Cartagena, Colombia is the most popular city to visit in the country, and for good reason! This port city, located on the Caribbean coast of the country, has beautiful turquoise water, a picturesque colonial historical center, and activities that could fulfill any craving. You could spend the day relaxing at a beach club drinking pina coladas and getting massages, or charter a boat to explore and party in the Rosario Islands, or wander through the historical city, or take in the sunset from one of the many rooftops, and so much more! The beauty of this city, beyond its physical attraction, is that it has something for everyone.
Note: We mention that this destination is a fun place to relax and party. That being said, it is not a place for drug tourism. Colombia has been devastated by the drug trade, funded by the usage of the United States and Europe and taking advantage of the drug industry here is disrespectful and damaging. Drugs are illegal in Colombia and you could face harrowing consequences.
Day 1: Explore the Historic Center of Cartagena, Colombia
Your first day in the city should be spent getting to know the history of the city and wandering through the beautiful streets of the historic center. This area of Cartagena, Colombia is one of the biggest attractions to the city due to its colorful and flower-filled narrow streets and alleys. The walled city is incredibly safe and getting lost within the streets is the best way to explore and take it all in. And don’t forget to walk on the wall to take in the views. It is also a great way to see the sunset.
Beyond the Walled City, you will also want to wander through the streets of the neighborhood, Getsemani. This bohemian and art hub is full of color and life, with vendors selling their own artwork and murals lining many alleys.
Self Guided Walking Tour
Unlike other cities in Colombia, such as Bogota and Medellin, it may not be necessary to have a guide to walk you around the city and show you the main sites. GPS My City has developed self-guided walking tours of different cities. It is important to determine which cities this tool is most appropriate for, such as small cities with less dense modern history. The nice thing about these self-guided tours is that the application includes information about the different destinations, giving some context to what you are visiting.
The GPS My City tour, Cartagena Introduction Walking Tour, is an overview of the Walled City, taking you to the famous clock tower, some different plazas and churches, and onto the wall that surrounds the city.
The second tour they offer is called Getsemani Public Arts Walking Tour and it walks you through this neighborhood, highlighting the different artwork and features of the area. Beyond the walking tours, you should also take the time to wander through the neighborhood to take it all in.
Guided Free Walking Tours in Cartagena, Colombia
If you are more interested in having a guide to walk you through the different neighborhoods, Cartagena, Colombia has a few free walking tours that can take you to the Walled City, Getsemani, or both. The guided tours provide a deeper historical context to the overall city, going over the history of Cartagena, Colombia and the reason for its existence. We recommend doing a guided tour of the Walled City and the self-guided tour of Getsemani to get a nice balance between historical context and wandering at your own pace.
Day 2: Learn About the Black History of the Region - Palenque
Palenque's History
Palenque is a town an hour outside of Cartagena, Colombia. It has incredible significance to the country and the world because it is the first free African town in the Americas. Cartagena, Colombia was a major part of the slave trade between the Portuguese and the Spanish because of its strategic location on the Carribbean Ocean. In 1619, Domingo Biohó was able to escape and led a group of 30 other runaways into the the jungle forest outside of Cartagena. They were able to fight off any attempts to recapture them and, over the decades, successfully helped other slaves escape to this new town. They were so successful with helping slaves escape that the king of Spain declared the town as free as long as they did not recruit new people. Obviously, slaves continued to escape to Palenque over the years.
How To Visit Palenque
The best way to visit Palenque is through a group or private tour. Many different tour agencies sell these day tours and you can book them online in advance or in person from a reputable tour agency. Make sure that your guide will be from Palenque to best support the community and get the most accurate information possible. You can read more about how to find a reputable tour agency here.
The tours start in Cartagena, Colombia where you will get picked up from your hotel or a designated location. You will then drive to Palenque where you will see the landscape change from a waterfront city to a rural jungle community. Here in Palenque, you will learn about the history of the community and the current state of the town. Interestingly, the community continues to have their own language (recognized by UNESCO), a variation from the languages that are spoken in West Africa combined with Spanish and Portuguese. They have their own customs, culture, dances, medicinal practices, and more and when visiting the town, you will get to experience all of this throughout your day in the community. You will also visit Antonio Cervantes’s boxing gym and take a little boxing lesson. He was a famous lightweight champion from the community and he continues to be celebrated. In fact, the most popular sport here isn’t soccer or baseball; it’s boxing! After visiting the town, you will have lunch and get to try some of the local cuisine from the community before returning to Cartagena.
