,000; from the airport to the old town or vice versa is COP$10,000-12,000.

By chariot [ edit ]

A chariot is a popular way for tourists to get to know the old town. These can be flagged down in the street or there are usually some waiting at the Plaza Bolívar or close to the Santa Clara hotel. They are reminiscent of public transportation of colonial Cartagena, and essentially complete the atmosphere of the old town.

Cartagena has several harbours for Boats going out to the Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca, including the Muelle Turistico de la Bodeguita, Muelle Todomar. One of the easiest options (which includes a good lunch and roundtrip tickets [you can come back the same day or stay as long as you'd like as long as you keep your ticket stub]) is to go on one of the big ships like the Alcatraz. These come at the best price at COP$25,000, but beware - they take around four hours to actually get to Playa Blanca because they move really slowly and stop at the aquarium at Rosario Islands first (which is rather boring).

By scooter [ edit ]

Electric scooters can be rented in town and are to be ridden only within the city area. Gas-powered scooters are not available for rent. Many of the bicycle shops will also rent electric scooters.

See [ edit ]

Cartagena has several faces; one of a dirty, sprawling Caribbean metropolis, in Bocagrande the one of a massive "hotel ghetto" and finally the old town with its well-polished face of a once affluent colonial city. Cartagena's main attraction is its historic old town surrounded by the city wall. Main entrance is the Clock Tower Building. The walled city includes the neighbourhoods Centro, San Diego, Getsemaní and the modern part La Matuna. The oldest part of Cartagena is around Plaza Trinidad in Getsemaní. Cartagena's 500-year-old coralstone forts and great parts of its walled city are admirably intact and represent some of the finest examples of civil and military architecture of the Spanish colonial times.

Almost all churches in the historic center are worth visiting, especially Iglesia de San Pedro Claver , in honor of the priest St. Pedro Claver, who was the first saint of the new world for his work with slaves; La Catedral , near Plaza de Bolívar and the Iglesia de Santo Domingo

The old town is divided into three parts: El Centro with the cathedral and the many palaces in Andalucian style, San Diego, which was the quarters of traders and bourgeoisie lived and Getsemaní which was the home of the lower classes. The old harbor of Getsemaní, which used to separate El Centro and San Diego, has during the last century been transformed into the old town's new commercial area, La Matuna. Here you can also find the pedestrian area Camellón de los Martires, a good place to start exploring the old town.

10.42221 -75.55026 2 Plaza de la Aduana . Next to the former, there is another beautiful triangular square, Plaza de la Aduana , surrounded by impressive arcaded buildings.One of these is Casa del Premio real, the house of the Spanish viceroy. This square has a statue as well, of Christopher Columbus. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42168 -75.55104 3 Convento & Iglesia de San Pedro Claver , Plaza de San Pedro Claver , ☏ +57 5 664 4991 . M-Sa 08:00-17:00, Su 08:00-16.30 . Named after Pedro Claver (1580-1654), a Spanish Jesuit who worked for 40 years for the rights and the wellbeing of the slaves in the city. He was beatified in 1888, and in 1985 named the patron saint of human rights. His relics are visible in a crystal arch under the altar. Moreover, on the second floor you can visit the room where he lived the last times of his life and died. On the second floor there is also an exhibition of Afro-Caribbean art. COP$6,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42169 -75.55173 4 Museo Naval del Caribe , Calle San Juan de Dios No 3-62 , ☏ +57 5 664 2440 . 09:00-19:00 . In a former Jesuit college right behind the convent. It offers an informative overview of the history of the city and the naval history of the Caribbean. However the exhibits are replicas, not originals. COP$6,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42326 -75.55122 5 Plaza de Bolívar . Some blocks inwards there's the Plaza de Bolívar with an equestrian statue of the liberation hero. Before the independence of Colombia this was known as Plaza de Inquisición, and next to it you can find the inquisition palace. where during two centuries the Catholic church held processes against heretics. ( updated Sep 2015 )

10.42323 -75.55158 6 Palacio de la Inquisición ( Museo de la Inquisición ), Plaza de Bolívar , ☏ +57 5 664 4570 . M-Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 10:00-16:00 . The museum of Palacio de la Inquisición (Palace of Inquisition) was where the Spanish Inquisition tortured, judged and convicted people accused of crimes against religion.The tribunal was responsible for all of South America and sentenced almost 700 people, including Jesuits opposing slavery. Many of the accused were badly tortured. Today the museum shows some instruments of torture actually used back then. COP$17,000. A tourist guide, in English, can be purchased for COP$15,000. .
10.42307 -75.55082 7 Museo del Oro y Arqueología , Plaza de Bolívar , ☏ +57 5 660 0778 . Tu-F 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00, Su 11:00-16:00 . Also at the same square, this museum shows the religious gold artefacts of the Zenú (or Sinú) people who used to live along the coast. Not as large as the gold museum of Bógota, but still very worth seeing. However, the museum's archaeological museum is even more interesting, showcasing the native people's impressive achievements in controlling and canalling Rio Magdalena. Free . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42367 -75.55068 8 Catedral de Santa Catalina . Tu-Su 09:30-18:30 . A three-naved cathedral which is rather crude on the inside, but has an impressive tower. COP$10,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42421 -75.55226 9 Iglesia de Santo Domingo , Plaza de Santo Domingo , ☏ +57 5 664 1301 . Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 12:00-20:00 . Not far from the cathedral is the oldest church in Cartagena. Santo Domingo on the eponymous square has been here since 1552. You can rent audio guides, available in many languages. COP$10,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.43122 -75.5441 10 Casa de Rafael Núñez ( outside the walls, direction Marbella ), ☏ +57 5 664 5305 . Tu-F 09:00-17:30, Sa 10:00-17:30, Su 10:00-16:00 . This wooden building was the home of the 19th-century poet and president Rafael Núñez (1825-1894). He wrote the text to the Colombian national anthem, and also participated writing the constitution which was in force from 1886 to 1991. COP$4,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42642 -75.54371 11 Monumento a la India Catalina . A landmark dedicated to and named after the city's founder Pedro de Heredia's native translator Catalina. ( updated Sep 2015 )

10.42273 -75.53908 12 Castillo de San Felipe . 08:00-18:00 . A fortress designed by the Dutch engineer Richard Carr and built in 1657 by the Spanish for protection against pirates while shipping gold out to Europe. The largest fort the Spanish ever built in their colonies, this fort was conquered only once by French privateer Baron de Pointis in 1697. It's filled with an extensive maze of tunnels, which you can explore on a guided tour. Don't miss the 24-minutes long video that tells the history of the fortress. COP$30,000 (foreigner). Audio guide COP$10,000 . ( updated Jul 2018 )
10.41918 -75.52554 13 La Popa . Close to the San Felipe fortress is the 150-m high La Popa hill, which offers great views over Cartagena and the harbour area. The 17th century Santa Cruz monastery is here, which has a beautifully restored courtyard and a fine image of the Virgin of La Candelaria, the patron saint of the city. On the 2nd of February every year, pilgrims celebrate her. Entrance to La Popa is COP$8,000 for adults and a little less for children. Taking a taxi up and down the hill will cost you a shocking COP$50,000. Negotiate this with the driver before going. It is advised that you do not walk up as it can be dangerous.

Do [ edit ]

Nearby coral reefs, powdery beaches, impressive mangroves, and waterways complement the historic and urban beauty.

Tours [ edit ]

Chiva Bus . afternoons, evenings . Chiva Bus is a must do fun activity in Cartagena. If you've visited Cartagena for even a day you've undoubtedly seen the open air, colorful buses going through the city loaded with people having fun, drinking and enjoying the loud beat of local music. A good activity for couples, families or groups. There are various pickup locations at mostly tourist hotels (Decameron, Caribe, Hilton, etc.) or just talk your the people to make arrangements. Prices range from COP$18,000-25,000 depending on tour. .

You can also take a horse and carriage tour, per Get around .

Learn [ edit ]

Latin Dance Lessons . Latin dances, first of all the Salsa form an integral part of Caribbean culture. The colorful mixture of people in Cartagena and their passionate way of living find one if its most eminent expressions in the vibrant rhythms all around. Crazy Salsa offers you a wide range of Latin dance classes, focusing on Salsa, Meringue and Bachata. There are introductory classes every Friday and Saturday at 17:00 for COP$10,000—for advanced and intensive classes, workshops or other questions visit crazysalasa.net .
Spanish Classes . Cartagena is an ideal city for some extended Spanish language studies—a beautiful but not too large city center, close by beaches and heaps of activities to do. Colombia is also renowned for its pure Spanish which is perfect for learners. There are several Spanish language schools in Cartagena. BABEL International Language Institute is located directly in the old city in one of the picturesque streets. They offer all kinds of group and private classes and also combined Spanish and Salsa packages ( updated Aug 2017 )
Casa Cultural Colombo Alemana de Cartagena , Calle 38 No. 5 - 31, Calle Estanco del Aguardiente , ☏ +57 5 6602522 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
Nueva Lengua , Calle del Pozo No 25-95 , ☏ +57 5 660 1736 . Located in Getsemaní, this language school offers courses from five days and longer. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42027 -75.54532 1 Raíces: Spanish & Culture , Getsemaní. Del Pozo Street. N° 28-24 Oficna 102. ( Diagonal the Plaza de la Trinidad ), ☏ +57-3183696923 , [email protected] . 09:00-18:00 . The main focus of this Spanish school is immersion courses: their philosophy is that it's more interesting and better for students to learn in a cultural environment that shows the richness of the Spanish language. Flexible schedule, good prices, nice and friendly teachers committed with the learning of their students. ( updated Oct 2016 )

Beaches southwest of Cartagena [ edit ]

The easiest way of going to the beach is heading to the west coast, where there are sand beaches both north of the old town and on the Bocagrande peninsula.

However, there are a couple of beach destinations one or a few hours by boat from Cartagena. Commonly boats leave Cartagena (most near Muelle de la Bodeguita) in the morning and return in the early afternoon. Trips are often available as two-way boat tickets including lunch, but to avoid disappointment don't do business with the wandering ticket touts but buy tickets from a ticket office or kiosk. There is a port surcharge of COP$10,000 not included in posted ticket prices. Also, for these out-of-city destinations you may want to bring some bug spray.

10.218 -75.6125 2 Playa Blanca is widely regarded as the best beach of Cartagena, but it is not that easy to reach. With its white sand and crystal clear water it is probably one of the best beaches in Colombia. After tour boats leave in the afternoon it is also very peaceful and quiet. It is worth staying on Playa Blanca for at least one night. There are several places where you can rent hammocks, get food and drinks. For example, "Wittenbergs place".

On the beach you will be approached to buy massages, fruit platters, sea food and jewelry among other things — they can at times be rather persistent touting their products and services. Watch out for the vendors selling oysters: they will give you an oyster as a present (regalo) to taste. They will quickly crack the shells and serve you a number of oysters, after which you are told that they each cost COP$2,000. Avoid this COP$30,000 charge and the subsequent argument on the beach. If you are looking for great seafood and Coco Locos, ask around for Nelson Mandela. Sunbathers are often ushered to rent a "stall" for COP$5,000.

