What to do in Cartagena?

Travel Guide Cartagena

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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. Stroll through artsy Getsemaní

Take your time for Getsemaní; 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 colorful flags.

 

 

2. Do some serious people-watching at Plaza de Trinidad

Plaza de Trinidad in Getsemaní is a square that is very popular with locals. The charm here is to buy a beer and drink it on the steps in front of the church. The crowd is a nice mix of locals and tourists. Especially on the weekends, it is cozy with music, dancers and street food.

 

3. Watch 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. Enjoy the ambiente and the cheering of the passionate fans!

4. Taste Colombian cacao in 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. Grab 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. Try 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? Read our article about the food in Cartagena!

7. Wander around the tunnels of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

The fort is within walking distance of Getsemaní. 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 Getsemaní.

 

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.

Update july 2025: As of 2025, Café del Mar Cartagena is closed to the public. The café was officially shut down on September 2, 2024, following a court ruling that determined the venue was operating on public land that should remain accessible to all. The court found that the business had effectively privatized a section of the historic city walls, which are protected as public heritage sites.

If you’re looking for another cool place with a nice atmosphere and sunset view, check out these places: 

  • Mirador Gastro Bar: Located on top of the historic city walls, this rooftop bar provides panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and the city’s skyline.
  • 51 Sky Bar: Situated on the 51st floor of the Hotel Estelar Cartagena, it’s the highest bar in Colombia, offering breathtaking 360° views.
  • Townhouse Rooftop: A chic rooftop venue known for its lively ambiance, creative cocktails, and views over the historic center.

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. 

 

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 Turístico 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 Getsemaní. 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 .

Book the Mercado Bazurto tour 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.

Book a street food tour 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 Turístico 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 Turístico 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 Turístico 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 Río 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.

How to get to Cartagena?

Travel Guide Cartagena

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How to get to Cartagena de Indias?

By plane

Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núňez in Cartagena (CTG) is easily accessible, including:

  • American Airlines, Jet Blue and Spirit from Miami
  • Copa Airlines from Panama
  • KLM flight with a stopover in Bogotá
  • Avianca and Latam from Bogotá, Medellín, Pereira
  • Wingo from Bogotá

Transportation from airport

Taxi
Follow the “yellow footsteps” and you will reach a counter. Here you say where you need to go. You will then get a printout with the price and be assigned a taxi. A taxi ride to the historic center and Getsemaní takes about 15 minutes and will cost you around 20,000-22.00 COP ($5-6). A taxi to  Bocagrande will cost 1 or 2 dollars more (prices 2025)

Hotel shuttle
Some hotels also offer an airport shuttle Tip: reconfirm this shuttle a day in advance.

Private transfer
A private transfer is very relaxing, especially if you have a late arrival. The driver is waiting for you in the arrival hall, he already knows your hotel address and you have already paid. In short, you lose no time and can leave immediately for your hotel. Here you can check your options for a private airport transfer to your hotel in the city of Cartagena. 

By 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. Continue reading here for information: transportation to/in 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. As a result, many tourists experience Cartagena for the first time on a cruise. There are also popular sailing trips between Cartagena and the San Blas Islands in Panama.

 

All about Cartagena, Colombia

Travel Guide Cartagena

Cartagena

In this travel guide you will find everything about Cartagena de Indias, the capital of the department of Bolivar on the Caribbean coast. The addition “de Indias,” is to distinguish the city from the other Cartagena, in Spain. During the Spanish colonial period, the port city was one of the most important cities in South America. Its forts, castles, city walls and historic center, have been named a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The city with over 1 million inhabitants, is the most touristic city in Colombia. Cartagena is so much more than its historic center alone. The city is a fascinating mix of old and new, touristy and local. Cartagena is a convenient starting or ending point of a tour of Colombia’s north coast, where you can travel to Tayrona National Park, Minca, Ciudad Perdida, Santa Marta and La Guajira. Look here for travel itinerary tips and quickly read on about what to do in Cartagena + tips on transportation and the nicest hotels and restaurants.

All about Cartagena

How to get there
What to do
Hotels and hostels
Transportation in Cartagena
Food & drink
Practical info
Frequently asked questions Cartagena
Cities near Cartagena
Shopping in Cartagena
Cheap Flight Tickets

Street Food Tour Cartagena

Travel Guide Cartagena, Travel Stories

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In search of cartagena’s best snacks

At one of the busiest stalls, two ladies made arepa con huevo, a specialty in Cartagena. The arepa is filled with meat and an egg is added before frying.

