Cartagena.info

An independent guide to Cartagena, Colombia

Where to sleep

Where to stay in Cartagena: choose the area by the walk, not by the map

Where to stay in Cartagena, Colombia comes down to one trade. In Centro and San Diego, inside the walls, or in Getsemaní just outside them, the Clock Tower is 8 to 12 minutes away on foot and every sight is a short walk, but there is no beach and the nights are loud near the bars. In Bocagrande and El Laguito the beach is across the road and most places list a pool, but the old town is a walk of 37 to 60 minutes, too long in the midday heat. On a first trip, sleep inside the walls or in Getsemaní, pick a place with a pool, and end with a night or two on an island.

Edited by Rainer LangUpdated

On my trip in October 2023 I stayed in three of these areas: inside the walls, Getsemaní and Bocagrande. Rainer Lang, editor

Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.

1The verdict

Who should stay where

One line per kind of trip
Your tripStay inBecause
First visit, three or four nightsCentro or San DiegoEvery sight a short walk, even at noon
Bars and late nightsGetsemaníPlaza de la Trinidad and its streets at night, just outside the main gate
A swim every day, childrenEl Laguito or BocagrandeBeach across the road, hotels with several pools
Quiet, a long stay, a kitchenManga or CastillograndeResidential streets and apartments
A resort day by the seaLa BoquillaLong beach, beachfront hotels, far from town
An early flightCrespoThe terminal is next door, and there is a beach
Clear water, a quiet nightAn islandTierra Bomba, Barú or the Rosario Islands

The usual split. Spend most nights inside the walls or in Getsemaní and the last one or two on an island. Island day boats leave 8:00 to 8:30 and are back about 16:30; a hotel night turns a rushed boat day into an evening on the beach. Which island suits you: the island picker.

Airport taxi to the walled city or Getsemaní20,200 COPThe official 2026 fare from Rafael Núñez airport, about USD 6; to Bocagrande and El Laguito 34,400 COP. All zones in the taxi table.

Restored housesFor small hotels in colonial houses, compared by pool, rooftop and street, see boutique hotels in Cartagena.

2The chooser

Eleven places to sleep on one chart

The chart carries no room prices: a room price changes with the date and the size of the party, so this guide gives the area and the kind of place instead. Each area sits on the chart with its walking route to the Clock Tower, the main gate of the walled city. Switch on what matters to you and set your month: the rows re-order, best fit first, and its route turns coral.

What matters to you?

In November, the street shade at 13:00 typically feels like 37 °C (99 °F), one of the hot hours. At 19:00: 35 °C, cool enough to walk.

Chart of Cartagena, Colombia with eleven areas to stay and their walking routes to the Clock TowerCoastline, lagoons and city walls from OpenStreetMap. The Clock Tower sits at the main gate of the walled city. Close to it: 1 Centro and 2 San Diego inside the walls, 3 Getsemaní outside the gate. North along the coast: 4 El Cabrero, 5 Marbella and 10 Crespo beside the airport; 11 La Boquilla lies off the chart to the north-east. East across the water: 6 Manga. South on the beach peninsula: 7 Bocagrande, 8 El Laguito at its tip and 9 Castillogrande. A line from each area follows its walking route to the Clock Tower; the table beside the chart gives every distance.Clock TowerAirport1Centro2San Diego3Getsemaní4El Cabrero5Marbella6Manga7Bocagrande8El Laguito9Castillogrande10Crespo11La BoquillaCaribbeanSeaBay ofCartagenaTierra Bomba, Barú and theRosario Islands: by boat01 kmN© OpenStreetMap contributors

Switch on what matters; the areas re-order with the best fit first.

The order: “Walk everywhere” (15 minutes or less on foot), “Beach at the door” (within 600 m) and “Quiet at night” (15 bars or fewer; no count, no penalty) are filters, passed first; then pool share, airport fare, shorter walk.