By boat Take a bus or taxi to “Mercado Bazurto”, the big market of Cartagena about 10 minutes from the center. From there, every day, except Sundays, small cargo-boats (lancha de carga) leave for Playa Blanca. They don't have an exact departure time, be there before 09:00 to be sure. You will have to pay about COP$20,000 each way (December 2008) and the trip takes more or less 1 hour to reach the beach. The way back is much easier, most boats (tour boats) will bring you back for around COP$15,000. The last boats from Playa Blanca to Cartagena leave 14:00-15:00. More comfortable and safer is taking a round-trip from the centre at Muelle de las Pegasos. You can bargain down a one-way-trip without lunch to about COP$25,000 plus COP$8,300 port tax. The tour takes you to Rosario Islands first until it reaches Playa Blanca in the late morning. You can leave the tour there to stay overnight.
Overland by public transport (1½ hours): take a bus to Pasacaballos from calle 30 and carrera 17 (in front of the castle - the bus will have a big Pasacaballos sign in front). The bus will leave you either in Pasacaballos or a bit before, under a highway arch; either way, you can take a taxi or mototaxi to Playa Blanca. The bus is COP$1,900 and the taxi is COP$10,000 per person (the mototaxi should be a bit less). The whole trip takes about 1½ hours.

Bay of Cholon . Farther down from Playa Blanca on Isla Baru in the bay of Cholon is Sportbaru - a place well worth of visit. This tranquil beachfront resort offers water sports, boat tours, eco hikes, gaming and gathering facilities, restaurant and bar; and an exceptional staff that is very accommodating to meet any of your needs. You can take a day tour there from Cartagena, or stay overnight in comfortable cabanas that are all facing the beach.

Islas del Rosario . Several agents arrange boat tours to Islas del Rosario, a set of small islands out of the coast. Usually, the tour includes lunch, a visit to an aquarium and a few hours at Playa Blanca, not included in the price is harbor tax and park entry fee.

Events [ edit ]

Major events take place during the dry season, coinciding with the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Fiesta Taurina . 2-6 Jan . Bull fighting festival with fights on Plaza de Toros on Av. Pedro de Heredia outside downtown. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Festival lnternacional de Música . early Jan . Classical music festival with concerts in Teatro Heredia, the convents of Santa Teresa and Santa Clara and public places in the old town. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Hay Festival . late Jan . Literary festival with public readings by authors. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria . late Jan-early Feb . The patron saint of Cartagena is celebrated during several days, the highlight being a massive procession up to the convent on the hill Cerro La Popa each 2nd of February. ( updated Sep 2015 )
o'Festival lnternacional del Cine . late Feb-early Mar . Traditional film festival featuring Latin American movies and documentaries. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Festival de Música del Caribe . late Mar . As the name reveals, a whole lot of reggae, calypso, salsa and merengue performances. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Carnaval de Cartagena . 11 Nov . The party of the city, a large street festival in Getsemani. ( updated Sep 2015 )
Festival de Jazz Bajo la Luna . Dec . Jazz festival with performances all over the city. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Buy [ edit ]

Getting money [ edit ]

Most hotels, upscale restaurants take credit cards, but many places, especially taxis only accept Colombian pesos. Some banks may exchange money, but the rates may not be the most convenient. The easiest method for obtaining pesos is to use your debit card at an ATM. Another option is to use a Cambio or currency exchange kiosk, although your exchange rate will be a little higher than by using a debit card. Using a credit card at the ATM will require you to use a PIN number, so contact your financial institution before your trip.

Banks [ edit ]

10.42462 -75.5474 1 Citibank , Av Venezuela, Edificio Citibank ( 1st floor ). M-F 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:30 . There is a large Citibank ATM location on calle Venezuela near Barrio San Diego that has a guard out front. ATMs appear to be available 24/7. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42431 -75.54677 2 Banco de Bogotá , Av Venezuela ( Centro Comercial Uno # 105-107 ). M-F 08:00-11:30 & 14:00-16:00, Sa -16:30, Su . ( updated Sep 2015 )
Giros y Finanzas ( several locations around town ). M-F 08:00-17:00, Sa 08:00-14:00 . Western Union-affiliated exchange office. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Handicrafts [ edit ]

Handcrafts are fashionable and sophisticated. Emeralds are available for sale all over Cartagena, including polished and uncut loose emeralds and beautiful jewelry. The prices can be reasonable and the variety available is extensive in the old walled city. The stores that sell emeralds and emerald jewelry use various names such as "Taller y Fabrica de Joyas" (workshop and manufacturer of jewelry), "Museo de Artesanias y Esmeraldas" (museum of crafts and emeralds) or simply "Joyeria" (jewelry). Store owners will negotiate and provide a certificate of "authenticity".

10.43011 -75.5464 3 Bóvedas ( next to the city wall, near the Santa Catalina bastion ). Various artesanal goods of good quality. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42495 -75.55105 4 Q Design , Calle de la Iglesia, 4-16 . Design objects. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42223 -75.54963 5 Portal de los Dulces ( near Puerto del Reloj ). Local sweets. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Books [ edit ]

10.42492 -75.55128 6 Ábaco ( corner of Calles de la Iglesia & de la Mantilla No 3-86 ), ☏ +57 5 664 8338 . M-Sa 09:00-20:30, Su 16:00-20:30 . Bookstore and café. Has a good assortment of books in Spanish about Cartagena, and some English books as well. ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42282 -75.5507 7 Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi , Cl. 34 No. 3-37 Edificio lnurbe . Specializing in maps. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Touts [ edit ]

Take some care. Street hawkers are everywhere, ready to lead you to stores that pay them considerable "commissions"; you actually pay them...through higher prices. And many reliable sources report that, without in-depth knowledge of emeralds and ability to recognize 14K and 18K gold, you risk buying fake or "enhanced" stones or gold-plated metalwork at some stores, or paying more for quality items here than you would in reputable stores elsewhere in the Caribbean or at home.

When approached by a street vendor, your best bet is to smile and say "no, thank you", and they will more likely leave you alone. If you do it in a harsh way, they are likely going to follow you around for longer.

Eat [ edit ]

Cartagena features a rich fusion cuisine, combining ingredients and methods of the New and Old worlds, as well as of the original African, Arabian and other legacies of its inhabitants. Eating set menu lunches and dinners in local restaurants called 'corrientes' costs around COP$6,000. A typical dish consists of fried fish (if you are by the beach), chicken or meat, served with coconut rice (arroz de coco), fried plantains (patacones) and salad. There are many places that sell COP$2,000 fruit juices. Colombia boasts a very good range of exotic fruits that can be mixed with water or milk.

In the old town, dozens of good restaurants can be found dotted around the streets particularly concentrated close to the Plaza Santo Domingo. Beware that many of the city's restaurants are not open on Sundays.

Budget [ edit ]

All these are in the city center:

10.42445 -75.54912 1 Pan de Bono ( corner of Calle del Porvenir and Calle San Agustin ). A bakery where you can get a fresh and inexpensive snack in the form of sandwiches. Try the local cassava bread! ( updated May 2022 )
10.423989 -75.549172 2 Torre Fuerte , Cra. 7 #34-66 . ( updated May 2022 )
10.424864 -75.54955 3 Restaurante Espiritu Santo , Cl. 35 #6-69 . ( updated May 2022 )
10.425274 -75.550594 4 Punto Tropical , Cra. 5 #Cl 36 17 . ( updated May 2022 )
10.425545 -75.547533 5 Restaurante 1595 , Cl. 36 #7-122 . ( updated May 2022 )
10.423644 -75.546698 6 Pollo tropical , Cl. 32 #8A-29 . ( updated May 2022 )
10.419093 -75.546553 7 La Tertulia Restaurante-Bar , a 10-99,, Cl. 25 #103 . ( updated May 2022 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

Crepes & Waffles ( Several locations ). Very nice Colombian franchise restaurant which offers very good dishes to excellent prices. dishes around COP$25,000 .
10.42177 -75.55065 8 El Corral ( One is located on Plaza San Pedro, 4 others further out. ). Very nice Colombian franchise hamburger chain. Good quality hamburgers for COP$10,000-15,000 for a combo. .
10.42615 -75.54852 9 Atahualpa , Carrera 7 ( At end of Calle de Tablada at the Plaza de Managua. ). Peruvian place with fresh fish. The menu of the day is great value Set dinner soup, main and juice for COP$12,000 .
10.425256 -75.549451 10 Juan Valdez University Square , Cl. 36 ( corner of Cl. San Agustin and Cl. de la Universidad, also other locations ). Coffee chain with a large variety of coffees and different cakes. Free WLAN. ( updated May 2022 )

10.42796 -75.54818 11 La Cevicheria , Calle Stuart 7 ( opposite Hotel Santa Clara ), ☏ +57 5 664-2760 . A great selection of hot and cold ceviches. around COP$25,000 a dish .
10.42349 -75.55308 12 La Vitrola , Calle Baloco no. 33-201 . Considered the best restaurant in town. Cuban ambiance, good food - high prices. It is on Calle Baloco at the corner front to the historical walls. Mid-range .
10.39691 -75.56428 13 Restaurante Bar El Muelle ( El Laguisto Beach Club ), Carrere 1 ra. No. 1A - 23 . There are many good restaurants in the Bocagrande area on the beach. The food is of decent quality, but the delight is the water coming up to the restaurant. The host speaks English, Spanish, French, some Portuguese and Turkish! Mid-range .
10.4262 -75.5467 14 La Mulata , Calle Quero 9-58 , ☏ +57 5 66 46 222 . A choice of a few set lunch options. Different menu every day of the week. Delicious and unpretentious. mains COP$20,000-30,000 .
10.42409 -75.54861 15 Otro Mundo ( Bistrò-Bar-Pizzeria ), Calle San Agustin 6-68 , ☏ +57 5 6602314 . 09:00-00:00 . Otro Mundo Bistrò-Bar-Pizzeria it is in Centro Historico de Cartagena de Indias, Calle San Agustin 6-68, close Universita de Cartagena (Cartagena University). There you can eat excellent Croatian dishes, pastas, and the best pizza of America. Ambient is rustically tip, very clean with excellent service. The price of dishes and pizza is very good. In the local you can use gratis WiFi internet connection. They do also pizza delivery. Croatian Cevapcici COP$18,000; Pasta frutos del mar $20,000; small pizza from $12,000, medium $25,000, large $35,000. .
10.42791 -75.54756 16 El Balcón , Calle Tumbamuertos No. 28-85 2do. piso Esquina . 2nd floor restaurant that overlooks the Plaza San Diego. Small balcony for seating, but great food, both fish and meat. Good set menus and 2-for-1 specials on cocktails every day from 18:00-21:00. About COP$45,000 with drink .
10.42029 -75.5478 17 Restaurante La Casa de Socorro , Cl. Larga No. 8B-112 , ☏ +57 5 6644 658 . Traditional restaurant serving typical Caribbean fare: langoustines, crabs, ceviche, fish, all very tasty and well prepared. Popular among locals, especially for lunch. COP$20,000-40,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42787 -75.54744 18 Teriyaki , Plaza San Diego No. 8-28 . Sushi and Thai restaurant. COP$10,000-30,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42789 -75.54752 19 Restaurante Zebra , Plaza San Diego No.8-34 , ☏ +57 5 6642 177 . African-Caribbean fusion, pasta. Mid-range . ( updated Sep 2015 )

Splurge [ edit ]

10.41427 -75.54428 20 Club de Pesca , Avenida Miramar . Fine dining restaurant specializing in the "fruits of the sea". Great seafood and great atmosphere. Located in Manga with view to the bay and marinas of Cartagena. Mains COP$40,000-60,000 .
10.42364 -75.55223 21 Donde Olano ( Olano´s ), Calle Santo Domingo #33 - 81 ( Near Plaza de Santo Domingo ), ☏ +57 5 6647099 , [email protected] . Great sea food with fusion style, don´t miss the shrimps in passion fruit and coconut rice! Mains COP$30,000-70,000, but does have some more affordable alternatives .
10.42314 -75.55258 22 Quebracho , Calle Baloco 2-69 . Argentinian restaurant at its best. Good meat, good ambiance. Dishes around COP$55,000 .
10.42674 -75.54748 23 Cafe El Santisimo , Calle del Torno 39 - 76 . One of the must-see restaurants of Cartagena. Dishes around COP$50,000 .

