Especially if you're visiting Cartagena for the first time, here's some things to keep in mind: Don't drink the tap water. Keep Reading // We know that sourcing accommodation can be a little overwhelming, so weve put together a few time-saving articles for you: nine best hostels in Cartagena and our pick of the best airbnbs in Cartagena for every budget. Secondly, most taxis dont have a meter and instead have zone rates which they often dont strictly adhere to with foreigners. For most people visiting the north of Colombia, Cartagena will act as a gateway to the incredible sights dotted along the country's Caribbean coast: places like Tayrona National Park, the laid-back hippy village of Palomino, or into the jungle to take on the Lost City Trek. If you do, just know that the photo is not free. On the COVID-19 end, at the time of this post, international travelers entering Colombia no longer need to present a negative PCR test. Thanks to cheap flights, cruise ships (bloody cruise ships), Instagram, and Colombia now being viewed as a safe country for travel beyond backpacker circles, Cartagena has catapulted itself into the bucket-list of thousands. Now I'm scared. The best shot here, is to take a day trip excursion to one of the hotels to offer the "day pass" service, however be aware of the option you choose as if your plan is to enjoy a quiet and relaxing day at the beach, most of this hotels host hundreds of people everyday; besides, not even all of them have really a beach. | Claudia Tavani P. Iva 03780660928. For the vast majority of you, that will be the case too - just dont leave your bag or valuables unattended, be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas, and be aware of your surroundings at night. It promotes sustainable and responsible travel for the curious modern day explorer. 3. A rather common tour offered by tourism agencies is the Rosario Island and Playa Blanca in a Day; This tour is more like a panoramic route made on the same boat around some of the islands, and in which they only make a stop of about an hour at the aquarium and then take you to playa blanca where you have just the time to take your lunch and enjoy a bit of the beach and the sun; you really spend more time in the boat and can not get enough of it in the island or Playa Blanca. The beaches in Cartagena are nice enough, but one of the things I love is putting together a group to rent a boat and spend a day out in the nearby Rosario Islands, which are gorgeous. On that first ever visit to Cartagena, we arrived at 11 p.m. and all our backpacks after a long bus journey. Cartagena is worldwide well known for its history and culture, our beaches are not the best but not everyone is aware of that, so they can get a big disappointment when they come to see the sand and water are not exactly as the caribbean postals they expected. Juan Ballena is a trusted online travel agency for people around the world who wish to discover the amazing city of Cartagena. You can get yourshere. You may like: Where to exchange money in Cartagena. Viva Colombia is another low-cost airline worth checking out. Landed in Cartagena and prepared to discover? However, it can also push locals out of certain neighbourhoods, hollow out a place, and change its character; this of course removes much of what made a place special to travellers in the first place. For those travelling by themselves, or still a little nervous about the country, this means that you can travel safely and confidently to a number of top destinations without fear or a great deal of Spanish. I hope you found this list of things to know about Colombia useful. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. ). The coffee region is chalk full of amazingly friendly people and beautiful mountain landscapes. Dress appropriately for the temperatures, wear a hat, and lather yourself in suncream too. Cartagena is pretty hot and humid! We also have Punta Arena, a closer and nicer beach on Tierra Bomba Island just 7 min away. The city and its main attractions are all very walkable, and thats how wed recommend primarily exploring Cartagena. We recommend avoiding lodging in other areas not mentioned as these are the safest alternatives that also offer infinite options of bars, restaurants and points of interest, Una foto publicada por Juan Ballena (@juanballenatravel) el 7 de May de 2016 a la(s) 1:10 PDT, Older Post If you are a little wary of trusting the tap water, you can opt to filter the water further, you know, to take the better safe than sorry route. Bogot, Medelln and Cartagena are the most popular Colombian destinations, but there's so much more unforgettable travel experiences throughout the country: the coffee region, Tayrona National Park, the Rosario Islands, the colorful towns of Antioquia and the list goes on and on. Remember you will need a copy of your passport for that. As Colombia's best known destination, there are lots of fun things to do in Cartagena. The nice beaches with white sand and turquoise water are in Baru and the Rosario Islands Nat Park. Getsemani: This is an ideal area for travelers who want to being near of the historic center on a budget. Were a free-spirited travel couple whose appetite for adventure and far away places fuel our wanderlusting souls. With a trusty map app, you're all set. Or, just leave us a positive note! Particularly in case you're visiting Cartagena for the primary time, right here's some issues to remember: Don't drink the faucet water. Taxi Rates in Cartagena ( valid through December 2016), There is also UBER, InDriver and Esay Taxi apps available in Cartagena, Un vdeo publicado por Uber (@uber) el 2 de Feb de 2016 a la(s) 11:41 PST. You do not need to rent a car or even book a cab to get anywhere within Cartagenas Old City or to get to Getsemani for that matter. For more information, 10 things you have to know before traveling to Cartagena, Tour to Palenque: The Other History Of Cartagena, Coffe Roasting And Tasting At Caf del Mural, From/To Cartagena - Santa Marta or Tayrona, Una foto publicada por Juan Ballena (@juanballenatravel), How to get the most of Playa Blanca in Baru, What to do for Christmas and New Year in Cartagena, Best restaurants in Cartagena to eat Caribbean food, Explore the best parks and plazas in Cartagena, - We warn visitors that child labor and sexual abuse is penalized by the Colombian law. You already know it, drink lots of water and protect yourself from the sun when you come over! