Is Cartagena worth visiting?
Is Cartagena worth visiting?
Located on the sizzling Caribbean coast of Colombia, Cartagena is a striking city to visit and the high-paced tourist environment is what many backpackers visiting here thrive on.
Known for its fortified historic center (which is surrounded by colonial walls and cannons), the city also has many artsy streets to explore as well as white sand beaches to relax on.
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Cartagena, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know before traveling here.
Is Cartagena worth visiting?
Quick Answer: If you’re after a thriving Colombian city with atmosphere, then you’ll 100% want to visit Cartagena during your trip to Colombia.
The culture here is much more open, and it’s easy to get into the local swing of things. In Getsemani we can head on the local Chivas that run riot on the streets, and also enjoy typical Caribbean cuisines in various restaurants dotted throughout here and Bocagrande.
The warm climate here is another great reason to visit, especially if coming from cities like Bogotá or Medellin. Beaches like those on Barú and the Rosario Islands are known for their long strips of white sands, and you can also go snorkeling in crystal-clear waters.
In Cartagena (and around the region) there are also many interesting attractions to visit. One of these is El Totumo – a tiny volcano where you can lie on the top for a warm mud bath.
We can also visit the Fort of San Felipe too, which is the largest defensive structure built in the continent by the Spanish empire.
Where is Cartagena?
Cartagena is situated along the Caribbean coast in northern Colombia. Given its location, it’s known for its striking coastline as well as having many memorable tropical islands to visit nearby.
The closest major city to Cartagena is Barranquilla, which is roughly 125 km away (a 3 hour drive). Those looking to head here from Santa Marta can easily hop on a bus, which takes around 5 hours and departs multiple times throughout the day.
How far is Cartagena from Bogotá?
Many travelers will first arrive into the Colombian capital of Bogotá before heading onwards to Cartagena. However it’s important to note that these two cities have a huge distance between them (over 1030 km).
The best way to make the journey is by flying, with the route taking just an hour and a half. Prices for this direct flight begin around $50, which makes it quite an affordable option for the majority of travelers.
If you want to save then you can always take the bus, however it will still cost roughly $35 so it may be worth flying here instead. And that’s without mentioning the 20 hour ride through mountains to get here too! On arrival you can check into a dorm (or private room) at one of the top rated hostels such as Republica or Viajero for the best stay in the city.
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7 Reasons to Visit Cartagena
Are you still wondering if Cartagena is really worth the visit? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should head to this sizzling Caribbean city.
1. Marvel at incredible Colonial Feats
Cartagena is a beautiful city to visit, especially in the north around the historic center. Aside from the intertwining colorful streets, you can also find some important colonial feats too.
One of the most impressive is the Fort of San Felipe, which lies just outside of Getsemani. The largest fort ever built by the Spanish on the South American mainland, it served a really important role of protecting Cartagena from any coastal invasions.
Inside the site you can walk around the different levels whilst learning about the different tunnels and defense systems put in place. These include the lines of cannons at the top, which are still here to this day.
One of the best things about this site is the panoramic views over Cartagena you have when at the top. We highly recommend heading here around the evening time just before the sun sets.
2. Enjoy a Local Night Out – Cartagena Style
Colombian nightlife is hard to rival – here you’ll find electric scenes and venues that cater to all kinds of music styles and vibes.
Cartagena in particular is well-known for its nightlife, where we can find many street parties, salsa clubs and alternative venues. You can start off in the Historic Center, where there’s many lively bars close to the Plaza de la Aduana.
However the real epicenter of it all is in Getsemani, where things dial up a lot when nighttime hits. Some of the best bars here include Tertulia and Beers Lovers Cartagena, and those looking to dance some salsa can head to Café Havana (however, walking around you’ll find locals dancing away in the streets too).
Those after a more novel and memorable experience will want to head on a local Chiva, which looks like a chicken bus however has music pumping and flies around Cartagena into the early hours of the morning.
As well as including all drinks (you can purchase your ticket here), the Chiva also makes several stops around the city to see different attractions too!
