Bolívar, Caribbean coast · Colombia
A UNESCO-listed walled Spanish colonial city on the Caribbean, all bougainvillea balconies, salsa in the plazas, sunset on the ramparts and island beaches a boat ride away.
Photo: © Dr. Thomas Liptak · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cartagena de Indias was founded by the Spanish in 1533, and for two centuries it was the main port through which the wealth of the Americas, including gold and emeralds, was shipped to Spain. Pirates and privateers, including Sir Francis Drake, attacked it repeatedly, and in response the Spanish built miles of stone walls and forts that survive today. The walled city and its fortresses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inside the walls, the old town is a maze of cobbled streets, plazas and coloured houses with wooden balconies draped in bougainvillea. Sidewalk cafés, fruit vendors, palenqueras in bright dresses and horse-drawn carriages give it a theatrical air, and in the evening the plazas fill with music. Just outside the walls, Getsemaní, once a working-class quarter, is now a lively neighbourhood of street art, hostels and bars.
Cartagena is hot and humid, so days are best spent early or on the water. The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas fortress is the largest built by the Spanish in the Americas, and boats take visitors to the Rosario Islands for snorkelling and beaches. Three or four days is a good stay, and the city is a natural start or end to a Colombian trip.
Why visit
Cartagena is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric colonial cities in the Americas.
Streets, plazas and ramparts.
Street art and nightlife.
Boat trips to islands.
Ceviche, coconut rice and juices.
Salsa, champeta and rooftop bars.
Main attractions
The old city is compact and best on foot, with the fortress and islands as excursions.
The Torre del Reloj is the main gate into the walled city, opening onto the Plaza de los Coches and a maze of colonial streets.
Tip Enter at dusk.
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, built in the 17th century on a hill with tunnels and cannon.
Tip Go early, since it is hot.
The ramparts around the old city make a lovely walk, with a sunset drinking spot at Café del Mar.
Tip Arrive before sunset.
A coral archipelago about an hour by boat from the city, with clear water, snorkelling and beach clubs.
Tip Book a boat for a full day.
A colourful neighbourhood of murals, plazas, hostels and bars, centred on Plaza de la Trinidad.
Tip Come in the evening.
A hilltop convent with views over the city.
Tip Take a taxi.
Things to do
Cartagena rewards wandering, eating and a day on the water.
Early morning or evening.
Tip Bring water.
Snorkel and swim.
Tip Book with a reputable operator.
Explore the tunnels.
Tip Go at opening time.
In Café Havana or Getsemaní bars.
Tip Go with friends.
Learn about Getsemaní's murals.
Tip Book a guide.
Float in El Totumo's mud.
Tip Half-day trip.
Local food
Cartagena's food is Caribbean, with seafood, coconut and fruit.
Fresh seafood.
Where to try it Restaurants in the old city.
Coconut rice.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
A fried arepa stuffed with egg.
Where to try it Street stalls.
Cut tropical fruit from vendors.
Where to try it Plazas.
Rum drinks and lulada.
Where to try it Rooftop bars.
Accommodation
Stay in the old city or Getsemaní.
Transport
Cartagena has an airport and bus links.
The old city is walkable.
When to go
Cartagena is hot year-round, with a dry season from December to April.
Dry and breezy.
Hot and humid, with some rain.
The wettest months, with flooding possible.
Crowded and expensive.
Worth planning around: October and November rains.
Itinerary
The old city, the fortress and the islands.
Streets and plazas.
History and art.
Beach day.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Three or four.
The old city is generally safe, with normal precautions.
Yes, always.
Yes, for a beach day.
A lively neighbourhood outside the walls.
December to April.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Cartagena, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Magdalena, Caribbean coast, Colombia
Tayrona National Park's hidden beaches and forest trails, the colonial port of Santa Marta, the cloud forest village of Minca and the multi-day trek to Ciudad Perdida.
Don't miss Reaching Cabo San Juan, a palm-fringed beach with a hammock hut on a rocky point, after a walk through the jungle.
Explore Destination — Tayrona and Santa MartaSan Andrés y Providencia, western Caribbean, Colombia
A small coral island 775 km from the Colombian mainland, with Johnny Cay, Rocky Cay, snorkelling, scuba diving, the Hoyo Soplador blowhole and Raizal Creole culture.
Don't miss Floating in the shallow, seven-shades-of-blue water off Johnny Cay.
Explore Destination — San AndrésCundinamarca, Andean highlands, Colombia
Colombia's capital at 2,640 metres, with La Candelaria's colonial streets, the Gold and Botero museums, Monserrate, street art, restaurants and the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral.
Don't miss Riding the cable car to the Monserrate sanctuary for a view over the vast city.
Explore Destination — BogotáRead next
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