Cartagena is a city located in the north of the Colombian Caribbean, its fame is
due to its superb Spanish colonial architecture, its abundant gastronomic and hotel offer
its beaches and islands of beautiful landscapes and its fascinating local culture.
I got to Cartagena by plane. Soon after the arrival, you can feel that Caribbean heat. No coldness. Warm. Sunbathe.
They smile, they joke; music is always present. There’s a tourist – locals cartagena (Including walled city) and a local’s mostly one.
I read before going there that the best thing about Cartagena is the walled city. ¡Yes, there is an area of Cartagena that was founded several centuries ago and is surrounded by a great wall!
It is amazing when you see it…
Inside those walls, a whole new world is waiting to be discovered by visitors: Very old houses and churches, squares…
many colors all around…
Next to the wall, there is a very modern place: Very tall buildings, many of them hotels, restaurants and stores for tourists mostly. There are also beaches there, I know they are not as nice as the others but I found that they are acceptable to spend some time without going too far.
There are islands close to the city, some closer than others and I found that the farthest ones (Del Rosario), are definitely the most beautiful, but I also felt some sea sickness during the one hour trip and I know that for some people it can be uncomfortable but not for most people.
Great food no doubt.
Street food, a wide range of restaurants for all budgets. I fell in love with the arepa de huevo and the coconut lemonade, hahahaha.
It might seem that all these restaurants for tourists are expensive. Not so, there is a long and delicious list of alternatives that are worth exploring.
I stayed in an Airbnb inside the walled city. it is definitely the best option as it is the heart of everything there is to do in cartagena. There are other places to stay outside that can be a good option if you do your research without being close by and in a safe neighborhood.
Within the walled city, you can generally walk around and enjoy the streets and people.
Uber is another option if you do not want to walk or you must go to another place not so close and you can check the value before using it.
Fun nights?
Yes – Si
There are many bars, clubs and I didn’t know about casinos although I don’t like them.
Gestemani: A crazy mix of locals and tourists, street food, reggueton, lights, colorful street decorations, murals to take pictures, narrow party streets and street artists.
A night there is a must.
In the other sectors of the walled city there are also more sophisticated bars with different types of music and prices.
What to do?
Go to the nearby islands for a day at the beach.
Visit the imposing castle fortress of san felipe
Learn to dance salsa or champeta
you can go shopping as there are many options and among them some places where prices are much lower. I recommend buying a Wayu bag, they are beautiful and durable, a true representative of the Colombian culture.
Visit the convent of La Popa.
It is important to say that everything I did was in tours with certified guides and local agencies.
They gave me valuable information, I learned things that would not have been so easy on my own, I got names of restaurants that are hidden gems, I tasted the delicious street food, I understood Cartagena and its origins.
attending tours by locals supports the local economy, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
It was worth what I paid because in the end I got so much more.
I did all the tours with cartajoy.com and they did it very well.
Go to Cartagena, there are many places in the world to visit, but this one is well worth considering.
Last Updated on August 1, 2025
