Cartagena Travel Guide

Cartagena de Indias stands out from every other city in Colombia. The walled Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 - is one of the best-preserved colonial city centres in the Americas, with nearly 500 years of Spanish colonial architecture packed into a few walkable square kilometres. Add a Caribbean coastline, offshore coral islands, and a restaurant scene that has caught up with its setting, and Cartagena makes a compelling case for being Colombia’s most complete destination.

It is also one of the most popular. High season sees the Old Town at capacity, prices spike sharply, and the Rosario Islands can feel crowded. Timing your visit thoughtfully makes a substantial difference.

Getting There and Around

Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) sits just 3 kilometres from the Old Town - one of the most convenient airport locations in Colombia.

From the airport: Taxis to the Old Town cost approximately COP 18,000 to 25,000 as of 2026. The ride takes 10 to 15 minutes in normal traffic, up to 30 minutes during the afternoon rush. Uber operates in Cartagena and is often slightly cheaper. A Cartagena airport transfer with a pre-booked fixed rate is worth considering if you are arriving late or with heavy luggage. No buses run a useful route from the airport to the tourist centre.

Within the city: Walking covers most of the Old Town and Getsemani comfortably. Taxis for longer trips (to Bocagrande beach or Castillo San Felipe) cost COP 8,000 to 15,000. Small motorcycle taxis (mototaxis) operate in the city but are not recommended for tourists. Electric golf carts run tourist circuits through the Old Town for approximately COP 5,000.

From Bogota, flights take around 1 hour and cost from COP 120,000 with advance booking. Overland buses from Bogota take 20 to 22 hours and cost from COP 80,000.

Where to Stay in Cartagena

Old Town luxury: Casa San Agustin is the benchmark — a converted 17th-century convent with 31 rooms, rates from approximately COP 1,100,000 per night as of 2026. Hotel Las Murallas (Hotel LM) offers boutique Old Town accommodation from approximately COP 580,000 per night in a converted colonial building on the wall itself.

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Mid-range Old Town: Hotel Ananda occupies a restored colonial mansion with a courtyard pool; rates from approximately COP 380,000 per night. Amarla Boutique Hotel in Getsemani is a strong value alternative from approximately COP 260,000 and within a 10-minute walk of the Old Town gates.

Budget: Getsemani has the city’s best-value guesthouses. Media Luna Hostel and Casa Villa Colonial are well-reviewed options with private rooms from approximately COP 130,000 and dorms from COP 55,000. For a full neighbourhood breakdown, see our Cartagena hotels guide.

Things to Do in Cartagena

The walled city circuit and Castillo San Felipe are the essential starting points, followed by a day trip to the Rosario Islands and an afternoon in Getsemani’s mural district. Playa Blanca on the Baru peninsula is the best beach day trip from the city.

Key entry fees as of 2026:

• Castillo San Felipe de Barajas: COP 45,000 for adult foreigners. Open daily 8am–6pm. Guides available at the entrance from COP 50,000 for a 45-minute tour.
• Las Murallas (city walls walk): free.
• Playa Blanca (Baru): no entry fee but sunbed rental approximately COP 20,000. Accessible by shared boat (COP 40,000 return from Muelle de la Bodeguita) or by road.

For the full list with transport details and what to skip, see our Cartagena things to do guide.

Where to Eat in Cartagena

Caribbean seafood dominates Cartagena’s menu — corvina, cazuela de mariscos, and ceviche in Peruvian-Colombian fusion style.

La Cevichería is the most talked-about spot in the Old Town: fresh ceviche and seafood in a casual shopfront setting. Expect to queue at lunch. A ceviche and a drink runs approximately COP 60,000 to 80,000 per person.

Carmen is the city’s upscale benchmark — a multi-room colonial setting with a contemporary Caribbean-Colombian tasting menu from approximately COP 180,000 per person. Worth booking a week in advance in high season.

Demente serves wood-fired pizza from a chef trained at Noma and El Celler de Can Roca. An unlikely setting for serious food, but consistently one of Cartagena’s best meals — approximately COP 50,000 to 70,000 per person. The Old Town concentrates the upscale dining; Getsemani is the place for honest Caribbean cooking at lower prices. See our Cartagena restaurants guide for curated picks across all budgets.

Practical Information

Weather: Cartagena has a tropical climate. Daytime temperatures stay around 28 to 32°C year-round. The dry season runs December to April. The wet season (May to November) brings afternoon storms that rarely last more than an hour or two. Humidity is high regardless of season.

Currency: Colombian Peso (COP). ATMs are available throughout the Old Town. Bancolombia and Davivienda have multiple branches inside the walls. Most Old Town restaurants accept cards; street vendors and markets prefer cash.

Sunscreen: Not optional. The equatorial sun at this latitude is powerful. SPF 50 and a hat are standard kit. The Old Town’s narrow streets provide good shade but the Rosario Islands have almost none.

Haggling: Prices at Las Bovedas craft market and the street vendors along the walls are negotiable. Expect to pay roughly 60 to 70% of the opening ask if you push politely. Restaurant prices are fixed.

Cartagena justifies its reputation. The Old Town is genuinely beautiful, and enough of the city beyond the walls rewards exploration to keep you engaged for 3 to 4 days without relying on day trips. The Rosario Islands add a Caribbean dimension that few Colombian cities can match. For a curated selection of verified operators, see our best tours in Cartagena guide, or browse tours in Cartagena directly on GetYourGuide for confirmed departure times and free cancellation.