What to do in Cartagena?
What to do in Cartagena? There are lots of tours and activities to choose from in Cartagena. You can explore the city’s highlights on foot, take a free city tour, visit the local market with a guide, fish with a local fisherman in the mangroves of la Boquilla and take a cool day trip to an island off the coast where you can do a bioluminescent plankton tour.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know to go out on your own or book the best tours. Check out our tips here.
12 Tips
Must do’s
1. Strolling through artsy GetsemanÃ
Take your time for GetsemanÃ; enjoy the street art and grab a coffee at one of the quaint coffee shops. A new surprise awaits around every corner. Fun streets include Callejon Augosto (umbrella alley) and Calle San Andres, the alley with the little flags.
2. Evening people-watching at Plaza de Trinidad
Plaza de Trinidad in Getsemanà is not a tourist square with expensive terraces. Instead, the charm here is to buy a beer and drink it on the steps in front of the church. There comes a nice mix of locals and tourists. Especially on the weekends, it is cozy with music, dancers and street food.
3. Watching soccer with the locals
On game days of the national soccer team, many fans walk early wearing national team T-shirts. The shirts are sold on the streets. Score such a shirt too and mingle with the fans, on the street, on a terrace or in a café.
4. Cacao tasting at the Choco Museum
At the Choco Museum in San Diego, you get to taste a lot while learning all about the history of cocoa.Totally “into chocolate”? Then order a Mojito de chocolate or sign up for the “Bean to Bar” chocolate workshop.
5. Grabbing a free museum
Museo Del Oro Zenú (gold museum), Casa Museo Rafael Núñez and Casa Museo Arte y Cultura are within walking distance of each other in the historic center. The gold museum focuses on the history of the Indian Zenú community.
6. Trying out Cartagena's street food
From Cartagena’s specialty, the arepa de huevo (arepa with egg) to dedito’s de queso (cheese fingers); there is a lot to choose from at the street food stalls. The best way to try out the street food is with a street food tour. The guide will take you to the city’s best stalls. Want to know more about local food and drinks? Here you can read our article about the food in Cartagena.
7. Wandering around the tunnels of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
The fort is within walking distance of GetsemanÃ. Because of its prominent location atop a hill, you can’t avoid it. The well-preserved fortress from 1536, is the largest Spanish fortress in South America. In 1984, it received UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site. Tickets cost around COP36,000/$9 For more information, visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas website.
You can also book this tour, if you prefer to visit the San Felipe de Barajas with a guide. Plus of this tour is that you also visit the colorful neighborhood of GetsemanÃ.
8. Enjoying the view at Café del Mar
The large terrace is on top of the city wall in the old town, a beautiful setting for a drink overlooking the sea. Rather enjoy the view on a low budget? Then buy a cold beer from one of the street vendors and climb the city wall to enjoy the setting sun.
9. Go local!
In a tourist city like Cartagena, you can have a great time exploring the tourist attractions. Still, we find it extra fun to go off the beaten path and seek out the local atmosphere. You can get a good taste of that atmosphere at the local market. During a guided visit to Mercado Bazurto, you will taste local food and fruits and get to know the stories behind the vendors, many of whom have been at the market for generations.
11. Enjoy the view from the highest point of Cartagena
About 5 km from Centro, you can find Convento de la Popa, an old monastery from 1606. Because of its location on a 150-meter-high hill, you have the best view in town here. You can get there in 15 minutes by taxi from the center. Agree with the taxi upfront that he waits for you. Meanwhile, you can take photos and look around the beautiful courtyard. ColombiaMyWay tip: a visit to Convento de la Popa can also be combined with a guided tour of the Bazurto Market. Here you can read more info about this combined tour.Â
10. Enjoy the skyline by boat
Where better to enjoy the skyline of Cartagena than on the water? During a sunset cruise, you’ll enjoy swinging music and views of the Cartagena skyline with a nice cold drink in your hand. A dinner cruise  is a pleasant way to enjoy the skyline of Cartagena by night. Most boat tours leave from the pier Muelle TurÃstico de los Pegasos, easily recognized by the large statues of Pegasus.
