Trip Duration
∞ Minimum: 3 days
∞ Ideal: 5 days
∞ Bucketlist Compromise: 4 days
∞ Airport: Rafael Núñez International
∞ Code: CTG
∞ Location: 15 mins to Old City
-> Flight Options
Language: Spanish, many speak English.
-> Currency: COP
Ready to be a Traveler not tourist in Cartagena?
Historic & Romantic
∞ City Walls: Walk the walls for relaxed and beautiful sunrise and sunset strolls. It can be busy but there’s always a private nook.
∞ Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada): Try to get lost in this world heritage site, cobblestone alleys, plazas, churches, and colorful colonial buildings. The Clock Tower Gate (Torre del Reloj) marks the entrance. Calle San Juan de Dios is the historic street near Iglesia San Pedro Clave.
∞ Getsemaní: Walk the Bohemian neighborhood with street art, live music, and cool cafes. (15 min walk from Old City walls).
∞ Castillo San Felipe de Barajas: Climb this fortress from 1639 to experience great views of the entire area. Dare to explore the intricate tunnels. (2 hour visit, admission ~$9.50USD).
∞ Convento de la Popa: Monastery on a the highest point in Cartagena with the best panoramic views of the city. (1 hour visit, $5USD taxi, admission ~$4USD).
Arts & Market
Street vendors are everywhere!
∞ Las Bovedas: A beautiful classic market experience in the walled city. Overpriced so bargain well. Formerly dungeons and you can feel that vibe.
∞ Calle de la Soledad: A favorite street for locals and students, with books and handmade goods.
∞ Getsemaní: Street art, galleries, and shops. Get a photo under the colorful umbrellas on Callejón Angosto. Plaza de la Trinidad is the main square. Calle de la Sierpe has impressive street art, just missing a Banksy. (15 min walk from Old City walls)
Beaches
∞ Bocagrande near the city, gray sand and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. (35 min walk)
∞ Castillo Grande / Laguito near city, calmer than Bocagrande. (50 min walk/15 min taxi)
∞ Isla Grande (Rosario Islands) relaxed beach, kayak and snorkeling great for overnight. (45 mins speedboat)
∞ Isla Múcura & Isla Tintipán (San Bernardo Islands) remote beaches serene especially overnight. (2.5 hr speedboat or 3 hr drive + 40 min boat)
∞ Playa Tranquila (Isla Barú) a white sand turquoise water alternative to the overcrowded Playa Blanca. (1.5hr drive) Get there.
Day or Overnight Trips
∞ Volcán del Totumo: Half day. Delicious mud volcano bath. Bucketlist confession: We enjoyed a private romantic soak. Bucketlist Skinhack™: Sit by the river to let the mud completely dry before rinsing. Take advantage of the healing skincare. Bucketlist Travelhack™: Take a taxi very early, ideally weekday. Avoid tours or afternoons– Totumo gets insanely crowded. (1hr drive to/from Cartagena)
∞ Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario): Full day. Overnight recommended. Clear turquoise waters, beach clubs, snorkeling. Take a bioluminescent (plankton) night swim at Laguna Encantada (mangrove lagoon), natural and fewer tourists. Bucketlist Cartagena-hack: Avoid tourists, take 8am boat and stay overnight. Most tourists leave by 3pm. Stay in a local guest house not resort. (45 min speedboat to/from Cartagena)
∞ San Bernardo Islands — Isla Múcura & Isla Tintipán: Overnight. Hidden paradise experience. Less touristy than Rosario Islands, further away. Get there.
∞ Playa Tranquila (Isla Barú): Full day. White sand beach, smaller but quieter and less crowded. Accessible from Cartagena by road which is great if avoiding speedboats. At night, take a 20 min boat for a swim in the bioluminescent (plankton) mangrove lagoon (Manglares de Cholón). There will be other night swimmers but it’s the easiest way to experience a bioluminescent swim, especially if short on time. Get there.
