Last Updated on March 26, 2024
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Cartagena is a beautiful and vibrant city in Colombia, known for its colonial architecture, lively squares, very well preserved historic center and great night life. Because of its location on the Caribbean coast, it has a very different vibe than the rest of the country. The city is full of color, tropical vibes and undeniable old world charm. It’s hands down one of the most beautiful cities in South America. There aren’t a ton of attractions per se and most of the things to do in Cartagena, Colombia are about enjoying the beauty of the city.
Cartagena de Indias, which is the city’s official name, is the most visited place in Colombia. And yes, it is very touristy, but don’t let that keep you from visiting. Just go knowing what to expect and enjoy this vibrant city.
On my recent trip to Colombia, I spent 3 days in Cartagena and it was the perfect amount of time to cover all the highlights and take a day trip out of the city. Even though Cartagena is quite big, the areas, that are worth visiting are pretty compact and easy to cover in a couple of days.
If you are wondering what to do in Cartagena, this post is for you. It includes not only a 3 day Cartagena itinerary with all the city’s unmissable attractions, but also many essential tips to help you plan a great trip.
Day 1 – Things to do in Cartagena, Colombia
Book a Photo Shoot
Cartagena is seriously one of the most beautiful and photogenic cities in the world. If you ever thought about getting professional photos taken in your travels, this is the place to do it.
This is a great option for someone who travels solo and especially in a place as busy as Cartagena.
I booked a one hour shoot around the Walled City with Marina, who grew up in Cartagena and knows all the best spots and best times to avoid the crowds. Spoiler: you will have to set your alarm and get up early. She’s a sweetheart and the photos came out great. If you’d like to hire her, you can find her here.
Explore the Walled City
The very well preserved and UNESCO recognized historic center, also known as the Walled City, is the heart of Cartagena. Within the 11 km of ancient walls, that surround the neighborhood, you’ll find cobblestone streets, colorful buildings and balconies overflowing with flowers. If you love photography, you’ll be in heaven.
Wandering the streets of the Walled City is one of the absolute top things to do in Cartagena, Colombia. It will sure make you feel like you stepped back in time. It does get busy by mid morning, so if you’d like to enjoy the streets without too many people, you have to set your alarm clock and head out early. It’s the only time you’ll be able to get nice photos without the crowds.
It’s easy to explore the Walled City on your own, but if you’d like to learn more about the history of Cartagena, you can join this Free Walking Tour. Tours in English are available at 10 am and 4 pm, last two hours and cover all the highlights of the historic city. Be sure to sign up online and do not forget to tip the guide!!
Walk along the City Walls
The Walls, that go around the entire historic center of Cartagena, were built at the end of 16th century to protect the city from constant pirate attacks. They are an important part of Cartagena’s history, but also one of the main attractions. One of the fun and free things to do in Cartagena is to walk on top of the walls and enjoy beautiful views of the city. West part of the Wall looks out to the Caribbean Sea and is the best spots to catch a beautiful sunset.
The entire length of the Wall is 11 km, but there are several spots with stairs to go up/down, so you do not need to walk the whole way.
Get a picture with Palenqueras
As you walk through the streets of Cartagena, you’ll quickly notice women wearing bright colored dresses balancing bowls of fruit on their heads. They are Palenqueras. They come from San Basilio de Palenque, a small village south of Cartagena, which was the first free town formed by Africans who escaped slavery in Cartagena.
Back in the day, the women of Palenque used to walk each day to Cartagena with baskets of fruit to sell it. While you can still buy fruit from them, Palenqueras make most of their money by posing for pictures with tourists. The expected tip is 20,000 COP.
Stop at La Gorda Botero statue
Fernando Botero is a famous Colombian artists, who’s known for his . While most of his work is displayed in museums in Bogota and Medellin, you can find one sculpture in Cartagena. La Gorda Gertrudis sits in Plaza Santo Domingo, right in front of the church of the same name. The artist donated it to the city of Cartagena in 2000.
Apparently, touching her breast will make you lucky in love.
Puerta del Reloj ( Clock Tower )
Puerta del Rejol is one of Cartagena’s landmarks and you will sure walk through it more than once, It’s located between two squares: Plaza de Independencia and Plaza de los Coches. Back in the day, it used to be the main gate to the Walled City.
