Welcome to Colombia
Cartagena de Indias is a colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. The city was founded in the 16th century by Spanish settlers who arrived from Cartagena, Spain.
Today Cartagena has become a top travel destination! The historic "ciudad vieja" or "old city" is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is surrounded by 13km of centuries-old colonial stone walls. The old city is best known for its colorful colonial architecture, flower-covered balconies, and cobblestone streets. Cartagena offers world-class restaurants, shops and nightlife. Just off the coast are the Islas del Rosario (Rosary Islands) with white sand beaches and turquoise water!
We have partnered with Cábala Tailored Experience to help our guests make the most of Cartagena! They can help you book a guided tour, a coffee tasting, a restaurant reservation or a spa appointment. See the "Travel" section for details of how to contact them.
Walk and shop around the Old City
The best way to explore the old city is to walk through the streets and pop into the shops and boutiques. See the "shop" section for recommendations on where to go!
Shop La Serrezuela and escape the heat!
La Serrezuela is a very modern shopping mall built around the historic bull fighting ring within the walled city. This mall features all of our favorite stores and designer boutiques.
Explore Getsemaní
Getsemani is a trendy neighborhood just on the other side of the harbor from the old city. If the walled city were Manhattan, Getsemaní would be Brooklyn. It's full of street art, vendors, cafes and hostels.
Watch the sunset at Cafe del Mar
The best place to catch the sunset is at Cafe del Mar, which is a bar/restaurant at the Baluarte de Santo Domingo, on top of a corner of the colonial wall surrounding the city.
Visit Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
If you love the colonial wall around the old city, you will enjoy visiting this fortress built by the Spaniards which overlooks the city!
January is a the high season in Cartagena! We recommend making reservations in advance to ensure you can try the best restaurants in the city. We have partnered with Cábala Tailored Experience who can help you make a reservation. See the "Travel" section for details on how to contact them.
BEST FOR AN ELEGANT DINNER OR SMALL PLATES & COCKTAILS:
➤ Mar y Zielo - One of our new favorites! The food is a contemporary and innovative twist on regional classics, inspired by local ingredients. Ask for a table on the rooftop - this venue has the most incredible up-close view of the Cathedral lit up at night.
➤ Mistura - Another favorite trendy spot, their menu is best described as Latin-Japanese fusion and they have great live music!
➤ Carmen - With a beautiful interior and courtyard seating, Carmen serves contemporary cuisine inspired by local Colombian ingredients.
➤ Alma - Inside of the beautiful boutique hotel Casa San Agustín, Alma offers a modern twist on Colombian classics. If you aren't looking for a full dinner, stop by for appetizers and enjoy their unique hand crafted cocktails.
➤ Marea by Rausch - If you want dinner with a beautiful view of the harbor, walk over to Marea just across from the clock tower main entrance to the walled city. The Rausch brothers are two of the best restaurant entrepreneurs in Colombia.
BEST FOR A NICE BUT CASUAL LUNCH
➤ La Cevichería - The best ceviche in Cartagena! (Pro Tip - Try the "Ceviche Caliente", it's a deliciously warm ceviche with melted cheese. You won't regret it!)
➤ Harry Sasson at Hotel Charleston - Experience the beautiful interior of the Charleston Hotel Santa Teresa. Harry Sasson is a famous Colombian chef, offering an extensive menu with a variety of international options.
BEST FOR BREAKFAST AND COFFEE
➤ La Esquina del Pan de Bono - Grab breakfast or an afternoon snack on the go, this is our favorite bakery! (Pro tip - try the "pan de bono" and "pan de yuca", typical Colombian breads made from yuca... they're naturally GF!) (Super pro tip - They're open 24hrs, so you can make another stop for late night!)
➤ Época Espresso Bar - The best coffee in Cartagena! They also serve light breakfast and lunch options. There are two locations in the city.
➤ Mila Postres - This is a bakery, but it's great for a casual sit-down breakfast. (Pro tip - Try the "arepa de huevo" or the "carimañolas", two of Cartagena's most typical dishes for breakfast or a snack)
Because of the heat during the day, the city is most active at night! Our typical night out in Cartagena starts with dinner or "restaurant hopping" to try different small plates, followed by dancing at one of Cartagena's bars or night clubs. Here are a few of our favorite places for after dinner drinks and dancing:
(**Note that most bars and clubs require men to wear pants and closed-toe shoes to enter**):
➤ Best rooftop cocktails (+dancing): Alquímico & La Jugada
➤ Best "Discotecas": La Movida & Andres Carne De Res Cartagena
➤ Best live Salsa music and dancing: Café Havana
Cartagena is famous for its shopping - from street vendors to high fashion and everything in between. Here are a few recommendations if you're looking for a Colombian souvenir:
➤ Street Vendors ($) - The old city is full of vendors walking the streets trying to sell you everything from arepa de huevo, to sunglasses, to artwork. If you're on a budget, or just in the mood to practice the art of negotiation, they're a fun part of the experience.
➤ Artisanal Goods ($$) - There are artisanal stores all over the city! Try Casa Chiqui
➤ Local Cartagena Clothing Brand ($$) - One of our favorite clothing stores is Azulu, a retailer local to Cartagena with stores across Colombia. Their clothes are high-quality, fun designs that won't burn a hole through your wallet.
➤ Fun Colombian jewelry ($$) - Mercedes Salazar is an iconic Colombian jewelry brand with colorful statement earrings and other accessories
➤ Swimwear ($$) - If you're interested in colorful Colombian swimwear, pop into Ondademar or Maaji
➤ Fine linen clothing ($$$) - If you're dreaming of linen in the Cartagena heat, Ketty Tinoco has the nicest linen clothing in the city for both men and women
➤ Top Colombian Fashion Designers ($$$$) - If you want to splurge on high fashion, Silvia Tcherassi is a world-famous Colombian designer with a store next to the Hotel Charleston. You can also visit St DOM which carries clothing from established Colombian designers like Amelia Toro and Johanna Ortiz.
➤ Emeralds ($$$$) - If you're interested in shopping for or just admiring some Colombian emeralds, we recommend stopping by Lucy Jewelry