Celebrating Christmas in Cartagena

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 (translated or not) coming out of the speakers.

Christmas spirit in the tropics
If you are normally used to Christmas in the Netherlands, the Christmas feeling in 30 degrees is at first far away. But, fortunately, Christmas in Colombia is celebrated big, but really big. Families get together, hours are spent in the kitchen and gifts fly around the ears. 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 (translated or not) coming out of the speakers.

To church
We kicked off Christmas Eve by going to Mass at 5 p.m. at Santo Domingo Church. Although the Spanish was sometimes unintelligible or too fast, it was special to experience. Christmas in Colombia kicked off!

Christmas Eve at hostel
We were lucky enough to be in the Viajero hostel were with many other backpackers and that 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 you have to think those away for a moment) Candles and a live band completed the atmosphere. Although the food was not very much, it was nice to spend Christmas in togetherness. Lots of snacks & drinks, new people and fellowship!

 

Christmas Day at the beach
For Christmas Day we had arranged to meet up with some English and Australians we had met before in Minca. Christmas on the beach with lots of games is different from Christmas in the snow (or rain). In the evening we had made a reservation with the group at a chic restaurant, because the English love Christmas even more than we Dutch do and 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 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
Updated April 2021

#NaarColombiaTips:

  • 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!
  • Have a cocktail at Café del Mar; one of the most beautiful and popular places to have a drink during sunset
  • Want to know more about Cartagena? Then check out our travel guide Cartagena.