The name Puerta del Rejol refers to the clock, that was added to the gate in the early 18th century.
If you happen to walk by at night, you might see some dancers or street performers there. The Clock Tower is also a popular meeting spot for a lot of group tours in Cartagena.
Spot some wildlife at Parque del Centenario
This park is located on the way from the Walled City to Getsemani, steps away from the Clock Tower. At first glance it looks like just an average city park, but there is a reason you should include it in your Cartagena itinerary.
Parque del Centenario is a place where you’ll be able to spot some wild life right in the city center. As you walk through the park, look up into the trees and you should be able to spot iguanas, sloths and monkeys. If you have trouble, just pay attention to other people. If they are looking up and taking photos, that usually means, there is something up there. The day I went, there were also a couple of nice local vendors pointing out to iguanas and monkeys.
Even though I did not see a sloth that there were several small tamarind monkeys running up and down trees.
Have a drink at one of the roof top bars
In a city as pretty as Cartagena, having a drink with a great view is an absolute must and there is an abundance of roof top bars to choose from.
One of the most popular roof top bars in Cartagena and one with the most photographed view is The Movich Hotel. The terrace overlooks the historic city, the Caribbean Sea and the bay. You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy a drink there, but the infinity pool is reserved to hotel guests only.
El Mirador Gastro Bar is another great place with a nice view of the Clock Tower and a DJ at night. Alquimico is another multi level bar with a roof top and while it might not have the best view of Cartagena, it is one of the best bars in the city.
Some of the other popular roof top bars in Cartagena include Townhouse, Buena Vida, Mar y Cielo and Sophia Rooftop.
Enjoy the sunset from Cafe del Mar
Cafe del Mar is located right on the wall and is a very popular place to watch the sunset in Cartagena. It starts getting busy around 4 pm, so I suggest showing up around that time to score a table. And if you want one of the tables with the best view right along the wall, be sure to make a reservation.
If the place is packed and you are not able to get in, any spot along the Wall is great to watch the sunset. Grab a cold drink from one of the vendors, find a spot along the Wall and enjoy the view. There will be lots of other people doing the same.
Day 2 – Things to do in Cartagena, Colombia
Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Start your second day in the city by exploring one of the biggest attractions in Cartagena, Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. The massive and impressive castle sits up on San Lázaro hill, a short walk from Getsemani neighborhood. If you are coming from the Walled City, it’s about a 15-20 minute walk or a short cab ride.
The castle was built by the Spanish to fend off the invaders and after nearly a century of construction, it was finally completed in 1657. Castillo San Felipe is one of the biggest and most impressive fortresses in Latin America.
Even though there’s a bit of an uphill walk to get to the top, the views are fantastic and some of the best of Cartagena. Also, be sure to head to the side, where there is a giant Colombian flag, which is one of the best photo spots.
Besides walking around the different levels of the fortress, you can also walk the underground tunnels, which connect the forts. It will be a nice break from the sun and scorching heat as well.
The castle is pretty big, so plan around 2 hours to explore at a nice pace without rushing through it. Best way to see is just but roaming around, however, there is very little information about what you are looking at. So if you’d like to learn more about the castle and history, you might prefer to visit with a local guide.
As one of the most popular things to do in Cartagena, San Felipe Castle gets busy, so I recommend heading there first thing in the morning. It opens at 7 am, you do not need to be there this early, but I’d try to get there by 9 am. This way you’re not only going to avoid biggest crowds, but also the scorching heat. Aside from the tunnels, there’s very little shade. Bring a hat and plenty of water!
Entrance fee is 30,000 COP for adults and 12.500 COP for kids ( cash or credit card ). San Felipe Castle is open daily from 7 am – 6 pm.
Explore Getsemani
After visiting San Felipe Castle, head back down towards Getsemani. This used to be a pretty shady area, but it’s now an artsy neighborhood full of amazing murals, fun bars, colorful installations and a great vibe. It’s definitely less polished than the Walled City, but completely safe to visit.
Getsemani is the perfect neighborhood to get lost in and that is the best way to explore it. Just wander around, take side streets, stop for a snack or drink and people watch. You surely will run into a street with a colorful umbrella installation. This is Callejón Angosto, which is the narrowest street in Getsemani and one of the most picturesque ones.
