Cartagena
Cartagena scams: what to watch for
In Cartagena the scams that cost tourists most are street taxi hails at night (paseo millonario robberies), beach and boat touts adding port and island fees, and card or cash handling in bars. Use app or hotel-called taxis after dark, agree boat prices in writing, and keep one card and small cash separate.
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GuideCartagena
Key facts
- Highest-risk moment
- Street-hailed taxis at night; use app or hotel-called cars
- Typical ride-hailing farecheck
- COP 8,000–40,000 in town (2026 estimate)
- Boat to Islas del Rosariocheck
- COP 150,000–300,000; port tax and island fees often extra
- Beach touts
- Chairs, massages, jet skis and 'free' bracelets end in a bill
- Card safety
- Never let the card leave your sight; pay in COP, not 'your currency'
- If robbed
- Hand it over, then call 123 and file a denuncia at the Fiscalía
- Emergency number
- 123 (police, ambulance, fire)
Top picks: the scams that actually cost money
Ranked by how often they hit visitors and how much they take. Everything else on this page is detail.
The pattern behind most of them is the same: a price is never stated, or stated in a currency you do not use, and you find out at the end when you are far from help.
| Scam | Where it happens | Typical cost | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paseo millonario taxi ride | Street-hailed yellow taxis, late night | Full wallet, phone, cards | App or hotel-called taxi only after dark |
| Boat price add-ons | Muelle de la Bodeguita, beach docks | COP 50,000–150,000 extra | Get total price, port tax and island fee in writing |
| Beach 'free' items | Bocagrande, Playa Blanca, Islas del Rosario | COP 20,000–100,000 | Ask the price before touching anything |
| Card skimming or double charge | Bars, small shops, some ATMs | Card limit | Keep card in sight; pay in COP |
| ATM 'helper' | Old town, Getsemaní | COP 200,000+ | Refuse help; cover the keypad; use bank lobbies |
| Fake police or 'inspection' | Streets near the walls, plazas | Cash on the spot | Ask for ID, offer to walk to a station |
| Overpriced horse cart or tour | Plaza de los Coches, old town | 2–3× normal | Agree price and duration before boarding |
Prices and hours
These are 2026 estimates for what the honest version of each thing costs, so you can spot a bad number fast. Cartagena prices rise sharply in December and around Semana Santa; the same ride or boat can cost noticeably more in high season.
Taxis in Cartagena run on a meter plus surcharges, but in practice many drivers quote a flat price to tourists. A short hop inside the old town or to Bocagrande is usually a small fare; anything quoted at several times that is a tourist price, not a local one.
| Item | Fair 2026 estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-hailing in town | COP 8,000–40,000 | App price is fixed before you get in |
| Airport CTG to walled city | About 15 minutes | Short ride; agree or use the app |
| Boat to Islas del Rosario | COP 150,000–300,000 | Port tax and island fees often extra |
| Horse cart in old town | Agree first | Price and duration both, before boarding |
| Guide, per person per day | COP 20,000–50,000 | Standard tipping norm in Colombia |
| Restaurant tip | 10% propina voluntaria | Offered on the bill; optional |
| Beach chair and umbrella | Ask first | Often charged per item, not per person |
How to arrive without being targeted
Rafael Núñez International (CTG) is about 15 minutes from the walled city, which is short enough that a bad taxi decision is the main risk. Use the official airport rank or a ride-hailing app; ignore anyone inside the terminal offering a 'special' car.
For boats, tours leave from the Muelle de la Bodeguita. Buy at the dock from an operator with a visible desk, not from a person who approaches you on the street with a laminated photo. Confirm what the price includes: transport, port tax, island entry fee, lunch, and whether the return time is fixed.
Once you are in the old town, most of what you need is walkable, so you can cut taxi exposure to almost zero during the day.
- Book the airport transfer before you land, or use the app on arrival.
- Screenshot your hotel address and show it to the driver rather than explaining it.
- Sit in the back, keep your bag on your lap, not in the footwell.
- At night, order the car from inside your hotel or restaurant and wait there until it arrives.
- For islands, keep the operator's name and boat number; pay the balance only after the return leg is confirmed.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What scams target tourists in Cartagena?
The costliest are street-hailed taxis at night that turn into paseo millonario robberies, boat and beach touts adding port, island and chair fees, card handling in bars, and fake police asking for an on-the-spot 'fine'. Use app or hotel-called taxis after dark and agree every price before you start.
Is Cartagena safe at night?
The walled city and Bocagrande are busy and generally fine in the evening, but street-hailed taxis after dark are the main risk. Order a car from inside your hotel or restaurant, walk on lit streets in a group, and keep your phone out of sight. Check current local advice before you go.
What should I do if my wallet is stolen in Cartagena?
Hand it over rather than resist, then call 123 and file a denuncia at the Fiscalía or a CAI police post; you need that report for insurance and for replacing documents. Block your cards by app, and keep a photo of your passport and a spare card somewhere separate.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialColombia Travel – official tourism site
- officialAlcaldía de Cartagena
- officialPolicía Nacional de Colombia
- secondaryWikivoyage – Cartagena (Colombia)