Eleven areas, nearest walk firstWalk: shortest pedestrian route on OpenStreetMap from the area's center to the Clock Tower, at 4 km/h; Getsemaní from Plaza de la Trinidad. 13:00 and 19:00: a walk of up to 15 minutes works at any hour; longer walks only while the streets are cool enough; beyond 45 minutes, a taxi. Booking.com: places listed in a search for 19 to 21 March 2027, read on 11 November 2026. Beach: nearest beach mapped in OpenStreetMap, straight line. Bars: bars, pubs and clubs OpenStreetMap shows inside the barrio's boundary.
AreaWalk to the Clock Tower13:00 · 19:00BeachOn Booking.comBars in the barrioAirport taxi, 2026
Centroinside the walls8 minutes 540 mWalk, in the shade · WalkNo, nearest 1.4 km10962 with a pool2920,200 COP; hotel zone 24,300 COP
Getsemaníoutside the main gate10 minutes 680 mWalk, in the shade · WalkNo, nearest 1.5 km10148 with a pool2820,200 COP
San Diegoinside the walls12 minutes 830 mWalk, in the shade · WalkNo, nearest 0.7 km5925 with a pool620,200 COP
El Cabreronorth of the walls21 minutes 1.4 kmTaxi · WalkYes, 0.2 kmNo separate filterNo barrio count20,200 COP
Mangaisland on the bay35 minutes 2.3 kmTaxi · WalkNo, nearest 2.6 km6717 with a poolNo barrio count28,500 COP
Bocagrandebeach towers37 minutes 2.4 kmTaxi · WalkYes, 0.5 km249174 with a pool334,400 COP
Marbellaon the airport road44 minutes 2.9 kmTaxi · WalkYes, 0.2 km6741 with a poolNo barrio count20,200 COP
Castillograndefacing the bay57 minutes 3.8 kmTaxi · TaxiYes, 0.3 km173 with a poolNo barrio count34,400 COP
El Laguitotip of the peninsula60 minutes 4.0 kmTaxi · TaxiYes, 0.4 km143117 with a poolNo barrio count34,400 COP
Crespobeside the airport74 minutes 4.9 kmTaxi · TaxiYes, 0.5 km11973 with a poolNo barrio count20,200 COP
La Boquillanorth beach, Morros140 minutes 9.3 kmTaxi · TaxiYes, 0.5 km230179 with a poolNo barrio count24,300 COP
The islandsfor a night or two By boat from Muelle de la BodeguitaOn the waterYes, at most hotels Tierra Bomba 12, Barú 64, Rosario and San Bernardo 129 FewTo the dock 24,300 COP, then the boat

3The hour

The walk to the Clock Tower at 13:00 and at 19:00

A day in November, 6:00 to 24:00‹ 5:5717:3713:0019:00
Tap or move along the strip to read any hour.
  • Feels like (shade)
  • With breeze
  • Sunset
  • The two walks

This guide counts an hour as good for a street walk when the shade feels like 35 °C or less in still air, its own line, not a health authority’s. The sea breeze does not count in the streets. The strip shows your month; the drawing in the next section, all twelve.

From inside the walls and Getsemaní the walk is short: 8 minutes from Centro, 10 minutes from Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní, at 4 km/h. From Bocagrande the route runs along Avenida San Martín and Avenida Blas de Lezo for 2.4 km, 37 minutes. At 13:00 that walk is past the line in every month. At 19:00 it works from October to April; from May to September the streets are still past the line at that hour. Otherwise take a taxi, or a Transcaribe bus (fare 3,900 COP; routes on the operator’s site).

4The pool

A pool matters here

In Cartagena the hot hours in the streets fill the middle of the day, and from May to September most of it: hours for a pool, the water or a museum. The drawing shows them for every month.

Hours outside the walking window in Cartagena, Colombia, by monthA grid of twelve months by the hours from 6:00 to midnight. Colored cells are the hot hours in the streets, darker where the shade feels hotter; the pale band is cool enough to walk. A dashed box marks the hottest part of the day, 10:00 to 15:30.06:0009:0012:0015:0018:0021:00JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecThe hottest part of the day: the pool hours

Towers and resorts on the coast mostly have pools: on Booking.com most places in El Laguito, La Boquilla and Bocagrande list one. Inside the walls and in Getsemaní it is about half, and in Manga about one in four. In a tower the pool is often shared; in a colonial house it may be a plunge pool on the roof. Read the facility list before you book.

Beach or poolThe city beaches have no shade but rented tents: Cartagena beaches.

5Inside the walls

Centro and San Diego, inside the walls

Centro is the southern half of the walled city: the cathedral, Plaza de Bolívar and Plaza Santo Domingo. It is the shortest walk to everything, with bars and restaurants on its main squares. In 2024 the city's environmental authority, EPA Cartagena, suspended 5 venues in the Centro Histórico for excess noise (El Universal).

