Visiting Cartagena
As you exit the plane in Cartagena, you are greeted with the warm breeze of the Caribbean Sea. Welcome to Colombia, your vacation has begun.
Planning a Trip to Cartagena?
The first steps of your future vacation are the questions of when and how long?
The real question for a beach city, when should you go? Cartagena is located near the equator, so the temperature really doesn’t change much throughout the year. The area does have rainy and dry seasons, so of course we recommend going during dry season. Dry season is from December to March. Rainy season typically runs from April to November, however July to September tend to be less wet than the rest of rainy season.
If you are forced to go during rainy season, don’t worry, it won’t be a monsoon. Typically the rains will start in the afternoons and won’t be too heavy. Some days may be more wet than others, but this shouldn’t ruin your trip. Just make sure to bring an umbrella.
We recommend a minimum of three days to see the sights, enjoy some beach time, and explore the Colombian cuisine.
If you are wanting to visit some of the nearby cities or explore the forests to the north, then we recommend spending at least five nights in the area. Before you decide how much time you want to spend, check out the activities detailed below to plan how much time you need.
We booked our tickets about 6 months in advance, and planned to stay 5 days. We booked for New Years to enjoy the local celebrations. The weather was a little windy a few of the days, but overall we really enjoyed the time there.
Where should I stay?
Once you have your time frame in mind, start looking at your hotel and Airbnb options. For places to stay, there are two main areas of Cartagena to consider – Bocagrande (the hotel/beach area) and the Walled City.
Bocagrande – The Bocagrande area of Cartagena is primarily rows of regular to luxury hotels that run along the beach. Most hotels along the beach have their own umbrella and chairs out for guests. The are a number of good restaurants and shops in the area. At night the streets line up with venders selling bracelets, bags, and other handmade items.
The Walled City – The walled city of Cartagena is the ancient part of the city. The area is defined by the large stone walls that surround the area on almost all sides. There are a number of restaurants, bars, and shops within the Walled City as well. All day and night venders set up their homemade wares and food carts.
There are numerous hotels and Airbnbs available in either area. One thing to consider, make sure you check if your Airbnb has hot water. Some of the locations in the old city do not have hot water to shower with.
If you are looking for a place with more amenities or easy beach access, check out the Bocagrande hotels and if you are looking for more culture and often cheaper options, check out the Walled City.
How are the Beaches?
As you drive in from the airport, you will get your first glance at the beaches in Cartagena. At first sight, we were not impressed considering these are Caribbean beaches. The local beaches in Cartagena are more of the typical sandy brown and murky water.
The Bocagrande beaches stretch the entire length of the peninsula and tend to get busy on weekends and holidays. Beach chairs and umbrellas line the beaches and venders walk along the beaches with their goods or set up grills to sell you their freshly made foods. The Bocagrande beaches are nice for a relaxing day, but if you are coming to Cartagena for the beaches, you need to get out of the city.
The most popular out of city beach is Playa Blanca, but be warned this beach is usually overcrowded. For a better beach experience, check out the Rosario Islands, which tend to have beach hotels and limited guests so you can enjoy a more secluded piece of paradise. Ask your hotel for a day trip to the Rosario Islands or if you are staying at an Airbnb, check out your options in advance.
There are other beautiful beaches to the north of Cartagena, between La Boquilla and Santa Marta, but if you plan to visit these beaches, we recommend you spend at least one night in the area.
Other Sights in Cartagena
Besides the beaches, there are a handful of fun activities to check out in Cartagena. They are listed out below to help you plan your visit:
- The Walled City – This should be at the top of your list. You can spend as little or as much time as you would like to walk the City, but we definitely recommend at least one day devoted to the Walled City. There are a few cathedrals, monasteries, and other ancient sites within the Walled City, all of which are usually open. If you enjoy colonial history, definitely book a guided walking tour of the city to learn more about each place. Free to enter.
