Cartagena travel guide
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Cartagena, Departamento de Bolívar, Colombia

Cartagena travel guide

From Wikipedia and maps · Wikipedia · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo

A walled Caribbean old town in full colour. The best time to visit Cartagena is January, February, March and December. A mid-range trip runs roughly $130/person/day before flights.

Best time
January, February, March
Ideal length
3 days
~Cost/day
$130
Currency
USD
Plan Cartagena
Days, budget, and flights. You can edit it after.
Build my Cartagena trip

Best time to visit Cartagena

The best time to visit Cartagena is January, February, March and December. Here's the average temperature through the year:

28°
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28°
F
28°
M
28°
A
28°
M
28°
J
28°
J
28°
A
28°
S
27°
O
28°
N
28°
D

Top things to do in Cartagena

Highlights from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.

Culture & sights

Estadio Once de Noviembre
Estadio Once de Noviembre
Estadio Once de Noviembre Abel Leal Díaz is a baseball stadium in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. It currently serves as the home of the Tigres de Cartagena of Colombia's profession
~$5 · 1.5h
Siege of Cartagena (1815)
Siege of Cartagena (1815)
The siege of Cartagena (1815) was a successful 105-day Spanish siege by combined naval and ground forces under command of General Pablo Morillo, of the Colombian city and fortress
~$18 · 2h
S
Siege of Cartagena (1820–21)
The siege of Cartagena (1820–1821) was a military confrontation fought in the context of the Colombian War of Independence between Patriots and Royalists, with the victory of the f
~$5 · 1.5h
Bolívar Department
Bolívar Department
Bolívar is a department of Colombia. It was named after one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. It is located in the north of the country, extending rough
~$5 · 1.5h

Nature & outdoors

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is a fortress in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. The castle was built in 1639, and is located on the Hill of San Lázaro in a strategic location,
Free · 2h

Food & markets

L
Local food tour of Cartagena
Taste the signature dishes of Cartagena.
~$25 · 2h
C
Central market & street-food lunch
Grab lunch where locals do.
~$12 · 1.3h

A sample 3-day Cartagena itinerary

1
Day 1
09:00 · Estadio Once de Noviembre12:30 · Siege of Cartagena (1820–21)16:00 · Cartagena, Colombia
2
Day 2
09:00 · Bolívar Department12:30 · Estadio Jaime Morón León16:00 · Convento de la Popa
3
Day 3
09:00 · Cartagena Province12:30 · Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar16:00 · Raid on Cartagena de Indias (1697)

A sample plan. See the full 3-day Cartagena itinerary →

Cartagena travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Cartagena?+

The best months to visit Cartagena are January, February, March and December, when the weather is most comfortable for sightseeing.

How many days do you need in Cartagena?+

Most travellers find 3 days ideal for Cartagena, enough to see the highlights without rushing. Add a day or two if you want day trips.

Is Cartagena expensive to visit?+

Budget roughly $130 per person per day for a mid-range trip in Cartagena (accommodation, food and activities), before flights. Costs scale up or down with your travel style.

What are the top things to do in Cartagena?+

Popular highlights include Estadio Once de Noviembre, Siege of Cartagena (1815), Siege of Cartagena (1820–21) and Bolívar Department. There's a longer list above, or start a plan and swap things in.

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