I might be the only American millennial who says this, but I vastly prefer Cartagena over Medellin—and not just because of how much I prefer balmy beach air over chilly mountain breezes. Want to make sure your post-pandemic trip to Colombia is one for the record books? Consider hiring me as your Travel Coach , and let me sweat the details. Read Privacy Policy or view sitemap. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar For many people, Cartagena, Colombia first appeared on the radar at the Summit of the Americas, when the rightful 45th President of the United States made headlines for dancing and drinking at a local bar called Cafe Havana.
Need help planning your trip to Colombia? Hire me as your Travel Coach! To get here from the Old City , walk through Parque Del Centenario which has a bunch of shopping stalls as well as some cool wildlife — look out for orange squirrels, massive lizards and sloths! The Cartagena beaches are notoriously ugly. There are relentless people asking for money every 5 seconds. The best way to get in beach time is to go to the islands! It is one of the top day trips from Cartagena.
Hi Cartagena arranged a full day private boat tour for us and it was everything we wanted and more! This was the best, most relaxing day of our trip. We had the entire boat, a cooler with ice, speakers, and a driver to take us anywhere!
This day was perfect and I suggest setting aside an entire day for a full-day boat tour of the islands. Book a private full-day boat tour here or a just Playa Blanca tour here. Street vendor s line the streets with timeless colorful items; make sure to bargain down the prices. Cartagena is known for woven hats, patterned shoes and purses, jewelry and more.
Make sure to drink Aguila Beer. The best place to eat it is on the Rosario Islands. Ceviche is another must have in Cartagena. Click the Cartagena restaurant names above to find out more. They are bright, open busses speeding around the city at night time, 18 run each night. They are loud. They are obnoxious. They are an experience you have never had. I highly suggest booking a Chiva Night Bus Tour one night and experience it for yourself.
Without giving too much away, it is basically a party bus that drives all around Cartagena from PM with a few stops along the way. There is a live band on the bus and all the rum you can imagine. It ends at a nightclub where entrance is included. Click the Cartagena nightlife bar names above to find out more. You will not need taxis at all if you do. There are hundreds of boutique hotels where you really get the feel of Cartagena casas.
We were obsessed with our hotel — Casa La Fe book here! They were super nice, the rooms were clean, the included breakfast was amazing, the courtyard was super cute, and the rooftop with a pool and bar was the best. To search for more Cartagena hotels, search here! Click the hotel names to book! Read any of these Cartagena hotel reviews on TripAdvisor here! For more budget Cartagena hotel options, stay in the Getsemani area where there are a lot of cheap hostels. The ONLY reason I would stay in Bocagrande is if you were going for a solely beach vacation and not looking to explore the city at all.
Head here for budget options in Cartagena! I personally chose the hotel route for safety precautions, but Cartagena is totally safe and I suggest an AirBnb in the Old City if you are with a big group!
Search and book Cartagena hotels and hostels here! Scared to go to Colombia? After a day or two spent touring the Walled City on walking tours and carriage rides, head to Playa Blanca for a day on the beach plus a boat tour to Islas del Rosario. This group of mostly uninhabited coral islands is actually part of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park , which offers great diving and snorkeling opportunities. This volcano-shaped pool of mud doubles as a public bath due to the nutrients in the earth.
It makes for a fun day trip, and a tour of the area plus a soak takes about three hours. If you really want to broaden your horizons, it's advisable to combine your Cartagena holiday with a night or two in Santa Marta. This colonial town on the Caribbean is actually where Colombia was founded in the early 16th century. It has a laid-back vibe, which is a nice contrast to Cartagena, and is also home to a major historic site, the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.
It's now a museum. If you're here for five days and have managed your time well, you could plan a trip from Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park. This is Colombia's most popular protected area due to its stunning section of Caribbean coastline backed by rolling green Andes. On a day trip it's possible to visit Cabo San Juan , one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire country. There are hiking excursions as well, but these take a bit more time and thus we recommend leaving from Santa Marta as opposed to Cartagena.
To visit Cartagena is to step back in time to the days of conquistadores and colonialists. Many of these tours, which need to be booked a day or two in advance, will take you to a beach club for lunch and return mid-afternoon.
If you need to unwind after a day in the sun and sand, Cartagena is full of great spas tucked away in the historical center, some of which boast spectacular interiors and pampering rituals inspired by local ingredients and indigenous wisdom. To cap off a great trip, head to the leafy courtyard of Carmen Restaurant.
The food is local and authentically Caribbean, but with playful modern twists and deliciously creative details. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love.
Emily Hart. Day 1. Day 2.
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