Sweet [ edit ]

10.4252 -75.55064 24 Gelateria Paradiso . Has unreal ice cream, with a large assortment of different exotic fruit flavors. Fans of coffee ice cream must stop by for a scoop. Corner of Calle del Cuartel and Calle de la Estrella. COP$4,000 for small cup, $6,000 for medium .
10.42493 -75.55137 25 Abaco , Calle de la Mantilla . Cafe & Book Store is a great place to relax and get some peace and quiet. Local books on Cartagena in addition to great coffee. Hot beverage and cake around COP$9000 .

Drink [ edit ]

Coffee [ edit ]

The most common type of coffee in Colombia is the sweet tinto . This can be bought from street vendors all over Cartagena for COP$500.

Nightlife [ edit ]

Most bars and clubs are found in the old town or at Avenida del Arsenal near the Convention Center. Plaza San Diego is a square with a lot of bars and restaurants, very lively in the weekends.

10.41897 -75.54717 1 La Avenida del Arsenal . La Avenida del Arsenal is located along the bay near the Centro de Convenciones. In its heyday it was the place to be. Now much of the nightlife in Cartagena has moved to the Ciudad Vieja, but this strip of about 10 discotecas is still a raging place to experience on weekends. Entry to most of the discos is COP$10,000-20,000.
10.4199 -75.5479 2 Mister Babilla . One of the most popular watering holes for local Cartageneros is Mister Babilla, located on the Avenida del Arsenal, near the Centro de Convenciones. This place is great on the weekends and is notorious for having people dancing on the tables and the bar late into the night! A great time!
10.42446 -75.55408 3 Cafe del Mar , Baluarte de Santo Domingo . Located atop the western wall providing sunset views and cocktails.
10.42256 -75.5499 4 Salsa Donde Fidel , Plaza de la Aduana ( Right by the clock gate ). Great place to sit and people watch as the night gets going. Indoor and outdoor seating, according to one visitor the indoor is better. Good prices on drinks (beer COP$2500) and the place to meet Cartageneros and tourists alike.
10.4251 -75.54912 5 Otro Mundo ( Bistrò-Bar.Pizzeria ), Calle San Agustin 6-68 , ☏ +57 5 6602314 . 09:00-00:00 . Otro Mundo Bistrò-Bar-Pizzeria is in Centro Historico de Cartagena, Calle San Agustin 6-68 and is near Universita de Cartagena. There you can eat excellent Croatian dishes, pastas, and the best pizza of America. Ambient is very clean and service is excellent. The price and quality of the dishes and pizza are very good. Every day you can listen good music and taste also good drinks, like beer, cocktails, juice and natural juice, all this with very good price and hospitable service.
10.42649 -75.54824 6 Zorba Wiskeria , Plaza Fernandez de Madrid . A great little corner bar that offers bottle service and a decent street scene. Very local. Beers are COP$3000 and a bottle of rum will set you back COP$27,000, which is pretty good. Right next door to a Pizzeria and up the street a few doors from a Lebanese Falafel house. Calle de la Tableda.

Sleep [ edit ]

In the Ciudad Amurallada, the most famous hotels are Sofitel Santa Clara and Charleston Santa Teresa , both old monasteries renovated in the 1990s. Either of them have fabulous facilities - expect prices like Monaco. Otherwise, the newest part of the city, Bocagrande, offers the largest number of hotels of all prices. You should always try to stay in the ciudad amurallada, since this is what makes Cartagena unique, rather than its beaches, which are normally too crowded and not really clean. If you cannot afford the five-star hotels, you may try with colonial houses turned into hostels, but they are rather small and sometimes getting a room there may be a matter of luck.

In some other parts of Latin America, like Uruguay , more expensive hotel rooms may be quoted in US dollars even at the hotel's own web page.

Budget hotels and hostels can be found in Getsemaní around the Calle de la Media Luna. If you're already in Cartagena just walk along the Calle de la Media Luna and check out the numerous hostals to get an impression of their offering. You'll notice that the 'value for money' differs heavily between the places, even though they're next to each other: for COP$50,000 you can either stay in a really nice private double room or in a dodgy dorm.

10.42277 -75.54561 1 Casa Viena , Calle San Andrés No 30-53 ( Getsemaní ), ☏ +57-5-664-6242 , [email protected] . Popular backpackers place with several 2 to 4 person rooms some with bathroom and a dormitory with arco. Facilities include internet, personal strongboxes, bookswap and a communal kitchen. Information for sailboats to the San Blas islands and Panamá is also available. Dorms from COP$26,000, rooms from COP$35,000 .
10.42303 -75.54589 2 [dead link] Hostal Real , Calle De La Magdalena No. 9-33 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 664 7866 . Housed in a beautifully restored colonial building filled with color, unique artwork, and lovely gardens for reading and relaxing. The owners are very friendly and happy to help you with any questions or advice. Rooms are rather damp and dated. Cockroaches have been sighted but promised to take care of. dorms beds from COP$21,000, rooms from $40,000 .
10.42157 -75.54552 3 Hotel Familiar , Calle El Guerrero No. 29-66 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 664 2464 . Run by Jairo Toro, 100 m from Casa Viena and a good second choice. Rooms are bright and clean and prices start from COP$18,000 per person .
10.42308 -75.54416 4 Hotel Villa Colonial , Calle del las Maravillas No.30-60 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 664 4996 , +57 5 664 5421 , [email protected] . Well kept, clean, friendly and helpful management, rooms with air conditioning and fans, private bathrooms, some rooms without windows. They also have another building on Calle de la Media Luna, which has nicer, more expensive rooms. The staff is very nice and welcoming. Doubles from COP$60,000 .
10.42351 -75.54571 5 Hostal La Casona , Calle Tripita y Media - Cra. 0 No. 31-32 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 639 5644 , [email protected] . With approximately 30 rooms around a nice courtyard, this hostel offers a good deal for backpackers. Cheap and fast internet as well as tours agency service are available. Air-conditioned rooms with cable TV and a private bathroom from COP$65,000 . ( updated Feb 2015 )
10.42246 -75.54503 6 [dead link] Hotel Marlin , Calle de la Media Luna, Calle 35 No. 10–35 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 664 3507 , +57 5 6601497 , [email protected] . Popular with backpackers, this centrally located, clean hotel with nice rooms with private bathroom and air-conditioned in all dorms, communal kitchen, free internet, free Breakfast, and tours services. Information for sailboats to the San Blas islands and Panamá is also available. From COP$75,000 . ( updated Feb 2015 )
10.42237 -75.54465 7 Hotel La Muralla , Calle de Media Luna ( Getsemani ). Clean, the owners are nice, can be loud on the weekends, not really a tourist place, but one of the cheapest options! Make sure to get a room on the second floor, the first floor rooms are a little musty. From COP$65,000 .
10.42318 -75.54479 8 Amber Hostel , Calle Pacoa N° 10-103 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 608634 . A very relaxed hostel in which Maude will welcome you within her family. The kitchen is shared with them, which gives a feeling of living in a Cartagena family house. dorm beds from COP$15,000, rooms from COP$40,000 .
10.4223 -75.54473 9 Hotel La Espanola , Media Luna 10 #10-58 , ☏ +57 5 6604485 . Same price and style of hotel as La Muralla, but the rooms are a little stuffier and darker. From COP$75,000 .
10.4225 -75.54488 10 Hostel Mamallena , Calle Media Luna ( Viejo Hotel Holiday, Getsemani ), ☏ +57 5 664-0948 , [email protected] . Hostel Mamallena, Cartagena is the first Colombian hostel opened by the Panamanian Hostel Mamallena. We bring to Cartagena our high levels of service, variety of rooms, orthopedic mattresses, free WiFi, garden courtyard and friendly staff. The majority of our rooms have private bathrooms and can sleep from 1 to 5 people. Dorms are large and airy and have private bathrooms as well. Budget tours to the volcano, Playa Blanca and Islas Rosarios are also available. We were the first hostel to start booking boats between Panama and Colombia and we´ve bought that experience to Cartagena. Even if you choose not to stay with us feel free to drop by for whatever you may need. High season: dorm bed COP$50,000, private rooms from COP$75,000 but more if you want AC and/or private bathroom. Low season prices are about a third less. .
10.42506 -75.54934 11 Hotel El Viajero , Calle del Porvenir No 35-68 , ☏ +57 5 664 3289 . Pleasant hotel with a beautiful inner yard and a guest kitchen, but quite expensive. Without A/C: sgl COP$40,000, dbl $60,000, with A/C: sgl $50,000, dbl $70,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.4346 -75.5391 12 Hotel Bellavista , Av. Santander No. 46-50 , ☏ +57 5 6646411 . Friendly and casual hotel in the district of Marbella, some 15 minutes by foot from the old town. The rooms are spread out in several small one-floor buildings. Rooms have private bathrooms,the more expensive ones have A/C too. Without A/C: sgl COP$40,000, dbl $70,000, with A/C: sgl $60,000, dbl $80,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )

10.4086 -75.5511 13 [dead link] Hotel Cartagena Premium , Bocagrande Av. San Martín No. 11-113 , ☏ +57 5 6552355 . Hotel Cartagena Premium offers single room, matrimonial double and twin double with air-conditioning, mini-bar and breakfast. Its facilities and services include swimming pool, jacuzzi, room service and parking. From COP$145,000 .
10.42337 -75.54981 14 Casa India Catalina , Calle del Coliseo No 5-67 ( Centro ), ☏ +57-5-664-4361 , [email protected] . Spacious rooms, some with balconies onto the street. Decent swimming pool. Simple furnishings. From COP$246,000 .
10.42165 -75.54447 15 Casa Mara Hostal , Calle del Espiritu Santo No 29-139 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57-5-664-8724 . rates upon request .
10.3806 -75.5752 16 Vista Heroica , Isla de Tierra Bomba , ☏ +57 3126331825 . Nice hotel on the island of Tierra Bomba (10 min boat from the Hilton Hotel of Cartagena). It's in the middle of a real local village, not far from the beach, and with a great view of Cartagena. Rooms are very clean, 3 beds (2+1), kitchen, individual jacuzzi, air conditioning. Restaurant from COP$10,000-12,000, decent food. COP$100,000 .
10.3973 -75.5586 17 Hotel Bahia , Cra 4a-Calle 4a ( Bocagrande ), ☏ +57-5-6650316 . From COP$176,000 .
10.42689 -75.5481 18 Hotel 3 Banderas , Calle Cochera del Hobo #38-66 ( San Diego ), ☏ +57-5-660-0160 , [email protected] . Small colonial hotel. From COP$200,000 .

