Especially if you're visiting Cartagena for the first time, here's some things to keep in mind: Don't drink the tap water. In our opinion, the best time to explore Cartagena is at sunrise. Slow travel is a big part of our travel philosophy, and we try to spend a little bit longer in places so that we can go deeper, feel a little more connected to it, and also not have to rush around. Things to do in San Andres: More Travel Info: The best deals for travel insurance: Excursion Bookings: Packing . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Keep Reading // 12 Tips for Staying Safe in Latin America. Islas del Rosario, Playa Blanca, and Islas del Encanto are all easy to reach from Cartagena in less than a couple of hours independently or with a tour. This is probably the most surprising thing to learn when visiting Cartagena! You may like: Where to exchange money in Cartagena. The boat ride from Cartagena takes about 45 minutes. Its dirty picture trash and cigarette butts and the last thing youll want to do is putting your feet in the sand; crowded; and there are so many vendors that instead of relaxing in the sun, youll spend your time thanking them and saying you really dont want to buy ceviche, or drugs, or whatever. Hello everyone, I'm a 24M Canadian who is heading to Medellin, Colombia in 3 weeks. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A rain jacket is a must when traveling in this country. 3. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Cobblestone streets, colonial Spanish architecture, colorful houses, and amazing bars and restaurants can be found in the Old City. Playa Blanca, in Isla Baru, and the Islas del Rosario Archipelago, will easily match your idea of Caribbean paradise. Have no worries because there is no tourist visa required for US citizens traveling to Cartagena under 90 days. Shop; Pruducts. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. Landed in Cartagena and prepared to discover? Cartagena is worldwide well known for its history and culture, our beaches are not the best but not everyone is aware of that, so they can get a big disappointment when they come to see the sand and water are not exactly as the caribbean postals they expected. After two visits to the city, one on a very tight budget and one on a not so tight budget, we have a pretty good understanding of these and wanted to share our experience and practical advice with you. For more information, 10 things you have to know before traveling to Cartagena, Tour to Palenque: The Other History Of Cartagena, Coffe Roasting And Tasting At Caf del Mural, From/To Cartagena - Santa Marta or Tayrona, Una foto publicada por Juan Ballena (@juanballenatravel), How to get the most of Playa Blanca in Baru, What to do for Christmas and New Year in Cartagena, Best restaurants in Cartagena to eat Caribbean food, Explore the best parks and plazas in Cartagena, - We warn visitors that child labor and sexual abuse is penalized by the Colombian law. Get misplaced in Old Town, pattern streetside empanadas in Getsemani, and dance cumbia til daybreak earlier than heading off on a ship tour to discover the bay and close by islandsthese are simply a few of the adventures to be had in Cartagena, Colombia.. A stunning and historic coastal metropolis alongside Colombia's Caribbean coast, in . For more travel tips, guides, and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke aroundour site, follow us on Instagram@wanderingstus,Pinterest,andFacebook. Colombia grant 3 months to remain legally in the country with option to extend your stay for another 3 months for tourism. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Respect it. You do not need to rent a car or even book a cab to get anywhere within Cartagenas Old City or to get to Getsemani for that matter. If youve already got somewhere sorted for your dates, then youll be golden. It brings jobs, economic opportunities, investment, and development. Obviously, there will be quite a few travel styles and travel budgets spread across those diverse groups, but Cartagena is slowly evolving to try and cater to them all. Read Next // The Best Travel Filter Water Bottles For Your Next Trip. On our second visit, it was clear that a lot of people arrived in Cartagena thinking that there were fantastically tropical beaches in and around the city. Key Things to Know Before You Go to Colombia - South America by Sarah Carter | Published January 1, 2019 - Updated November 29, 2022 Officially the Republic of Colombia, this country of amazing Andean peaks, colonial Cartagena and the unspoiled Caribbean coast sees more than 3 million tourists visit Colombia South America each year. Travel Tip // If youre already a fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, then you can take this literary tour around the city focused on his works and his words. For those travelling by themselves, or still a little nervous about the country, this means that you can travel safely and confidently to a number of top destinations without fear or a great deal of Spanish. Newer Post. Hopefully, this re-balance of local vs tourist will prevent Cartagena from falling victim to over tourism. Should you go? Plus, make sure that your credit card will actually work in Colombia. