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The city of Cartagena, also known as Cartagena de Indias, is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean region. Selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Cartagena was founded more than 400 years ago and enchants visitors with its colonial architecture protected by a set of fortifications.

Cartagena is also appreciated for its modern architecture that reflects its economic development, its vibrant nightlife and cultural festivals, and magnificent beaches. Based on our stay in Cartagena earlier this month, we have prepared this travel guide to share our experience. Read on to find out our best travel tips to fully enjoy your trip to Cartagena.

How to get around?

From Cartagena airport, it is more comfortable to take a taxi to reach the city center. Prices vary from 15,000 to 25,000 COP ( 6.50 – 10.50 CAD) depending your destination. If a taxi driver asks for more, it is better to negotiate or to try with another taxi driver.

Regarding Uber, the application is available in Cartagena but the Ministry of Transport does not authorize the service because Uber is not a registered company in Colombia at this time. That being said, you don’t need a car to visit the city center it is more enjoyable to walk.

Where to stay in Cartagena?

When we were planning for our trip to Cartagena we hesitated between booking in one of the charming boutique hotels located in the Historic Center or in a modern hotel in Bocagrande. If you plan to travel with a low budget, you might find a decent room in Getsemani.

We opted for Hyatt Regency Hotel located in front of the Bocagrande bay for several reasons. First of all, the rooms are spacious and comfortable which are two important criteria for us. When traveling together we appreciate having enough space to store our luggage and sleep in cozy beds.

Moreover, the hotel is situated oceanfront and offers an amazing panoramic view. Each morning, we spent at least 15 min to contemplate the view and swam in the infinity pool.

Also, the hotel spa was the ideal place to relax after a day of walking around the city. A wide range of services is offered at the spa from massage to body treatment. In addition, there is a sauna inside the women’s changing room. For us, amenities make all the difference when it comes to choosing a hotel.

Where are the vegan food spots in Cartagena?

Due to its proximity to the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is well recognized for seafood cuisine. That being said there are several local and international gastronomic options available for all type of budget in Cartagena. If like us you follow a vegan diet, here is a selection of restaurant we recommend trying during your stay.

Mar y Hojas Cocina Vegana

Mar y Hojas Cocina Vegana is the only vegan restaurant located in the Historic Center. Specialized in Colombian cuisine, this restaurant offers vegan breakfast, lunches, dinners, and fast foods. Since the dishes change every day there is no menu available online.

We ate at this restaurant twice, one time for lunch and one time for dinner. We recommend trying Mar y Hojas for lunch because you will have more choices of dishes and to call ahead to make sure they are open since their opening hours are flexible.

La Mulata

La Mulata is a cozy restaurant serving a creative Caribbean cuisine including various types of meat and seafood. On their menu, there is one vegan dish named Plato Vegetariano that is offered in two versions. The first option is a wok made of rice and vegetables in a coconut sauce. The second option is a dish of rice with boiled vegetables. It was our best culinary experience in Cartagena.

Zaitun

Zaitun is a fusion of Colombian and Lebanese cuisine under the same roof. The restaurant is located in the heart of the Historic Center on Calle de Ayos. There are several tasty vegan dishes to share available on the menu from falafel to salads. We also recommend trying their unique signature cocktails they taste delicious. Moreover, there is a live band playing local music every evening, which is definitely something you should experience during your stay.

Stepping Stone Café

Stepping Stone is a social enterprise café located in Getsemani and founded by three young Australian friends. Their mission is to provide a safe and comfortable space for disadvantaged youth to facilitate learning, growth, and confidence and to give them comprehensive training and employment.

We tried their brunch menu, which features vegan and gluten-free choices. Our favorites are the Champinones and the Pila de Arepa. When you eat at Stepping Stone you support a local business, which helps young people.

Girasoles Restaurante Vegetariano

Girasoles is a vegetarian and health store with a takeaway counter located close to Plaza San Diego in the historic center. Locals and tourists love to eat at Girasoles for lunchtime. The restaurant serves the set menu, which includes a soup and main dish made of standard Colombian dishes including rice, beans, and veggies. Save some space to end up your meal on a sweet note with their succulent vegan chocolate brownie.

Pezetarian

Pezetarian is a restaurant specialized in sushi, ceviches, and greens. This is a self-service so you have to order at the counter. We tasted the Vegetariano hot bowl and the Green sushis. In case you want to try to their pressed juices, please note that they contain honey.

What to do in Cartagena?

Cartagena has a lot to offer and there are many places to visit around the city. First, take a walk in the Historic Center to admire its colorful architecture.

Free Walking Tour

To learn more about the history of the city, we highly recommend joining a free walking tour. We did one in English with Free Tour Cartagena which offers daily tours in the morning at 10 a.m and in the afternoon at 2 p.m. The meeting point is in front of the Naval Museum at Plaza Santa Teresa. Our guide, Enrique, was so knowledgeable and made this tour very interesting. At the end of the tour, feel free to give a donation to encourage your guide for its time and its work.

