Vista aérea de la ciudad amurallada de Cartagena de Indias con el Mar Caribe al fondo

Destination guide · Colombia

Cartagena de Indias: the jewel of the Colombian Caribbean

Walled city, turquoise beaches and Afro-Caribbean identity. Colombia's most iconic destination.

12 min read

Cartagena de Indias es una ciudad que no se parece a ninguna otra de Colombia. Capital del departamento de Bolívar, mezcla tres siglos de historia colonial con el ritmo del Caribe, el color de Getsemaní y las aguas turquesas de las Islas del Rosario.

Caribbean food and where to eat well

Cartagena's gastronomy blends African, indigenous and Spanish influences. The most representative dishes are coconut rice, chicken sancocho, patacones with hogao sauce and shrimp ceviche. Restaurants in the old town are pricey but good; for authentic and affordable food, the Getsemaní market and Plaza de la Trinidad are the better choice. The palenqueras selling fruit and sweets throughout the city are part of the landscape and history.

"Cartagena tiene algo que ninguna otra ciudad caribeña: tres siglos de historia encerrados dentro de una muralla que todavía puedes tocar."

Dec–Apr (dry season)Best season

SpanishLanguage

3–5 daysIdeal stay

Rafael Núñez (CTG), 15 min from centreAirport

Castillo de San Felipe de BarajasDon't miss

Colombian peso (COP)Currency

Where to stay in Cartagena

Cartagena has options for all profiles: from social hostels in Getsemaní to boutique hotels in colonial houses. For managed vacation rentals with quality assurance, Fee4Me manages properties in Colombia — explore and book directly at houses.fee4me.com.

San Basilio de Palenque

Day 1

Morning

Walk the old town early: Plaza de Bolívar, the Cathedral and flower-draped alleyways. Climb the walls at sunset.

Afternoon

Evening in Getsemaní: dinner at a local spot and drinks at Plaza de la Trinidad.

Day 2

Morning

Boat trip to the Rosario Islands: snorkelling and turquoise water at Playa Blanca or Isla Grande.

Afternoon

Back to Cartagena. Visit the Castillo de San Felipe in the late afternoon (cooler and less crowded).

Day 3

Morning

San Basilio de Palenque, 1 hour away: the first free city in the Americas, with its own language and traditions.

Afternoon

Last afternoon in the old town: Las Bóvedas craft market and farewell dinner overlooking the bay.

With more time

Extra days? Consider Mompox (colonial city 4 hours away, UNESCO World Heritage, far fewer tourists), El Totumo Mud Volcano (50 km away, a unique experience), Tolú and Coveñas (authentic Caribbean beach towns in the Gulf of Morrosquillo), and Barranquilla (2 hours: the El Prado neighbourhood and Colombia's most famous carnival).

Practical tips

Visit the old town before 9 am or after 5 pm to avoid extreme heat and crowds.
Boats to the Rosario Islands leave between 8 and 9 am. Book ahead in high season (Dec–Jan and Jul–Aug).
Getsemaní is safe to walk day and night in the main tourist areas; avoid isolated alleys as a precaution.
Try arroz con coco, patacón con hogao and shrimp ceviche — the emblematic dishes of the Colombian Caribbean.

Experiences