San Diego, the northern half, lies away from Plaza de Bolívar and Plaza Santo Domingo, with the arcades of Las Bóvedas and the Marbella beach road on its far side. The walk to the tower is 12 minutes. Between the walls and Getsemaní, the modern blocks of La Matuna add more places to stay.

On cruise days expect more people in the old town while the ships are in; the dates are on the cruise port page.

Casa India Catalina Hotel · Centro

A Republican-era building on Calle del Coliseo, three blocks from Parque del Centenario. It lists an indoor pool, breakfast and an airport shuttle, and no elevator.

Hotel Don Pedro De Heredia Hotel · Centro

On Calle Primera de Badillo. The listing describes beamed ceilings and antique wooden furniture in the rooms, a bar and a roof terrace with loungers.

Casa Movida Hostel Hostel · Centro

A hostel on Calle del Tablón with adults-only rooms, each with its own bathroom, rather than dormitories. The listing names an indoor pool and a plunge pool, a garden, a terrace, a restaurant and a bar.

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena Hotel · San Diego

A 17th-century monastery on Calle del Torno, in San Diego. Rooms have balconies over the gardens or toward the Caribbean. It has an outdoor pool, two restaurants and a spa with eight treatment rooms, a gym and a sauna.

Viajero Cartagena - Centro Hostel Hostel · San Diego

On Calle 38 in San Diego, with adults-only rooms and private bathrooms, a restaurant, a bar and a shared kitchen; no pool listed.

Colonial facades with wooden balconies on Plaza de la Aduana
Painted colonial houses with wooden balconies face Plaza de la Aduana in the walled city.Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Arcade of Las Bóvedas below the walls at sunset, with kites in the sky
The arches of Las Bóvedas, built into the city walls, glow at sunset while kites fly overhead.Photo: Jami430, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Airport taxi, hotel zone of the old town24,300 COPThe 2026 table has two rows for Centro: 20,200 COP in zone 1 and 24,300 COP for the old town's hotel zone. Ask which applies before you get in.

Tower of the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría framed by a colonial street
The cathedral's orange and yellow bell tower rises at the end of a narrow street of balconied houses.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

6Outside the gate

Getsemaní, the barrio outside the main gate

Getsemaní starts across the Camellón de los Mártires from the Clock Tower; from Plaza de la Trinidad the gate is 680 m, 10 minutes on foot. Its evenings center on Plaza de la Trinidad. In 2024 the city’s environmental authority suspended more venues for excess noise in Getsemaní than in any other barrio, 9, against 5 in the Centro Histórico.

Stay here for the evenings, and ask for a room at the back if you sleep lightly. The day and night plan of the barrio, street by street, is on the Getsemaní page.

Hotel La Casona de Getsemani Hotel · Getsemaní

On Calle Tripita y Media, in a colonial building, with a terrace and a tour desk; no pool listed.

Osh Hotel Cartagena Hotel · Getsemaní

On Calle de la Magdalena. It has a rooftop pool, two pools in all, a fitness center, a sun terrace and a garden, with a restaurant and a bar.

Santuario Getsemani Hostel Hostel · Getsemaní

On Avenida El Pedregal. Adults-only rooms with private bathrooms and soundproofing, a hot tub, a sun terrace and a shared kitchen; no pool listed.

Plazuela del Pozo in Getsemaní with café tables, benches and the old well
Plazuela del Pozo, a small square south of Plaza de la Trinidad, with café tables under the trees in the morning.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Church of the Holy Trinity on Plaza de la Trinidad, Getsemaní
The yellow front of the Church of the Holy Trinity at midday, with people resting on its steps. It faces Plaza de la Trinidad, the barrio's main square.Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Airport taxi to Getsemaní20,200 COPZone 1 of the 2026 table, the same fare as Centro, San Diego and La Matuna.

Nights outBars, clubs and the hours they keep: Cartagena nightlife.

7The beach peninsula

Bocagrande, El Laguito and Castillogrande

South of the walls a narrow peninsula of towers runs between the open sea and the bay: Bocagrande in the middle, El Laguito at the tip, Castillogrande facing the bay. The beach is across the road from most hotels; the old town is 37 minutes on foot from Bocagrande, 57 minutes from Castillogrande and 60 minutes from El Laguito.