- Iglesia de San Pedro Claver – Located within the Walled City, you can tour the church for 5.000 pesos or you can walk in and view the main area for free.
- Cartagena Cathedral – Also located within the Walled City. You can walk around in the main part of the cathedral for free. Just be considerate of those in the cathedral.
- Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas – Just outside of the walled city is the original Spanish fort. You can tour a large majority of the fort on your own or you can take one of the guided tours to learn more about the history. Access is 25.000 colombian pesos
- Convento de la Popa – The convent is located atop the hill up from Cartagena, so the views alone are amazing. The convent is open for tours. The taxi ride will likely cost around 10.000 pesos, and entrance is 4.500 pesos.
Nightlife and Cuisine
The city has a number of amazing restaurants both in Bocagrande and within the Walled City. Everyone accepts Visa or Mastercard, and a few accept American Express or Discover. Service tends to be slow, so don’t expect a quick meal.
You can find a number of cafes, pizzerias, and small restaurants for breakfast and lunch. Restaurants start to get busy around 7 pm for dinner and will stay busy until close to 10 pm. Consider making a reservation for nicer restaurants, so you don’t have to wait for an hour to get seated. For more casual places, get there by 7 pm to enjoy your dinner before the crowds hit. Seafood is fresh and common on the menu.
At least once during your visit try some of the local vender food. Try an arepa (grilled bread with cheese inside) for a taste of the local flavor. Venders only accept cash, so make sure you have some smaller bills on you.
After dinner, give yourself some time to digest before heading out to the dancing clubs. Everyone tends to dress a little nicer to go dancing, and clubs get busy around 11 pm or later. The clubs may charge an entry fee, so be prepared to pay if you head out later.
Another night option is the party bus. The Cartagena version usually includes an open aired bus that drives around Bocagrande in the evenings.
Taxi or Uber?
Uber in Cartagena is very limited. It does exist, but don’t be surprised if there is no one available to pick you up at that moment.
Taxis are cheap and everywhere. There is a set price for certain distances and places. Any trip to or from the airport is 20.000 pesos, and any trip anywhere else will be a minimum of 8.000 pesos. A typical trip from Bocagrande to the Walled City will run between 8.000 and 10.000 pesos depending on the time of day and what your taxi quotes you.
Make sure to always ask the price before taking the taxi, as some taxis may overestimate the cost. A majority of taxis will tell you the same price, but if someone gives you a number over 10.000 pesos, you may want to try another. We never experienced any taxi cab drivers overcharging but we have heard of others that had that experience.
During our entire time in Cartagena, we only experienced one taxi shortage. Right around the time everyone leaves the beach, taxis can be very hard to find. As numerous as they may seem throughout the day, just after dusk, for about 30 minutes, nearly every taxi is likely taken.
So how much does a trip to Cartagena Cost?
Everyone’s most important question, how much will it cost and how much do I need to bring with me? Below we have broken out our expenses for the trip.
- Airfaire – $350 Round Trip (from Austin, using Delta) per person
- Hotel – $180 per night or 35,000 points per night (Intercontinental in Bocagrande)
- Taxis – Airport – 40.000 Pesos (20.000 Pesos each way), Cash Only
- Taxis – Each Way from Hotel or Walled City – 10.000 Pesos per trip (We did 2 trips per day, so 20.000 Pesos per day in Taxis), Cash Only
- Day Trip to Isla Grande, Rosario Islands – $75 per person (Credit Card was accepted)
- Tourist Attractions – 25.000 Pesos per person (Credit Card was accepted)
- Food/Drinks – 25.000 to 75.000 Pesos per person per meal (Credit Card accepted everywhere except for street venders)
We brought about $200 USD for taxis/souvenirs and ended up coming home with almost $100 left. Everyone except the street venders and taxis took credit card, so we didn’t need much cash.
Hopefully this guide has been helpful to planning your trip to Cartagena, but please comment or contact us with any questions.
