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 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 (translated or not) 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 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!
- 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.
Updated september 2024