How to Travel Cartagena, Colombia with Your Heart as the Guide (South America)

Cartagena: Color, love, food, culture, nightlife, community, and HEAT! What a wonderful city, guarded by historic walls and architecture. I returned for a second visit to explore more and reunite with my lovely parents whom I hadn't seen in 10 months. Cartagena not only brought us together beautifully but also allowed us to discover more of its charms together. It's an easy ride from the United States and, quite frankly, a pretty affordable city. Cartagena, Colombia is known as Colombia's most tourist-friendly destination and welcomes visitors with friendly energy.

Below is a killer travel guide for ALL types of exploring in Cartagena, Colombia whether you're with family, friends, or solo!

Recommended Duration: 2-3 days (excluding exclusive resorts outside the walled city)

Must-try: Cheese arepas sold on the street, fresh fruit (especially mango) from local vendors, coco limonada, coconut rice, empanadas, and any pastries that catch your eye!

1. Places to stay

2. Food x Bars

3. Things to do

4. Shopping

1. Places to stay

• Cheap Option - Viajero Hostel: The go-to spot for backpackers in town. Offers spacious rooms with AC, a nice atmosphere with daily activities, a bar, kitchen facilities, and friendly staff!

• More Expensive Option - Charleston Santa Teresa (5-star hotel): I stayed here during my first visit with my girlfriends, and we had an incredible time! The hotel offers a daily buffet breakfast, a bar and restaurant on the first floor, a rooftop pool, comfortable beds, attentive staff, and impeccable cleanliness.

• Most Expensive Option - Sofitel Baru Calablanca (5-star hotel): A luxurious retreat about an hour and a half from the walled city. Offers three pools, a private beach, three restaurants including a food truck, a lavish breakfast buffet, stunning rooms with heavenly beds, and exceptionally warm staff. Perfect for a luxurious and memorable vacation experience with family!

2. Food x Bars

Food:

• Carmen’s: One of the top restaurants in the city known for wonderful service and food!

• La Mulata: Recommended by ChatGPT as a cozy and affordable spot for local cuisine, and it did just the job! Excellent for ceviche, local dishes, local music, and fantastic drinks! Rated 10/10.

• La Cevicheria: Renowned for its exceptional ceviche, perfect for a mid-day treat! Can get quite busy so I recommended putting your name down and hopping to the bar next door for a local cocktail!

• Niku: A favorite sushi bar with a jungle-themed outdoor ambiance that I visited on both trips to the city.

• Mar y Zielo: Fun atmosphere with great music, good food, and friendly staff.

• The “Chinese Empanada Spot”: A must-visit for its unique Chinese empanada fusion. One of the best empanadas I've ever had! (Taken here on the food tour)

• Crepes & Waffles Heladeria: Amazing ice cream, especially the vegan cocoa nips flavor, which even pleased my dad who isn't typically fond of vegan options!

Bars:

• Sophia Rooftop: Gorgeous spot to relax with a drink while watching the sunset.

• Alquímico: Ranked number 9 in the world's 50 best bars! Highly recommended spot.

• La Movida: Vibrant club with both indoor and outdoor areas, featuring two bars. Ideal when the crowd is lively.
  

3. Things to do:

• AIRBNB Cooking Class: A 10/10 experience! We were taken into an intimate kitchen with music and a chef, where we cooked coconut rice, sautéed fish and vegetables, empanadas, patacones, and made a local drink. Afterward, we all sat together in the restaurant and enjoyed our meal. A wonderful and filling experience!

• AIRBNB Food Tour: Absolutely amazing. Cartagena knows how to delight you! Look for highly-rated tours on AIRBNB with great reviews.

• Free Walking Tour: An obvious choice to get the lay of the land! A fantastic way to leisurely explore the city with a knowledgeable local guide.

• Day at Bora Bora Beach: Party it up at this iconic beach resort! My friends and I had an incredible time here. Purchase the package with a meal included—it's worth every dime. Get ready to dance, take shots, and float in the water all day!

• Rent Bikes: Another fantastic way to explore the city at your own pace. With the hot weather, biking was a refreshing way to enjoy the breeze on my face.

4. Shopping

First off, every clothing store in Cartagena is immaculate—the shopping here is the best I've ever seen. The bathing suits are stunning with impeccable quality and, compared to other places around the world, especially the USA, they are incredibly affordable.

• Aqua de Leon: There are three of these stores in the city—make sure to visit all of them! They offer a wide range of items including bathing suits, dresses, formal attire, beachwear, perfume, purses, jewelry, and more.

• Aqua Bendita: The ultimate spot for the best bathing suits in town! My personal favorite for stylish swimwear.
  

Peace & love to the colorful little city of city of Cartagena!

Next stop: Rio de Janiero :)

Xoxo,

Chelsey