Trip highlights
- 1The Walled City and Cartagena's colonial streets
- 2Sunset on the city walls (Las Murallas)
- 3Rosario Islands day trip
- 4Getsemaní street art neighbourhood
- 5Fruit vendors and street food
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & The Walled City
Monday, January 25
Est. spend
$110
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG)
Rafael Núñez International Airport
The airport is just 10-15 minutes from the Walled City — taxis and rideshare apps both operate reliably for the short transfer.
Agree the taxi fare before getting in, or use a rideshare app for a fixed, transparent price.
☀️ Afternoon
Walking the Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada)
Ciudad Amurallada, Cartagena
A UNESCO World Heritage colonial centre, fully enclosed by 16th-century defensive walls, with brightly painted balconied houses, bougainvillea-draped streets, and a genuinely magical atmosphere.
Wander without a fixed plan — the Walled City's charm is in getting pleasantly lost among the colourful streets.
🌙 Evening
Sunset on Las Murallas (the city walls)
Baluarte de Santo Domingo, Cartagena
Café del Mar and other bars built directly on top of the historic walls offer one of the best sunset views in South America, looking out over the Caribbean Sea.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset to get a good spot — this is one of the most popular sunset rituals in the city.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Colombian · $8
Walled City lunch
Colombian/Caribbean · $14
Las Murallas dinner
Colombian/International · $35
Getsemaní & Street Food
Tuesday, January 26
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Getsemaní neighbourhood
Getsemaní, Cartagena
Once a working-class district, now Cartagena's most vibrant, artsy neighbourhood — Plaza de la Trinidad and the streets around it are covered in colourful street art and strings of umbrellas overhead.
Calle del Pozo and Calle de la Sierpe have the most concentrated, photogenic street art — worth a dedicated photo walk.
☀️ Afternoon
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Cra. 17, Cartagena
A massive 17th-century Spanish fortress built to defend Cartagena from pirate attacks, with tunnels and ramparts giving sweeping views over the city.
The fortress tunnels are genuinely atmospheric — bring a phone flashlight, as some sections are dimly lit.
🌙 Evening
Street food crawl in Getsemaní
Plaza de la Trinidad, Getsemaní
Plaza de la Trinidad fills with food carts each evening selling arepas, empanadas, and ceviche — a lively, affordable, and genuinely local dining experience.
The fruit vendors carrying baskets on their heads through the Walled City and Getsemaní are a Cartagena icon — try the local tropical fruit varieties you won't find at home.
🍽️ Meals
Getsemaní café breakfast
Colombian · $8
Fortress area lunch
Colombian · $12
Plaza de la Trinidad street food
Colombian street food · $15
Rosario Islands Day Trip
Wednesday, January 27
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Boat to the Rosario Islands
Muelle Turístico, Cartagena
A roughly 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena's harbour reaches the Rosario Islands, a coral archipelago with clear turquoise water — a genuinely beautiful contrast to the historic city.
Book a tour that includes Oceanario (an aquarium on one of the islands) if travelling with any interest in marine life, or a more relaxed beach-only day if not.
☀️ Afternoon
Beach time and snorkelling
Rosario Islands/Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca on Barú or one of the smaller Rosario Islands offers calm, clear water for swimming and snorkelling around the coral reefs — a relaxed island day.
Bring cash for beach vendors and lunch — card payment is unreliable on the islands.
🌙 Evening
Return to Cartagena and a relaxed dinner
Walled City, Cartagena
Return by boat in the late afternoon, tired and sun-soaked, for a relaxed dinner in the Walled City.
🍽️ Meals
Boat departure snack
Colombian · $6
Island lunch
Colombian seafood · $20 · Fresh-caught fish or ceviche on the beach is a genuine highlight of the island day.
Walled City dinner
Colombian · $35
Bocagrande & Departure
Thursday, January 28
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Bocagrande beach and skyline
Bocagrande, Cartagena
Cartagena's modern, high-rise beachfront district, offering a contrasting urban-beach experience to the colonial centre — a relaxed final morning at the beach.
Bocagrande's beaches are calmer and less scenic than Playa Blanca but far more convenient for a short final morning visit.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping in the Walled City
Las Bóvedas, Cartagena
Las Bóvedas, a row of former dungeons converted into souvenir shops along the city walls, is the classic final stop for emeralds, Colombian coffee, and crafts.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Cartagena Airport
Rafael Núñez International Airport
Allow at least 2 hours before an international flight. The airport is close to the Walled City, so transfer time is minimal.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Colombian · $8
Walled City lunch
Colombian · $15
Airport food
Colombian/International · $14
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
December–March is the driest season with the most reliable sunny weather. April–November sees more frequent rain, though showers are often brief and afternoon-focused.
🛂 Visas
Most Western nationalities (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) do not need a visa for short tourist stays in Colombia, typically up to 90 days. Check current requirements before travel.
💱 Currency
Colombian Peso (COP). Cards are accepted in the Walled City's restaurants and hotels; cash is essential for street food, the Rosario Islands, and smaller vendors.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 123
ambulance: 123
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Cartagena's heat and humidity are intense year-round — pace outdoor sightseeing for the morning or late afternoon and rest indoors during the hottest midday hours.
- Negotiate gently with street vendors and fruit sellers, but Cartagena's prices are generally already reasonable compared to more aggressively touted destinations.
- Bring cash for the Rosario Islands — card payment is unreliable once you're off the mainland.
- Watching the sunset from the city walls (Las Murallas) is a genuine local and visitor ritual — arrive early for a good spot.
- Cartagena's heat makes a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and water bottle essential for any full day of walking or island activities.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Cartagena, Colombia without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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