Welcome to Cartagena, the land of sand, sweat, and shaved ice! Cartagena is one of Colombia’s top tourist destinations and it’s not hard to see why. There is so much history lining the streets and warm beaches to unwind at. If you find yourself in this colorful city and asking how you should best spend your time, you’ve come to the right place!
As I was googling what I should do in Cartagena I couldn’t find a lot of different options for people either on a budget or who don’t like to party. With that in mind, I wanted to create a list full of the best things to do in Cartagena to not waste any time. If this is your first time in the city make sure to check out this Complete Guide To Cartagena to give you a well-rounded picture of what to expect. On that note let’s jump into it!
Neighborhoods to Explore
Let’s start with the best neighborhoods if you are just looking to wander the streets. When you are traveling it is important to know the safe neighborhoods to explore and where to possibly avoid. While in Cartagena you have a couple of options.
Walled City – This is the most famous part of Cartagena and is worth spending a day here exploring. It is the safest neighboured to wander around and take pictures as this is the touristy part of town. There are plenty of shops, historical sites, and photo options all at your disposal. You can stay in this part of town but it is quite expensive.
Carrera 10 – This street was one of my favorites while in Cartagena! You see it marked on the map below with Colombitalia Arepas (one of the best places to eat for cheap!) If you are coming from the walled city and enter Parque Centenario walk straight to the other side until you reach a street with colorful umbrellas hung overhead. This will lead you right to Carrera 10. There are so many places to explore on this street. Plus if you are looking for a hostel this street has many to offer!
Calle 25 – This is the street we stayed on while we stayed in Casa Zahri Hostel. It is full of cute shops, cafes, and murals to take pictures with. One of the best places we ate here was La Rumba Lounge Bar. It is an Italian restaurant that has a wide menu of Colombian and Italian dishes. We met the owner who is from Italy but half Colombian. He moved to Colombia and opened this restaurant, he was extremely knowledgeable and friendly! When I return to Cartagena I will be returning here first!
Las Bovedas
If you want lots of colors and to get away from the crowds’ Las Bovedas is the spot to be! You have to walk or have a taxi drop you off right at Las Bovedas then walk around the market, fortress walls, or the beautiful streets surrounding the main market. This is a great way to spend the afternoon allowing you to spend as much or as little money as desired.
We walked around the market and then wandered the colorful streets on the hunt for a specific souvenir. This is when we came across the best Shaved Ice stand of all time! For $2.38USD (that was with a tip included as I didn’t have exact change. You can read more here on that) we got three big shaved ices with real fruit and sweetened condensed milk. This was the best way to beat off the Cartagena heat!
If you are looking for a place to take photos Las Bovedas has a plethora of prime photo spots! The colorful buildings and historical market feel make the perfect backdrop for any photo. The best part of this, it’s all free! You could easily spend an afternoon here for less than $3USD!
Beaches
You can’t visit Cartagena without hitting up the beach! The weather here gets really hot, so make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat. When it comes to the price point of enjoying these beautiful beaches, we have a couple of different options.
Public Beach – For the budget backpacker we have the good old public beach! For free you can visit Fishermans Beach or Playas de Crespo. Both are good options if you just want to spend an afternoon on the water and don’t care about much else. They are public beaches so expect more of a crowd.
Island on a Budget – If you want a private beach but don’t want to break the bank I suggest this boat tour. For only $16USD you can spend the afternoon at a private beach house which also includes lunch and a tour of the nearby Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica. This was really fun as we had the beach all to ourselves and had our pick of different lounge chairs or hanging nets!
Island on the Bougie Side – Looking for more of an all-day experience that is truly private? Then check out this catamaran tour! For $65USD you can travel to two islands, snorkel, eat lunch, and have unlimited drinks. I would say if you love being on the ocean and having unique experiences then this is worth every penny!
Unique Experiences
If you want something different that provides plenty of laughs and memories then this section is for you!
Painting Class – If you want a fun experience that will leave you with a memento to take home, check out this sweet painting class! For $28USD you can paint on the rooftop in Cartagena while enjoying brunch and the views of the city! No worries if you are not a natural artist, you will have a teacher to help you step by step creating a fun and inviting atmosphere!
Dance Classes – One of the more popular things to do in Colombia but still a can’t miss includes taking dance classes! There are so many to choose from at all different price points. Here is one suggestion that includes Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Champeta. This rooftop dance class is a must-add to any traveler’s Cartagena list! For $30USD you get 3 hours of lessons and drinks.
Cooking Classes – You can learn so much about a culture through its food. It would make perfect sense then to take the time for a cooking class! There are many to choose from, this one is on the cheaper end while more commonly you have classes like this one that is $30USD. You can’t go wrong and it’s really about what you want out of your experience!
Food
If you are in Cartagena for a short period of time then you won’t want to miss out on any of the best food to try!
Breakfast – If you are looking for a fun Café to get your morning coffee and love books make sure to check out Abaco Libros y Café. If you want a place that offers more food options check out Beiyu. They have everything from juice, coffee, acai bowls, and more! If you want a simple cute coffee shop make sure to check out Café San Alberto. This is the perfect place to grab a quick coffee and treat while on your city adventure!
Lunch – If you read the Complete Guide to Cartagena you’ll have noticed Vive. I love this place and will always recommend it to the person who wants the authentic Colombian experience! Plus it’s extremely cheap, an entire meal was under $4USD! If you are eating a later lunch check out Demente Bar Tapas. The atmosphere is where it’s at making it a fun place to dine with friends!
Dinner – Rounding the day off with dinner, Los Fritos de Dora should be on everyone’s list! This is one of the best ways to try all the street food! If you are wanting something fancier a visit to Cafe Del Mar should do the trick. This restaurant sits right over the water making it one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset! That being said get there right when they open to make sure you get a good seat. Kiosco El Bony is the perfect spot if you want to escape the crowds and get a bite to eat right on the water!
Here’s a map of everything discussed above to help you find your way around!
Wrapping up
Hopefully, with this list, you won’t find yourself wondering what to do while in Cartagena. If you have never been to Colombia before make sure to read these 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Colombia. As always if I missed something or you have any suggestions about what you love to do in Cartagena make sure to let me know!
Until Next Time, Olivia Grace:)
Leave a Reply