Two days in Cartagena, Colombia itinerary
Cartagena is a busy, lively place that has a more Caribbean feel to it than the Latin vibes of Bogotá and Medellin. It’s a port town with tropical islands close by, an old military fort, and a beautiful walled city with colourful cobbled streets.
We arrived in Cartagena from Medellin, which was 45 minutes by plane. From the airport it’s only a 15 minute taxi into Centro or Getsemani – the two areas recommended for tourists. The city has a reputation for being unsafe, and although this wasn’t our experience you can see that there is a lot of poverty even in the well-maintained old town.
We were in Cartagena as part of a two week trip to Colombia, and these were our highlights.
How long to spend in Cartagena
We only spent two nights in Cartagena. On our first evening we explored the colourful streets around the Plaza de Trinidad, and the next day we took a boat trip to Tierra Bomba, one of the nearby Rosario Islands.
On the walk to the port we were able to explore some of the historic old town, and on our way home we watched the sunset from the old city walls. The only thing we missed was the fort, which we could have fit in if we’d been quicker on our first evening. For us two nights was a good amount of time, but an extra night would have allowed us to fit in more at a slower pace.
Where to stay in Cartagena
We stayed at Casa Voila in Getsemani. Not all of Cartagena is safe for tourists so staying within the walled city is definitely recommended. Casa Voila was beautiful and relaxing and cost just over £200 for two nights for a double room.
There’s a small pool in the courtyard and the staff are lovely and very welcoming and helpful. Our room was great, with high ceilings and white stone walls that help the room feel cool against the humidity of outside – the only downside is that the wall of the en suite doesn’t reach the ceiling, which isn’t ideal if you’re sharing a room!
The best things to do in Cartagena
Explore Getsemani
See the sloths in Parque Centenario (check the trees in the north-west corner!)
Walk the old town wall
Watch sunset from Baluarte de Santo Domingo
Visit San Felipe de Barajas Fort
Take a day trip to the Rosario Islands
Dance at Cafe Havana
Find out more about our trip to Colombia and our day trip to the Rosario Islands from Cartagena here.