Cartagena is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America, due to its location on the Caribbean ocean, its year long warm temperatures, fun culture, and beautiful city. However, it has some quirks that make it a little challenging to fully appreciate if you don’t know how to get past them, such as where to stay in Cartagena and how to reserve tours. Below are the logistics and nuances that you need to know to fully enjoy this magical destination.
When to Visit Cartagena
Cartagena is consistently hot with the sunniest months being between December and April and the rainiest being between September and November. That being said, the rain that happens in Cartagena is typically short, dramatic rain showers, but they will not prevent you from your daily adventures. It may be nicer to visit the city in the months of October-November or March-April during the shoulder seasons and where there may be fewer tourists than during the Northern Hemisphere summer months of June-August.
Where to Stay in Cartagena
The Old Town - The Walled City
The Walled City of Cartagena is the most popular part of the city to stay in. It is full of colorful and floral charm that makes it so nice and easy to walk through. It is the most lively part of the city at all times of the day, including coffee shops for the morning and bars and clubs for the evenings. You can find any form of accommodations, including hostels, boutique hotels, and luxury hotels. You can find some nice hotels with rooftop pools that are great ways to enjoy the city.
Check out some of the different hotels that are available to you in the Walled City of Cartagena.
Many of the best hotels are small boutique hotels and are not owned by larger conglomerates.
Getsemani
Getsemani is the bohemian neighborhood adjacent to the Old Town. This is a lively and youthful neighborhood full of inexpensive spots to eat at and different hostels, perfect for the backpacking or budget traveler. The streets here are full of street-food vendors and art, making it a great place to wander throughout the day.
Bocagrande
Bocagrande is the modern region of Cartagena and is full of modern high-rises. If you prefer ultra-modern accommodations, this is the place for you to be. That being said, you will have to Uber into the Old Town to go to a majority of the tourist destinations and the area lacks the charm that Cartagena is so famous for.
How to Get Around Cartagena
Walking
Within the different neighborhoods, the best way to take in the city is by walking around. This is really the only way to take in the energy of the city. It takes only 20 minutes to walk across all of the Walled City, making it an incredibly accessible area.
Uber or Taxi
To get to further distances, you can take an Uber or a taxi. The prices for these forms of transportation are affordable and it is the safest way for you to get around larger distances, especially between the Walled City/Getsemani area and Bocagrande. Uber is currently not allowed at the airport of Cartagena and you can hire a taxi or you can put your location right outside of the airport to get an Uber pick-up.
Reserving Tours in Cartagena
When walking around Cartagena, you will often get approached by tour vendors trying to sell you different tour options. Be wary of these tour operators as sometimes, they may not provide everything that they are promising you. The best way to guarantee your tour experience is to find a tour agency through Google. One that we recommend is “IS Cartagena Tours”. You can talk to these agencies in person or via Whatsapp and have them help you find and reserve different experiences based on the goals of your vacation. They may even tell you about some experiences that you may not have known existed. We also list out some of the most popular tours in our sample itinerary on this website with links to purchase them if you do not want to go through an agency, but you may be able to get better deals if you do talk directly to the tourism agencies located in Cartagena or via Whatsapp.
Relaxing on the Beaches around Cartagena
The beaches in and around Cartagena are all public property and are accessible to anyone. When on these beaches, you will be approached by vendors who are selling food, toys, and even massages. (The people selling massages may even start massaging your shoulders to entice you to pay for their services.) This is something that you probably are not used to and could find quite overwhelming and irritating.
To avoid these interactions, you can reserve time at the private beach clubs and resorts. This will guarantee that you will have more privacy and tranquility while relaxing in the sun and on the beach.
Unfortunately, this vendor interaction is not exclusive to beaches. There are a lot of vendors within Cartagena who will approach you to sell goods, tours, and cigarettes. You can either ignore them or tell them “no gracias” to encourage them to move along to the next tourist.