If you are on the hunt for art work, Getsemani is the place to get it. You’ll see artists displaying their art work on several streets.
You can easily wander around Getsemani on your own, but if you’d like a more guided visit, there are several great tours to join. This Getsemani Highlights & Graffiti tour and Private Getsemani Graffiti Tour are both very popular and highly rated.
Take a sunset cruise
Catching a great sunset is definitely one of the top things to do in Cartagena, so why not enjoy it again, this time from the water. A couple of hours on a boat is a great way to relax after a day of exploring and there are several sunset cruises in Cartagena to choose from.
Most of the cruises are on large, spacious catamarans and depending on which one you choose, it will come with either a free welcome drink or an open bar.
This particular sunset cruise comes highly recommended and gets great reviews. It’s a large catamaran, so it doesn’t feel cramped and there’s plenty of space to move around. This is a 2 hour cruise, from 5 – 7 pm and the price includes 2 free drinks and snacks. If you prefer a cruise with an open bar, this 90 minute boat ride will be right up your alley.
Visit Plaza de la Trinidad
One of the best things to do in Cartagena at night is to visit Plaza de la Trinidad. This small square in Getsemani neighborhood is sleepy during the day, but comes alive once it gets dark. Both locals and tourists gather around the small square to enjoy cheap eats, a cold drink and people watching.
There are plenty of vendors all around the square selling street food and cheap drinks. You can also count on some kind of street performer. Great, casual place to spend some time before a night out in the city.
Café Havana
If you love Salsa music and are looking for a fun night out, you can’t miss Café Havana. It’s just down the street from Plaza de Trinidad and it’s considered one of the best Salsa Clubs in the world.
There is a cover charge of 50,000 COP to enter, but it’s totally worth it for the amazing world class musicians you’re going to see.
Café Havana opens around 8-8.30 pm, although the band doesn’t start until 10ish. The place gets packed later on, so if you’d like to score a good seat at the bar, don’t wait too late.
Café Havana is closed on Sunday and Monday nights.
Day 3 – Take a day trip from Cartagena
With 3 days in Cartagena, Colombia, you can spend one of them exploring outside of the city. Depending on your interests, there are several fun places to visit.
Visit Rosario Islands
One of most popular day trips from Cartagena is a trip to Rosario Islands. This group of 27 protected islands is just one hour boat ride away and makes for a perfect get away from a city as hot as Cartagena.
There are several options to visit Rosario Islands. If you are looking for a more active day, you can do some island hopping, or if you prefer to relax, you can choose one island and spend your day there.
The island hopping tours usually visit 5 islands, make a couple snorkeling/swimming stops and include lunch. Bona Vida also offers a similar tour on their very spacious catamaran, which always gets high ratings. It takes a bit longer to get there than on a speed boat, so there are less actual stops, but it’s a beautiful day sailing around the islands. You can book the Catamaran trip to Rosario Islands with Lunch here.
If you are traveling with a group of friends or a family, you might want to look into booking a private boat trip to Rosario Islands. The biggest advantage is, that you don’t need to go by a set schedule, you go where you want, when you want. It’s always my preferred way, but since I was traveling solo to Cartagena, I opted for the 5 Island Group Tour. If you are interested in a private boat, contact Alyssa at Colusa Life. One of the best private charter boat rentals in Cartagena.
Whichever option you choose, your boat will leave from El Muelle La Bodeguita, which is just outside of the Walled City, a short walk from the Clock Tower.
Visit Palenque
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Colombia, you will enjoy a day trip to Palenque. San Basilio de Palenque, which is the full proper name, was the first free town in America. It was founded by slaves who were brought to Cartagena by Spaniards in the 17th century, and managed to escape the city. They helped free many more slaves and established a community where they could live and cultivate their culture.
This is where Palenqueras, the ladies in colorful dresses selling fruit, come from and how they got their name. Today there are about 3,500 people living in the small village and if you’d like to dive deeper into their culture, Palenque makes for a great day trip from Cartagena.
The best and easiest way to visit Palenque is by joining a group tour, which is led by native Palenqueres. Definitely a great, cultural experience.
You can book your Freedom Tour of Palenque here.
