Cartagena is a picturesque walled city known as the Queen of the Caribbean coast. The pastel colonial buildings, horse carriages, friendly locals and cobblestones on the streets give you a glimpse of the city’s rich history. The plazas bustle with busy restaurants, shops, and other vibrant activities. This historic city lies within an impressive 13km of centuries-old colonial stone walls. Cartagena’s Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site – a maze of streets covered in bougainvillea, and massive churches that cast their shadows across leafy plazas. It is the perfect city to begin your holiday of a lifetime or to reward the incentive winners at your company.

Must Experiences

• Taking a horse carriage ride through the walled city will take you back to another era and is a convenient way to tour around the city. Start the ride in front of the iconic clock tower called Puerta del Reloj, where you can see a colorful row of colonial houses. Or take the carriage ride at night. That way, you can check out the beautiful sunset and then grab a couple of beers from the street vendors and hang out at Plaza de la Trinidad.

• Escape Cartagena for the day and take a sightseeing cruise to Rosario Islands. Enjoy a scenic catamaran sail through the turquoise Caribbean sea to the Islands. Relax on beautiful beaches and enjoy the natural flora and fauna by snorkeling or swimming with the dolphins. Relax some more and go for a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters before cruising back to Cartagena in the evening while you witness a stunning sunset.

• Tour Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, which is arguably the most incredible fortress ever built by the Spanish. It was impenetrable due to its labyrinth of underground tunnels which you will navigate during your tour.

• Enjoy Colombia’s culinary delights on a guided tour through the Mercado de Bazurto Fruit Market to buy your ingredients, followed by an interactive Colombian Cooking Workshop. This experience is sure to leave you with a unique taste of Cartagena!

• Tototomu Mud Volcano is located only 30 minutes outside the walled city. It’s a 50-foot tall mound of warm mud. There’s also a pool area built at the top where you can take a dip. The warm ash has healing properties and you can also get a massage. After soaking, go to the nearby Manzanillo del Mar Lake to wash up.

• Be sure to spend time in Getsemani, the “Brooklyn” of Cartagena, a short 15 minute stroll beyond the city walls. This neighborhood is an authentic array of hipster cafes, shops and stunning graffiti and street art.

• Visit Convento de la Popa. This white-washed, red-roofed convent crowns the highest hill in the city, offering stunning vistas of Cartegena below stretching toward the Caribbean Sea. It was built in the early 1600s by Augustinian friars.

Must Eat

• Almuzero (set lunch) includes a small soup, fried mojarra fish (commonly served with a side of coconut-infused rice and patacones) and a refreshing agua de panela sweet drink.

• Posta Negra Cartagena – Beef, cooked in a dark sauce made with Cola, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, cumin and panela or brown sugar.

• Arepas con queso are savoury, cheese-filled corn cakes cooked on a griddle.

Best Nightlife: Cartegena has a fantastic Caribbean vibe at night. Cafe Havana in Getsamani is one of the best live salsa music venues in South America. Sit atop the city walls and sip sunset cocktails at Cafe Del Mar bar but remember to make a booking! We recommend pre-dinner drinks at Alquimico Bar before trying one of these iconic city restaurants: El Arsenal – The Rum Box, where you can have a Colombian Rum and chocolate tasting, La Casa del Túnel or Restaurants 1621. End your night at Tu Candela Bar and dance the night away.

Best time to visit: January to March is the ideal time to explore Cartagena’s beautiful beaches and landscapes. The weather is warm but not too humid during the day, and the ocean breezes make for cool evenings.

Top Tip:  Travel in March 2023 and head to the Barranquilla Festival, just 2 hours drive away. This Mardi Gras style carnival is like no other, the second biggest in the world and Barranquilla is the hometown of Colombian icons, Shakira and Sofia Vergara. Enjoy 4 days of partying, salsa dancing, costumes and parades. Another great event for music lovers is the Cartagena Jazz Festival in November each year.

Our recommended DMC: The team at WhereNext Travel will create memorable getaways for you throughout Colombia.