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The bad news about safety in Colombia. One day I packed my life and started traveling except I packed too much. As our bellies can attest to, the tap water in Cartagena is safe to drink, safe to brush your teeth with, safe to wash fruit and veg with, and safe to have ice in your cocktail. This means that for any purchase you make through one of my links, I receive a small percentage which however does not affect the final price for the customer. Keep Reading // 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Cartagena. The thing to know is that the Caribbean coast of Colombia is more expensive than elsewhere in the country, and Cartagena is generally the most expensive place on the Caribbean coast. The Rosario islands are integrated by an archipelago of 27 islands; all with white sand, narrow beaches and warm turquoise waters. The logistics of moving around Colombia can be messy. Additionally, from Cartagena airport, you can take a flight for just over an hour to the dreamy Colombian island of San Andres - which is located slap bang in the middle of the Caribbean and actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. If you choose to partake, just be aware of the potential consequences that can come along with that decision (potential robbery, arrest, etc). Continue reading to discover everything you need to know before traveling to Cartagena. Do you think all that beauty is just going to go unnoticed?! Keep Reading // For more advice, read how to manage your travel money better. The Walled City | The beautiful historic centre of Cartagena, with walls that remain standing strong long after they were erected and their purpose has expired, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and the citys major attraction. We visited Cartagena in late January and into early February and their winter temperatures rose into the 90s. The best part is you can easily experience both Getsemani and Cartagenas Old City in one day or spend several exploring both neighborhoods in detail. If youve already got somewhere sorted for your dates, then youll be golden. If thats you, then we strongly recommend investing in a travel filter water bottle which will purify water from any source and greatly reduce the amount of single-use plastic you use on your travels. From the moment you leave your hotel to the moment you get back you will be encountered by many a salesman asking you to buy a sombrero, a bracelet, a soccer jersey, or book a tour. Getsemani is much more local and laid-back than Centro Cartagena. If youre looking for a laptop friendly workspace, then go straight to Folklore Colombian Cafe in the Walled City (find it here on Google Maps) which has really good specialty Colombian coffee, nice lunch options, friendly staff, enough space / plugs for you to work for a few hours without feeling awkward and - perhaps most importantly - incredibly fast wifi! It is not a good idea to carry all of your money or credit cards with you at once. 11. You can get a SIM card at one of the kiosks at the airport or in town. Share The Article Last Updated 2 hours in the past. The countrys most famous author dreamed up many of his magical realist tales from a childhood and early journalistic career spent in Cartagena, and appreciating this adds a whole new layer to your strolls around it. Top Trending Things to Do in Cartagena. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Cartagenas airport has handfuls of international flights coming and going daily. Check out my posts The Best Airbnb In Cartagena andWhere To Stay In Cartagena The Best Neighborhoods And Places To Stay. Lush jungle, snow-capped volcanoes, rocky deserts, endless plains, gorgeous beaches, coffee and cocoa plantations and alpine lakes. In fact, it is probably the most expensive. By using these, you are directly supporting Along Dusty Roads to remain an independent travel blog, and to create free guides to help you travel more, travel better. However, as tourism to the city skyrocketed, the unofficial demarcation between the two neighbourhoods has blurred and we were surprised at how many new hotels and businesses (and further redevelopment) had set up in Getseman. Colombia uses the same outlets as we do. Other good options if you fancy a change or Folklore Cafe is busy include: Cafe del Mural - find it here. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Manicures, pedicures, massages, and beauty services, house cleaning/cooking, and food items are all extremely inexpensive in Colombia. Flights coming and going daily do, just know that the photo is not free the world who to! Folklore Cafe is busy include: Cafe del Mural - find it here the Article Last Updated 2 hours the. Include: Cafe del Mural - find it here early February and their winter temperatures rose the... An ideal area for travelers who want to being near of the kiosks at the airport or town. Suncream too manicures, pedicures, massages, and thats how wed recommend exploring... Walkable, and thats how wed recommend primarily exploring Cartagena strictly adhere to with foreigners with... Meter and instead have zone rates which they often dont strictly adhere to with foreigners discover the city! 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