Mud Volcano at El Totumo
This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Cartagena, one that I didn’t find too appealing, but you might find it fun. About 50 km north of the city, there is a mud volcano known as El Totumo. The mud in it is said to have healing properties, and soaking in it will leave you soft skin and other health benefits.
You access the small volcano via a 25 step ladder and after your soaking session, you go to a lagoon next to it to wash it off. The will be lots of locals there offering to help you with anything from taking your shoes off, taking your picture and later clean off the mud, in exchange of tips of course, so be aware of that and bring change. Also, don’t forget a towel and change of clothes.
A half day trip to El Totumo volcano is very popular, but gets mixed reviews. Some people say it’s cheesy and touristy, others enjoy it.
If this sounds like fun, the easiest way to do a Volcan Totumo day trip is by booking a group tour. This is a very popular activity and there are plenty of tours to choose from. You could get there on your own by either taxi and bus, but these tours are inexpensive, include the ticket and round trip transportation and you don’t have to worry about any logistics.
Things to know about visiting Cartagena, Colombia
“No dar Papaya” – this is a very popular saying in Colombia, that you will hear a lot. It literally translates to ” don’t give papaya “, but what it really means is, do not give opportunity to be taken advantage of. Think of papaya as anything valuable that you have and avoid flashing it in public. Leave your fancy jewelry at home, don’t walk with the phone in your hand or leave it sitting on a table at a cafe, don’t show large amount of cash in public and so on. You get the picture. Basically, don’t make it easy for someone to rob or take advantage of you.
Currency – used in Colombia is a Colombian Peso ( COP ).
ATM – there are several banks/ATMs in Cartagena, so getting cash is not a problem. However, the max amount you can withdraw differs between Colombian banks, from 300,000 COP – 1,200,000 COP. Always decline the suggested conversion for the best exchange rate. And don’t forget to notify your bank about your travels!
Credit cards – unless you plan on buying something from a street vendor, you can use your credit card pretty much everywhere. However, only Visa and Mastercard. Most places don’t accept AMEX.
Cartagena is hot! – basically year round. Extremely hot and humid. There may be more rain some months, but the temperature stays basically the same. If you don’t love the heat, try to get out to explore as early as possible.
Book a hotel with pool – a lot of hotels in Cartagena have a roof top pool and I highly recommend booking one, that does! As I already mentioned, Cartagena is VERY hot and that pool will be heaven sent after a couple of hours of walking around the city.
Beaches are not that great – since Cartagena is located on the Caribbean Coast, you might come expecting a picture perfect beach with clear turquoise water and white sand. Well, if you do, you will be disappointed. For nice beaches, head to one of the Rosario Islands, which is about 1 hour away by speed boat.
Vendors – one thing you’ll notice in Cartagena, especially in the Walled City, is an insane amount of vendors. You will be constantly approached by people selling cigars, bracelets, water, cerveza. Yes, it does get tiring after a coupe of days, but it’s just part of visiting Cartagena. If you don’t want to buy anything, just say “No, Gracias” and keep going, most of the time they quickly move on.
Rappers – now this is something I haven’t seen anywhere else before. There are a lot of groups of young men, who walk around with a stereo and approach tourists. They usually start with asking where you’re from and start rapping and following you, demanding a tip at the end. Best way to avoid them is to just keep walking without even making an eye contact. Some people say, they are very persistent, but that was not my experience during 3 days in Cartagena. Simply ignore them and keep moving along.
Not as cheap as you may think – Cartagena is not as cheap as you might think, especially when it comes to accommodations. It’s the most touristy part of the country and things are more expensive than you probably hoped for. Although, if you are coming from Europe or US, your money will still go a long way. If you are visiting more places in Colombia and this is your first stop, the good news is, that this will be the most expensive part of your trip.
Spanish – knowing some Spanish will go a long way and will make your visit to Cartagena and Colombia in general much easier. I found, that very little or no English at all is spoken in Colombia. Cartagena, which is the most touristy city in the country, was the place where you could speak English in some places, but still very little. You’ll definitely notice the language barrier way more than in Mexico for example.
Electricity/plugs – Colombia uses the same outlets as the United States, so if that’s where you are visiting from, you do not need an adapter. If you’re coming from Europe or UK, don’t forget to pack one.
