salsa
murals
colonial streets
sunset walls
islands

Destination guide

Cartagena

You walk along the stone walls where the Caribbean Sea meets the city, with waves below and rooftops above. Cartagena, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, is full of bright colonial houses, heavy wooden doors, and balconies filled with pink flowers above narrow streets. Walking the old town is slow, because nearly every corner holds a small plaza, church, or quiet doorway. In nearby Getsemaní, murals cover walls and music from small salsa bars plays in the streets. Simple hostels stand beside bars, and music and conversation are common on many side streets. Street vendors push coolers full of beer and soft drinks, like small fridges, through Getsemaní's narrow streets. In Plaza de la Trinidad, drums echo off the church walls while you sit on warm stone steps beside graffiti.

Updated · Jan 2026

Photo by Leandro Loureiro

At a glance

Vibe

Shiny, loud, social, and a little tiring, with rooftop drinks, salsa stops, nonstop people-watching, and sellers that can test your patience fast.

How long to go

2–4 nights

Plan 2 to 4 nights. That is enough for the old town, Getsemaní, nightlife, and one boat day to Rosario or Barú.

When to skip

Skip it if you want quiet beaches, calm time alone, or a long cheap stay, especially if heat, crowds, and constant sales talk annoy you quickly.

Destination guide

Wander the Walled City and Getsemaní on footFree
A good first day in Cartagena starts with a walk in El Centro. See the plazas, churches, balconies, and walls. Then go to Getsemaní for murals, bars, and Plaza de la Trinidad after dark. Go in the early morning or late afternoon. The midday heat can be very hard, and the city beaches are not the main reason to stay here.
Free walking tour of the Old City and GetsemaníView$
This is a smart low-cost way to learn the history and get useful neighborhood tips on day one. Tours usually take around 2 to 2.5 hours. Book in advance, pick morning or late afternoon, and leave a tip at the end if the guide is good.
Rosario Islands day trip with snorkelingView$$
This is the classic Cartagena trip when the city feels too hot and too full of tourists. Choose a shared boat or catamaran with snorkeling and a few beach stops. Otherwise, the day can become a rushed line of boats. Catamarans are calmer than speedboats if rough water makes the trip less enjoyable.
Overnight stay on Isla Grande$$
If you have time for one night, this is much better than doing a fast island circuit. After the day boats leave, Isla Grande finally feels calm. It is good for snorkeling, slow beach time, and walks around the island and its small town. Bring cash because cards are not reliable outside the more expensive hotels.
Bioluminescent plankton night tour$$
This is a fun and unusual night trip near Cartagena, especially if you stay on Isla Grande. Go after dark, and on some trips you may be able to swim in the glowing water. It works best with an overnight island stay because same-day plans often miss the best time.

Los Patios HostelViewSocial$$
One of the better all-round backpacker bases in Getsemaní, with a polished setup, rooftop hangout, pool, and enough daily activities to make meeting people easy. It is not the cheapest bed in Cartagena, but the comfort level and social side usually justify the extra pesos.
Viajero Cartagena - Getsemaní HostelViewSocial$$
A lively Getsemaní hostel with rooftop pool, coworking, and a social program that actually gives solo travelers something to do. Good pick for people who want nightlife and an easy base near bars and street life, though some rooms can feel a bit rough around the edges.
Viajero Cartagena - Centro HostelViewSocial$$
This one leans social and central, inside the old city where everything is close and the nights run late. It has the brand-name hostel formula, bar, activities, and solid staff, but light sleepers should expect courtyard noise to drift into the rooms.
Republica Hostel CartagenaViewSocial$$
A big old-city hostel with a courtyard, pool, bar, and the kind of common areas that make it easy to fall into a group for the night. Good value for the location, especially in Cartagena, but the bathrooms and security issues mean it is better for relaxed backpackers than tidy-control types.
Casa del Puerto Hostel & SuitesViewSocial$$
In Manga, so it feels calmer and more local than the historic core, with a pool, usable kitchen, and private bathrooms even in dorms. It suits travelers who want to chill, work a bit, or sleep properly, more than those chasing a nonstop party hostel.
San Felicin HostelViewQuiet$$
A comfortable, colorful hostel near San Felipe and an easy walk from Getsemaní, with a solid rooftop and decent breakfast. It is more quiet than wild, which many backpackers will appreciate, though the area can feel dodgy late at night.

Donde MagolaView$
This is a good place to try Cartagena’s famous arepa de huevo. Choose the classic one with egg, or try one with shrimp, chicken, or chicharrón if they have it. It is best as a quick snack while walking in San Diego.
Plaza de la TrinidadView$
This place gives you cheap cocktails, street food, and good people-watching together. Come after sunset, buy something simple from the vendors, and use it as a low-cost night out before going to bars.
Mercado de BazurtoView$
This is the busy, messy local market for fried fish, fruit, juices, soups, and real everyday Cartagena food. It is better with a local person or guide, and you should not show valuables here. It is great if you get tired quickly of the polished restaurant scene in the old town.
La MulataView$$
This is one of the better sit-down meals for the price in Cartagena. Order pescado frito, posta negra, or cazuela de mariscos with coconut rice. Add a limonada de coco if the heat is too much.
Cancha CevicheView$$
This is a good choice when you want ceviche. It works well for a lighter lunch or a seafood stop between walking in the old town and having evening drinks.
Movich Hotel rooftopView$$$
This is a good rooftop for a drink if your budget allows it and you want a break from the busy streets below. It is better for sunset or an early evening cocktail than for spending the whole night out.

