Which of the Following Activities Can You Do in Cartagena
Over the by few years, Colombia has been one of the peak destinations for travellers, often highlighted by the many things to practice in Cartagena, a beautiful and celebrated Caribbean urban center. The city itself is colourful, safety, total of astonishing food, and has a history relevant to the Castilian Conquest.
While many visit Cartagena for the warm Caribbean area weather, there are so many different reasons to stay and explore.
This port city (which is surrounded by a pirate defensible wall) played a role in the Castilian conquest every bit information technology oversaw the import and export of products to and from Due south America.
Cartagena's history is rich, colourful, and occasionally violent. Because of this, you'll observe a variety of museums, tours, and sites to run across. The history and people of Cartagena had me so hooked that I ended upward staying for an actress 2 months!
Culturally, the people of Cartagena give off that warm Caribbean area vibe, coupled with some of the best music and dancing out there. The reputation for nutrient and beverage is unmatched in Colombia with street food and gastronomic tours available as but some of the many things to do in Cartagena.
Visit a beautiful white sand embankment, sink into an agile volcano, and consume your heart out. There are numerous things to do in Colombia, with a visit to Cartagena being a highlight. But first, you demand to get from the airport to your hotel/hostel. Click here for comfortable, prophylactic, affordable private transportation to your hotel — start your trip to Cartagena hassle-free.
Here's my list of the elevation 21 things to do in Cartagena.
Notation: This article has been updated for 2022 to include the latest prices and height things to do in Cartagena. Enjoy your trip!
1. Take a Swim in the Crater of El Totumo volcano
Almost every tour company in Cartagena will offering yous a tour to Colombia's Magical Mud Volcano. They say that El Totumo is an active volcano which used to spew fire, lava and ashes until a local priest turned information technology into mud with holy water.
These days, visitors to Cartagena can take mud baths in the crater of this 15m volcano. They say it has healing properties, but who knows if that's true or not.
The actual journeying to El Totumo takes travellers through the sweeping landscape of the Santa Catalina commune of Colombia. Once you make it, in that location is a staircase that leads to the crater where visitors tin can climb into the volcano to experience what I would consider to be the oddest feeling ever.
The mud is not hot or common cold.It's non thin, however non thick. You lot feel weightless as if floating in space. After a while, this lack of bodily control gets a piddling creepy, so get out and head into the lake next door for a bath, often done by local Colombian women.
A tour to El Totumo costs effectually $25 including transportation, pick-upward from your hotel, lunch and guide. Bring your bathing suits and a alter of apparel, and enjoy the healing mud. Click here for details about the tour, or click on the paradigm:
2. Spend the Day at Playa Blanca
This is ane of Republic of colombia's very picturesque beaches and it is about a i-hour drive from Cartagena. As this is one of the about popular things to exercise in Cartagena, many bout companies offer trips to Playa Blanca, however, it is only as like shooting fish in a barrel and cheaper to arrange a drib-off and option upward time with a taxi driver (or Uber). They do information technology often so they know the drill.
Once you arrive at this beautiful white sandy beach with stunning turquoise water, you lot volition be able to relax all twenty-four hours purchasing snacks, both nutrient and potable, from the many vendors along the embankment. Some locals will even offer massages to go with your perfect picturesque Colombian beach experience. If yous want to hangout at 1 of the embankment clubs on a lord's day lounger, with food and drinks included, click here to larn more about that.
3. Party at Media Luna On Wednesday
Cartagena is synonymous with all things party. The urban center boasts a massive reputation for awesome nightlife, salsa dancing and the Colombian declension's ain, Champeta musica. Every Wed night, Media Luna Hostel, which is situated just exterior the old city, opens up its rooftop patio and second flooring to host a huge party for travellers.
All travellers effectually Cartagena come to Media Luna to trip the light fantastic toe, potable and make friends with other adventurers. Fifty-fifty some of the locals attend this party. My best advice is to show upward early because this party gets wild fast.
☞ Read More: Captivating Cartagena – Too Touristy, or Justifiably Popular?
4. Walk Effectually the Instagrammable Old Urban center of Cartagena
Every building within Cartagena'due south walled metropolis is like that of a Latin fairy-tale. The walls of the buildings are brightly coloured in reds, yellows, dejection, and oranges. There are flowers laced through colonial architecture styled windows and doors, with asphalt streets and statues in the squares…all these things create Cartagena's Instagrammable reputation.
It is easy to spend a twenty-four hours but walking through and taking pictures of Cartagena'south walled city. Enjoying the ambience and graphic symbol of the old city is ane of my favourite things to exercise in Cartagena.
Terminate for a coffee or juice from a local vendor, accept pictures with the fruit ladies dressed in Caribbean garb, or just relax and bask cute Cartagena.