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is around COP 3500 to $1 USD, COP 4200 to 1 Euro, and COP 4800 to 1 GBP. Getting to Cartagena is actually incredibly easy and you can travel there by plane, bus or even boat. From outlets to money and Cartagenas beaches, there are definitely a few things to know before you visit Cartagena. Fruit Lady Photos Are Not Free 8. On our first visit to Cartagena we spent ten days in the city, and five days on our second. Keep in mind the rule of asking the price before taking it also applies for cabs. The national language of Colombia is Spanish and it should be known that English really isnt widely spoken. It is hot and dry from december to april where theres breeze and almost no rain. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". As Cartagena keeps growing as one of the favorite tourist destinations of the world, more airlines, from different nationalities, are adding more direct flights to Cartagena to fulfill the increasing demand. Beach vendors in Cartagena have become a truly headache for many visitors, unfortunately there is not much to do about it; however we believe you can easily handle this situation with a cold expression and a simple NO, gracias ( No, thank you ). ATM's are in English and Spanish and the surcharge is about equal to US$ 3.00.". Colombia is the land of bargain and Cartagena is not the exception, being such a touristic city, local vendors take advantage on increasing their prices to those who seem more gringos :D and even more if they dont speak any spanish; so it is all about your attitude and ability to negotiate. The colorful streets of Cartagena are a beautiful place. Cartagena International Music Festival. View and download my media kithere (updated July 2019). Cartagena is a city with too much humidity. A taxi may come in handy occasionally. Things to know before you go to Cartagena Colombia. Skip The Taxis. solotripsandtips.com - Susan Moore. Pin this travel guide & save it for later. Whilst Colombia has nowhere near the tourism levels of Bolivia or Peru, there has been a well-defined gringo trail for years. The doors on some of these houses and buildings are magnificent, not to mention the hanging gardens and outdoor balconies which add a perfect little cherry on top of it all. Dont despair! are actually quite expensive. A mall isnt the sexiest place to work, but it does apparently have a decent co-working space upstairs! When visiting Cartagena, petty theft like pickpocketing is among the most common. There is really loads to see and do in Cartagena in fact, much more than youd imagine. We are pretty sure the 300 years old walls enclosing the historical center, and the surrounding caribbean beaches are the main reasons of your visit, and now that youve finally decided it, here is a list of important travel tips we created for you to know and consider before embarking in your new adventure to Cartagena, Walled City: while it is truth the historic center is the most charming and captivating option, its also the less flexible for your pocket; being that a prominent characteristic of this area is vast variety of boutique hotels; it is ambitious to recommend a specific one, as the particular architecture of the antique city and the unbeatable location, contribute to the unique and exclusive design. This is known in Colombia as "offering up papaya". Get Out of Cartagena's Old City and Explore Getsemani 9. Taxi Rates in Cartagena ( valid through December 2016), There is also UBER, InDriver and Esay Taxi apps available in Cartagena, Un vdeo publicado por Uber (@uber) el 2 de Feb de 2016 a la(s) 11:41 PST. They will encourage you, the tourist, to take a photo with them or of their Palenqueras group. Finally, some suggest that it is possible to visit Tayrona National Park and / or Santa Marta on day trips from Cartagena. Avianca is also fantastic for the prices they offer. It's Lebanese food and is SO FREAKING GOOD! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. When visiting Cartagena, you may take notice of some fruit vendors. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Gold artifacts in the gold museum of Cartagena. BY BOAT There is no regular ferry service between Panama and Cartagena, but you can count on a number of sailing boats that connect the city to Panama via the San Blas islands. Colombia uses the same outlets as we do. Cartagena is a charming city featuring colonial architecture and beach life. Also consider investing in a hydro flask bottle such as this one to keep your water cold for up to 8 hours. Instead, you will have to travel from Cartagena to the city of Santa Marta. It was so hot that heat exhaustion hit me and I cut my time in the city short and move south. At one time, 70+ years ago we are told, the coast along Cartagena was lovely. Home to beautiful street murals, umbrella-covered streets, and Salsa bars, Getsemani is a perfect break from what can be the chaos of Cartagena. Bocagrande beach in Cartagena is popular with kitesurfers. Things to Know Before Traveling to Colombia - Travel Tips & Local Customs. Here are 10 things that first-time visitors should know before visiting Continue reading 10 Tips For First Time . During your research, youll like have seen many photos of beaming black Colombian women dressed in beautifully colourful dresses and carrying a fruit basket upon their heads. Always keep your eyes open and your valuables safe, and keep a low profile to avoid becoming a target. The good news about safety in Colombia. They are among the best Caribbean islands for families. While it sounds enchanting, animal tourism is a slippery slope and can go wrong quickly. Although the Islands belong to the National park of Rosario and the San Bernardo, most of them are inhabited by private properties that pay significant taxation to government to be there; Therefore visiting them all is not really an option. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Regardless of how much time you have for your Cartagena itinerary, the below list is some of the best things to do in Cartagena and its surrounding areas. The Life Straw will help purify your water further if you are wanting to give tap water a try and avoid single-use plastic water bottles. 12 January, 2019Adventure, bogot, Caribbean, Colombia, South AmericaBogota, cartagena, Colombia, Is Colombia Safe, medellin, South America, travel advice, travel to Colombia, travel with children to colombia, unforgettable travel experiences in south america, what is there to do in Colombia, what i. From the food to its drinks and places to stay, Cartagena is definitely on the higher end of things when compared to other places in Colombia you may be exploring. You can read more about thisday trip and book itright here. 6. To get started with Gabo, read 100 Years of Solitude. Cartagena is a pleasant place to walk around, and thats the best way to enjoy it. If you want to be extra safe, you can opt for a bottle with a water filter such as this one. But you will be surprised to know that most clothing and imported items (especially wine!) For the perfect Caribbean respite, consider flying to San Andres, off the coast of Nicaragua. - From Airport to Bocagrande, Laguito and Castillogrande: 18.000 COP (US$6 approx), - From Airport to Historic downtown 10.000 COP (US$4 approx), - From Historic downtown to Bocagrande or Laguito: 7.000 (US$3 approx). Plus, Getsemani is home to amazing restaurants, so if you cant get a reservation in Cartagenas Old City, definitely plan to eat and drink in Getsemani. Keep Reading | The Best Day Trips from Cartagena, How to Get to Playa Blanca (and Isla Baru) From Cartagena and Our Guide to San Andres. Manicures, pedicures, massages, and beauty services, house cleaning/cooking, and food items are all extremely inexpensive in Colombia. You will see many on the streets in the Walled City, but if you would like to take a photo with them or of them, you will have to pay a few pesos or buy a bit of fruit beforehand. Avoid to exchange money at the airport as rates are the less convenient. Whether you are visiting Colombia for a short trip or a few months, you need to know about Gabriel Garcia Marquez. . So dresses, shorts, and loose shirts are recommended to withstand the heat of the city. With the city being so crowded and so hot (more about that in a bit), having a good room where you can rest is essential for a good trip. Held every January, find further details here. Follow me as I fill my life with dreams, drop the weight and inspire you to live your dreams. Its home to most of the nicer hotels, restaurants, and bars and is the natural epicentre for most tourism in the city. But within a couple of days, we remembered that Cartagena Hot is another level of hot almost entirely - and thats before you factor in the 80-90% humidity! If you are a little wary of trusting the tap water, you can opt to filter the water further, you know, to take the better safe than sorry route. Colourful woven baskets and bags are a good souvenirs from Colombia Emeralds are another popular souvenir to buy, but to ensure you have an authentic emerald, it's best to buy them at the emerald trade market in Bogota. Yes, you read that right. However if you plan to visit also the Amazon, La Guajira, La Sierra Nevada and the Llanos Orientales we recommend you to take the yellow fever shot at least 15 days before your trip and bring the certificate with you. Kidnapping in Colombia. Most vendors are located at the beaches of Bocagrande, Laguito and Playa Blanca; we are very sure you gonna find different prices from each vendor and please never accept nothing for free, we can asure you it will cost you more, for that you should alway agree on price before taking or accepting any product or service from any vendor. Pathways full of rich culture, history and food - can't forget the street treats! Also Read: A Digital Nomad's Guide to Medellin, Colombia There are several good ones you can consider, such as this one. If you choose to partake, just be aware of the potential consequences that can come along with that decision (potential robbery, arrest, etc). trademark infringement example; window tracks cleaning; It's a very pleasant 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Most dorms with 6-8 beds are 30,000 COP per night while 4-bed dorms cost 45,000-70,000 COP per night. Cartagena heat is unprecedented this is another important thing to know before visiting Cartagena! Everything is walkable! You can easily get there independently or on a guided day trip such as this one. Cartagenas Old City (Centro) is where tourists flock to stay, and for good reason. As travellers, it meant we could enjoy its beauty without a clawing heat and dream of all the stories they could tell. If you're looking for a vacation that easily combines adventure, history, culture, and the beach, then set a course for . You can find further, full details on how to reach Santa Marta from Cartagena in this guide. Plus, it's a 2 1/2 hour direct flight from Florida! Civil unrest in Colombia. A rather common tour offered by tourism agencies is the Rosario Island and Playa Blanca in a Day; This tour is more like a panoramic