12. Dance the night away...
Go for a night of salsa dancing at clubs such as cafe Havana or take dance lessons. Cartagena has many other rhythms besides salsa, such as vallenato, bachata, cumbia, reggaeton and dances with African influences, such as mapalé and champeta. If you want to party like a local, hop in an authentic chiva for a chiva party tour. The party bus-with open bar-drives past Cartagena’s top attractions while you dance to the swinging music.
#ColombiaMyWay Bonustip:
Spot sloths and monkeys in Centenario park.
This small park is located between the historic center and the district GetsemanÃ. The animals can leave the park anytime (this is not a zoo), but according to the locals, the animals have become “residents” in the park.
When you explore Cartagena with a city tour, the guide will most likely be able to show you the animals. If you visit the park on your own, you can check with the locals if they know where the animals were last seen, in case you don’t spot them yourself.
Organized tours
City Tours
Mercado bazurto tour
On this tour, take a behind-the-scenes look at the local market. Mercado Bazurto is the Cartagena outside the tourist highlights, where you yourself are the biggest attraction.
Want to know more? Read our behind-the-scenes travel story about Mercado Bazurto here .
Street Food & Culture tour
A tour where you taste the most delicious snacks at the best stalls. Meanwhile, you will get information about the history and food culture of Cartagena and tips for the tastiest addresses.
Want to know more? Read our travel story Streetfood tour Cartagena here.
Free bicycle tour or city tour
The concept of free tours, is based on tipping. Per person, you pay the guide afterwards around COP30,000/$8. Among others, you can book through Freetourcartagana and FreebikingtourCartagena.
Boat trips
Islas del Rosario y San Bernardo
Snorkel at Islas del Rosario
The Rosario and San Bernardo islands consist of 43 islets and 28 dive sites, including 4 protected islets. It’s Colombia’s most visited national park with a great variety of tropical fish and corals. All of that just under 50 km from Cartagena. Most tours to Islas del Rosario, stop at Playa Blanca on Isla Barú. On Isla Barú you can also stay overnight, including at the idyllic, small-scale Playa Scondida Barú.
Boat trips to Isla Grande take an hour and leave from Pier Muelle TurÃstico de la Bodeguita.
#ColombiaMyWay tip
If you want to do the tour in an extra relaxed way, you can choose the option for a tour by catamaran to Islas del Rosario.
Spend the night in a
hostel at sea
Hostel Casa en el Agua is built on a concrete foundation in the sea. It is a popular spot among backpackers, with a real party vibe. You can also have a drink alone, in the Bar en el Agua. If you’re staying on Isla Múcura, for example, you can get there with a 10-minute boat ride.
The trip from Cartagena to Casa en el Agua takes about 2 hours and departs from Pier Muelle TurÃstico de la Bodeguita
Check @casaenelagua on Instagram for more info.
Chill on
paradise island Isla Múcura
At the resorts on Isla Múcura, you can entertain yourself for a few days with snorkeling, kayaking or fishing. Very special to do is the plankton tour, where you can swim at night among the neon blue plankton, around the mangroves at Isla Tintipan (3km).
The trip from Cartagena to Isla Mucura takes about 2h and departs from Pier Muelle TurÃstico de la Bodeguita. You can also book a combined tour to Isla Mucura and Isla Tintipan, such as this tour.
Check here the nicest accommodations in Isla Múcura and Isla Tintipan.
Day trips
Tour to San Basilio de Palenque
(55 Km from Cartagena)
Palenque is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was founded by former slaves who fled. The community has managed to preserve its own culture and traditions. During a tour in San Basilio de Palenque, you will get to know the Palenqueros and their traditions, language, music and food culture.
Tour to El Volcán del Totumo
(55 Km from Cartagena)
Taking a mud bath in the volcano’s (very small) crater is on the wish list of many travelers. El Volcán del Totumo is therefore a busy tourist attraction. You pay the locals a small fee for their services, such as a massage and taking photos, while you take a mud bath. Check out the tour to el Volcán del Totumo here.
Photo © Jack Zalium
Weekend trip Mompox
(322 Km from Cartagena)
The colonial town of Mompox is located deep inland on the RÃo Magdalena, about a 6-hour drive from Cartagena. Mompox is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where time has stood still. Ancient crafts are still practiced, such as silver and iron forging. Nature is always nearby and there are monkeys, birds and (still) few tourists.
Want to know more? Then check out our travel guide Mompox.