A tour where you taste Cartagena’s tastiest snacks -with lots of cheese- AND get introduced to the city? That seemed like a perfect idea for foodies like us!

Chocolate Museum
The tour with Cartagena Connections began at the Chocolate Museum at Plaza Fernandez de Madrid in San Diego. Since we were early, we were able to look around the museum and taste some chocolate. From the Chocolate Museum, the walk headed toward Getsemaní with our German guide Jan. He has lived in Cartagena for years and knew many interesting facts about the city. Along the way we stopped at stalls, where Jan bought us snacks and where we could see people at work.

Queso, Queso y Queso
We watched the preparation of Deditos de queso (cheese fingers) and tasted Patacones con queso, green banana “cookies” with cheese. One of our favorite snacks was the Bocadillo con queso, Guava with a piece of white cheese.

Cartagena specialty
At one of the busiest stalls, two ladies made arepa con huevo, a specialty in Cartagena. The arepa is filled with meat and an egg is added before frying. What makes arepas extra tasty are the sauces, such as the sweet salsa de piña (pineapple sauce) and salsa picante.

Mango with salt
We tasted Buñuelos, small balls made of corn and cheese, and Mango Biche, green mango with salt. Fruit combined with salt didn’t sound very appealing at first, but it was a fresh change from all the cheese snacks.

Corozo ice cream
We ate Arepas de choclo, made with sweet corn and at the end of the tour we had an ice cream made from Corozo. This is a red-purple fruit that grows high on the palm trees on the coast. We never knew this fruit was edible! The fruit resembles a berry and has a deep purple color.

Café del Mural
The tour ended at Café del Mural in Getsemaní, a café that is located among colorful murals. With an old-fashioned jug of brewed coffee, we ended this tasty and interesting tour on our first day in Cartagena.

Written by Jeanette
Travel date September 2019

#ColombiaMyWay tips
(Updated September 2025)

  • Take the tour at the beginning of your stay in Cartagena. It’s a fun way to get acquainted with the city, and you’ll get tips for great restaurants along the way.
  • Don’t plan an big dinner on the day of the tour. If you want to sample all the snacks, it’s pretty filling
  • At the chocolate museum, say clearly that you are coming for the street food tour and not for the chocolate workshop. Apparently we were not clear because the chocolatier was already coming to pick us up for the workshop!
  • We saved over 4$ per person by paying with COP instead of US$
  • We did the tour with Cartagena Connections. Check here all street food tours in Cartagena.

For more info check out our Cartagena travel guide and our article about the best food of Cartagena.

We do not accept direct payments from touroperators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours. Every recommendation is based solely on our own experiences and honest opinions. However, some of our links are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you book through them. This commission comes at no extra cost to you and helps us maintain our website.

Jeanette and Shelly

Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way

Dine at Interno restaurant

Travel Guide Cartagena, Travel Stories

Dining at Restaurante Interno, Cartagena

Because of the cozy ambiance, we almost forgot we were in a prison….until we saw the bars in front of the kitchen!

Restaurant Interno, is a restaurant in la Cárcel de Mujeres de San Diego, Cartagena’s women’s prison. Interno’s cooks have been trained by professional chefs, and the waitresses have also received professional training. The project was created with the motto: “Segundas oportunidades.” Here the inmates are given a second chance and will soon be able to reintegrate better into society. Through training and experience gained, the cooks often have jobs even before they leave prison. With the proceeds from the restaurant, living conditions in prison are improved.

Dinner
From the moment we walked into Restaurante Interno, the atmosphere was nice; serene, a cozy setting and quiet Latin music. Because of this ambiance, we almost forgot we were in a prison. Until we saw the bars in front of the kitchen! It was a strange idea to eat in a prison, but it was also nice that we could make a small contribution to improving the living conditions of the women.

Star chefs
We chose an appetizer of Ceviche in coconut milk, a main course of -Cartagena-style steak with coconut rice and a dessert with 3 preparations of coconut. We could indeed tell that the cooks were trained by Michelin “star chefs,” because the food was beautifully prepared and tasted delicious.

The lady in the service was friendly, but somewhat shy, so it did not come to a chat. Because the food was served quickly, we were done in an hour. Afterwards, we thought it would have been helpful to say we wanted to take it easy and allow time between the courses.

