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Cartagena, Departamento de Bolívar, Colombia

1 week in Cartagena

A walled Caribbean old town in full colour. Here's how to spend 1 week in Cartagena: a realistic day-by-day plan you can copy and tweak. The best time for this 1 week Cartagena trip is January, February and March. Budget roughly $130/person/day before flights.

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Length
1 week
Best time
January, February, March
~Cost/day
$130
Currency
USD
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Your 1 week Cartagena itinerary, day by day

1

Day 1

09:00
Estadio Once de Noviembre~$5
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
12:30
Siege of Cartagena (1820–21)~$5
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
16:00
Cartagena, Colombia~$5
Cartagena, known since the imperial era as Cartagena de Indias, is a city and one of the major ports on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region, along the Cari
2

Day 2

09:00
Bolívar Department~$5
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
12:30
Estadio Jaime Morón León~$5
Estadio Jaime Morón León, formerly known as Estadio Pedro de Heredia, is a multi-use stadium in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Built in 1958 it has a capacity of 17,200. It is curr
16:00
Convento de la Popa~$5
The convent, cloister and chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de la Popa are located at the top of Mount la Popa, in Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia. It is also called Conve
3

Day 3

09:00
Cartagena Province~$5
Cartagena Province, also called Gobierno de Cartagena during the Spanish imperial era, was an administrative and territorial division of New Granada in the Viceroyalty of Peru. It
12:30
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar~$5
The Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar is an institution of higher education in Bolívar, Colombia. In 2015 it was recognized as the third best undergraduate university in the cou
16:00
Raid on Cartagena de Indias (1697)~$5
The raid on Cartagena de Indias was a successful attack by the French on the fortified city of Cartagena de Indias, on 6 May 1697, as part of the War of the Grand Alliance.
4

Day 4

09:00
Capture of the galleon San Joaquin~$5
The capture of the galleon San Joaquin was a naval engagement that took place off the coast near Cartagena. It involved five British ships of the line against the Spanish galleon S
12:30
Battle of Cartagena de Indias~$5
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias took place during the 1739 to 1748 War of Jenkins' Ear between Spain and Great Britain. The result of long-standing commercial tensions, the war w
16:00
Old Boots~$5
Old Boots, also known as the Old Shoes Monument is a sculpture located in Cartagena, Colombia. The statue was created in honor of Colombian poet Luis Carlos López, who, in his poem
5

Day 5

09:00
Bolívar State, Colombia~$5
Bolívar State was one of the states of Colombia, which existed from 1857 until 1886. Today the area of the former state makes up most of modern-day Bolívar Department, Sucre Depart
12:30
Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1586)~$5
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1586) or the Capture of Cartagena de Indias was a military and naval action fought on 9–11 February 1586, of the recently declared Anglo-Spanish
16:00
Local food tour of Cartagena~$25
Taste the signature dishes of Cartagena.
6

Day 6

09:00
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,
12:30
Central market & street-food lunch~$12
Grab lunch where locals do.
16:00
Siege of Cartagena (1815)~$18
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
7

Day 7

09:00
Estadio Once de Noviembre~$5
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
12:30
Siege of Cartagena (1820–21)~$5
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
16:00
Cartagena, Colombia~$5
Cartagena, known since the imperial era as Cartagena de Indias, is a city and one of the major ports on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region, along the Cari

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What 1 week in Cartagena costs

What this trip costs

$1,511
Flights$45030%
Stay$35123%
Activities$16411%
Food$27318%
Local transport$1097%
Shopping$735%
Buffer$916%
$216/day

Estimates for planning, so check live prices before you book.

Have more or less time in Cartagena?

1 week in Cartagena: FAQ

Is 1 week enough for Cartagena?+

1 week is a comfortable amount of time to explore Cartagena, with room for day trips and a slower pace. The plan above balances the must-sees with time to wander.

What should I do on day 1 in Cartagena?+

Start with Estadio Once de Noviembre, Siege of Cartagena (1820–21) and Cartagena, Colombia. The full first day is mapped out above.

How much does 1 week in Cartagena cost?+

Budget around $130 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and activities), before flights, so roughly $910 per person for 1 week. The cost breakdown above splits it by category.

When is the best time to visit Cartagena?+

The best months to visit Cartagena are January, February, March and December, when the weather suits sightseeing best.

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