Right outside you will be able to visit San Felipe Castle and to take a walk on the city walls. Head out on an early morning jaunt to explore its streets before the crowds descend or alternatively consider a walking tour to cover the Walled Citys most impressive and important sights - this one is highly-rated. Nevertheless, whichever group you belong to, most of your time will be spent staying in and exploring around old Cartagena which is split into two neighbourhoods only a five to ten-minute walk apart: Getseman | Used to be the grungy, gritty, but very very pretty, backpacker district. Some people say it reminds them of old Havana, for others its their favourite nooks and side streets of Spain. Top Tip // If you really, really dont have time to head further along the coast independently but have your heart set on visiting Tayrona National Park then there is the possibility of joining this well-rated day tour from Cartagena. Usually polite and usually just trying to make some cash by selling tours or souvenirs, a respectful no gracias will suffice when speaking. Make sure to read my posts about other Colombia destinations: Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a1e2a88525395fb846803998dbad156b" );document.getElementById("bf5f1d039c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is your best chance to catch the city while its still empty not to mention, to avoid the heat! The main one, Bocagrande, is an almost complete disappointment. Plus, it's a 2 1/2 hour direct flight from Florida! Una foto publicada por Juan Ballena (@juanballenatravel) el 28 de Abr de 2016 a la(s) 5:23 PDT. A one-way trip costs 2,600 COP. Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) Rafael Nez International Airport Things to know before you go Terminal Location Main Terminal Recommended Arrival Time 3 hours prior to departure Ticket Counter Hours Open: 3 hours prior to departure Closed: 1 hour prior to departure Baggage Service Office +57 5 6505959 +57 5 6505959 (fax) Unaccompanied Minors Getsemani: This is an ideal area for travelers who want to being near of the historic center on a budget. Here's a quick overview of the visa requirements, health and safety precautions, currency exchange, and other important information for US citizens traveling to Colombia. We highly recommend trying to enjoy the city before most of it wakes at least once on your visit. This area of Colombia is green and lush which means rain. Direct flights to Cartagena. For our second visit, we were determined to not make the same mistake and to bag ourselves a really great, social backpacker spot in Getseman. Cartagena Travel Costs. If the temperatures get too much, try booking accommodation with a pool, head to a few museums, or grab a coffee and a bite to eat in an air-conditioned eatery or coffee shop. 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. The logistics of moving around Colombia can be messy. Its Colombian territory and there are direct flights from Cartagena. 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. Mall Plaza El Castilloe - find it here. From may to november we experience raining season being october the rainiest month. The tap water in Cartagena is safe to drink. are actually quite expensive. Also Read: A Digital Nomad's Guide to Medellin, Colombia A taxi may come in handy occasionally. We used this app big time during our travel throughout Colombia! When we needed to work in Cartagena, this is where we went. Beyond these two districts, Cartagena sprawls out much further than any visitor imagines and becomes much like other Colombian cities; it does have quite vivid splashes of modernity with its clusters of white apartment towers next to the sea at Bocagrande, but most of us will have little reason to venture beyond the two neighbourhoods mentioned above. You will also have to stretch your budget to get a room with air conditioning so that you can rest decently at night. Don't leave your bags unattended in touristy areas or flash your valuables while wandering the streets. However if youre reading this post, know youre going to Cartagena, but havent sorted out your accommodation in Getseman or the Walled City, then please learn from our mistake and put booking something straight up to the top of your to-do list. Most places that will be of interest are concentrated in the Walled City. You should always ask the price before you make a purchase and if you think it sounds expensive try to put the price down, the vendor will surely accept it or work the price with you. That is identified in Colombia as "providing up papaya". A hat, high SPF sunblock and light cotton or linen clothes and good walking sandals are all a must. You can pay with debit or credit card almost anywhere, most of the stores and restaurants accept cards, although if you are hanging out at the beach or want to buy something from a street vendor take cash. 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. I found it to be crowded with tourists when I visited, a few years ago, and rumor has it that the city is now receiving even more visitors thanks to cheap flight connections, cruise ships and social media promotion. The best part is you can easily experience both Getsemani and Cartagenas Old City in one day or spend several exploring both neighborhoods in detail. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Finally, here are a few other useful tips for traveling to Cartagena. Top Tip // Whilst were here, we might as well mention that Spanish is a real difference maker for your travels in Cartagena and Colombia. Beth: "Bring a debit card to get cash, and be sure to let your bank know where you will be. Other good options if you fancy a change or Folklore Cafe is busy include: Cafe del Mural - find it here. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Posted by Riemann_9471. What To Know Before Going to Cartagena. 15 Best Things to Do in Cartagena Colombia. 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. Read More // What Things Cost in Colombia. You will have the place to yourself which is perfect for any photographers wanting to get people free photos of Cartagenas Old City. We strongly recommend you Gente de Mar Resort or the Majagua Hotel; if you could, you should stay at least overnight to truly enjoy this natural paradise. 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. If you're on a tight budget, then a visit to the Gold Museum of Cartagena, in the old town, is a great way to kill some time and save some money because it's completely free to enter. Reception staff at hostels and hotels and many tourist restaurants and attractions will of course speak English, but anywhere that isnt tourist facing will be exclusively in Spanish. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Remember you will need a copy of your passport for that. ). As travellers, it meant we could enjoy its beauty without a clawing heat and dream of all the stories they could tell. We spent almost 10 days in Cartagena and at no point did we ever feel unsafe or threatened. The Rosario islands are integrated by an archipelago of 27 islands; all with white sand, narrow beaches and warm turquoise waters. As our bellies can attest to, the tap water in Cartagena is safe to drink, safe to brush your teeth with, safe to wash fruit and veg with, and safe to have ice in your cocktail. Like in Thailand, dont ride the elephants, and in Cartagena, taking a carriage ride with some horses that dont look to be in the best shape is something you should opt to skip. The trip lasts around 5 days and you should expect to pay no less than $500 USD. Walking around Getseman after darkness falls, you will be offered drugs. The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). 16. First, having year round beach weather is pretty hard to beat. Youre close to the equator, along the northern coast of Colombia which faces the Caribbean Sea.to say its hot is an understatement. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. solotripsandtips.com - Susan Moore. Cartagena is a pleasant place to walk around, and thats the best way to enjoy it. The Old City of Cartagena (Centro) is small, so its streets are inevitably crowded with tourists and locals. All you Americans visiting Cartagena, leave your outlet adapters at home! March 2020 at 15:29. (Be aware that this coffee shop only opens at 3pm). You must know that Taxis in Cartagena do not have taximeter, they have specific zone rates, unfortunately most of the times taxi drivers dont follow these rates and charge according to their convenience or passengers foreign face and their ability to communicate, so every time you take a cab first negotiate price before getting on. If you do, just know that the photo is not free. Reservations are encouraged where you can make them! An annual festival held each November in celebration of the citys declaration of indolence in 1811. For a more detailed list of things to do in Cartagena, head over to this post. Una foto publicada por Juan Ballena (@juanballenatravel) el 25 de May de 2016 a la(s) 8:55 PDT, Currency exchange places in Cartagena usually take dollars, euros and some of them, Brazilian Reais. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 15. With tourism becoming an important source of revenue in Cartagena, the price of services to tourists have been increasing, and even just looking around for a place to stay in town you will quickly realize that its not nearly as cheap as youd have hoped. A polite but firm no, gracias will normally send touts away. Most hotels do have WiFi for guests and you can buy a cheap local SIM card to use data or even hotspot yourself. Cartagena Old City Accommodations:Soy Local|Casona del Colegio|Casa India Catalina, Getsemani Accomodations:Casa Pizarro Hotel Boutique|Hotel Monaguillo|Hotel Casa Tere, 13 Absolutely Amazing Things To Do in Salento, The Ultimate Colombia Itinerary & Trip Planner, All You Need To Know About the Cocora Valley Hike. Oh, and don't forget to carry your camera ;). Pin this travel guide & save it for later. The coffee region is chalk full of amazingly friendly people and beautiful mountain landscapes. Common sense goes a long way . When visiting Cartagena, two great areas are staying either withinCartagenas walled city (Centro)or just outside it, in theGetsemani neighborhood. What Things Cost in Morocco | Is It Expensive? Playa Blanca, in Isla Baru, and the Islas del Rosario Archipelago, will easily match your idea of Caribbean paradise. This will definitely discourage you from traveling to Colombia solo. Cartagena Uses U.S. Consider your source. They will encourage you, the tourist, to take a photo with them or of their Palenqueras group. Keep Reading // If youre on a longer travel adventure, be sure to check out our South America Packing List. Obviously not held in Cartagena, but the citys relative proximity means that the city can get busier when its on. However you get your water, remember that staying hydrated as you explore Cartagena is key. From the moment you leave your hotel to the moment you get back you will be encountered by many a salesman asking you to buy a sombrero, a bracelet, a soccer jersey, or book a tour. Coca leaves are still chewed on the streets and available for tourists . If you want to be extra safe, you can opt for a bottle with a water filter such as this one. 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 beautiful and historic coastal metropolis alongside Colombia's Caribbean coast . However, all that has changed now, and Colombia as a country has transformed for the better.

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