After dinner,  we took a taxi back to Getsemaní. Here we ended the evening on the cozy Plaza de Trinidad, with a glass of wine and some people watching, while we thougt of the women in the prison and their untold stories.

#ColombiaMyWay tips and information

  • By Colombian standards, Interno is an expensive restaurant. We paid COP90,000/$22.50 for a 3-course menu. If you want a bottle of wine to go with it, you pay about COP120,000/$30 extra
  • Reservations are required. We did so via WhatsApp and we quickly received confirmation
  • Restaurante Interno is easily accessible by taxi and Uber

Click on these links for more information: Website Restaurante Interno


Written by Jeanette
Travel date September 2019
Updated September 2025

September 2020 update: Restaurant Interno closed end end 2019/beginning 2020. Update September 2025:  Restaurant Interno is permanently closed. According to information on the internet, the future of the restaurant already became uncertain in june 2019, because the San Diego prison was slated for relocation to a new facility in Turbaco. This move was mandated by a 2009 Constitutional Court ruling citing poor infrastructure and health risks within the prison, not because of problems with the restaurant itself.

Want to know more about Cartagena? Then check out our travel guide Cartagena.

We do not accept direct payments from touroperators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours. Every recommendation is based solely on our own experiences and honest opinions. However, some of our links are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you book through them. This commission comes at no extra cost to you and helps us maintain our website.

Jeanette and Shelly

Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way

Celebrating Christmas in Cartagena

Travel Guide Cartagena, Travel Stories

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Christmas in Cartagena

All week we saw Colombians going to the manicure, pedicure and to the hairdresser, or having their eyebrows touched up in a chair on the street. Streets were lit up and everywhere you could hear Christmas songs coming out of the speakers.

Christmas spirit in the tropics
If you are normally used to Christmas in Europe or North America, the Christmas feeling in 30 degrees is at far away at first. But, fortunately, Christmas in Colombia is celebrated big, but really big. Families get together, hours are spent in the kitchen and there are many gifts. All week we saw Colombians going to the manicure, pedicure and to the hairdresser, or having their eyebrows touched up in a chair on the street. Streets are lit up and everywhere you can hear Christmas songs coming out of the speakers.

Christmas church service
We kicked off Christmas Eve by going to Mass at 5 p.m. at Santo Domingo Church. Although the Spanish was most of the times too fast for us, it was special to experience. Christmas in Colombia kicked off!

Christmas Eve at hostel
We were lucky enough to be in the Viajero hostel with many other backpackers and the hostel hosted a dinner on Christmas Eve. After Mass, we arrived at the festively decorated patio, where there were long tables. (OK with plastic chairs, but ignore that fact for a moment) Candles and a live band completed the atmosphere. Although the food was not extraordinary, it was nice to spend Christmas together. Lots of snacks & drinks, new people and new friends!

Christmas Day at the beach
For Christmas Day we had arranged to meet up with some British and Australian backpackers we met before in Minca. Christmas on the beach while playing lots of games is defenitely different from Christmas in the snow (or rain). For the evening we had a reservation with the group at a chic restaurant, because the British love Christmas even more than we Dutch do and they wanted to celebrate big!

Mashed potatoes with Colombian sausage
Boxing Day we were slightly hungover and it was time to facetime with the home front. Then we decided to bring Holland to Colombia: it was time for a typical Dutch stew with Colombian sausage.

Christmas ended in style with a cocktail during sunset at Café del Mar.

Feliz Navidad!

By Mellijn
Travel date December 2017

#ColombiaMyWay Tips:

  • Find a hostel where you are among people, which means you don’t have to spend Christmas alone. We stayed at Viajero hostel Cartagena
  • Visit the church service at the Santo Domingo Church. (In the old town, near Plaza Santo Domingo)
  • Book restaurants during Christmas early in advance
  • Update Sepember 2025: Café del Mar Cartagena is closed to the public. The café was officially shut down on September 2, 2024, following a court ruling that determined the venue was operating on public land that should remain accessible to all. The court found that the business had effectively privatized a section of the historic city walls, which are protected as public heritage sites.
  • Want to know more about Cartagena? Then check out our travel guide Cartagena.

Updated september 2025

We do not accept direct payments from touroperators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours. Every recommendation is based solely on our own experiences and honest opinions. However, some of our links are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you book through them. This commission comes at no extra cost to you and helps us maintain our website.

Jeanette and Shelly

Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way