5. Visit Cartagena's Aureate Museum – The Museo del Oro Zenu
Colombia and gold museums go hand in hand. The Museo del Oro in Cartagena is home to a fantastic collection of gold artefacts equally well as sterling examples of pottery created past the ingenious Zenu people who inhabited the area prior to the Castilian conquest.
I say ingenious considering of the advanced drainage systems they used to cultivate their land, something explained in detail at the museum.
Gilt was of import to the development of Cartagena. The city's founding father, Pedro de Heredia, headed the first expedition up the River Sinú in search of gold — ravaging the Zenu people's gravesites for gilded.
This was and then successful that with the indigenous labour and tillage likewise as with the aureate, the urban center of Cartagena was able to financially prosper for decades. To aid i understand its history, a visit to the gold museum is definitely one of the best things to do in Cartagena for costless, yes there is no archway fee and it's open up from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
If you find yourself in the capital metropolis of Bogota, visiting the aureate museum is one of the meridian things to do in that location.
6. Party On a Chiva Double-decker
Partying on a Chiva Bus is well-nigh like a right of passage for travellers in Due south America and what better place to do information technology than in a city of music and dance such as Cartagena?! A ride on a Chiva bus tin can be one of the funniest activities in Cartagena. These colourful wooden buses with party lights and loud music cruise the streets at night sourcing out the best places to party. When backpacking Colombia, this is a party highlight.
As the charabanc tours the beautiful city of Cartagena at dark, feel gratis to trip the light fantastic in the bus along the streets with the rum flowing and the music clarion. Yes, the Chiva bus might be tacky, simply with the right crowd, it tin can be admittedly hilarious. Chiva buses tin be booked through whatever tour company in the town or through your hotel or hostel at a cost of COP $55,000 ($19).
seven. Visit the Palace Of The Inquisition
Cartagena is a city total of history from the pre-Colombian times equally shown in the Museo del Ozo, to the time of the inquisition every bit displayed hither at the Palace of the Inquisition.
This 18th-century building was the seat of the Holy Office of the Inquisition of Cartagena. If you are wandering effectually the Old City and looking for things to do in Cartagena, I recommend you head here for a history lesson.
As a major commercial port for Spain, the Palace of the Inquisition was used equally a place to attempt Jews or other not Catholics coming into the city, as well as individuals who were believed to be guilty of crimes such as black magic.
Until 2022 the museum housed aboriginal torture devices used for these trials. Currently, the edifice is considered one of Cartagena's best examples of colonial and civil compages. It is well maintained and worth the endeavour to see, open from 9:00am to 6:00pm and costing just COP $20,000 ($half-dozen.00). Click here for directions.
8. Savour Dinner and Nightlife at Plaza la Trinidad
The Plaza la Trinidad (Holy Trinity Square) is without a doubt 1 of my favourite things to do in Cartagena during the evening. The plaza is surrounded by wonderful street food vendors, and I mean wonderful, likewise as a selection of admittedly delicious restaurants. This is my go-to dining spot in Cartagena.
The people of the city, both gringos and locals alike, make their way to the plaza to experience what that item night has to offering. Sometimes you'll find a local game of football game in the streets, occasionally there are street performers, and often there is music and dancing in the plaza.
The Plaza la Trinidad is 1 of the best places in Cartagena to hang out at nighttime. Information technology is fun for the whole family unit, for people of all walks of life, with inexpensive eats and drinks, and amusement as well. Click hither for directions.
9. Grab a Drink at Cafe del Mar
Cafe del Mar on the border of the wall surrounding the One-time City is one of the coolest places in Cartagena to grab a drink and enjoy the view. The bar is situated on the top of the far end of the aboriginal wall, complete with beautiful seating and the 'in-oversupply'.
The view from the bar looks out into the cute never-ending sea with a vista of history in front of you. Grab a potable, and savor the view at this perfectly placed Cartagena hot spot. Click here for directions to Cafe del Mar.
ten. Visit the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver
The compages in Cartagena is forever impressive.The colours of the walled city and the civil colonial architecture of the Palace of the Inquisition are astonishing, and the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver is no less impressive.
The church is office of a set of buildings which also includes the Cloister of San Pedro Claver and an archaeological museum.The chantry of the church holds the remains of Saint Peter Claver who died in Cartagena later on devoting his life to evangelizing the black slaves of New Granada.
The architecture of the Church is as colourful as its history taking its way from the Jesuit era. The façade was carved from the stone of the Tierrabomba island, and the marble altar comes from Italy, a souvenir from Pope Leo XIII. The architecture evolved as the church passed easily, even adding a dome.