Up-scale hotels can be found in San Diego and El Centro area of the old city.

10.4221 -75.55265 19 Charleston Santa Teresa Cartagena , Centro plaza de Santa Teresa Cra 3ª 31-23 , ☏ +57 5 6649494 , +57 5 6649547 , fax : +57 5 6649448 , +57 5 6649447 . From COP$795,000 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42435 -75.55036 20 La Passion Hotel Lounge , Calle del Estanco del tabaco # 38-81 ( Centro ), ☏ +57 5 6648605 , [email protected] . A boutique style hotel combining ancient architecture and modern commodities. Perfect for romantic escapade. 8 rooms. A beautiful terrace with swimming-pool. Free Wi-Fi. From COP$617,000 .
10.40258 -75.55536 21 Hotel Ibatama and Hotel Ibatama Real , Avenida San Martin 7 ( Boca Grande ). Hotel Ibatama and Hotel Ibatama Real are really an option for the people in the non luxurious budget. situated on either sides of Boca Grande, the hotels are nice, clean and you get value for money with the AC rooms. Close to the beach and Bocagrande is safe as always.
10.41994 -75.54618 22 Casa Marta Cartagena , Calle San Antonio # 25-165 ( Getsemani ), ☏ +57 310 630 6003 , [email protected] . Check-in: Flexible , check-out: Flexible . Casa Marta is a colonial guesthouse/bed and breakfast situated in the city's historic district of Getsemani. The house has been carefully renovated to modern standards and has two bedrooms with a maximum capacity of 4 to 5 people each. Each bedroom has air conditioner, fan, fridge, Satellite TV, and a private bathroom. Internet service and breakfast are included free of charge. A nice plunge pool is also available to all guests. From US$125 . ( updated Feb 2015 )
10.4277 -75.54839 23 Hotel Casa del Curato , Calle del Curato Cra. 7 Nº 38-89 ( San Diego ), ☏ +57-5-664-3648 , [email protected] . The hotel was converted from an 18th-century mansion and opened in Dec 2005. Good breakfasts served by Eufemia. Attractively furnished although regular rooms are small and windowless. Two internet computers for guests. From COP$250,000 (low season), COP$270,000 (high season) .
10.42733 -75.548 24 Hotel Cochera de Hobo , Calle Cochera de Hobo No. 38-55 ( San Diego ), ☏ +57 5 664 3384 , +57 3002153828 . In the heart of Cartagena's old walled city. It has four rooms. The hotel has a restaurant, room service, free wifi for guests, two terraces with beautiful views of the historical city center, and a third terrace with a BBQ. The rooms have air conditioning, minibar, plasma TVs, and satellite TV. From US$90 .
10.39399 -75.55963 25 Hilton Cartagena , Avenida Almirante Brion ( El Laguito ), ☏ +57 5 6650660 . From US$129 .
10.42409 -75.55074 26 Agua , Calle Ayos, No 4-29 ( Centro ), ☏ +57 5 664-9479 . A beautiful boutique hotel with rooms reportedly from COP$500,000 plus tax in low season. rates upon request .
10.42331 -75.54986 27 Hotel Alfiz , Calle Cochera del Gobernador, No 33-28 ( between Plaza de la Aduana and the cathedral ), ☏ +57-5-660 0006 , [email protected] . A romantic hotel in the old city. From COP$550,000 .
10.42607 -75.54833 28 Hotel Casa la Fe , Calle segunda de badillo #36-125 ( Centro ), ☏ +57-5-664-0306 , [email protected] . This small beautifully restored hotel thst has been recommended in the New York Times travel section. The hotel is English owned and run. Guests enjoy free WiFi and a PC work station. From COP$265,000 .
10.4285 -75.54799 29 Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara , Cr 8 No 39-29, Calle del Tomo ( San Diego ), ☏ +57-5-664-6070 . Nice hotel with decent prices for its category, though a bit generic. From COP$720,000 .
10.42641 -75.55124 30 [dead link] La Merced Hotel , Calle Don Sancho No 36-165 / Cra. 4 , ☏ +57 5 6647727 . A boutique style hotel. from US$249 .

Stay safe [ edit ]

The touristed old town is not more dangerous than a city in the first world, but going off the beaten path to the periphery of the city there is a real risk of getting robbed. Be very careful when walking at night specially around lonely parts of the city. Locals are in general helpful and kind. The street vendors can be very annoying, but a simple "No quiero nada" in Spanish will keep them away.

Getsemani where a lot of the budget hotels are located is safe during the day but it does become very seedy at night, with a lot of aggressive beggars as well as lowlife individuals who make a living by talking to all tourists and selling drugs or asking for tips for minor things, such as walking with you to the store, when you didn't even ask him to do so. These people are very aggressive and will follow you around, do not support them by giving them money.

Aggressive beggars

As of Oct 2016 aggressive beggars are a major annoyance in Cartagena, they will follow people around relentlessly harassing tourists to give them money. Sometimes when you are shopping in the supermarket, a lady beggar will ask you to buy bread for her, despite having her shopping cart full already. If you leave the tourist areas you might be surrounded by delinquent looking 12-year-olds demanding you give them your coins. They don't ask, they demand, it's short of a robbery, more like taxation through intimidation. Do not give to these people ever or you are encouraging them to continue. Do not give in, stay polite and they'll just go away.

Possession of illegal drugs in Colombia can lead to criminal charges. There is a scam going on where tourists are lured into buying illegal drugs. If you try to buy, "police" (the rest of the con gang) will emerge in a minute, drag you off to the nearest ATM and demand that you withdraw astronomical sums to pay "fines" or even kidnap you.

Money-changing magicians [ edit ]

Those street vendors offer you a very good exchange rate. After you have counted the money you will recognize that a small amount is missing, and after complaining he will put exactly that amount on top again. In the same move they will take some big notes from the bottom. Most people won't count their money a second time, and first think they made a good deal but in fact got ripped off.

Dodgy tours to Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca [ edit ]

The tours offered to visit Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca can be quite a let down. You'll be offered a price for a tour which "includes" either snorkeling or entrance to the aquarium and a meal at Playa Blanca for about COP$50,000. Once on the trip you find out that you have to pay extra for the aquarium or the snorkeling - COP$15,000. Make sure the tour guides on the boat are told by the person who sold the tour what is included in order to avoid disagreements.

The best way to book a tour is going inside the marina and avoiding the "sales" people outside. They are getting a cut for the sales and have no responsibility to you. Once inside ask for Elizabeth ('La negra Liz"). She owns several boats, will give you the best price, and most importantly her word. You can rent your own small boat for COP$700,000 or secure a seat for COP$75,000. Ask them before hand about the itinerary. Her company in particular has its own "resort" in the Rosario Islands. The resort is clean, nice and has good food for a reasonable price. Their beach access is limited and less than spectacular. Her boats will insist on taking you there, but you have a choice.

Playa Blanca is by far the best beach, but it can be overwhelming with the locals trying to sell you their products.

More upscale destinations include the Baru Island and private resorts owned by the big hotels (Santa Clara, Santa Teresa). In most, you are allowed to spend the day at the beach. Every tour boat has their own agenda.

Long-distance buses [ edit ]

If you plan to take a bus to Santa Marta from bus terminal, it is advised to approach ticket counters and buy tickets directly there. Otherwise be aware: normally there is a bus service with connection in Barranquilla, where you will have to change a bus and pay a new fare to Santa Marta again, even if you have already paid it in a previous bus and even if you were promised that this was an absolutely direct bus to Santa Marta. If you happen to have this kind of connection in Barranquilla, make sure that you keep your tickets with you (even though they are being collected shortly after departure) and make sure that the guy, who will meet you in a bus and guide to another bus during a connection was clearly notified by a bus driver that you have already paid your fare to Santa Marta.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Colombia has an outbreak of the Zika virus , which is hazardous for pregnant women since it can severely damage the baby in the womb. The Colombian government is advising its residents to avoid pregnancy and various other governments advise women who are or might become pregnant to avoid travel to the area. Here is the travel advisory from the US government Center for Disease Control.

Hospitals [ edit ]

10.3974 -75.5562 2 Hospital Bocagrande ( corner of Carrera 6 and Calle 5 ), ☏ +57 5 6655 270 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.41662 -75.55039 3 Hospital Naval de Bocagrande , Carrera 2 No. 14-210, Base Naval , ☏ +57 5 6655 361 . Also has a decompression chamber for diving accidents. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Connect [ edit ]

Post [ edit ]

10.42469 -75.54737 4 Deprisa , Av Venezuela ( Centro Edificio Citibank, local B1 ), ☏ +57 5 664 7822 . M-F 08:00-12:30 & 14:00-18:00, Sa 08:00-13:00 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.42488 -75.5455 5 Adpostal , corner of Calle 34 and Av. Luis Carlos López ( in La Matuna, Centro Comercial Galerias ). Here you can buy stamps. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Sending postcards to Europe is expensive; a stamp costs COP$6,800.

Internet [ edit ]

10.42267 -75.54423 6 Contact Internet Café , Calle de la Media Luna No 10-20 , ☏ +57 5 664 0681 . 08:00-21:00 . COP$1000/hr . ( updated Sep 2015 )
10.425 -75.55086 7 Micronet , Calle de la Estrella No 4-47 , ☏ +57 5 664 0328 . 09:00-21:00 . COP$1500/hr . ( updated Sep 2015 )

Cope [ edit ]

10.4182 -75.5346 8 DAS , Carrera 20B No 29-18, Pie de la Popa , ☏ +57 5 666 0172 . M-Sa 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00 . The immigration authority, where you need to go if you wish to extend your visa. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Consulates [ edit ]

Libraries [ edit ].

10.42291 -75.55183 12 Biblioteca Bartolomé Calvo , Cl. de la lnquisición 23 . M-F 08:30-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00 . The city library. ( updated Sep 2015 )

Go next [ edit ]

You can get to Santa Marta for COP$80,000 with Berlinastur (Feb 2021). Buses leave every twenty minutes and the trip lasts about 5½ hours and passes through Barranquilla (US$16 if you stay there; departures every hour, half of the buses stay here and half continue to Santa Marta). In Cartagena, their terminal is at Crespo, on the way to the airport. Many colectivos passing by the India Catalina can let you just at their door for COP$1,500. They also have buses to Cúcuta, Bucaramanga and Bogotá.