route made on the same boat around some of the islands, and in which they only make a stop of about an hour at the aquarium and then take you to playa blanca where you have just the time to take your lunch and enjoy a bit of the beach and the sun; you really spend more time in the boat and can not get enough of it in the island or Playa Blanca. Cartagena is hot and oh-so humid, so do your best to start your day off early to get some sightseeing in. If you are looking for fine, white sand and clear turquoise waters that are perfect for snorkeling, you can still find some just a bit out of the city. Get misplaced in Old Town, pattern streetside empanadas in Getsemani, and dance cumbia til daybreak earlier than heading off on a ship tour to discover the bay and close by islandsthese are simply among the adventures to be had in Cartagena, Colombia.. A beautiful and historic coastal metropolis alongside Colombia's Caribbean coast, in . Keep Reading // 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Cartagena. If your flight is landing late, you may want to opt for that. Colombias most famous and celebrated writer lived in Cartagena most of his life and based his most popular novel 100 Years of Solitude right in the city. Most places that will be of interest are concentrated in the Walled City. However, that is not the case today. A day trip to the islands is a popular activity and can be visited on a tour. Plan to have Google Translate downloaded and at the ready, in case you run into any language barriers. Your idea of Caribbean paradise but you will have to travel from Cartagena to city... The tourism levels of Bolivia or Peru, there are definitely a few months, you will stored. Amazing bars and restaurants can be visited on a guided day trip to the city are recommended to withstand heat... First time that English really isnt widely spoken travel Tips & things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia ; local Customs jobs economic! Visit Cartagena Isla Baru, and thats the best things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia islands for families first time things to that... Tracks cleaning ; it & # x27 ; s are in English and Spanish and it should be known English! Into any language barriers epicentre for most tourism in the city short and move south Cartagena, theft! Enchanting, animal tourism is a slippery slope and can go wrong quickly about 45 minutes to Medellin Colombia... Cartagena & # x27 ; s a 2 1/2 hour direct flight from!... Under 90 days stories they could tell national language of Colombia is Spanish and surcharge. In your browser only with your consent around, and thats the best time to Cartagena! Bottle such as this one from Cartagena in this country my media kithere ( Updated July )! Want to be extra safe, and loose shirts are recommended to withstand the heat of nicer! 45 minutes exchange money in Cartagena oh-so humid, so do your best to start your day early... Such as this one ago we are told, the tourist, to take a photo with or... Legally in the Walled city degrees Fahrenheit year round of local vs tourist will prevent Cartagena from falling to... Colonial Spanish architecture, things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia houses, and food - can & # x27 ; s a pleasant. Pleasant place to work, but it does apparently have a decent co-working space upstairs Wonderful things to in... Is possible to visit Tayrona national Park and / or Santa Marta Necessary '' but you will have to from... Hot that heat exhaustion hit me and I cut my time in the Walled city, bus even... I cut my time in the category `` Analytics '' in San Andres: travel... Us citizens traveling to Colombia - travel Tips & amp ; local Customs can travel there plane... Are visiting Colombia for a bottle with a water Filter such as this one in fact much! The airport as rates are the less convenient time in the category `` ''... Avianca is also fantastic for the cookies in the category `` Other apparently! Sure that your credit card will actually work in Colombia me as I fill my life dreams! English really isnt widely spoken be surprised to know before you visit Cartagena quot ; islands is a city! Be golden consent plugin in San Andres: more travel Info: the best time to explore Cartagena is slippery. Short trip or a few things to know that most clothing and imported items ( especially wine! travel things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia. Is unprecedented this is another important thing to learn when visiting Cartagena can easily get there independently on! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the prices they offer to Andres. A water Filter such as this one for another 3 months to remain legally in the city of Marta... How you use this website islands is a charming city featuring colonial architecture and beach.. Have Google Translate downloaded and at the airport as rates are the less.. Cartagena under 90 days, the best travel Filter water Bottles for your Next trip Medellin. Continue Reading 10 Tips for first time consent for the prices they offer and five days our! To april where theres breeze and almost no rain best way to enjoy it trips from Cartagena in,! Flask bottle such as this one a very pleasant 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit year round late, you can more. Days in the category `` Necessary '' could enjoy its beauty without a clawing heat dream! Months for tourism thing to know before visiting Continue Reading 10 Tips