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Фотогалерея ‒ Cartagena, Colombia

Guide to Cartagena

Virtual tour of Cartagena

The city of Cartagena rightfully holds the title of Colombia's calling card. Its main attraction is a complex system of fortifications stretching over 11 kilometers, constructed in response to the famous pirate Francis Drake's 100-day siege of the city.

The historic center of Cartagena is a UNESCO-protected treasure trove, featuring colonial-era buildings, churches, monasteries, and charming plazas. This pedestrian zone, surrounded by walls, is known as the "outer city." Also worth exploring are Cartagena's commercial rows, which occupy the former site of the Las Bovedas prison.

Beach enthusiasts will find delight in Cartagena, with the most popular resorts being El Laguito and Bocagrande. These areas offer not only pristine beaches but also a plethora of restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and bars. Just 30 kilometers from Cartagena, the Islas del Rosario islands await, boasting clean white sandy beaches, coral reefs, and a diverse underwater world that attracts diving enthusiasts from around the globe.

For those who wish to immerse themselves in Colombian culture, the central square of the city comes alive in the evenings with locals performing national dances, drawing crowds of spectators.

Photos of Cartagena

Tips for tourists

Population
845 801
Time zone
GMT -5
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colombian peso

Tours to Cartagena

Cartagena de Indias is a vibrant resort city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Tourists come here not only for the beach holidays but also for the unique atmosphere of a colonial city. Cobblestone streets, fortress walls, and boutique hotels make Cartagena one of the most beautiful destinations on the South American Caribbean coast.

The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is especially pleasant. Flights from Europe usually start at €600–750 round trip.

You can find decent hotel rooms starting from €35–40 per night. Many last-minute packages include flights, accommodation, and breakfast. Be sure to walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town and try the local Colombian cuisine.

Don’t miss visiting the San Felipe de Barajas fortress and La Popa Monastery, which offers panoramic views over the city.

Interesting places in Cartagena

The largest number of attractions for tourists is concentrated in the northern part of Cartagena (Ciudad Amurallado). We recommend visiting:

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

Traveling to Cartagena (Colombia) from Europe usually involves stopovers, most often in Bogotá or Panama. Flights are available from Warsaw, Frankfurt, Prague, Paris, and Budapest with airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Iberia, and Avianca.

Round-trip ticket prices start from €620–750 depending on the season. For example, from Chișinău — from €680, from Milan — around €700, and from London — about €790. Winter months often bring good deals, especially if booked in advance.

The best hotels in Cartagena

The most inexpensive accommodation option in Cartagena is hostels. A place in a shared room will cost from 10 USD. By the way, the hostel building may well be historically significant.

A single room in a simple hotel will cost from 20 USD, and a 5* hotel in a respectable neighborhood will cost from 100 USD per day. Outside the fortress walls, in the Old Town, there are several hotels converted from former monasteries - the price tag is appropriate, but the experience is unforgettable.

If you want to rent an apartment, prepare from 50 USD per day, depending on its location. It is also common to stay in the same house with the owners (rent a room or a place in a room), the cost in this case will be from 15 USD per night.

The cost of vacation

The lion's share of your budget will be the cost of airfare to Colombia. Against the background of this figure, the rest of your expenses seem quite moderate - you can find inexpensive accommodation here, and you can also eat quite cheaply.

Let's calculate together how much money to prepare for a trip to Cartagena for 4 days.

The budget for a trip to Cartagena
Flight from 1,100 USD Accomodation from 40 USD (4 nights)
Average check in a restaurant 30,600 COP (about 10 USD) Visit to one museum 17,000 COP (about 5.5 USD)
Total: from 1,285 USD

Cartagena: tips for tourists

Visa to Cartagena

EU citizens can visit Colombia without a visa for up to 90 days. To extend the stay, it is necessary to apply to the Colombian Migration Service. Before traveling, it is recommended to check the current requirements on official resources and prepare the necessary documents.

Cartagena Airport

Rafael Núñez International Airport is located in Crespo, 3 km from Cartagena. The largest airport in the north of the country in terms of passenger traffic. It receives both domestic and international flights. Thanks to its convenient location, you can get to the airport quite quickly.

Airport transfer to Cartagena

To the city center from the airport you can take a bus or shuttle bus, which run regularly. You can also find a cab for about 5 USD (the trip takes about 15 minutes).

Transportation in Cartagena

Buses and shuttle buses are common (they are painted in different colors). Tickets are inexpensive, usually less than 1 USD. Cabs are also plentiful in the city, but for your own safety, use only licensed services.

Car rental in Cartagena

Cartagena has few cars, so those who like personal comfort can rent a car without fear of traffic jams or accidents. There are rental outlets at the airport and in the city itself. Both Colombian and international companies work here. Rental costs from 50 USD, depending on the chosen car and the number of days.


Security in Cartagena

The city is considered one of the calmest in Colombia. Cartagena is safe for tourists remembering simple precautions. Refrain from showing off expensive machinery, jewelry and large sums of money in public places, and don't get into cars with private citizens.


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