Cartagena Travel Planning
How to get there. →
Transportation in/from Cartagena →
Climate →
Best time to go →
How long to stay →
Where to stay →
Important info A-Z →
How to get there.
Airplane
Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núňez in Cartagena (CTG) is easily accessible, including:
- Direct KLM flight or with a stopover in Bogotá
- Avianca, Latam and Viva Air from Bogotá, Medellín, Pereira (coffee triangle)
- Wingo from Bogotá
- American Airlines, Jet Blue and Spirit from Miami
- Copa Airlines from Panama
Transportation from airport
The easiest way to get into getting to the city center is by cab. Follow the “yellow footsteps” and you will come out to a counter. Here you say where you need to go. You will then get a printout with the price and be assigned a cab. A cab ride to the city center takes about 15 minutes and will cost you around 14,000COP (€4).
Bus, car and boat
Bus
There are connections from St. Marta (5 hours), Medellín (12 hours), and Bogotá (22 hours), among others. The Terminal de Transportes de Cartagena is about a 45-minute drive from downtown. If you are traveling to Cartagena from St. Marta, puerta a puerta (door-to-door transportation) is a convenient option. (See transportation from Cartagena).
Car
Cartagena is easily accessible by rental car, but parking is difficult in the city center. Moreover, the center is easy to walk around. If you are traveling with a family or a group and want a little more freedom, it may be worthwhile to rent a car, for example at the airport.
Boat
Cartagena is a popular destination for cruise lines. Consequently, many tourists get to know Cartagena for the first time on a cruise. There are also sailing trips between Cartagena and the San Blas Islands in Panama.
Transportation in/from Cartagena
In Cartagena
Cab
Grabbing a cab is easy. The yellow “servicio publico” cabs are the official cabs in Cartagena and there are many of them. Cabs do not run on meters, so agree on a price in advance.
The minimum price for a ride is COP7,000/€1.90. At night, a ride in Centro, San Diego and Getsemaní costs around COP10,000/€2.75.
Apps
Besides the Uber app, there are other cab apps in Colombia, such as Didi Rider and Easy Tappsi. These apps work like Uber; you sign up and can track the driver.
Hop-on-Hop-off bus
The distinctive red buses of Citysightseeing Cartagena, are especially popular with tourists who want to see the highlights of Cartagena in a short time. You can hop on and off at 14 stops as much as you want, during the duration of your ticket (24/48h). With English-language audio guide.
From Cartagena
Bus transportation
Bus transportation to Medellín and Bogotá goes through the Terminal de Transportes, a 45-minute drive from downtown. From here, buses also go to other destinations such as St. Marta, Mompox, and Playa Blanca.
Tip: Puerta a Puerta service to St Marta
If you are traveling on from Cartagena to Barranquilla or St. Marta, the Puerta a Puerta service is a convenient option. Instead of taking a cab to the bus terminal, a minibus from Berlinas or Marsol will pick you up at your hostel and drop you off at the bus terminal in St Marta. The trip goes via Barranquilla. If you return to Cartagena after this, the minibus will drop you off as close to your hotel as possible.
Price indication
Cartagena-Santa Marta: COP52000/€14 (one way), 4.30 hours
Booking
There are fixed times, even on weekends there are several buses going every day. You can make reservations via WhatsApp, among other things.
Update May 2022: Marsol and Berlinas no longer do puerta a puerta transportation. You must now board at their Cartagena office and be dropped off at their Santa Marta office. Prices have been raised to COP70,000 pp.
Climate
-
Cartagena has a tropical climate and there is a high humidity of around 80%
- It is warm all year in Cartagena; the average temperature is a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 32 degrees
- A room with air conditioning is not a luxury!
- Because of the heat, it is convenient to plan your active things in the morning or late afternoon. At the hottest part of the day, you can then seek air conditioning in a coffee shop or restaurant, museum or mall
- May-September is the warmest period; the “coldest” months are January and February
- December through April is the dry season, October is the wettest month
Best time to go
Cartagena can be visited all year round
Even in the rainy season, you can just go out and it doesn’t rain every day.
Busiest and most expensive periods
December, January and Semana Santa (Easter week). Many Colombians then take their own vacations. Colombians also like to travel during the long weekends around the holidays (Puentes). September-November is quieter and there are often good deals to be had.
Events:
El Día de la Independencia de Cartagena
Cartagena’s Independence Day. Celebrations begin in October, last for 3 weeks and end on Nov. 11.
Hay Festival
January/February: literature and arts festival with international guests
Cartagena International Film Festival (CIFF)
February/March
Music Festival de Tambores y Expresiones Culturales|
October, in San Basilio de Palenque, 55 km from Cartagena.