About 45 km northeast of Cartagena on the road to Barranquila is the Volcán del Totumo , a 15 m high mud volcano. You can enter the crater and take a mud bath (entrance COP$2,000), which is enormous fun and highly recommended. The nearby laguna then serves as a natural bath for washing off the mud.
Botanical gardens Jardin Botanico de Guillermo Piñeres — A pleasant escape from the city rush, 18 km out of Cartagena close to "Turbaco", a small town 20 km from the center of Cartagena. Take a bus to the bus terminal and get of at "la Bomba de Amparo", a big gasoline station 25 minutes out of the center. From there, are leaving buses to "Turbaco"- get off (ask the driver) a bit before Turbaco and walk to the right, about 20 minutes straight on. Together with your entry ticket you get leaflet which lists about 250 plants identified in the gardens, including some varieties of coca plants.
Punta Arena — A fishing village 10 minutes by boat on the island of "Tierrabomba", in front of "Laguito" (Bocagrande). You reach it by boats (lanchas), leaving from "Muelle de los Pegasos" or with boats in "Laguito" next to the Hilton Hotel. Punta Arena has probably the nicest beaches close to Cartagena. There are restaurants where you can get food and drinks. Enjoy a day, hanging out under palm trees with a fantastic view of the skyline of Cartagena.
La Boquilla — A fishing village (pueblo de pescadores) close to Cartagena. Take a bus for COP$1,600 (March 2013), from India Catalina (Avenida Venezuela), if you get off of the bus at the end of the ride you can rent a canoe which brings you to a nice beach (Playa de Oro) passing trough lagoons and mangroves – pay for the boat once you are back. Riding a bike is a great way to get there and should take around an hour. Once you get past the end of the airport turn on to the beach and you can ride along the sand to La Boquilla.
Bocachica - a fishing village on the island of "Tierrabomba" (pueblo de pescadores)
Los Montes de María — This is a sub-region in the Colombian Caribbean that is in the south, 2 hours away from Cartagena by car. It's composed of mountains whose highest point is about 1,000 m above sea level. This region is of great ecological importance, one of the last remaining dry forests still intact in the Colombian Caribbean, with around 280 species of birds and 44 species of mammals, among which the Red Howler and the cotton top tamarin (an endemic monkey species). This ecosystem (dry forest) is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. The Montes de María is also famous because of the Gaita Music, the Hammocks and its indigenous history (It has one of the oldest pottery made by cultures in America), an interesting region to hike, to see wildlife and to learn from this unique culture of the Colombian Caribbean

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CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA CITY GUIDE

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Cartagena is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Colombia, thanks to its easy transportation links to the rest of the world. The city is located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, which gives it great weather year-round and beautiful islands and beaches.

Throughout time Cartagena has preserved its culture and heritage with traditional Spanish style architecture, painted in bright colours. The old city still has a wall almost completely surrounding it which was once used to protect the city. Now the wall provides a great walk around the city, as well as a great location for bars and restaurants.

In this article, I share why I love Cartagena, my favourite things to do in the city, the best places to stay, and tips for a visit to Colombia’s most popular Caribbean city.

Why Visit Cartagena

Cartagena is a unique and picturesque city located on the Caribbean coast. The city’s Old Town or Walled City is filled with beautiful multi-coloured houses which have been restored and are well preserved.

The Walled City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , thanks to its Spanish style architecture.

A unique thing about Cartagena is that it has a bit of everything, a beautiful city, history, boutique shops, and a collection of Caribbean islands.

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When To Visit Cartagena

Cartagena has the same climate year-round, with dry and wet seasons. The typical climate is warm, the temperatures you would typically find in the Caribbean. The temperature typically stays around a high of 31c (87f) year-round.

Dry season tends to be from December to March which is also the high season, where things are typically more expensive. Between April and November is the low and wet season, where there are typically fewer tourists, and the rain often brings cooler temperatures.

Things To Do In Cartagena

There are plenty of things to do in Cartagena. I have visited the city many times and each time I visited I found something new to do. I do have my favourite activities and must-see recommendations which I have listed below:

1) Visit Castillo De San Felipe De Barajas

Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas , a castle in the middle of the city which you can walk around as well as seeing great views of the city.

The castle is a step back in time with videos, guided tours, and tunnels you can walk around and discover the history of the castle and the city of Cartagena.

2) Take A Boat Trip To The Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands are a collection of 26 islands located just off the coast of Cartagena. These islands are typical Caribbean islands with white sandy beaches and clear water.

These islands make a great day trip from the city when you can catch a boat in the morning between 1.5 hours and arrive at an island. Packages typically include a fried fish and rice lunch on the island, with snorkelling and kayaking or water sports activities to enjoy before making your way back to the city in the afternoon.

Alternatively, many of the islands have small hotels which you can stay at for the night or for a few nights.

3) Watch The Sunset At Cafe Del Mar

Cafe del Mar is a bar and restaurant located on a section of the wall. They have live music and cocktails, It is one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset.

4) Eat Ceviche At La Cevicheria

La Cevicheria is a great restaurant located close to Plaza de San Diego. This restaurant is small with inside and outside dining. The menu is comprised of many different dishes from ceviche to other fish dishes.

5) Walk Around The Walled City

A great thing to do in Cartagena is to just take a walk around the walled city. Every street has something different, with beautiful colourful buildings with unique door hangings, and brightly coloured doors.

There are many plazas in the city which you can walk around, many of them have street vendors, dancing, music, and street artists. There is always something happening in the city with different festivals and events happening year-round.

6) Visit Santo Domingo Square

Visit the Santo Domingo Square , a lively square with street vendors, restaurants, bars, live music, and dancing.

7) Visit The Naval Museum

The Naval Museum is my favourite museum in the city because it has such unique pieces on display and highlights major parts of Colombian history. This museum tells the history of the city with different pieces of history and displays.

Other Things To See in Cartagena:

Playa Blanca
Mercado de Bazurto
Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa
Museo de Oro (Gold Museum)
La Boquilla
Crater of El Totumo Volcano

Where To Stay In Cartagena

My favourite place to stay in Cartagena is Hotel Movich , as it is located in the heart of the walled city.

The Walled City is a great location to stay in for exploring the city, dining out, and walking around. The majority of restaurants and activities are located within this area, and from here you can walk around comfortably.

The Hotel Movich is famous for its 360-degree view rooftop swimming pool with a beautiful view of the city, it is one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset. The hotel itself has large rooms and a restaurant which serves delicious food.

Other luxury hotel options in this area are the Casa de Alba Hotel Boutique , Amarla Boutique Hotel Cartagena , and the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena .

AirBnB is also a great option for places to stay in The Walled City.

If you prefer to be in a quieter neighbourhood, with ocean views, and beaches then you can book a hotel in the Bocagrande area .

For those looking for a budget or hostel option then you should look at Getsemaní where more affordable accommodations can be found.

For more information and places to stay, be sure to read our complete guide on The Best Neighborhoods and Places To Stay in Cartagena .

Where To Eat In Cartagena

Cartagena has emerged and created a name for itself in terms of great restaurants and cuisine, with many of Colombia’s top chefs opening restaurants within the city. The city is famous for its seafood and dining locations.

Here are a few of my favourite restaurants in Cartagena:

Bars & Hangouts In Cartagena

Colombians are known for partying, they love to socialise with friends, family, colleagues, either during football matching, the weekend, or even after work in the evenings. For this reason, Cartagena has countless bars and restaurants from rooftop bars, luxury cocktail bars, side corner hidden hole in the wall bars, and street vendors who serve alcohol.

On the Caribbean coast of Colombia, they love to dance salsa, champeta, and other traditional forms of dance, all night long. In Cartagena, it is not usual to find locals dancing in the plaza or streets all night long.

Here are a few of the best bars in Cartagena:

Cafe Havana
Quiebracanto
Cafe del Mar
Bazurto Social Club
Mister Babilla

Where To Go From Cartagena

Colombia is slowly becoming a top tourist destination and is appearing on everyone’s travel bucket lists. While many destinations and cities are becoming more popular with tourists the quieter and countryside towns still have a local feel.

Cartagena is a great city to start or end a trip in Colombia or South America. You should consider visiting other cities in Colombia such as Medellín , Cali, Bogota , and Santa Marta.

Colombia has Caribbean Islands, a Caribbean coastline, tropical rainforests, an ancient Lost City , Amazon rainforest, desert, Pacific Coastline, whale watching, bird watching, plains, countryside, and more.

Related Article: How To Get The Most Out Of 7 Days In Colombia

What To Know For Visiting Cartagena

Colombia visas.

The typical visa to visit Colombia allows you a free 9 0 day stay depending on your country of nationality. Be sure to check the official Colombian visa website for the latest information.

The currency used in Colombia is the Colombian Peso (COP) . The current exchange rate is approximately 1 USD to 3,400 COP. You can check the latest IDR exchange rate on Google.

While travelling, our number one tip is to use a free Charles Schwab Debit Card which gives unlimited worldwide ATM Fee Refunds and the true exchange rate.

Best Tours In Cartagena

Some of the best tours and things to do in Cartagena are:

Totumo Volcano
Rosario Islands
Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena’s Old Town is our recommended area to stay when visiting the city. We recommend booking your hotels on Booking.com to get the best rate and many hotels offer free cancellation in case your plans change.

Some of our favourite hotels in Cartagena are:

Hotel Almirante Car tagena Colombia: Beachfront hotel with great views and service, in the Bocagrande neighbourhood.
Movich Hotel Cartagena: This hotel is located in the historic centre and has a beautiful rooftop pool and view of the city.
Sophia Hotel: Located in the heart of the walled city. close to restaurants and shops. The hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool and view.

AirBnB is also a great option in Cartagena and you can save up to $44 on your first booking with that link!

Best Books About Cartagena

Read more about Colombia before you go! Some of the best books about Cartagena are:

Short Walks From Bogota: Journeys in the New Colombia
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Colombia A Comedy Of Errors

What Power Adapters Do You Need

Colombia uses standard 2 prong Type A or B adapters also commonly used in the United States.

You can buy a universal adapter that will work in any country and has extra ports for USB cables to charge your phone and other devices.

We also always travel with a portable battery pack which is great to keep your phone charged on long journies.

Transportation In Cartagena

Public Transportation: Public transportation is sparse in Cartagena with only a handful of buses transporting people around the city.
Rental Cars : It is possible to rent a car at the airport in Cartagena, though driving might be challenging due to bad road congestion, local rules, and specific driving times.
Taxis: Uber is not available in Colombia anymore but there are many taxi applications such as Tappsi. Do not catch a taxi from the road, always prebook or organise with the reception at your hotel.

Travel Insurance

Our top recommended travel insurance companies for Cartagena are:

World Nomads : Comprehensive coverage for medical, travel delays, and electronics.
SafetyWing : Cheaper monthly coverage primarily for medical.

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The Only Cartagena Travel Guide You Need ( Updated 2024)

When I told people we were going to Colombia, we were met with a lot of blank stares and responses like “Isn’t it super dangerous?” . Before I get into everything, I can tell you that Cartagena is very safe and I never once felt scared there. This Cartagena travel guide will show you why it is so amazing and should be added to your list asap! It is now my favourite place in South American, hands down. I can’t wait to go back to Cartagena and also check out some neighbouring cities like Medellin!

While this was definitely the case years ago, the country has turned over a new leaf and has actually had FAR LESS shootings than the US in the last two years.

We felt super safe the entire time we were there and received such a warm welcome from all of the locals everywhere we went. Of course, it is important to note that we stayed in the main cities of Cartagena and Bogota.

Whether your idea of a vacation is sipping the world’s best coffee on a bougainvillea-laced balcony, heading to a tropical island just minutes off of the city, or salsa-dancing until 6am in one of Cartagena’s famous nightclubs , this place has something for everyone and we were SO happy we went!! colorful The Colonial architecture has been featured in many magazine and the fact that it is a Unesco world heritage site also tell you a lot about it! Just stunning.

GETTING TO CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

There are direct flights from Toronto to Cartagena but they only operate seasonally. I believe they are from December- March. If you do not travel during these times ( we did not), you can either do a stop over in Miami or somewhere along those lines or fly direct to Bogota, Colombia and take a domestic flight to Cartagena. We flew direct to Bogota and spent a night/day there. We felt that one day was all that we needed to see the city of Bogota.