My art history background has me wanting to proceed, merely you volition simply accept to become and see it for yourself! The Iglesias de San Pedro Claver is open from 8:00am to viii:00pm and costs simply COP $14,000 ($4.25).
xi. Have a Walk Along the Historic Walls
As a event of its location between the Sinú and Magdalena rivers, Cartagena de Indias, was historically one of the about of import cities to both Colombia and Spain equally a primal port. Cartagena was the chief port for things like export of Peruvian silverish to Spain and the import of African slaves.
Due to the of import function it played in merchandise, the city was built to be defensible confronting pirate attacks in the Caribbean besides equally any other threat.
At that place is and so much history in Cartagena as a result of its connectedness with Spain. To exist able to walk forth the aboriginal protective walls is one of the coolest things to do in Cartagena. Not only are they historically relevant to the metropolis itself, but they also provide sweeping views of the land around Cartagena. A vista that gives a bird's eye view of the old city, and an appreciation for the size of the city. Don't miss this UNESCO moment.
12. Join a Street Food Tour
1 of the best activities in Cartagena is without a doubt, a street food tour. Cartagena is famous for its delightful street food. It even brought the late Anthony Bourdain to the city. There are a variety of street food tours available which highlight the unique fruits, fried foods, drinks, and sweets native to Cartagena.
Go down with the locals and tour the street nutrient of the old metropolis and the Getsemani neighbourhood. Get set up to sample things such as the lulo, guanabana, and arequipe, some of the tastiest nutrient on the Colombian coast in typical Colombian way.
xiii. Take a Tour of the Bazurto Marketplace
The Bazurto Marketplace is often described as a location for audacious travellers only. This decorated bustling market is located just 15 minutes away from Cartagena'south city heart. It's chaotic, loud, dingy and lacks typical tourists. Desire to get downwardly with the locals? Then this extremely large market full of twists and turns is the place to go.
You lot can find everything from fresh fish and fruit, to spices and truthful Colombian civilisation in this chaotic market. However, if you lot are not comfortable taking on an experience similar this lonely, many bout agencies offer guided trips to the Bazurto Market place, some of them in conjunction with the street food tour.
14. Go On a Walking Tour of the Erstwhile Urban center (El Centro)
The city of Cartagena is full of history, restaurants, and markets and it is all jam-packed into a 100 square kilometre space, perfect for a walking tour!
Cartagena boasts a rich history including Spanish colonialism, pirates, slaves, Catholicism and the accompanying inquisition. Drugs, law-breaking and the arts, both historic and current, offer a fascinating perspective on this South American country.Its history, equally yous might guess, makes for a dandy metropolis tour which is why I am recommending this as ane of the best activities in Cartagena.
Tours can terminal anywhere betwixt 2 and four hours, depending on which type of tour you lot book, giving an opportunity to take a detailed look at the history, the architecture, music, food and culture of Cartagena. A great way to start any visit to this relevant metropolis. Click here for free walking tours in Cartagena.
xv. Go Shopping In The Walled Urban center
I of my personal favourite ways to spend time in Cartagena is to shop for artisan crafts in the photogenic streets of the walled metropolis. Vendors line the streets of this beautiful town selling things like colourful mochila bags, prints and paintings, and various types of jewelry.
You never know what kind of unique souvenir y'all can observe while shopping for artisanal crafts in Cartagena. Oh yea, and don't forget to bargain!
xvi. Visit the Puerta del Reloj
The clock belfry is the main metropolis gate to the historic centre and was once the original entrance to the fortified urban center. As far every bit things to run into in Cartagena, the clock tower, having had its clock since the 18th century, is full of historical relevance. During the colonial period, a drawbridge which linked the walled city to the Getsemani neighbourhood was installed.The Getsemani neighbourhood is another fabulous walking area in Cartagena.
The span at the clock tower was congenital to serve as a defence against enemy attack (pirates) on the city of Cartagena. However, today it is a place locals like to hang out to escape the Colombian sun.You can also climb to the top of the urban center wall and enjoy a stunning vista. Information technology'south a cute example of fabulous colourful colonial architecture, so on your way into the old city for your nutrient, drink and shopping, take a moment to bank check information technology out. Y'all tin can notice the clock tower on the map, here.
17. Visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Fifty-fifty though this is not Europe, I'g pleased to say that one of the best things to do in Cartagena is to visit its castle!Built by the Spanish in 1536 and expanded later in 1657, the castle is located on the Loma of San Lazaro, positioned perfectly to protect the city from the land and sea. It has had a tumultuous life every bit ownership – or at least occupancy – has passed back and forth between privateers and admirals.
As far as things to do in Cartagena, taking a tour of the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas ranks high on my listing as with the walled city tour. Information technology provides pregnant insight into Cartagena'due south colourful by. Sometimes these tours tin can be booked together as 1.
One of the near interesting parts of the castle bout is discovering the many catacomb tunnels which run underneath the castle…a true fortress for battle. Information technology'south also a great spot to watch dusk.
