Walled colonial streets on the Caribbean coast
Cartagena is a Caribbean port whose walled old town glows with balconies, bougainvillea and plazas. Getsemani adds street art and nightlife, and island boat trips bring white sand within reach. It suits couples, history fans and anyone who likes heat and rhythm.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Cartagena's walled city is a UNESCO site of colonial streets, balconies with flowers and churches. It was one of Spain's main ports in the Americas.
Free to wander.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, built on a hill to protect the city. Tunnels run under its walls.
2026 foreigner ticket is COP 38,000.
Cartagena's stone walls, built over two centuries to protect the port from pirates and rival powers, still enclose the old town. Locals and visitors gather on the bastions to watch the sun drop into the Caribbean.
Free; drinks extra.
Getsemani was once a working class quarter outside the walls and is now known for murals, small hostels and nightlife. Its Plaza de la Trinidad fills with street food and music in the evening.
Free.
The Rosario Islands are a coral archipelago in a national park, with clear water and beaches. Boats leave from the city.
Varies by boat and lunch.
The Palace of the Inquisition is a colonial building that now houses a museum about the Inquisition and city history. It faces Plaza Bolivar.
Adult ticket.
The Church of San Pedro Claver honors a 17th century Jesuit who ministered to enslaved Africans arriving in the port. His remains lie under the altar, and the cloister holds a small museum.
Entry fee for the cloister.
Plaza Santo Domingo is one of the liveliest squares in the walled city, beside the oldest church in Cartagena. Fernando Botero's reclining bronze woman, the Gertrudis, rests in its center.
Free.
The Zenu Gold Museum is a small branch of Colombia's Banco de la Republica gold museums. It shows gold work and pottery from the Zenu people of the Caribbean lowlands.
Free.
Playa Blanca is a long white sand beach on the Baru peninsula, south of the city. Its calm, clear water attracts big crowds and many vendors.
Free beach; transport extra.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one the old town, day two the fort and museums, day three the Rosario Islands.
Float in a warm mud crater.
31 mi · Tour van, about 1 hour each way
The first free Black town in the Americas.
37 mi · Car about 1 hour
A village founded by escaped enslaved people, with its own language and traditions.
43 mi · Tour van, about 1.5 hours each way
More remote coral islands than the Rosario group.
75 mi · Boat tour from the port, about 2 hours each way
City beaches for a quick swim.
3 mi · Taxi, 15 minutes
Jungle national park where the coastal rainforest drops into secluded Caribbean beaches and granite boulder coves.
137 mi · Marsol or Berlinas intercity bus in about 4 hours.
Best: December to April. The dry season brings breezes and clear skies.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
January
A literature festival with international writers; listed by the national tourism board.
January
Classical and instrumental concerts in historic venues.
March
One of Latin America's oldest film festivals, with free screenings.
Around November 11
Parades, music and crowds mark the city's independence anniversary.
The US State Department rates Colombia at Level 3 (reconsider travel) for crime, unrest and kidnapping risk; in Cartagena the main issues are pickpocketing, scams and pushy vendors, and late night caution outside the tourist core.
The walled city and Getsemani are compact and best seen on foot.
The Transcaribe bus exists but visitors mostly use taxis and ride apps.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, couples
Colonial mansions turned into boutique hotels.
Best for: budget, nightlife
Lively barrio with hostels and bars.
Best for: families, beach lovers
High rise hotels on the beach.
Best for: budget travelers, longer stays
Quieter residential area with cheaper rooms.
Best for: couples, eco-resort seekers, beach relaxation
Coral island resorts situated forty-five minutes offshore, offering turquoise waters and coral reef snorkeling.
| Main airport | Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG), 2 mi from the center |
| To the center | A taxi to the walled city takes about 10 to 15 minutes; use the official taxi line. |
| Around town | Walk the old town and Getsemani, and take taxis to Bocagrande or the fort. Boats to the islands leave from the Muelle de la Bodeguita. |
| Ride apps | Uber, DiDi, Cabify, inDrive |
Fried corn cake with an egg inside.
Seafood cocktails sold from carts.
Beef in a sweet dark sauce.
Coconut sweets.
Coconut rice with a whole fried fish is a coastal classic.
Lulo, tamarind and soursop are common.
Whole fried red snapper fish served with sweet coconut rice cooked with raisins, fried green plantains (patacones), and salad.
Slow-cooked beef eye of round braised in a rich, dark caramelized sauce of panela sugarcane, Worcestershire, onions, and sweet spices.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 110 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Restaurants usually add a suggested 10 percent service charge; you may decline it, but most people pay it. |
| Payments | Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; carry cash for taxis, markets and small shops. |
| Etiquette | Colombians are polite and formal; greet with buenos dias. Bargain politely with street vendors, and dress neatly in the old town. |
Spain founded Cartagena in 1533, and it became one of the main ports of the empire for gold and the slave trade. Pirate raids, including Francis Drake's in 1586, led to huge walls and forts. The city declared independence in 1811. Its port, fortresses and monuments were listed by UNESCO in 1984.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.