Cartagena de Indias is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its 16th-century walled Old City, colorful colonial architecture, and Caribbean beaches. The fortifications are the most extensive in South America. Today, neighborhoods like Getsemaní have reinvented themselves as hubs for street art, nightlife, and boutique hotels.
Must-do experiences
- Walled Old City (UNESCO) — colonial plazas, cathedral, balconies
- Castillo San Felipe de Barajas fortress
- Getsemaní — hippest neighborhood, street art, live music
- Rosario Islands national park (day trip by boat)
- Playa Blanca beach on Isla Barú
- Bazurto Market — authentic local food scene
When to visit
December-April (dry season)
Safety
Old City is very safe day and night. Bocagrande is safe. Avoid unfamiliar neighborhoods after dark, use Uber/InDrive instead of street taxis.
Tours in Cartagena
Rosario Islands Boat Day Trip
Full-day boat trip to Colombia's Caribbean national park. Snorkel pristine reefs, lunch on a private island, swim in crystal water.
New Year's Eve Cartagena Package
VIP party boat with open bar, Caribbean seafood dinner, midnight fireworks over the bay, return to hotel via private transport. Dec 31 only.
Cartagena Old City Walking Tour
Explore the UNESCO-listed walled city with a local historian. See San Felipe Castle, Plaza Santo Domingo, Las Bóvedas, and the colorful streets of Getsemaní.
Cartagena Street Food & Fruit Market Tour
Graze through Bazurto Market and Getsemaní: arepas de huevo, carimañolas, exotic fruits like lulo and guanábana, then cap it with local coffee.
Private Salsa Lesson (Cartagena)
2-hour private salsa lesson with a Cartagena-based instructor. All levels. Ends with a practice at a local salsa bar.