In late January and early February each year, one of the most important literary and cultural festivals in the country takes place in Cartagena: Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias takes place. Dip under the crystalline surface for snorkelling and diving on the coral reefs which flank the coast - there are sharks and eels to be spotted, as well as huge sponges and vast spider crabs wandering the reef. If you are unsure if you have the right outlet adapter, you can check out this adapter pack for your trip to Colombia and future travels. Everything is walkable! 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. Oh, and definitely make a pitstop at La Palettera to get an ice-cold popsicle. However, these destinations are really not suitable for day trip as the distance from Cartagena and to them is just too far. VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION If you're traveling to Colombia as a tourist from the United States, you do not need a visa. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. Civil unrest in Colombia. Other good options if you fancy a change or Folklore Cafe is busy include: Cafe del Mural - find it here. Do that, and Colombia will be one of the most incredible destinations you visit in South America. Always keep your eyes open and your valuables safe, and keep a low profile to avoid becoming a target. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. So dresses, shorts, and loose shirts are recommended to withstand the heat of the city. 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. That is identified in Colombia as "providing up papaya". In our 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Cartagena post, we shared our favourite experiences and places to visit in the city. Have no worries because there is no tourist visa required for US citizens traveling to Cartagena under 90 days. Keep Reading // 12 Tips for Staying Safe in Latin America. Cartagenas fruit ladies or also known as The Palenqueras, are colorfully dressed women who effortlessly balance a bouquet of fruit atop their heads as they wander the streets of Cartagena. Cartagena is hot and oh-so humid, so do your best to start your day off early to get some sightseeing in. Secondly, most taxis dont have a meter and instead have zone rates which they often dont strictly adhere to with foreigners. 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. Hopefully, this re-balance of local vs tourist will prevent Cartagena from falling victim to over tourism. Cheap no-frills airlines include Viva Colombia and EasyFly (make sure you check the baggage allowances! However, we know that many travellers can be a little paranoid about drinking tap water anywhere or dont want a short holiday to be ruined by getting the shits or tummy upsets. Keep Reading // For more advice, read how to manage your travel money better. Dont believe them! You do not need to present a vaccination certificate when you travel to Cartagena. Water in Cartagena is safe to drink, which will come as a massive relief as this way you wont have to worry about brushing your teeth with it, or eating a salad that has been washed in it. . Although very popular as day trips, going for one night or longer is the best way to experience the beaches with fewer people. Someone told us before traveling to Cartagena to be prepared to change twice a day because of the heat and humidity. When traveling, anytime you do an activity with animals, you really want to be sure the animals welfare is coming first, not tourist fun. Its still primarily a backpacker hub though although its now more hipster-chic than punk, and really comes alive at night. 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. 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. Although in theory you can go year round, depending on when you go you may encounter larger crowds of tourists, get quite a bit of rain (though since it is in the Caribbean, it can rain year round) and find the city to be unbearably hot and humid we are speaking 80% and even 90% humidity. For the perfect Caribbean respite, consider flying to San Andres, off the coast of Nicaragua. A taxi may come in handy occasionally. As photographers, we had to set the alarm early to enjoy strolls around Cartagenas gorgeous streets and be able to take some photos without hundred of people in them. ATM's are in English and Spanish and the surcharge is about equal to US$ 3.00.". 15 Best Things to Do in Cartagena Colombia. Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Once youve received your luggage, follow the signs and just queue up at the kiosk, tell the person which neighbourhood youre going to and theyll give you a receipt and point you to the waiting official taxi. Your post inspires me to make it more of a priority! We started doing our research weeks ahead of time, but were in for a surprise: not only had accommodation prices in Cartagena skyrocketed, but most of the decent options were already booked out for our dates. However, as tourism to the city skyrocketed, the unofficial demarcation between the two neighbourhoods has blurred and we were surprised at how many new hotels and businesses (and further redevelopment) had set up in Getseman. Well, you wouldnt be the first! Reservations are encouraged where you can make them! We visited Cartagena in late January and into early February and their winter temperatures rose into the 90s. Islands Bar or Rosario offer the white sand, palm trees and perfect sparkling waters you thought only existed in travel magazines. Thank you so much Erica, Cartagena is such a beautiful town and I want to go there again :)You will love it there for sure. Before you can start planning your trip to Colombia, there are a few things US citizens need to know. Shop; Pruducts. This is known in Colombia as "offering up papaya". As an Airbnb Associate, I earn when you book through certain links. Located on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is one of the MOST popular destinations in Colombia. Obviously not held in Cartagena, but the citys relative proximity means that the city can get busier when its on. You need to take buses, flights, and even boat rides at times. Firstly, Uber works in Cartagena but EasyTaxi is a popular local alternative app. 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. The 16th-century colonial port city is the best-preserved Spanish settlement in the Caribbean and it attracts more than 2 million tourists a year. Keep in mind the rule of asking the price before taking it also applies for cabs. Instead, you will have to travel from Cartagena to the city of Santa Marta. Besides being known as the best beach in Cartagena, Playa Blanca in Baru is also recognized for its high demand of beach vendors who are very persistent to sell their goods. In all honesty, Cartagena reminded us of Old San Juan. Don't leave your bags unattended in touristy areas or flash your valuables while wandering the streets. 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. Due to Cartagena being a massive port city, not only for cruises but for freight liners too, and the number of tourists this place sees, unfortunately, the water has been affected due to pollution. Its Really As Beautiful As People Say It Is, 6. The good news is that it is really close to the city, and you can easily get there by taxi (they have fixed prices based on where you are going), colectivo (shared shuttle) or private transfer. 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. Cartagenas Old City (Centro) is where tourists flock to stay, and for good reason. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The only dorm that was left was charging an extortionate amount, and we were saved by a guy who promised he knew a woman who had a room spare for a good price. Spread across several days, it allows attendees to enjoy novels and poems, as well as plays, exhibition, workshops and conferences and offers an alternative experience of the city. Usually polite and usually just trying to make some cash by selling tours or souvenirs, a respectful no gracias will suffice when speaking. The thing to know is that the Caribbean coast of Colombia is more expensive than elsewhere in the country, and Cartagena is generally the most expensive place on the Caribbean coast. Finally, some suggest that it is possible to visit Tayrona National Park and / or Santa Marta on day trips from Cartagena. A polite but firm no, gracias will normally send touts away. This is known in Colombia as "offering up papaya". As Beautiful as people Say it is possible to visit Tayrona National and... Places to visit Tayrona National Park and / or Santa Marta shared our experiences! Planning your trip to Colombia, there are a few Things US citizens traveling to Cartagena winter. It here we shared our favourite experiences and places to visit Tayrona National Park and / or Santa Marta post. Just trying to make it more things to know before traveling to cartagena, colombia a priority hopefully, this re-balance of local tourist! 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