3. Visit the Gold Museum
Being completely honest – the Museo de Oro in Bogotá trumps this gold museum, however if you couldn’t visit the capital then we highly recommend heading here.
Known as the Museo del Oro Zenú, we can find over 600 golden artifacts from the pre-Columbian period of this region. It focuses on the indigenous Zenú people which ruled this area of Colombia, and here we can find an array of recovered artifacts which range from jewelry to golden ornaments.
There’s also plenty of silver and ceramic too, which were used daily by those who inhabited these regions.
The museum is located within the Walled City just a block north of the Plaza de la Aduana – which makes it a great stop for when the temperatures get too hot (all rooms are air-conditioned here).
4. Relax on the Rosario Islands
Arguably one of the best day trips you can from Cartagena, the Rosario Islands are located roughly 35 km away in the Caribbean Ocean.
There are several islands you can visit here, and you can easily stay overnight for a more relaxing experience (this also opens up possibilities of doing extra activities too such as spear fishing or cooking a traditional dinner on the islands).
These islands are also perfect for beach lovers too, where you’ll find miles upon miles of uninterrupted white, sandy beaches.
One of the best islands you can visit is Barú, which is known for being home to the infamous Playa Blanca beach (which usually appears on most Cartagena postcards).
Whilst you can organize trips to the Rosario Islands yourself, it’s better to head with this awesome Day Tour where you’ll have all transport, accommodation and food included.
5. Explore the Walled City of Cartagena
As mentioned several times already, Cartagena has lots going for it in the department of beautiful buildings and quirky streets.
And when here you simply must visit the Historic Centre – which is also known as the Walled City. It’s pretty easy to spot given it’s surrounded by a large wall around its perimeter, and also as it’s the most touristy place in the city.
For this reason we highly recommend visiting early around 7/8am before the crowds arrive (and also before temperatures get too uncomfortably hot).
The plazas are a highlight here with bright-stained cathedrals and lively centers, with the best being the Plaza de la Aduana as well as the Plaza de Santo Domingo.
Of course walking on top of the 400+ year old stone walls is a must, where you can also get some nice views over the Caribbean Ocean.
5. Head to El Totumo Volcano
By far the most authentic experience to have in this region of Colombia, El Totumo Volcano probably isn’t what you’d expect at all from its name.
Standing at just 15 meters tall, it’s one of the shortest volcanoes in the continent, where you can walk up steps from the bottom to the top in just under a minute!
However the true secret of this gem lies inside, where warm mud floats to the top. It’s safe to float inside, and here you can get a massage whilst making the most of the mud (it’s full of rich minerals which are great for your skin and hair).
After you’re all lathered up, you can then head to the nearby river where local women will wash you down in true rural style.
El Totumo is located around 55 km away from Cartagena, which can be driven to in just over an hour. We highly recommend heading on this day tour, where you’ll visit El Totumo and also have typical Colombian snacks included too.
7. Discover Street Art in Getsemani
Cartagena is a really unique city, since it has many different neighborhoods with really different feels. One of these is Getsemani, which is just a few minutes walk from the Walled City in the north of Cartagena.
Getsemani definitely feels more local than the other neighboring districts, and is worth visiting for a more authentic view on Colombian life.
One of the other main reasons to visit is for the amount of awesome street art on display, which can be found in all nooks and crannies. The best street to start on is Calle Media Luna which runs through the heart of the district, where you can then head off into the smaller streets that intersect it.
Another great way of seeing everything is by joining this Street Graffiti Tour, where your knowledgeable local guide will show you all of the very best spots.
Is Cartagena worth visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Cartagena.
This incredible Caribbean city is a must for those heading through South America. Full of tropical beaches, colonial architecture and a sizzling culture, you’ll find that there’s tons to see and do here.
There’s also some really worthwhile day trips to head on too, such as to the Rosario Islands and the infamous El Totumo Mud Volcano.
While you’re here be sure to read our Backpacking Colombia Itinerary for even more ideas on where to go in this diverse South American nation.
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