1. Departure / Travel Info

Cartagena is pretty safe, but always watch out for your purse and jewelry.

Don’t exchange money on the streets. The best exchange rate is obtained when withdrawing money from ATM machines. Most banks have ATM machines at Plaza de la Aduana in the Old City….just ask where it is, everyone knows. Exhcange right now is about $3,900 pesos for each $1 USD (changes daily).

Note that all restaurants take major credit cards.

There are new places now that rent bikes in the old town if you wanna do a bike tour around town…they also rent segways these days.

Wear lots of sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes when walking around the city during the day.

If you get bombarded by the street vendors, just say no! (they’ll understand you are not interested in their merchandise and they will leave you alone).

Be careful when negotiating horse carriage rides, they tend to charge more than they should. So always ask to lower the fare before jumping into one.

Try to explore and get lost on the little streets of the Old City during the day and night, explore arts & crafts, street vendors, cafés in the plazas and catch a sunset overlooking the Muralla.

Some background about the city:

Cartagena’s real name is Cartagena de Indias, this name was given by the Spaniards who arrived centuries ago. Founded in 1533, today, with over one million people, Cartagena is Colombia’s biggest historic jewel and the most important port. A former hub of the Spanish empire – a major shipping port for the New World riches, and a slave market and Inquisition center – the old Cartagena is surrounded by massive stone walls. Today, Cartagena attracts people from all over the world. The old town was declared a Unesco World Heritage site and it is filled with restaurants, shops, bars and friendly people who sell souvenirs (a little persistent, but harmless).

Before you leave town remember to:

Rent a bike or a Segway and get lost in the tiny streets of the old city.

Catch a sunset overlooking the ocean on one of the baluartes of the muralla (Cafe del mar is a great spot).

Chill with a cold natural juice (lulo is a must!) or limonada de coco and mojitos at any square.

Visit the Iglesia and Claustro de Santo Domingo, Museo del Palacio de la Inquisicion, Museo de Arte Moderno, La Torre del Reloj, el Castillo de San Felipe, El Convento de la Popa y el Teatro Heredia.

Note:

If you have time, take a day trip to visit Islas del Rosario (amazing turquois water at these coral reef small islands located one hour away by boat, great diving and snorkling). Hotel Las Islas Baru and Hotel San Pedro de Majagua are the best hotel options.

Try a cup of local Colombian coffee anywhere.

Try Aguardiente (the national drink… just don’t go too crazy on it!).

Try the typical food from Cartagena: Arroz con Coco (Coconut Rice), cevice de camarones (Colombian style cooked shrimp ceviche), Patacones with suero costeño (fried greenplantain paties with Colombia’s sourcream), Arepa de Huevo (Fried corn donut filled with egg), Carimañola (Fried yuca fingers filled filled with ground beef), Filete de Pargo (grilled Colombian snapper).

Enjoy Cartagena!