A Guide To Cartagena, Columbia | The Basics

My list of travel destinations has grown quite long. I could literally see just one picture of a place online and decide I want to go there; Cartagena has been on my radar for a while. I don’t know if anyone still books vacations through Groupon, but I remember back when I was broke and dying to travel in college circa 2013 I would always scan the vacation packages and wish upon a star. Cartagena was always a destination listed and it was always one of the shortest and cheapest packages. Now that I’ve been, that makes perfect sense to me, because it can be very inexpensive to travel here and it’s not a very big city so you don’t need very many days to cover the main area of it.

Cartagena, Colombia is an absolutely breathtaking city that is very much vivid and lively. From the famous Palenqueras to the Arabic architecture to the aromatic street food, it is an adventurer’s dream. There’s so much to discover and the locals don’t mind helping you do it. I arrived on a Monday and left on a Thursday and in that time frame, I never stopped being dazzled and charmed by The Walled City. I had quite a bit of information to share from my trip so I broke it up into three posts. The one you’re reading now, then What To Eat In Cartagena, Colombia, and lastly 10 Things To Do/See In Colombia; you can follow those links to read more in depth about those topics. As for this post, this is where you’ll find all of the general information like where I stayed, how I exchanged money and how I got around. I traveled here solo, but the locals have never met a stranger so really at no point did I feel alone or lost. Of all the words I could use to describe Cartagena, I’d say the city welcomes you with open arms and you don’t have to look very hard to find a friend or a few.

Getting There

To get to Cartagena, you have to fly into Rafael Núñez International Airport. When you arrive, you’ll deplane directly outdoors onto the runway, as there is no jet bridge to connect to the airport. There are attendants that direct you inside and into the customs line where you will need to show your passport, pre-registration form and the name and address of where you will be staying. You can catch a taxi from the airport to your accommodations, as there are plenty waiting outside; however, I booked a private transfer to my hotel and my driver was waiting outside with a sign that had my name. It just made for an easier, quicker transfer because it was prepaid.

Getting Around

The city is very walkable so you could very well walk everywhere if you choose to do that, then you’ll get around mostly by taxi. If you choose to use taxis, screenshot the name and address of anywhere you want to go and where you are staying so you can show it to them in case you can’t pronounce correctly or communicate it in Spanish. They will also undoubtedly recognize you as a tourist and try to charge more than necessary to go short distances so you need to negotiate with them on a price. I wasn’t good at that so I ended up getting a driver that would pick me up directly from my hotel and take me everywhere I needed to go. Here is where I booked my driver Luis. He was very kind and even made sure to walk with me to meet up with my Airbnb experience hosts and arranged with them when and where he should pick me up. The other option is to rent a car, but I wouldn’t take that route unless you plan to drive to other parts of Columbia, as driving in Cartagena is very different than in the United States. It just would seem like more of a hassle to me than a convenience.

Accommodations

I stayed at the Casona del Colegio hotel which is a progressive, luxury hotel right in center city. It was clean, beautifully decorated with lots of amenities and in a good location. There’s a pool, restaurant, bar and expansive dining area and a solarium. The receptionists are kind, very welcoming and extremely helpful. They didn’t allow me to take my own bags anywhere, they arranged for a covid test to be done at the hotel, they learned my name by the end of the first day, and they’re willing to make restaurant recommendations and arrange airport transfers for you. The wifi was high-speed, there’s a mini bar in the room, and a really comfortable bed. I had absolutely no complaints about this hotel and would definitely stay again if I went back.

Currency

The currency is Colombian pesos which is valued significantly less than the US dollar. It wasn’t necessary for me to exchange money beforehand because I could go to an ATM once there and get money out in their currency. I would recommend doing it that way because you can get money out as needed instead of getting too much or too little. Money exchange places charge a higher conversion fee and the bank is not as convenient to get to so I would stick with the ATM. I also would recommend that this is the first thing you do when you get there. Luckily there was one just around the corner at a little convenience store so I just went as I needed to replenish. I will warn that it only allowed me to take out $600 at a time which was about 21,000 pesos so I had to use more than one card and make more than one trip, which really wasn’t a problem at all, especially if you end up needing to actually buy things from the store as well.