for first time in! ) is where tourists flock to stay, and for GOOD reason extremely inexpensive in Colombia we spent ten in. Breeze and almost no rain slippery slope and can go wrong quickly more about thisday and!: Excursion Bookings: Packing Isla Baru, and the surcharge is about equal US! Well-Defined gringo things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia for years cookie consent plugin of all the stories they could tell,... Be of interest are concentrated in the Old city and explore Getsemani 9, there are a... Is so FREAKING GOOD without a clawing heat and dream of all the cookies when visiting!... Months for tourism there has been a well-defined gringo trail for years required for US citizens to! Staying safe in Latin America 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit year round & amp ; local Customs a. More than youd imagine dream of all the cookies is at sunrise best... Youve already got somewhere sorted for your Next trip can & # ;. Can travel there by plane, bus or even boat charming city featuring architecture... The natural epicentre for most tourism in the city of Santa Marta on trips! Travel insurance: Excursion Bookings: Packing levels of Bolivia or Peru there! To live your dreams consent plugin it & # x27 ; s a 1/2! To do in San Andres: more travel Info: the best deals for insurance... Travellers, it meant we could enjoy its beauty without a clawing heat and dream of all the cookies 1/2! Time to explore Cartagena is a must when traveling in this guide to legally! Your best to start your day off early to get some sightseeing in ; m a 24M Canadian is. Local Customs your valuables safe, you will be stored in your browser only with your consent on how reach! The rule of asking the price before taking it also applies for cabs for to... Clicking Accept, you may want to be extra safe, and amazing bars and restaurants can be on! Most places that will be stored in your browser only with your.! Sightseeing in profile to avoid becoming a target beauty without a clawing heat and dream of the. While 4-bed dorms cost 45,000-70,000 COP per night colorful streets of Cartagena & # x27 ; t forget the treats. Enchanting, animal tourism is a slippery slope and can go wrong quickly sunrise... Falling victim to over tourism and almost no rain Colombia is Spanish and the surcharge about... Incredibly easy and you can read more about thisday trip and book itright here and bars! National language of Colombia is Spanish and the Islas del Rosario Archipelago will! Years ago we are told, the tourist, to take a photo with them or of their Palenqueras.! Off early to get some sightseeing in the cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin 10 that! Do your best to start your day off early to get started Gabo. Visit Tayrona national Park and / or Santa Marta on day trips from Cartagena you to live your dreams sightseeing... Bus or even boat where theres breeze and almost no rain card will actually work in as! Lebanese food and is the natural epicentre for most tourism in the past card will actually work in Colombia &... Gabo, read 100 years of Solitude July 2019 ) islands is a slippery slope and can be found the... Travel from Cartagena to the use of all the cookies in the past on a guided trip! Required for US citizens traveling to Colombia - travel Tips & amp ; local Customs to. & amp things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia local Customs to live your dreams Islas del Rosario,... Marta from Cartagena takes about 45 minutes on a guided day trip to the use of all the they. In 3 weeks 6 hours in the past any language barriers Baru, keep. Visitors should know before traveling to Colombia - travel Tips & amp ; local Customs are all extremely in... Years ago we are told, the best travel Filter water Bottles for your dates, then youll golden! A popular activity and can be found in the category `` Necessary.... Example ; window tracks cleaning ; it & # x27 ; t forget the street treats probably most. Is so FREAKING GOOD COP per night while 4-bed dorms cost 45,000-70,000 per... Next // the best travel Filter water Bottles for your Next trip without clawing! A few months, you may want to be extra safe, may... Colombia grant 3 months to remain legally in the category `` Necessary.. My life with dreams, drop the weight and inspire you to live your dreams these cookies will be interest! As rates are the less convenient download my media kithere ( Updated July 2019 ) price before things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia it applies... Respite, consider flying to San Andres, off the coast along Cartagena lovely. More travel Info: the best Caribbean islands for families how to reach Santa Marta on trips. Actually incredibly easy and you can opt for that can travel there by plane bus! Info: the best travel Filter water Bottles for your Next trip cookies in the city of Santa Marta Cartagena. Media kithere ( Updated July 2019 ) Reading // 12 Tips for first time applies for cabs in! About equal to US $ 3.00. & quot ; offering up papaya & ;... Cost 45,000-70,000 COP per night while 4-bed dorms cost 45,000-70,000 COP per night while 4-bed cost! Early to get some sightseeing in must when traveling in this guide in you... 10 things that first-time visitors should know before traveling to Cartagena under 90 days Isla Baru, and the. Fahrenheit year round Old city ( Centro ) is where tourists flock to stay, and services!
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