Things to try

Arepa de huevo
This is Cartagena’s classic fried street snack. It is thick, filling, and usually has egg, sometimes with extra fillings like shrimp or chicharrón. It is great for breakfast, late at night, or as cheap help after drinks.
Pescado frito with coconut rice and patacones
This is the usual beach lunch around Playa Blanca and the Rosario Islands. Keep it simple and order what looks fresh. Do not think too much about it. This is the right meal for a long day of swimming and sun.
Ceviche cartagenero and limonada de coco
This is a very Cartagena meal, especially in the historic center. Have shrimp ceviche with lime and local sauces, then a cold coconut lemonade to handle the humidity a little better.

San Basilio de PalenqueView$$
This is the best cultural side trip if one more beach day sounds too lazy. This Afro-Colombian village is a little over an hour inland and is worth the trip for its history, music, and a local meal. Go on a guided trip from Cartagena. Without a guide, you can miss much of the meaning, and the travel details become annoying.
Punta Gigante Reef$$
If you want real snorkeling, this is better than the usual crowded beach route. It is on the southwest tip of Isla Grande and is known for clearer water and healthier coral than the usual large-group stops. Go early. Around 8 to 10 a.m. is best. Arrange a private boat or a custom island route. There are no services right by the reef, so bring water.
Isla Grande mangrove channel and east-side natural pool$$
This is a quieter part of Isla Grande that most day-trippers never see. Instead of only going from beach to beach, paddle or take a small boat through the mangroves to the shallow natural pool on the east side. It is calm, simple, and feels much more hidden than the usual Rosario route. It is best with someone who knows the island well.
Punta Arena and Bocachica on Tierra Bomba$
This is a good half-day side trip when a shorter boat ride sounds better than a full Rosario trip. Punta Arena is good for a lazy beach afternoon, while Bocachica gives you a fort and more of a local island feeling. It is not a secret paradise, but it is less worn out than Cartagena’s city beaches and easier to add to a city stay.

Practicalities

By late afternoon, the city feels shiny, noisy, and a bit like a show. Centro and Getsemaní stay busy with people drinking on rooftops. You also see salsa bars, couples on weekend trips, cruise passengers, and backpackers trying to save money. But this place does not really want to be cheap. Watch people here, and the show comes to you. Meeting people is easy, but the constant selling can make you tired fast. Cartagena is much better for a few lively days than for a long, quiet coastal stay.

If you want a quiet beach town, this is probably not the right stop on the coast. Cartagena is hot, touristy, and more expensive than much of Colombia. The city beaches are disappointing unless you only want something easy. People who dislike sellers coming up every few minutes will get tired quickly, especially near public beaches and the old center. Skip it if you want a long very cheap stay or calm Caribbean peace. Keep it on your list if colorful streets, sunset walls, nightlife, and easy island trips sound like your kind of busy fun.

Arriving at Rafael Núñez is the easy part. The airport is close, so a taxi to Getsemaní usually costs around 15,000 COP and takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you travel by road from Santa Marta, Marsol is a better shuttle-style choice and lets you book on WhatsApp, while Expreso Brasilia has regular buses. For long trips inside Colombia, flying often saves a full day because buses can be very slow. Boats to Isla Grande leave from Muelle de la Bodeguita and need advance booking in busy months.

January to March is the best time for most travelers. It is still very hot, but the skies are driest and boat days to Rosario or Barú are easiest. July and August are also a fairly good time. April and May are wetter, and October to November is the rainiest period. Then beach plans and island crossings are more likely to become annoying. Cartagena is hot all year, often around 30°C or more, so do not expect cool weather. From mid-December to mid-January, crowds are bigger and beds cost more, especially near the old town.

Cash is more useful here than cards. Davivienda ATMs are a good first option, but foreign cards may fail at one machine and work at the next. Some cards also work better with a 4-digit PIN. In Cartagena, tap water is usually safe to drink. On island trips, think the opposite. Bring pesos, water, sunscreen, and a charged power bank. Type A and B plugs are standard. Wi-Fi in the city is normal, but on Isla Grande it can be weak or not work at all.

You need to stay alert here more than in many parts of Colombia. In Centro, Getsemaní, Bocagrande, and on the beaches, the main daily problem is pushy sellers and high prices, so agree on everything before it begins. Use Uber or inDrive instead of stopping random taxis. Do not leave phones on tables, and keep them out of your hand when you are not using them. At night, stay on busy streets and do not walk alone. Be very careful with Tinder dates, free drinks, drugs, and sex-work setups. Drink spiking is a real danger.

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Cartagena

Vibe

How long to go

When to skip

Destination guide

Practicalities

Explore other destinations in Colombia

Bahía Solano

Bogotá

Cali

Capurganá

Coffee Region

La Guajira

Leticia

Medellín

Minca

Palomino

Popayán

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San Andrés

San Gil

Santa Marta & Tayrona

Tatacoa Desert