Bienvenidos A Cartagena, Colombia!
Hola!
I am finally back from my trip to Colombia and let me tell you, I had a time! Cartagena is a city that is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, in the northwestern part of the South American continent. If you are wondering where is Cartagena in Colombia, it is located in the north of the country and is the capital of the Bolívar region. Cartagena de Indias is known for their charm of colonial architecture, the excitement of a vivid night life, fascinating cultural festivals, and lush landscapes that will bring you the perfect vacation experience. If you’re planning a trip to Colombia, I am here to help you prepare for the brutal heat, good food and just straight vibes. Watch my TikTok below for a full recap of the trip as well.
How To Prepare
You have to fill out the immigration registration form 72 hours before your trip or up to one hour before. It’s called Check Mig. Make sure you show this at customs and take a screenshot in case you don’t have Wifi. I would also recommend bringing your vaccination card as well just in case since COVID cases have started to increase again. Make sure you know how to speak some type of Spanish. Google will be your best friend to translate if you’re not fluent. You may find some people that are bilingual, but don’t count on it.
Can You Use U.S. Dollars In Cartagena?
U.S. dollars and Euros are widely exchangeable. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Colombia but use with care and keep receipts. I always keep my receipts just in case. For those that like to use credit cards, I would pick one that doesn’t have an international fee. I am a points kinda girl as mentioned in my other posts and that’s the best way to go. The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). A number of businesses accept payment by card, and there are a several ATMs in the old town where you can safely withdraw cash (BCP is the best bank to withdraw from as it generally doesn’t charge fees, and Servibanco is the next best option as you can take out up to 780,000 COP per withdrawal for a fee of 15,000 COP. Please make sure you have Pesos when you travel there. I changed my money at the CTG airport when I arrived. In small restaurants, some people tip 1000 pesos or less (about $ . 50 US); A few tip 2000 pesos (about $1 US) just to give you an idea. Most Colombians tip very little or not at all. We tipped for the most part. Some people do expect tips. There are a few apps you can download to check the conversion so that you don’t get ripped off while you’re there.
What Kind Of Charger Can You Use?
The two-prong power sockets in Cartagena and throughout Colombia are the same as the U.S., but if you’re coming from the UK or Europe you’ll need an adapter.
Are Ubers Safe in Cartagena?
I thought the Ubers were fine, but one of our friend’s had an issue in his Uber. Police will randomly stop them and do ‘checks.’ They said he smelled like weed, but he didn’t even have a lighter on him. Usually when this happens, they’re looking for money from tourists and may possibly want to take your passports. Not to go off topic, but Uber allegedly is illegal and super cheap. Some drivers may want you to meet them in a different location so that they don’t get a transportation fine. You just have to pay attention.
Where To Stay?
Since it was our first time traveling there, we stayed at the Hotel Caribe By Faranda Grand and truly enjoyed it. They give you free breakfast as well each morning until 11am. I am sold on anything that includes a meal with our stay. I almost forgot to mention that they have an airport transfer included with the stay which is amazing. It is located directly across the street from the beach. You can convert your money at the front desk, but that opens at 9am. They have about 3 pools and is not located too far from the Walled City where the tourists go. If you’re not interested in hotels, then you can always choose an Airbnb as well. Some people book AirBnb’s near this hotel or you can find an AirBnb in the Walled City or Getsemaní.
Where To Eat?
This rooftop is located within the Walled City. I loved that they had a live band there on our first night. it really set the tone for the trip. I also enjoyed the views and my food. You can click the title of the restaurant to check out their IG.
Pictured: Mojarra Caribena
Hotel Santa Clara is probably one of the most popular hotels in the area. Rated the best hotel in South America, this historic convent converted into a hotel boasts 125 guest rooms, including 25 suites along the Caribbean Sea. They have two restaurants located inside. We went to El Jardin and enjoyed the food there. You can click the title of the restaurant to check out their website.
Pictured: Stuffed Crabs and mash potatoes
If you’re looking for a good time, then I would definitely go here. It’s very entertaining and they had a live band. It’s not a quiet place. Don’t expect to talk too much with the live entertainment. You can also dance here as well. You can click the title of the restaurant to check out their website.
Pictured: Shrimp Rice
This rooftop gets crowded very quickly because everyone wants to get there to watch the sun go down. It is best to have a reservation, but if you don’t then you should get there as soon as they open. That’s what we did and the line was long. I recommend eating tapas here and then going out for dinner somewhere else. I think it’s a great rooftop bar for light bites and drinks. You can click the title of the restaurant to check out their website.
If you’re looking for a chill or mellow vibe, then I would choose this rooftop. You have to make a reservation for this on their website. It’s strongly encouraged since it’s small venue on the roof. You can eat inside as well, but people mainly go there since the view is nice. My meal was served cold and I was shocked, but I understand why. I wasn’t used to the taste, but thoroughly enjoyed it. You can click the title of the restaurant to check out their website.
Pictured: Pesca Viajera - White fish; Guava; Patacon Crunch; Coconut
Things To Do
There’s so much to do in Cartagena. It just depends on what you’re in the mood for. For all my night people that love the clubs, check out Delirium or VSOP. They both play hip hop and have hookah. I love a good tour. It can be a walking tour or an island tour. I recommend doing the Five Island Tour. This tour provides lunch and snorkeling. You can visit Pablo Escobar's plane if you go snorkeling. I had a great time on a boat bouncing from one island to another. I think my favorite island was Cholon. That’s considered the ‘party island.’ Here’s the link to check out 5 Islands Premium Tour from Cartagena-Includes Snorkeling, lunch tour.
Islas de Rosario
We visited two popular neighborhoods on our own. It only takes 20 minutes to get to Getsemaní from the airport, or 10 minutes on foot from the Walled City. Getsemaní is also famous for its street art and slightly alternative vibe - to discover more about both, join this popular two hour graffiti walking tour. You may bump into a few kites and umbrellas on your walk through town. Lots of tourists pass through to take pictures in these places.
Getsemaní
The Walled City is a beautiful historic centre of Cartagena, with colorful walls. The Gate and Clock Tower (“la Puerta y la Torre del Reloj”) can be seen at the main entrance of the walled city. Of the three open doors there, only the central one existed originally; the other two were occupied by a gunroom and a chapel. It’s home to most of the nicer hotels, restaurants, and bars and is the center for most tourism in the city. As you walk around, you will find places to shop, but most importantly keep a look out on people trying to sell you things as you walk the streets. Don’t walk at night alone in these neighborhoods as well. Just be careful.
On the colorful streets of the Walled City