18. Become Shopping in the 'Las Bóvedas'
In the old city of Cartagena, the Las Bóvedas were structures fastened to the walls. Originally built as dungeons for prisoners during the civil wars in the 19th century, these structures were brutal prisons — at high tide, the bounding main water would enter the cells roofing the prisoners within.
Today, the cells in the dungeons are one of the most pop things to do in Cartagena because they house shops and boutiques where traditional Colombian merchandise is sold. A great identify to choice up some souvenirs, but equally you walk through call up that these were in one case the home to prisoners of state of war. Click here to find it on the map.
19. Day Trip to The Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands are the epitome of what you remember of when considering a Caribbean beach destination. Vivid blue articulate waters on soft white sand with hundreds of fish swimming around your every step. Warm weather condition and local vendors serving drinks in coconuts…yes, that's exactly what you lot volition get out of a day on the Rosario Islands.
It takes but an hr to get the Rosario Islands from the docks of Cartagena, making it a totally accessible day trip and one of the coolest things to do in Cartagena.
The islands are a national park with a heavy focus on protecting the underwater surroundings. Yous can become scuba diving, or simply laze on the embankment with a meal and a drink in hand. Lunchtime offers fresh seafood that will blow your mind. Enjoying the islands? In that location are a variety of accommodations on them at every level to extend your trip.
To get to the Rosario islands, you can always volume a tour through any tourism agency in Cartagena, or brand your fashion to the dock at La Muelle la Bogegita in Cartagena and catch one of the speed boats leaving at 8:00am and x:00am and returning at two:30pm for $twoscore,000 Colombian pesos ($13.75) each fashion. Annotation that conditions weather can exist poor and it's non recommended to travel during rough seas. A trip to the Rosario Islands by speedboat can take upwards to ii-iii hours, depending on the weather.
A better and perhaps safer way to visit the Rosario Islands is sailing aboard a luxurious catamaran. Included in the 24-hour interval trip is snorkelling, a welcome drink, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, lunch, the port fee and National Park fees. This sailing bout is one of the meridian things to do in Cartagena. Click here to learn more.
xx. Walk Through the Getsemani Neighbourhood (have a street art tour)
What was once a quiet neighbourhood total of locals and youth hostels, Getsemani has become a go-to location for nightlife, the arts, and a taste for the Colombian spirit. The neighbourhood is full of colourful homes and packed full of epic street art. You tin take tours here which are similar to food and historical tours establish in the city.
The neighbourhood is full of awesome restaurants and cafes too as salsa and champeta trip the light fantastic clubs. This is also the neighbourhood which is habitation to the Plaza de la Trinidad, a favourite night-time location. Accept a walk through the beautiful streets of Getsemani, the trendiest area in the urban center.
21. Finish at The Plaza Santo Domingo For a Meal
Cartagena houses some absolutely fabulous eateries and the Plaza Santo Domingo is a great place to experience just that. Upon inbound the Plaza yous will feel every bit if you take been transported to the streets of Italy, right down to the street lights.
Tables cover the plaza all the way to the centre, owned by a multifariousness of restaurants. The coloured table cloths are normally the best marker to decide which eating house serves that table.
The plaza is home to a famous Botero statue, La Gorda Gertrudis, and many street performers ply their merchandise in the plaza to entertain you while you dine. People and vendors walk the streets selling artisanal appurtenances then souvenirs can be purchased here. An afternoon relaxing in the Plaza Santo Domingo is i of my favourite things to do in Cartagena.
Ready to Program a Trip to Cartagena?!
Cartagena is one of the well-nigh vibrant cities in Colombia and has become a centre for the arts boasting fabled music, dance, street art and of form historic gilt fine art and artifacts. The vendors on the streets and within the Las Bóvedas cells provide visitors with a chance to have home traditional Colombian crafts at reasonable prices.
Cartagena is a foodie heart, home to one of the biggest and most authentic markets in Colombia. The city has a reputation for delicious street food, unique fruits, and fancy gastronomic locales.
The seaside city is safe, an important factor in Colombian travel. Nature surrounds Cartagena with beautiful Playa Blanca and the Rosario Islands at its fingertips — and don't forget the magical mud volcano of El Totumo. With so many things to do in Cartagena, sights to see, and activities to participate in, it's no wonder Cartagena remains one of the most well-loved tourist locations.
Some images in this article are courtesy of Shuterstock.com.
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Hola! My name is Kimberly Erin and I have been traveling the earth sourcing out the best adventure and remote destinations all while maintaining luxury in lifestyle. I alive for adventure and am an abet of worldly exploration and personal growth through travel. An platonic which I endeavor to represent as best as possible in my weblog Walkaboot Travel. I am a free spirit, a olfactory property the roses kind of girl. I like to squeeze every ballsy moment out of life, all while enjoying a hot cup of coffee and the occasional handstand.
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