Packing list
Bucketlist Travelhack™: Travel light. Count the days of your trip and pack only ¼ to ⅓ as many clothes. E.g, 5 day Cartagena trip = 2 bottoms/tops; 1 dress/sweater; 1 swimsuit; 5 undergear (instead of 30+ items),
∞ Waterproof backpack (or with rain cover)
∞ Roll-up hat or brimmed cap
∞ UV-mask (optional for sun)
∞ Sunglasses
∞ Sunscreen SPF 50+ (nontoxic)
∞ Good walking shoes (sturdy sole)
∞ Flip flops/sandals
∞ Collapsible duffle bag (for gifts/purchases)
∞ Motion sickness medicine or patches
∞ Necessary medications, vitamins, inhalers, glasses/contacts, etc.
∞ Compact rain poncho (wet season)
∞ Non-toxic Insect repellent (essential oil based) *if visiting islands
∞ Dry bag For cellphone (Island tours/mud volcano/beach)
∞ Clothing (casual and light fabric, linen/bamboo)
• Light long sleeves/short sleeve
• Light jacket/sweater
• Swimsuit
• Bottoms/Dress
• Socks & undergarments (1 per day, unless washing)
• optional Quick dry towel (most hotels provide towels you can use)
Bucketlist alert: Checked bag may be required if carrying protective equipment (mace/taser).
When to visit
Cartagena is tropical and humid year-round. Expect heat!
∞ Dry Season: Dec-April (hot/sunny)
∞ Wet Season: May-Nov (hot/humid, afternoon rain)
Bucketlist Cartagena-hack™: With the global climate crisis, weather is generally less predictable. No matter when you go, you’ll need sun protection.
Getting around
∞Walking: Great for exploring the Walled City and Getsemaní.
∞ Hotel buses/rides: Costs vary, sometimes free and can get you to or near a desired location.
∞ Taxis/Ride-shares: Affordable and metered.
Bucketlist Safety-hack™: Avoid unmarked taxis. Confirm fare before entering.
∞ Ferries to get to nearby islands.
∞ Buses from Terminal de Transporte de Cartagena (20 mins from Old City).
Guides
∞ Not needed: You can explore Cartagena independently.
∞ When Helpful: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (or download map/audio tour).
∞ Contact BUCKETLIST if you need assistance planning your Bogotá travel.
Flight options
Bucketlist Travelhack™: Fly direct when possible. If you have a stop or the direct flight is over 7 hours, consider enjoying a layover city for a day or two to break up long travel time.
| New York (JFK) → CTG | ~5h 05m | Nonstop |
| Madrid (MAD) → CTG | ~9h 45m | Nonstop |
| Boston (BOS) → CTG | ~6h 50m | One stop via FLL/BOG/MIA |
| Houston (IAH) → CTG | ~6h 20m | One stop via PTY/BOG |
| Chicago (ORD) → CTG | ~6h 45m | One stop via PTY/MIA/BOG |
| London (LHR) → CTG | ~12h 25m | One stop via MAD/BOG/PTY |
| San Francisco (SFO) → CTG | ~11h | One stop via PTY (Copa) |
| Los Angeles (LAX) → CTG | ~10h | One stop via PTY |
| Munich (MUC) → CTG | ~14h | One stop via MAD/FRA/BOG |
Currency Quick Guide – Colombian Pesos
Bucketlist Traveler: Get currency before you travel from your bank to avoid ATMs.
Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 4,000 COP
| USD | COP |
| $1 | 4,000 |
| $5 | 20,000 |
| $10 | 40,000 |
| $20 | 80,000 |
| $50 | $194,000 |
Bucketlist Safety: Use small bills (2,000–20,000 COP) for buses, taxis, and markets.
Avoid paying with 50,000 COP notes unless at major stores or restaurants.