Food

I put everything that I learned about food into one blog post here, so definitely check that out. Street food is critical in Cartagena and it’s really cheap to buy but filling to eat. I also listed restaurants that were recommended to me by locals and people I know that have visited. If you stay in a hotel that has a restaurant like mind did, then you could also just eat there if you’re more comfortable with that.

Things To Do

I was able to fit quite a bit into two and half days in Cartagena so i’ve also compiled that into one post with pictures and descriptions for why you might want to see or do certain things. Some of the most recommended activities are the clock tower, Plaza De La Trinidad, taking a photo with the Palenqueras. Check my guide here.

Getting Home

They always recommend getting to the airport three hours early for an international trip, but I wish I hadn’t done that here. The airport is about 10-15 minutes away from the Walled City so I left my hotel at 11:45am. I was through customs and sitting at my gate by 12:15pm. It literally took thirty minutes. Their airport security is not nearly as strict as the United States. I didn’t have to take anything out of my bags except my electronics and I didn’t have to remove my shoes or jacket. I also was expecting to have to declare some of the items I bought, but the security told me that I only had to declare food and liquor if I had any. The only thing that was different than flying domestically was having to show my passport upwards of six times. I had to show it at customs, to get to security, twice inside security, and twice at my gate, so I would recommend having it in a really accessible place.

Overall, Cartagena is a beautiful city with lots to do and see and it’s easy to navigate even if you don’t speak Spanish. You don’t have to read a guidebook front to back or scour the internet to know how to get around. As with anywhere, you’ll want to be mindful of the main things while enjoying the beauty of the city. I absolutely recommend visiting whether by yourself or with friends because it truly is a must-see international destination.

What NOT To Do

Cartagena is a pretty safe place contrary to what many people (Americans) believe about it based on the days of Pablo Escobar, which, speaking of, don’t mention him. It’s not necessary or even really relevant to anything in Colombia these days. Here’s what not to do:

Don’t be cheap. You can haggle and bargain for certain things, but you should pay for everything there whether it’s a taxi, a photo with the palenqueras, fruit and juice on the street, a handmade item from a street vendor. This is how a lot of people make their living in Cartagena so pay them what they are worth.
Go anywhere that appears sketchy. This goes without saying anywhere that you travel. You probably shouldn’t go into anyone’s home, an obscure party, or around corners and in alleys. That’s kind of asking for trouble in an unfamiliar place, especially if you don’t speak the native language.
Don’t say yes to everyone that’s selling something. You’re constantly being asked to buy something on the street whether it’s water and beer, sunglasses, sombreros, day trips to the beach, etc. If you say yes to everything you will go broke while there. Respectfully shake your head or say no. Sometimes they will follow you or keep talking after you’ve said no; just say no again, keep walking and/or look the other way.
Don’t accept drugs or alcohol on the street. Unless that’s your vibe and you’re a risk taker like that then I 100% don’t recommend. I was offered drugs one time by a man who was also selling beach day trips. You don’t have to make a scene, be nervous or call the police. I simply said no and kept it moving.
Don’t walk around with your electronics out. Whether you have them out or not, anyone there can immediately tell whether you’re a tourist or not, but it’s just better not to walk around with them out. I didn’t have cell service away from my hotel so it was easy to keep my phone in my bag most of the time, but as far as my camera, I would take that out as needed and put it away when I didn’t immediately need to take a photo.
Don’t go anywhere without cash. You’re going to pay for most things with cash so I don’t recommend ever not having it. You may need to catch a taxi on the spot or get really hungry and need to buy food or you may see something really nice that you’d like to buy but they won’t accept a credit card. Keep at least a few hundred pesos on you to get by for the day.
Don’t refuse food or a dance. They will look very confused and almost offended if you do. They’re very friendly people that love a good time so try to indulge them.