If you are coming from Florida or visit Florida frequently, you should know there are direct flights from Miami or Fort Lauderdale and the flight time is only 2 HOURS!!! We are definitely going to scoot down from Florida for a few days when we are there next.

The Cartagena Airport is small and once you arrive, you are only a 15 minute drive to the Walled City. So great after a long flight!

NEIGHBOURHOOD BREAKDOWN:

Old City: This is the post popular area for tourists to stay in Cartagena. It’s also where most of the main tourist sites area.

Gestemani: Located just outside the walls of the Old City, Getsemani is a laid-back, authentic neighbourhood and is considered “up and coming”. It is definitely more raw than the Old City and has a lot more hostel like sleeping options.

Bocagrande: Boca grande is located southwest of the Old City and is located on the water. It is filled with high rise hotels and condos and is about a 15 minute cab ride from the walled city.

BEST TIME TO VISIT CARTAGENA

It’s always hot and humid in Cartagena…like I’m talking DESERT HOT! Throughout the year the average the temperature range is between 77°F and 87°F. That is why you MUST stay at place with both Air Conditioning and a Pool.

The weather is a bit better from January to March, when afternoon sea breezes provide daily relief. This is, however, their peak tourist season when prices are $$$. Rainy season is considered September-November with October being the rainiest month. With that being said you can visit year round if you wanted but I would say shoulder season of April would be best!

With that being said, it is a tropical climate so even when it calls for rain, it will likely only pour for an hour or two and be sunny once again! We went in June which is considered a bit of rainy season and never had rain once!

WHERE TO STAY IN CARTAGENA

WHERE WE STAYED IN CARTAGENA: Hotel Capellan! The location of this hotel was SO perfect. We were smack in the middle of the Walled City and Getsemani. You can see my full review HERE!

WE ALSO STAYED AT: Las Americas Torre. This was about a 15 minute taxi ride from the walled city and was directly on the beach. It is definitely good if you have kids and it was a beautiful hotel. We got to watch sunsets everynight! There isn’t much to do around here though and we found ourselves taking a taxi into the city everynight!

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CARTAGENA HOTELS | Some spots within the Walled City that I’d recommend looking into are the Casa Factoria Hotel ( new!), Casa San Augustin (what design dreams are made of and where many Cartagena Travel Guides will tell you to stay), Ananda Boutique Hotel, Townhouse Boutique Hotel & Rooftop (amazing rooftop for Sunset as well), and Bastion Luxury Hotel, These are all inside the walled city. If you’re a budget traveler, Cartagena is FULL of hostels ( most of which are located in the Gestemani district), so you have plenty to research and choose from! There is also some pretty sick Air Bnb’s in Cartagena and if you are going with a large group, I would DEFINITELY recommend it.

NOTES ABOUT ACOMMODATION: If your budget allows, I would recommend staying somewhere with a pool. It is very unlikely you will be strolling around the city all day and with the kind of heat Cartagena has, a pool is so VITAL!

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN CARTAGENA

El Baron – This unsuspecting little place was one of our favs! Not only was it on the perfect corner to people watch, it had insanely well crafted cocktails with delicious tapas to match. Order the perfume drink ( I forget the name but ask the server) and the shrimp bruschetta.

Carmen- When you’re ready to drop some dollars and live like the tourist king (or queen) that you are, you’ve got to stop by Carmen for a high-end take on Cartagena’s passion for seafood.

Demente – If you are anything like me and need Pizza once a week, this place is for you! Actually this place needs to be on your list regardless! It is the best restaurant in Gestemani by far and the settting is tres cool! Get a table in the outdoor courtyard in the back! Hot tip: G et the French Onion Pizza. I was on the fence about it because it sounds weird but OMG SO GOOD!

La Cevicheria – Made popular by Anthony Bourdain, this ceviche restaurant shows up on every “Must-Visit” list of restaurants in Cartagena. Some reviews say it’s overpriced and not that great but we LOVED it!! We are glad we went on our last day as we would have definitely went a few times. It opens at 1pm and lines up quite quickly!

Maria Bonita -Another trendy little spot but this time in the Gestemani district! This place is in the main square so you really can’t miss it. Not only were the drinks SO TASTY but the food was also delish. It wasn’t cheap keep in mind but definitely hit all the boxes. They were also super sweet to Chloe and made sure we sat in a place that had direct fans on us

Alquimico – Ok so this isn’t necessarily for eating but more for drinking in style. With 3 floors of fun, we absolutely LOVED the vibe there. There was a DJ spinning on the first floor which was dark and moody and as you went up a level, the vibe got a bit more amped up. The final floor is a rooftop patio with a more relaxed vibe so there is something for everyone!

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS | Maria’s ( on par with Carmen), Don Juan’s, La Paleteria ( for ice cream and popsciles- SO GOOD!!), La Perla , Townhouse for sunset or post dinner drinks, Movich Hotel for sunset drinks as well, Alma ( inside the Casa Agustin hotel)

THINGS TO DO IN CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO THE ROSARIO ISLANDS OR ISLA BARU

While it is easy to get wrapped up in the Walled City, it wouldn’t be a trip to Cartagena without experiencing it’s beautiful Caribbean waters! There are tons of companies that do day trips to the nearby islands which are Isla Baru, Rosario Islands, Playa Grande and there are a bunch more. We hit up Nena Beach Club on Isla Baru!

We got a package that included transportation, a welcome drink and lunch! We choose this one as it did not require a boat to get there which was key with the baby. Apparently the boat rides to and from the island-although much quicker- are SERIOUSLY rocky and some people have felt really unsafe. If you are prone to sea sickness, keep this in mind. The ride to Nena Beach Club via car was about an hour each way.

OTHER BEACH CLUBS: Bora Bora Cartagena and Blue Apple Beach Club

ALSO NOTE : The closest beach is the beach in the Bocagrande area, however, it is a dark sand and dark water style beach. Not pretty. It is great for sunsets but not for relaxing!

DO A RUM TASTING

For rum cocktails to wash it all down, try El Arsenal: The Rum Box . With a collection of every single rum made in Colombia, and premium knowledge on pairings—particularly chocolate pairings—you’re in for your own drunken history lesson with every visit.

SALSA IT UP : A CARTAGENA TRAVEL GUIDE MUST !

There are a few salsa clubs in town but the best and most legendary one is Club Havana. It is located just outside the walled city in Gestemani and it gets BUSY! Whether you want to just observe or actually groove, its great for either! Every Cartagena travel guide will mention Salsa dancing and for good reason.

DRINK LOTS OF COFFEE – ANOTHER CARTAGENA MUST DO!

There is epic Colombian corner on every corner- even locals sell it out of thermos in the park but the best places we loved where the following:

Epoca Cafe – This is perfect early in the morning for breakfast as it gets super packed later in the day for brunch. The inside design of the space is also drool worthy so it’s worth coming to for both! Side note: They also have killer mojitos.

Abaco Libros y Cafe – Abaco is the book and coffee shop of my dreams! Books line the walls, the smell of delicious coffee wafts through the shop. Students from the university nearby can be found here at all hours, but there’s always space at the bar for a quick cortado! Fun Fact : The cover picture of this blog post is taken on the street right outside this cafe at about 7:30 am in the morning!

If we had more time, we would have taken a bigger day trip or quick 1 night trip to Tayrona national park. It is a stunning area about 4 hours from Cartagena and has one of the most stunning beaches in the country, unique view points and just a landscape like no other. Next time!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT CARTAGENA

-All airports in Colombia are completely baby friendly! You literally get to hop to the front of the line at customs, security and check in.

-Ubers are “illegal” here but are still super easy to get. You just have to not be flashy with them. They are also SUPER cheap…like $4.00 for a 15-20 minute ride

-Certain places only take Cash so make sure to come with Colombian Pesos!

-There are so many amazing souvenirs to grab while you are there from local artisans so make sure to leave some room in your luggage for that

-The language barrier is REAL! I would suggest downloading Google Translator. This was the way we had to ask questions to people a lot of the time. It worked great! What not to do in Cartagena would be to only speak english and act stand off-ish. The people there very much appreciate the effort to speak Spanish

-Tipping is not necessary but appreciated! We always left 10% or so

-Travel shots for Cartagena and Bogota are not necessary. If you are travelling to more remote areas or to Tayrona National Park you would require a Yellow Fever vaccination. The mosquitos, however, were still around and we put on bug spray as we found it a bit annoying. Not sure if it was the time of year we went but I would pack some spray to be safe

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Thank you for all your recommendations! This is extremely helpful. My family and I are looking to visit Cartagena next month and are curious if we would need a car seat for our baby to get around in taxis? I would really appreciate it, thank you!

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Colombia · May 29, 2022

The Complete Cartagena Travel Guide: 7 Best Things to Do

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Planning a trip to colorful Cartagena? Find everything yPlanning a trip to colorful Cartagena? Find everything you need to know in this ultimate Cartagena travel guide. Best places to eat, where to stay, and things to do in Cartagena.ou need to know in this ultimate Cartagena travel guide. Best places to eat, where to stay, and things to do in Car

Cartagena, Colombia has become a top tourist destination in South America, and with good reason. The vibrant coastal city is warm year-round and attracts visitors with its tropical vibes and rich culture. After spending a few days in Cartagena’s historic walled city, it’s easy to see why people love it. The Spanish-colonial architecture, the cobblestone streets, and the brightly colored walls draped in bougainvillea make it picture-perfect.

The city has something for everyone, whether you want to relax on the beach or take in the sights. The area is walkable and its beaches are easily accessible. You can eat your way through the city, dance the night away, or sip on the world’s best coffee. Find out everything you need to know about visiting Cartagena in this complete Cartagena travel guide.

Cartegena Travel Guide:

Best time to visit cartagena.

Cartagena, Colombia has a tropical climate with two seasons: the wet and the dry season. It can be a year-round destination but the best months to visit are generally January through March . These months are considered the dry season. During this time, the weather is warm but not overly humid and nights can be breezy. This is a popular time to visit, so expect crowds and more costly accommodation. December and April can be great as well but may see a little rain.

The off-season is the period from August to November. These months are the least popular because of the large amounts of rain. However, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker unless you are primarily going for the beach. These months can be perfect for the budget traveler since great hotel deals can be found.

The temperature in Cartagena doesn’t vary greatly from month to month but the amount of humidity can make it feel much hotter than it is. I visited at the beginning of May. The weather was hot and humid with a couple of brief morning rainstorms. Traveling to Cartagena during the most humid months is doable if you plan your day well. I suggest starting early at 7 am with activities, taking a midday break indoors, and then going back out in the evening.

How Much Time in Cartagena

Three days in Cartagena is perfect. It’s enough time to explore the walled city, see most of the major sights, and spend a day at the beach. If you wish to do a day trip from the city, you may want to add an additional day.

The walled city is easy to explore on foot and a lot can be seen in a single day. The hip and nearby neighborhood of Getsemani can be covered in a day as well. Three days is enough time to enjoy the city at a reasonable pace and have time for some shopping and great food.

How to Get Around Cartagena

The walled city is extremely walkable . I recommend staying within the walls and exploring its sights on foot. Taxis are readily available, but the streets are so congested that walking is often faster.