Cartagena Festivals & Events
Bucketlist Travelhack™: Always confirm event, location and dates.
| Month | Festival / Event | Notes |
| January | Cartagena International Music Festival (Festival Internacional de Música de Cartagena) | Classical music performances with world-class artists at historic theaters, churches, and plazas. |
| January | Hay Festival Cartagena | International literature and arts festival featuring authors, musicians, and thinkers. |
| February (late) – March (early) | Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI) | Latin America’s oldest film festival, showing independent films. |
| March – April (Holy Week) | Semana Santa (Holy Week) | Traditional religious processions throughout Cartagena’s Old City, very picturesque. |
| November (early) | Independence Day & Fiestas de Independencia | Celebrates Cartagena (Nov 11, 1811) independence. Parades, music, dance, and colorful street parties. |
| December | Lights & Festivities | Lights, Christmas markets, and concerts throughout the Old City. |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve Fireworks | Celebration at Plaza de la Aduana and along the city walls with fireworks over the bay. |
Cartagena Eats
Cartagena is a food swamp. Bucketlist Cartagena-hack: Pick hotels that have food consciousness. Cartagena does not have Death-Free™ restaurants. Vegan, vegetarian or plant-based options are available on some menus. There are fresh fruit vendors and it’s delicious. Bucketlist true story: We ate and packed food from our hotel, because it cross-contamination was not a risk.
There are many carcass-free dishes and plant-based restaurants in all other parts of Colombia. Cartagena makes little sense in this regard.
Bucketlist Healthhack™: Sea carcass is toxic. Avoid travel sickness and risks by eating plant-based even if that’s not your everyday. Be a Traveler not a tourist in Cartagena where food education is serious lacking.
Cartagena Nightlife
∞ Getsemaní: Fun, hip night life. Plaza de la Trinidad (main square) is always active.
∞ Wall to the City: The wall is busy and has activity until late.
∞ Old City: Street vendors, and street performances.
Bucketlist Safety: Exercise caution. Be mindful of belongings and surroundings, especially at night – avoid dark or empty streets. Cartagena is a safe city and local “tourist” police are visible. But it’s a high trafficking area and often young womyn are with old-creeps. Bucketlist karmahack: Don’t be a creep, it’s easy.
Directions to San Bernardo Islands – Isla Múcura & Isla Tintipán
∞ Option A: Direct boat from Cartagena (2.5 hrs, 8am) from Muelle de la Bodeguita. Return boat is 1pm the next day.
Travel round-trip cost: 360,000 COP (~$90 USD)
∞ Option B: Drive to town either of Tolú or Rincón del Mar (2.5 hrs by car), then take a local boat to Isla Múcura and Isla Tintipán. (40 min). Go via Tolú or Rincón to experience authentic local towns. Be at either town early (by 9:30am) to catch boats to the islands.
Round-trip costs vary whether renting a car, taxi or private driver.
*Local bus from Cartagena to Tolú at 6:30am (~$20USD, Sotracor company).
Bucketlist Travelhack™: Experience more by not doubling back. Go one way (option A) and return the other way (option B), or vise-versa.
Directions to Playa Tranquila Beach
∞ Option A: Arrange a driver for the full day to/from Cartagena<>Playa Blanca waiting until you’re done with the night swim ($70USD-2 people).
∞ Option B: Take a group hotel bus to Playa Blanca, then walk or moto-taxi to Playa Tranquila. Arrange in advance with a guesthouse/hotel to schedule a driver to pick you up after the night swim (10pm, $55USD-2 people)). There is no public transport at night.
∞ Option C: Use a group or hotel bus round-trip to/from Playa Blanca, if not taking the night swim. The last return bus leaves typically 3:30 – 4:30 PM ($40USD-2 people).
*All options require a walk or moto-taxi ($2USD)to/from Playa Blanca<>Playa Tranquila.
“National Park” fee ($4USD)
Bucketlist Safety-hack™: Confirm prices at your time of travel. Don’t carry large bills.