Major city · Colombia
CartagenaCartagena de Indias
Base 3 nights in the walled city or Getsemaní: walk the old town at 07:00 before the heat and cruise crowds, and give the beaches a half-day, not a day.Base 3 nights in the walled city or Getsemaní: walk the old town at 7:00 AM before the heat and cruise crowds, and give the beaches a half-day, not a day.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- COP
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry); Jul is drier than the rest of the wet season
- avoid Sep–Oct (wettest); Dec holidays and Holy Week (crowds, higher prices)
- Airport
- CTG
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
Cartagena is Colombia's most-visited city: a walled Spanish colonial core and the fort of San Felipe, both UNESCO-listed, plus a hotel strip at Bocagrande and islands an hour offshore. Three nights covers the old town, the fort and one beach or island day. It is hot and humid all year, so plan mornings and evenings outdoors and rest at midday.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cartagena, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $).Colombia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckClaro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.Colombia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.Colombia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.Colombia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Colombia-wide
- SafetyThe walled city and Bocagrande are busy and generally safe by day.
- RestroomsPut paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.Colombia-wide
- Emergency numbers123 police · 119 fire · 125 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays; Monday holidays (puentes) move almost half of public holidays.Colombia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCTG Rafael Núñez International (About 3 km from the old city; taxi to the walled city roughly COP 10,000–12,000, about 15 min).CTG Rafael Núñez International (About 1.9 mi from the old city; taxi to the walled city roughly COP 10,000–12,000, about 15 min).
- Getting aroundThe old town is a walking district; most sights sit within 15 minutes of the Puerta del Reloj.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCOP 4,000–9,000
- Street or quick mealSet lunch (menú del día)COP 15,000–30,000
- Beerbar / shopCOP 8,000–15,000COP 3,000–5,000
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, old town ↔ BocagrandeAgree before boarding.About COP 6,000
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekCOP 30,000–60,000
- Museum or sight ticketCastillo de San Felipe entry (foreign visitor)checkCOP 30,000
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCOP 45,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room, boutique or hotel, a night, per roomCOP 350,000
- High-end bedDouble room, boutique or hotel, a night, per roomCOP 900,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget COP 120,000 · Mid COP 250,000 · High COP 500,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CTG Rafael Núñez International (About 3 km from the old city; taxi to the walled city roughly COP 10,000–12,000, about 15 min)CTG Rafael Núñez International (About 1.9 mi from the old city; taxi to the walled city roughly COP 10,000–12,000, about 15 min)
Weather and climate
Cartagena: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
1 rd
Feb
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
1 rd
Mar
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
1 rd
Apr
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
4 rd
May
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
10 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
9 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
8 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
10 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
12 rd
Oct
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
15 rd
Nov
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
11 rd
Dec
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
4 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is a walking district; most sights sit within 15 minutes of the Puerta del Reloj. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before you get in (old town ↔ Bocagrande about COP 6,000). Transcaribe buses use a rechargeable card (card about COP 4,000, ride about COP 2,300) and are slow but cheap. Boats to the islands leave from Muelle de la Bodeguita.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Islas del Rosario / Playa Blanca
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Boat from Muelle de la Bodeguita
Port tax and island fees are extra; cheap slow boats can take 4 h to reach Playa Blanca.
Barranquilla
cautionDoor to door: About 3 h
Bus, about 2 h 30 min
Only worth it in Carnival season; otherwise skip.
Santa Cruz de Mompox
overnightDoor to door: About 6 h
Bus, about 6 h
Too far for a day; sleep one or two nights.
Tolú
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
Bus, about 3 h
A beach town best used as a base, not a day trip.
Rincón del Mar
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Bus to San Onofre, then moto-taxi
Quiet village; stay at least one night.
Montería
skipDoor to door: About 5 h
Bus, about 4 h 30 min
No reason to day-trip; a stop on the way south.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Walled city (Centro and San Diego)
Colonial streets, restaurants and museums on foot; priciest beds and some street noise at night.
Getsemaní
Just outside the clock tower; hostels, bars and street art, 5–10 min walk into Centro.
Bocagrande
Beachfront hotel towers, 10–15 min by taxi from the old town; calmer, less character.
Castillogrande
Quiet modern condos and a jogging strip; good for longer stays with a car or app rides.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- COP 120,000–200,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- COP 200,000–400,000 excl. bed
- High
- COP 400,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, boutique or hotel1 × 3 nights × COP 350,000 | COP 1,050,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × COP 250,000 | COP 1,500,000 |
| Airport taxi, both ways1 × COP 24,000 · check | COP 24,000 |
| Transcaribe card plus rides2 × COP 9,000 · check | COP 18,000 |
| Island day tour with lunch2 × COP 120,000 · check | COP 240,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × COP 40,000 | COP 80,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | COP 291,000 |
| Trip total≈ COP 534,000 per person per day, bed included | COP 3,203,000 |
2026 estimate in Colombian pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | COP 4,000–9,000 |
| Set lunch (menú del día) | COP 15,000–30,000 |
| Beer: bar / shop | COP 8,000–15,000 / COP 3,000–5,000 |
| Taxi, old town ↔ BocagrandeAgree before boarding. | About COP 6,000 |
| Castillo de San Felipe entry (foreign visitor)check | COP 30,000 |
| Inquisition Palace entrycheck | COP 17,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | COP 30,000–60,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Agree every taxi fare before boarding; drivers may quote high rates to visitors.
- Tap water is not for drinking on the coast: buy bottled.
- Do not walk up La Popa hill; take a taxi and fix the return fare first.
- Island and beach tours add port tax and island fees on top of the advertised price.
- Old-town streets flood in heavy rain; bring sandals you can get wet.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 123
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 125
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CartagenaCartagena de Indias
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police123
- Fire119
- Ambulance125
Embassy
The US consulate is in Barranquilla (check the address); most other countries keep embassies in Bogotá.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → walled city, taxi: about COP 10,000–12,000, about 15 min (check)
- Old town → Bocagrande, taxi: about COP 6,000
- Transcaribe ride: about COP 2,300 with a COP 4,000 card (check)
Say or show
- Buenos días — Good morning (BWEH-nos DEE-as)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-see-as)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-do pa-GAR kon tar-HEH-ta)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-de es-TA el BA-nyo)
Tipping: 10% propina voluntaria is offered on restaurant bills; round up taxi fares.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cartagena. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Apr (dry); Jul is drier than the rest of the wet season · avoid Sep–Oct (wettest); Dec holidays and Holy Week (crowds, higher prices) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CTG: taxi fare bands, Transcaribe card route, late-arrival fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Puerta del Reloj and Plaza de los Coches, Plaza de Bolívar and the Inquisition, San Pedro Claver and the naval museum, Getsemaní and Plaza Trinidad.
- Place pages with verified hours (San Felipe, Inquisition Palace, Gold Museum, La Popa) and eat pages with last orders.
- Island-day fixtures: boat departure times, port tax, and a rain fallback.