If traveling outside the walled city or going long distances, I suggest Uber . Uber is technically illegal in Colombia but as of May 2022, it is still available. Don’t be alarmed if the driver asks you to sit in the front. This is so it appears you are a known passenger. The wait for an Uber may be longer than that of a taxi but if you don’t speak Spanish, it will be the easier option. The driver will have the location of your destination whereas, I found taxi drivers rarely had a phone and relied on me to direct them.

If you are in a rush, there are always plenty of taxis and your hotel will be able to arrange one for you. A taxi is also best for travel to/ from the airport. Always agree on a price with your driver in advance.

Safety in Cartagena

Colombia was once deserving of its bad reputation but today many of Colombia’s large cities are generally safe, with Cartagena being one of the safest. Within the walled city, you’ll find a strong police presence. However, they aren’t present because it’s a dangerous place, they are there because it’s a large tourist attraction and they want to keep it safe. Violent crime against tourists is very rare.

Like any city, you will want to take general precautions. You’ll want to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Streets can be crowded, especially on the weekend and pickpocketing does happen. Keep your valuables secure and don’t carry more money than you need. Don’t wear anything overly flashy.

Avoid walking alone after dark. Walking to/ from dinner within the walled city is generally ok. There are usually people out, just make sure to stick to busy streets. Be aware of scams and avoid rougher neighborhoods that are further from the walled city.

Things to Do in Cartagena:

1. walk around the walled city.

Construction of Cartagena’s walled city began in 1586 and was designed to protect the city from pirate attacks. The area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Today, you’ll find well-preserved colorful colonial buildings and cobblestone streets within its walls. You can explore the walled city on your own or go on a free walking tour.

Free walking tours are offered twice a day, Monday through Saturday, and last about 2 hours. This is a great way to see all the major sights and learn about the city’s history. If you choose to explore independently, it’s easy to get around on foot. Make sure to stop at the Catedral Santa Catalina de Alejandria and take a midday break in the shade-covered Plaza Bolivar.

2. Take Photos with the Palenqueras

The Palenqueras are fruit sellers originating from Palenque de San Basilio, a town just south of Cartagena. For years, the women in colorful dresses have walked to Cartagena’s old town, balancing large bowls of fruit on their heads. However, today they sell less fruit and primarily make money to support their communities by posing for photos. You should agree on a price before taking any photos.

3. See the Street Art in Getsemani

A visit to Getsemani is a must-do in this Cartagena travel guide. Getsemani is a hip neighborhood located just 10 minutes from the walled city. It’s a popular area with backpackers but is less touristic than the walled city and has a more authentic vibe. Not long ago, Getsamnai was a dangerous area but has since transformed and is now known for its street art. Many of the murals tell a story of Getsemani’s history and represent issues the barrio currently faces, such as gentrification and tourism. Book a graffiti walking tour here .

Plaza de la Trinidad is a lively square in Getsemani where people come for street food, inexpensive drinks, and socializing. Make sure to try the empanadas. There are also some great rooftops and bars scattered throughout the area. Cafe Havana is very popular in the evenings.

4. Have a Rooftop Drink

Take a break from the afternoon heat and relax on one of Cartagena’s rooftops with a drink. Cartagena has a handful of great rooftops. Some of the most popular within the walled city are Townhouse Boutique Hotel and Sophia Hotel.

Dona Lola in Getsemani is also a great option. It’s a great escape from the busy street below and even has a small pool for a quick cool down.

5. Dine on Fresh Seafood

Cartagena has a great food scene and is known for its abundance of fresh seafood. However, there are a lot of so-so places mixed in with the great ones. I suggest sticking to places that are well-reviewed or visiting my selections in this Cartagena travel guide.

A must try is La Cevicheria . It exploded in popularity after being featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”. It’s delicious and absolutely lives up to the hype. It does get very busy so I recommend going for an early lunch to avoid a long wait.

6. Day Trip to Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands is an archipelago located off the Caribbean coast, about 62 mi (100 km) from Cartagena. The boat ride from Cartagena takes about 45 minutes. The area is gorgeous and is one of Colombia’s natural national parks. A day trip to the islands is a popular activity and can be visited on a tour . This one visits several islands and allows for time to snorkel and relax on the beach.

7. Go Shopping for Souvenirs

Spend an afternoon shopping in the walled city. There are many clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, and a handful of places with artisan crafts. Shop the boutiques for cute colorful swimwear and flowy beach dresses for women or breezy linen shirts for men. Find high-quality crafts and home goods at El Centro Artesano and Aja Company . Abaco Libros y Café is a bookstore and cafe that has great Cartagena coffee table books to bring home.

Plaza de Las Bovedas is a series of small spaces that once housed prisoners. The spaces now contain tiny shops packed with souvenirs. Portal de los Dulces is a candy market. The block has vendors selling all sorts of candies and traditional desserts.

Where to Eat in Cartagena

Cartagena has a great food scene, but I wouldn’t recommend just walking into any restaurant. I left disappointed after trying a couple of random places so for the remainder of my stay, I tried to stick to well-reviewed establishments. However, many of the recommendations I found online were out of date. Covid apparently hit Cartagena pretty hard and many businesses closed. The following are some of the best restaurants in Cartagena and all are open as of May 2022:

Crepes & Waffles: Crepes & Waffles is a Colombian chain but it’s actually pretty tasty. They open late morning and it’s a great spot for breakfast or lunch. The location within the walled city has an upstairs dining area with outdoor tables overlooking the streets below.

Epoca Espresso Bar: Epoca Espresso Bar has some of the best coffee in Cartagena. The cafe is open most of the day and serves both breakfast and lunch items. They do get very busy so I suggest going early. I recommend the egg benedict. The cafe also has non-dairy milk options.

Alquimico: Alquimico is a great spot for a drink in the evening. The large open space is beautiful and has 3 levels, including a rooftop terrace. The bar serves refreshing craft cocktails made of quality ingredients.

La Taperia: La Taperia is located just outside the walled city. The small but cozy restaurant serves paella and Spanish-style tapas. The restaurant only has a handful of tables so a reservation is strongly recommended.

Carmen: Carmen is one of Cartagena’s most popular restaurants. The restaurant offers a contemporary menu with Colombian flavors. Admittedly, I wasn’t able to eat here. Not because I didn’t want to but because I couldn’t get a reservation. You’ll want to make a dinner reservation about 2 weeks in advance. They do offer a waitlist, but I was told the list rarely opens up.

La Cevicheria: As mentioned above, La Cevicheria is a must in this Cartagena travel guide. It became very popular after appearing in Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”. It gets extremely busy so I suggest going for an early lunch. Everything I ordered here was amazing.

Restaurante Alma: Restaurante Alma is a beautiful restaurant located in Hotel Casa Sana Agustin. The restaurant is open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I suggest going for lunch. The restaurant is somewhat on the pricier side and the lunch menu is more affordable. Reservations are suggested for dinner.

The menu does change, but I recommend lobster empanadas, coconut ceviche, tuna tartare, and the Snooky de Coco for dessert. This was one of my favorite meals.

Where to Stay in Cartagena

There are three main areas where tourists usually stay in Cartagena: Centro (walled or old city), Getsemani, and Bocagrande. I suggest staying in Centro or the walled city. You’ll be able to walk to great restaurants, shops, and many attractions.

Getsemani can also be a great choice. Getsemani caters to backpackers and has a great selection of hostels and budget accommodations. Bocagrande can be a good option if you want somewhere quieter and are interested in spending most of your time at the beach. Bocagrande has high rises and big-name hotels offering ocean views.

Sophia Hotel The Sophia is a beautiful boutique hotel featuring a rooftop pool and deck. It offers a massage service and an onsite vinoteca. The Sophia is conveniently located in the walled city.

Casa India Catalina Casa India Catalina is a traditionally decorated hotel and is reasonably priced. It’s located within the walled city and close to major attractions. The hotel has a pool, hammocks, and a restaurant on site.

Hyatt Regency Cartagena If you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation, Bocagrande may be for you. The Hyatt Regency Cartagena is a luxurious hotel located just a few steps from Bocagrande Beach. The hotel has a pool, bar, and restaurant on-site as well as incredible views.

Hotel Casa Lola Hotel Casa Lola is an incredible hotel located in Getsemani. The hotel is made up of 2 historic buildings attached to one another. The hotel is beautifully decorated and all the plants give it wonderful jungle vibes. It also houses Dona Lola, which I’ve mentioned above.

Airbnb Airbnb is a great option for finding affordable accommodation within the walled city. Follow the link to the studio apartment that I stayed in. The location and our host were both terrific.

Know Before You Go

Power Adaptors/ Converters: Colombia sockets use plugs A and B and have a voltage of 110v. Neither an adaptor nor a converter is needed if you are traveling from the United States.
Currency: The Colombian peso is the country’s currency. Credit cards are taken in most restaurants but you will need cash for many things. Make sure to bring enough money with you and don’t rely on ATMs. There is no ATM on the arrival side at the airport and the ATMs around town are often out of cash or allow you to withdraw very little.
Visas: U.S. citizens do not need a visa for a tourist or business stay of 90 days or less or for cumulative stays of 180 days or less per calendar year.
SIM Cards: I usually buy a SIM card at the airport when I arrive. SIM cards are not available in arrivals at the Cartagena airport. There are a couple of markets in the walled city that sell Claro! and Tigo cards.
Language: Spanish. Some Colombians, especially the younger generation, speak English. However, I would learn a few basic phrases before your trip. I would also download an offline translator just in case you find yourself without phone service.
Other Things to Bring: Cartagena is close to the equator and the sun can be harsh. Make sure to bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen.

Have you been to Cartagena? Is there something I missed in this Cartagena travel guide? If you’ve enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Want to explore other South American destinations? Continue to my post, “ The Ultimate Galapagos Land-Based Itinerary “.

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Reader Interactions

June 18, 2022 at 3:21 pm

When I was travelling in South America Colombia was too dangerous to visit but I’d love to visit Cartagena! The colour, culture and history are fascinating! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

June 18, 2022 at 4:11 pm

While everything looks worth my time here, I will have to say the food might have my attention the most! I would totally be down for some crepes in the morning and then seafood at night for dinner.

June 18, 2022 at 9:00 pm

The food was amazingggg.

June 18, 2022 at 7:20 pm

It looks like such a gorgeous area to take photos – interesting that the ladies who used to sell fruit now sell photos!! I mean, it is smart of them, but I always fancy fruit! :D The food you had looks incredible too!

June 18, 2022 at 8:32 pm

I had a taxi-guided tour in Cartagena and it took me to so many places. I loved the historic sites outside of the old walled city as well as the bird sanctuary by the cruise port. Definitely a city I want to spend more time in.

June 18, 2022 at 10:13 pm

Definitely on my list for next time in South America. Great info here thanks.

June 19, 2022 at 12:45 am

omg, that food looks so good! I love how colorful it is and your photos are very beautiful 😍 I see you have included a lot of useful information – well done!!

June 20, 2022 at 6:43 am

I’ve heard so much about Cartagena! And I think your post was the push I needed to actually start planning a trip – thanks for sharing!

June 20, 2022 at 2:25 pm

It was a great trip and really affordable. Def recommend :)

June 22, 2022 at 9:35 am

This place looks beautiful as it is but your photos make them so much more picturesque! The food looks so good – and I’d give anything to stroll those pretty streets! 😍

June 25, 2022 at 10:51 pm

Thank you! It’s a gorgeous little town.