How long to stay?
There is a lot to see in and around Cartagena, but where do you start? Here is some inspiration for a trip of 2 days and 3 days or more.
2 days
In 2 days you will have enough time to see the most famous sights, grab a museum and terrace and do a tour or workshop.
Do you do on day 1 a city tour, you will immediately have a handy introduction to the city. On day 2 you can then visit Castillo de San Felipe, stroll through the trendy Getsemaní district, or sign up for a chocolate or coffee workshop, for example.
3 days or more
With a day or more added, you can take it completely easy and soak up the city. You can also take a cab to Bocagrande, to stroll along the modern boulevard, shop and see the contrast of “little Miami” with the old town.
With 3 days or more, you can do a trip to PNN Islas del Rosario y de San Bernardo or take the bus to the colonial town of Mompox inland.
Where to stay.
€ price range up to €25
€€ price range €25 – €100
€€€ price range above €100
El Centro
San Diego
€
- Viajero Hostel Cartagena
- LuKa Cartagena hostel
- Hostal Casa Escallon
Getsemani
€€
- Casa del Poso Boutique Hostel
- Patio de Getsemani
- Hotel Boutique Casa Isabel
€€€
- Allure Chocolat by Karisma
- Casa Pizarro Hotel Boutique
- Casa Canabal Hotel Boutique
Important info A-Z
Money Matters
- Credit and debit cards are accepted in most stores and restaurants
- Paying with pesos (COP) is generally cheaper than paying with US$
- You can safely use debit cards in malls and the larger supermarkets and drug stores
- Look here for more info on money matters in Colombia
Locals & language
- Because Cartagena is one of the most touristy cities in Colombia, you will encounter more people who speak English there than in the rest of Colombia, especially at hotels and tour operators
- The “Costeños” (residents of the coastal region) are warm and welcoming. Don’t be surprised if you ask for directions and someone walks all the way with you. This is (usually) not meant to be intrusive, but polite. They feel responsible for your safety.
Medical
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for Cartagena. Only if you are entering Colombia from Brazil is a yellow fever vaccination required.
Doctor
Click here for more information:
Facebook Clínica Medihelp Services Cartagena
(also home visits)
MedicApp
An App service, where you can request a doctor’s consultation “at home” 24 hours a day.
Look here for more information and to download the App:
Website MedicApp
Hospital
Look here for more information:
Website Clinica Bocagrande
Dentist
Click here for more information:
Website Cartagena English speaking Dentist
Dutch consulate
Consul: Mauricio Villegas Gerdts
Callejon Santa Clara Calle 24A #19-64, Manga, Cartagena de Indias
Phone: +5756605610
E-mail: mv@vcsas.com
Opening hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Packing List
- Airy clothes and shoes
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Anti mosquito spray
- Cap/hat
- Rain jacket in rainy season
- Thermos for water
- Medicine if you want a particular brand
- Read: Love in times of cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Márquez. The book is largely set in Cartagena
Supermarkets and drugstores
Opening hours
Supermarkets are generally open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Some drugstores are open 24/7.
Well-known supermarkets in Cartagena
- Éxito; medicines are also sold here
- Olímpica; medicines are also sold here in the Drogerias Olímpica 24/7
- Carrefour, Carulla, Falabella and Jumbo. Carulla is a more expensive supermarket that sells many imported products.
Safety
As in all tourist destinations, Cartagena has a police presence to ensure the safety of tourists. Therefore, you need not be afraid when walking the streets in downtown Cartagena. Nevertheless, do not walk around with your phone and other valuables and think logically during your stay in Cartagena.
Do not go into the suburbs
There is a lot of poverty in the “suburbs” and it is not safe for tourists. After sunset, avoid the neighborhoods outside the tourist center (Centro Histórico) of the city, Bocagrande and Manga.
Get advice from locals
If you want to go out at night, ask your hotel if it’s safe to walk. Otherwise, have them call a cab for you, or order one yourself through the App.
Go inside to withdraw money
Use ATMs in malls and supermarkets where you can safely withdraw money.
Be prepared for street vendors
In El Centro, near the tourist attractions and on the beaches, there are many street vendors. If you don’t fancy yet another vendor offering their wares, “No gracias” will suffice and you just walk on. That is usually enough for the street vendors not to bother you.
What to consider during a day at the beach
On the beaches, such as Playa Blanca and Bocagrande beach, the vendors can be very persistent. Keep a close eye on your belongings because sometimes the vendors tip off thieves. If you’re going to eat something at a beach shack, check the bill so they don’t have a chance to possibly rip you off.
Wifi
Most hotels and hostels have wifi, at least in the common areas. There are also buses and minivans with wifi.