The sun in Palenque is incredibly hot and strong, much hotter than in Cartagena, Colombia, because it is inland and does not get an ocean breeze to cool off. Many tour groups provide you with umbrellas to protect yourself but you should also wear sunscreen.
Day 3+: Relax on the Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. This is a beautiful set of islands and a main attraction when it comes to visiting Cartagena. White sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, sunshine, pina coladas… What more could you want?
There are a few different ways to visit and experience the islands, through day trips to different beach clubs or resorts within the islands. The other option, and the one that will be much more relaxing, is to find a resort on the islands and spend one or two nights in this tropical destination.
Staying Overnight on the Islands
The islands are covered in luxury homes and beach resorts, making it an idyllic place to relax. These resorts supply transportation to and from Cartagena, making it easy and seamless to get to the location. The advantage of staying overnight on the islands is that you will get to take in the views, beach, and water without all the day-trippers when they leave in the afternoon and before they get there in the morning. The resorts also have restaurants, allowing you to stay on the site for your entire experience.
During the day, vendors will walk by the resorts selling jewelry. handicrafts, and the freshest seafood you will ever see. You can purchase the seafood directly from these vendors and have your resort prepare it to your liking for a delicious fresh feast!
You can also ask your resort to help set up a boat tour around the islands. This tour typically includes a visit around the different islands, showing you the variety of mansions. You can also get the chance to snorkel in different locations, including over the sunken plane of Pablo Escobar, right in front of his abandoned mansion. If you do a tour privately, you will get to decide exactly what you see.
Depending on the amount of time you have, we recommend spending at least one night, if not two, to truly relax in this paradise destination. If you don’t want to go as far out as the Rosario Islands, you can also look for resorts on Isla Baru or Tierra Bomba where you can still take in the beautiful Caribbean Ocean.
Day Trip Options to the Islands from Cartagena, Colombia
The second option for visiting the Rosario Islands is through different day trips. These day trips can really vary based on your interests, from relaxing to adventuring within the archipelago.
5 Island Rosario Tour
This is a tour that you will see advertised all over the place in Cartagena. If you want to experience bits and pieces of the archipelago, then this could be the tour for you. You start by boating by the Fort San Fernando which was used to protect the city. Then, you go snorkeling over the submerged airplane and over a coral reef. Next, you will head to the island of Cholon, known for its party scene where you will get to wade in the water and get some drinks or fresh oysters. Lastly, you will stop at a beach club on Playa Blanca, where you will get to see the beautiful beach and get lunch. Optionally, you can stay later in the evening to see the luminous plankton.
Rosario 3 Islas Tour (3 stops)
This tour stops at three different beach clubs throughout the Rosario Islands. At each of these clubs, you will have a private area, making sure that you can have a relaxing time.
Day Trip to a Beach Club
The Rosario Islands are full of beach clubs and resorts, many of which provide day passes, which includes transportation to and from Cartagena, Colombia. You can ask the tour agency you are using about the different beach club offerings that they have. Another option is Makani Luxury Wanderlust, a luxury hotel with a day pass beach club offering. The baseline package includes lounge chairs at their beach area with shade and upgraded packages include reserved seats at their pool (although anyone at the beach club can use the pool). This beach club is not located on the Rosario Islands; instead, it is much closer to Cartagena, Colombia on the island of Tierra Bomba.
Charter your own boat
For the most flexibility, you can always charter your own yacht or boat to go around the islands. With this option, you will have full control over where you go and what you do! Many tour agencies can help coordinate this option for you.
Other Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
- Take a cocktail making class
- Do a food tour of the Cartagena, Colombia markets
- Watch the sunset from a rooftop bar
- Take a salsa dance class
- Fish in the coastal mangroves of La Boquilla
- Visit the Volcan del Totumo and soak in some mud baths
- Go to the Convento La Popa for views overlooking the whole city