Cartagena History Museum

We plan to visit the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenu) but it was closed for renovations so we decided to walk around and we ended up at the Cartagena History Museum (Museo Historico de Cartagena). We highly recommend opting for an audio guide since there are just a few annotations in English. Inside this museum, there is also the Palace of Inquisition showcasing historical artifacts.

Getsemani

A stop in the authentic neighborhood of Getsemani should be included in your itinerary. Only 10 minutes away from the Historic Center, this district is beautiful, unique, and vibrant.

Once you reach the Plaza Trinidad, walk from there to explore the neighborhood. Every street in Getsemani has history and art, we were amazed by all the murals. Once you are done, come back at the Plaza Trinidad, find a seat and engage a conversation with a local if you speak Spanish.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

A visit to the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas takes you back in the 17^th century when the first stage of the construction began. The castle is located on the Hill of San Lazaro and was built by the Spanish during the colonial era. From the Historic Center, it takes around 30 minutes to reach by foot.

The Castillo San Felipe is the famous fortress of Cartagena and also a UNESCO site. Once you reach the top you have a panoramic view of Cartagena. The entrance costs 25,000 COP (10.50 CAD) for adult and 10,500 COP (4.50 CAD) for children 6 to 13 years old.

Convento de la Popa

Due to its location at the top of Mount Popa, the Convento de la Popa offers the most spectacular view of Cartagena. Reaching the convent by taxi is highly recommended since the neighborhood at proximity is less fortunate. In addition to the cloister and the chapel, you can also visit the convent museum and take a break in the garden before leaving. The entrance is 4,500 COP for adult and 2,500 COP for children.

Playa Blanca

To experience white sands and turquoise water you have to go to Playa Blanca. You can reach this beach by boat, bus or taxi. Departures by boat and bus are at fixed hours so make sure to check the schedules at least one day in advance. If you plan to take a taxi you can negotiate a round trip rate with the driver. By car, it takes around 45 minutes to reach Playa Blanca from the city center.

Before you go, take all the necessary with you such as a bottle of water, sunscreen, and snacks. If you decide to purchase something at the beach, always ask for the price first before enjoying the service to avoid any surprise at the end. Vendors are very proactive and will solicit you constantly. If you are not interested, be firm and decline politely.

Rosario Islands

Your stay in Cartagena won’t be complete without sailing towards the National Natural Park of the Rosario Islands. Several agencies offer a day trip to explore the Rosario Islands but choose wisely to enjoy your experience to the fullest. Based on online reviews, we opted for Bonavida Catamaranes and we had excellent service.

The Bonavida catamaran is equipped with comfortable seats with nice cushions. On board, they offer a bar service with all kinds of drinks during the whole excursion. Also, the lunch is included and cooked on board by the crewmembers. You have a choice of meat, fish or vegan dish with rice and vegetables. It was delicious!

The highlight of our day was to practice snorkeling to admire the fascinating underwater life with its colorful tropical fish and various types of coral. Visit Bonavida website to find out more about their services.

Sunset

Café del Mar is a popular spot to enjoy the sunset in the Historic Center. The doors open at 5 p.m. and it becomes crowded instantly. If you want to avoid the crowd, we suggest trying the rooftop at the Movich Hotel. There is a DJ playing hit music and a bar with a large selection of drinks.

When is the best time to visit Cartagena?

You might have a more enjoyable experience visiting the city and going to the beach during the dry season from December to April. The rainy days are typically between May and November but overall the temperatures are around 31C all year long. Whenever you decide to go, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and your hat.

What about the safety?

There is not that much to worry about in Cartagena but like every place in the world keep your eyes open and do not put yourself at risk. For example, only carry on the amount of money you need for the day and leave the rest at your hotel. If you need a taxi in the evening, ask your hotel to call a taxi for you and make an arrangement with the driver to pick you up when you want to return. At the beach, be careful of your belongings.

To conclude, here are additional tips to prepare your travel to Cartagena:

• • Money – the local currency is the Colombian Peso (1 CAD = 2 388 COP). You can also use your bank card but it is preferable to have cash.

• • Entry Requirements (for tourism) – there is no visa required for Canadian, American and French citizens. However, Canadians are required to pay the new “Reciprocity Fee” of approximately 75$ upon entry at either airports or seaports.

• • Wifi – there are a couple of free Wifi zones inside the Historic Center otherwise if needed stop by any coffee shop.

• • Spanish – we encourage preparing some basic questions in Spanish if you plan to go outside the city because most of the people don’t speak English and it might be very helpful if you get lost.
  • Tips – Most of the restaurants include tips on the bill, which is approximately 10% of the total price. For other services such as taxi feel free to give also 10%.

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