Solo female travel in Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia is a country with probably one of the worst reputations out there. Try telling one of your friends or family you plan on traveling to Colombia and brace yourself for all kinds of warnings and concerns heading your way. The country obviously had a very dark past and yes, it used to be one of the most dangerous places in the world. But that was 20-30 years ago. Colombia then and Colombia now, are very different. Yet, people’s minds seem to be stuck in the past and the country can’t seem to shake off the bad stigma.
During my recent trip to Colombia, I spent 3 days in Cartagena and I traveled alone. I felt very safe the entire time. I can’t think of one moment when I would feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Does it mean, you can completely let your guard down? Not really. No place is a 100 % safe and you should definitely take certain precautions, especially as a woman traveling alone.
Cartagena is a big city and just like with any other big city, there are parts to avoid. But those are probably not even on your radar as a tourist and there’s no reason to go there anyway. If you stick to the most popular neighborhoods like the Walled City, Getsemani or Bocagrande, you will be totally fine. Choose a hotel in a busy area, where you will be just a short walk to everything you need.
Cartagena is known for great nightlife and if you want to enjoy it, make sure you don’t walk alone very late at night and take a taxi back to your hotel instead. Don’t get drunk, don’t leave your drink unattended at the bar and never accept a drink from a stranger.
Don’t flash your valuables, don’t carry all your cash with you, don’t count your money out in public and don’t walk around waving your brand new phone. Basically don’t make yourself an easy target. Always have another credit/debit card as a backup.
As you can see, it all comes down to using common sense. I followed the same precautions I do in any other place I travel to, especially alone. So if you ask me ” Is Cartagena safe to visit alone? “, the answer is Absolutely YES! Your biggest risk in Cartagena is petty crime and scams, but with precautions, you can easily avoid those too.
How to get from Cartagena airport to the city center
Rafael Núñez International Airport is located 6 km ( 3.7 miles ) from the historic city center, which is about a 15 minute ride. As you come out of the Arrival terminal, there will be many taxis lined up. The ride from the airport to the Walled City should be about 17,000 COP. There is a yellow machine, where you can enter where you want to go, and it will give you what the price should be.
You can also prebook a private transfer, which is a great choice if you are traveling in a bigger group.
Where to stay in Cartagena, Colombia
The best place to stay in Cartagena is the Walled City, especially for short stays and first time visitors. There are many reasons to justify that choice. That’s where a lot of the main attractions in Cartagena are located, as well as many restaurants, bars, hotels . And you’ll be within a walking distance to everything.
The other great neighborhood to stay in Cartagena is Getsemani, which is very popular among young people and backpacking crowd. Prices of accommodations will be considerably lower than in the Walled City.
Bocagrande is another popular area to stay, but unless you plan on spending all your time on the beach, I don’t recommend it. That’s where all the high rise hotels are located, which you can see from the Walled City. If you want to explore Cartagena, Walled City and Getsemani are pretty much the two areas, that you should consider.
Hotels in Walled City
Bantu Hotel – a charming, boutique hotel located on a quiet street, yet within walking distance to everything in the historic center. If you need to cool off, you can choose from two pools, one in the courtyard, the other one on the roof top.
Casa San Agustin – this luxury, boutique hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels in Cartagena. It has 20 rooms and 11 suites, which are located in a colonial building consisting of 3 houses. There is a beautiful pool and Alma restaurant on site.
The Movich Hotel – if you want a bit of luxury, excellent location and one of the best roof tops in Cartagena all in one, you’ll love staying at the Movich Hotel.
Hotels in Getsemani
Hotel Boutique Casa Isabel – this small boutique hotel is excellent value for money. It has great views of the bay from the terrace. The rate includes delicious breakfast. The only thing that is missing is the pool.
Hotel Capellan de Gestsemani – great hotel in the vibrant Getsemani neighborhood, a short walk way from Plaza de la Trinidad and Cafe Havana. The property is beautiful, the rooms spacious and there is a roof top pool and jacuzzi with great city views.
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Cafe Havana, a salsa club sound like a fun idea 🙂
Very detailed post! And I love all the colors! I would definitely do a photoshoot too.
Will be in Colombia soon. Thanks!
Thanks for your informative content