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CARTAGENA TRAVEL AGENCY - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Best Ways to Get from Santa Marta to Cartagena

Are you exploring Colombia’s Caribbean coast?

If so, there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling from Santa Marta to Cartagena and/or vice versa. They are the two largest cities on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Cartagena offers the most international flight options, while Santa Marta offers a great hub to lots of neat destinations, especially for nature lovers, nearby.

So, if you are trekking Colombia’s Caribbean, there’s a good chance you’ve asked yourself, “What’s the best way to travel from Santa Marta to Cartagena?”

If so, you’re in luck, because here I’m going to go over several ways you can get from Santa Marta to Cartagena. For what it’s worth I do have a similar post on the 5 ways to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta , which basically goes over the same information in more detail, just in the reverse direction.

However, I’ve also covered absolutely everything you need to know to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta here too. Whether you’re looking for a Santa Marta to Cartagena flight, a bus from Santa Marta to Cartagena or other ways to travel, you’ll learn all you need to know in this guide.

So read on if you are wondering what’s the best way to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta.

Photo of a couple in front of water and buildings in the background preparing to travel from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

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How to Get from Santa Marta to Cartagena – Contents

Introduction and Quick Tips

How Far is Cartagena from Santa Marta?

Are There Flights from Santa Marta to Cartagena?

Private Transportation from Santa Marta to Cartagena

Charter Van Service vs Taking a Regular Bus from Santa Marta to Cartagena
Renting a Car to Drive to Cartagena from Santa Marta

How to Get to Cartagena From Santa Marta Overview

I’ll go into more detail on each of these options below, but if you’re in a hurry, here I’ll quickly touch on the best ways to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta.

This is a trip I did many a time living in Cartagena from 2011 to 2022. Santa Marta was the nearest destination city, and it offers a great gateway to lots of other neat places to visit on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast.

The gorgeous mountain town of Minca , the unspoiled beaches of Tayrona Park , and hipster vibes of Palomino , and the chill vibes of Costeño Beach , are all within easy access from Santa Marta.

There’s also some neat things to do in Santa Marta itself, plus it’s a great jumping off point to even more adventurous destinations like the Lost City, the desert outpost of Cabo de la Vela , or the most northern point of South American at Punta Gallinas .

Any and all of these places make great additions to an itinerary exploring Colombia’s Caribbean, and getting from Santa Marta to Cartagena will most likely be a crucial part of that itinerary. By the way, you might want to check out the top tours in Santa Marta on GetYourGuide and Viator as well as those in Cartagena on GetYourGuide and Viator .

First, to get it out of the way, there are unfortunately, as of this writing, no direct flights from Santa Marta to Cartagena . Of course, you can fly with a connection, which in some cases might be a little bit quicker than overland transportation, but probably isn’t worth it in most cases. If you want to do this, I’d compare options on a site like CheapOair .

In most cases traveling over land will be quicker, easier, and cheaper.

The most convenient way to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta over land is with a private driver . That will give you the most flexibility on departure time as well as be the safest and most comfortable, but also most expensive option.

However, you can also take one of the two charter van services of Marsol or Berlinas that are in my opinion the best combination of cost, comfort, and convenience, or you could also take a bus from Santa Marta to Cartagena from the bus terminal.

Finally, you can also rent a car .

If you want some more details, pros and cons, and tips on each of these options for how to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta, I’ll cover each in a lot more detail in the sections that follow.

Photo of a map showing a pen in Cartagena from Santa Marta.

Cartagena is approximately 140 miles, or 225 km, away from Santa Marta by road.

It might be a bit quicker as the crow flies or as the fish swims, but it should take 4-6 hours to travel from Santa Marta to Cartagena depending on the method of transportation you choose.

By the way if you are traveling from Santa Marta to Cartagena and don’t have a place to stay yet, please do check out my guides to the best boutique hotels , the best luxury hotels , and the best hostels in Cartagena to help you choose the best place to stay. I also have a guide to the best areas to stay with recommendations for all budgets.

Can You Take a Santa Marta to Cartagena Flight?

Yes and no.

While it’s possible to fly from Santa Marta to Cartagena, there are no direct flights from Santa Marta to Cartagena as of this writing in August 2023. Most flights from Santa Marta to Cartagena will route through Bogotá or Medellín.

For this reason, I don’t think it’s worth trying to buy a Santa Marta to Cartagena flight.

If your layover is short, you might still get to Cartagena from Santa Marta in a tad bit quicker time than if you choose one of the options below (all of which will take 4-6 hours for reference). However, it’s also possible that you have delays or cancellations that make it take longer.

Plus, you have to deal with all the other normal hassles of flying.

So, I don’t recommend most people choose to try to get a Santa Marta to Cartagena flight. If you do really want or need to fly, you should compare prices at a site like CheapOair , or Expedia .

Photo of an airplane parked with the words Avianca on it preparing for a possible Santa Marta to Cartagena flight.

If you are short of time and budget isn’t an issue, I’d say arranging private overland transportation to Cartagena from Santa Marta is the best option.

It can of course be pricey, but you’ll be comfortable, you’ll be alone or with your travel group only, and you’ll have good A/C. You also have a lot more flexibility on departure time and you’ll get picked up and dropped off where you’re staying rather than having to figure out transportation from a bus station or van office.

In all honestly, if you’re a group or family of 4, you might not end up paying all that much more than you would on my preferred choice for Santa Marta to Cartagena travel below, especially once you factor in those things mentioned above.

If you do want to do private transportation, please consider booking with our partners BnB Colombia Tours . If you use the code ExploreColombia10, you’ll get a discount if you book via that link.

They also offer the same discount on private transport from Santa Marta to Tayrona , to Palomino , to Minca , and to many more places .

You might want to check out their Santa Marta area tours or their Cartagena tours too.

Finally, if you prefer to put together a package and have some help planning your trip from one of their expert travel agents, fill out the form here to have them work with you to create your dream trip to Colombia from Santa Marta to Cartagena and beyond! Almost all their tours and transfers are private and of top notch quality with well vetted, English speaking guides.

You can also book private transportation from Santa Marta to Cartagena on Viator as well as on Bookaway . You may also be able to arrange for a driver on ride share app InDriver .

Expect to spend 4-5 hours, depending on traffic, in private transportation to Cartagena from Santa Marta.

Photo of a narrow street with a flag over a doorway to the left and a cathedral tower in the background in Cartagena.

Charter Van to Cartagena from Santa Marta (my favorite option)

This is by far my preferred method to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta, and the one I have done the most.

In my opinion, it’s the best value of convenience, comfort, and cost.

There are two charter van services that both offer a pretty similar experience at a similar cost for getting to Cartagena from Santa Marta.

They are Berlinas and Marsol .

I slightly prefer Berlinas , as I’ve just found them to be a bit better in terms of service and running on time.

However, I’ve used Marsol lots of times, and also find them to be perfectly fine, so I’d probably just choose whichever has the best departure time for you and/or has the easiest office to get to from where you’re staying in Santa Marta (their offices in Cartagena are just a couple blocks from each other).

You can book on Marsol via BookAway , or you can book either directly through either of their websites. They are generally good in my experience responding to WhatsApp or Facebook messages too about route times and prices for buses from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

There are a couple quick caveats I’d give here though.

The first is that there have been some reports, few and far between, of these buses being robbed. I’ve heard of it more often on Marsol buses, which sometimes stop to pick up people along the route if they are not full.

I’d discourage traveling from Santa Marta to Cartagena at night for this reason, but I’d also say the chance of this happening are extremely low, even at night. If you are traveling with expensive equipment or valuables like computers, cameras, or jewelry, you might want to consider one of the private transportation options above to be extra safe though.

By the way, if you want some extra safety tips, do check out my guide to safety in Cartagena too.

The second is that if you have flexibility on your departure time, try to get a van that goes directly from Santa Marta to Cartagena and does not stop in Barranquilla.

Stopping in Barranquilla, especially if they go through Soledad, can add an hour plus onto the trip if traffic is bad. You won’t always be able to avoid that, but if you can, it’s worth it.

Expect to spend 5-6 hours taking one of these charter busses from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

Both of these services arrive to stations in the area known as Marbella, not far from Cartagena’s Walled City, which is the best area to stay and is so much closer to the tourist part of the city than the main bus terminal,

That is why I think this is a much better option than the next one for the overwhelming majority of travelers.

Graphic of a map of Colombia with yellow, blue, and red, with some suit cases and a street signs pointing to different cities including Santa Marta to Cartagena.

Take a Bus from Santa Marta to Cartagena

You can also take larger buses from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

They are the equivalence of a few US dollars cheaper than taking the charter van services, so they will save you a not insignificant number of pesos, like enough to buy a moderately priced lunch or a fancy cocktail.

However, there’s a few reasons I don’t generally recommend them.

The main one is that the main bus terminal in Cartagena is very far from the tourist areas of the city, and transportation from there to the area of the city where you’ll want to actually be is a tad tricky and/or costly.

You’ll end up spending a lot of time trying to bus from the terminal into town, or you’ll end up spending as much if not more than the difference in cost on a taxi. If you happen to hit bad traffic, you can still spend up to an hour from the terminal to the tourist area even in a taxi.

So, for most travelers, I just think it’s worth paying a bit more for the charter service that drops you off a short, and much cheaper, taxi ride from the main tourist areas of Cartagena. Not to mention, there are less people, and you’ll generally be more comfortable and will spend less time stopped in Barranquilla if you stop at all.

Now, there is a newer terminal north of Cartagena, but I have not had any experience using it yet.

My understanding is there are still a limited number of routes operating, and transportation from where it’s located into town is not all that much easier to be honest. However, it might become a more attractive option down the road.

If you do want to take a bus, you’ll generally get a lot more options at the terminal. However, you can book some options online at BusBud or BookAway .

Expect to spend 6 or so hours going to Cartagena from Santa Marta by bus.

Photo of a church with two front towers and a large central dome and tower with skyscrapers and the ocean in the background seen after arriving from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

Renting a Car to Drive from Santa Marta to Cartagena

This is the final option for getting from Santa Marta to Cartagena.

Honestly, I don’t recommend it though.

This route has a lot of trucks on it plus lots of buses on long stretches of two lane highway.

Many of them drive quite aggressively. Seriously, I’ve been on those charter vans in the front seat and watched them pass two trucks and just barely get over in time before an oncoming one rams into us.

If you’re used to and/or comfortable with that kind of driving, I say go for it then, but I’d personally just prefer to avoid it.

I would say it might be advantageous to have a car to visit some of the places around Santa Marta, and there are some day trips from Cartagena you could do with it as well as some stops along the way like the Pink Sea or the Mud Volcano . I’d still probably just rent the car in Cartagena or do organized tours for those though.

You can check out the price of rental cars at RentalCars.com .

Ready to travel to Cartagena from Santa Marta?

Now you’ve got a number of options for transportation between Santa Marta and Cartagena.

I hope you found this post useful, and whichever of the above methods you choose for how to get to Cartagena from Santa Marta, I hope you get there safely and you enjoy your time in Cartagena!

Please do check out all the other content on the site about Cartagena to help get the most out of your trip!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!

Planning a trip to Cartagena?

Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!

In particular, you might want to check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena , my guide to the best areas to stay , my list of over 75 things to do , my picks for the best Cartagena tours , the best day trips from Cartagena , my suggested packing list , my guide to the Rosario Islands , and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena .

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