Most places to stay here are homes and apartments in towers, in Bocagrande, El Laguito and Castillogrande alike; hotels are the smaller share. The beaches run between rock groynes; for pale sand you still take a boat (Cartagena beaches).

Hyatt Regency Cartagena Hotel · Bocagrande

On Carrera 1, by Bocagrande beach. It lists three pools, one an infinity pool, a spa and a beachfront location.

Estelar Cartagena de Indias Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Hotel · Bocagrande

A tower at Carrera 1 and Calle 12 with an outdoor pool and a spa; beachfront is among its facilities. A convention center is part of the building.

Holiday Inn Express - Cartagena Bocagrande by IHG Hotel · Bocagrande

On Avenida San Martín, one block in from the beach road. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, free parking and rooms with city views.

Hotel Caribe by Faranda Grand Hotel · El Laguito

On the beach, in colonial-style buildings by the Cuban architect Manuel José Carrerá Machado, in tropical gardens. The listing names a semi-Olympic outdoor pool and three pools in all, three restaurants and a gym.

Hilton Cartagena Resort · El Laguito

At the very tip of the peninsula, on Avenida Almirante Brión. Four pools, a spa, a beachfront location and its own convention center are listed.

Hotel Dann Cartagena Hotel · El Laguito

On Avenida Las Velas, with an outdoor pool and direct access to the beach. Some rooms have balconies over the sea; massages can be booked and breakfast is included.

Travelers Orange Cartagena Apartments · Castillogrande

Apartments with a kitchen and a balcony on Carrera 10 in Castillogrande. The listing names an outdoor pool, a rooftop pool and a 24-hour front desk.

Bocagrande skyline seen from the Baluarte de Santiago on the city walls
The towers of Bocagrande stand beyond a sentry box on the Baluarte de Santiago, part of the old city walls, at dusk.Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bocagrande beach from above, between two rock groynes, with umbrellas, tents and swimmers
Bocagrande from a hotel tower in January: the sand sits in bays between rock groynes, with swimmers in the shallow water, rows of rental tents and a lifeguard stand.Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Airport taxi to the peninsula34,400 COPBocagrande, El Laguito and Castillogrande share one fare in the airport’s 2026 taxi table, about USD 10.

To the old townThe Transcaribe bus fare is 3,900 COP; routes on the operator’s site. More on getting around.

8Quieter

Manga, El Cabrero and Marbella

Manga is an island of houses and apartment blocks across the water from Getsemaní, joined by bridges. It has no beach, and the old town is 35 minutes on foot. The cruise terminal is on Manga too (cruise port).

El Cabrero lies just north of the walls, between the sea and its lagoon, around the Casa Museo Rafael Núñez. It is 21 minutes from the tower on foot and 0.2 km from the nearest mapped beach, and Booking.com has no separate filter for it. Marbella follows the beach road toward the airport, the sea across the road: most places to stay there are homes and apartments, and the tower is 44 minutes on foot. Both share the lowest airport fare with the old town.

Hotel El Marqués De Manga Hotel · Manga

On Carrera 18A in Barrio Manga. It has a year-round outdoor pool, family rooms, a restaurant and a buffet breakfast with local dishes.

ibis Cartagena Marbella Hotel · Marbella

On Avenida Santander, the beach road, between the old town and the airport. A restaurant, a bar, a terrace and an elevator are listed, and no pool. The sea is across the road.

Airport taxi to Manga28,500 COPZone 3 of the 2026 table, about USD 9. El Cabrero and Marbella are in zone 1 at 20,200 COP.

9By the airport

Out by the airport: Crespo and La Boquilla

Crespo is the neighborhood around Rafael Núñez airport, with its own beach 0.5 km from its center. The old town is 4.9 km away, 74 minutes on foot, so you will take taxis, but the official airport fare is the same as to the old town, 20,200 COP. Good for a night before a flight.

La Boquilla, with the apartment towers of the Morros zone on the way, is the long, flat beach north of the airport, past the end of the chart. Walking to the old town is not a plan (9.3 km). Most places to stay there are homes and apartments, and most list a pool.

GHL Corales de Indias Hotel · Crespo

On Carrera 1 in Crespo. It has two pools (one an infinity pool, one for children), ocean views from the rooms, a games room and activities for children.

Sonesta Hotel Cartagena Hotel · La Boquilla

On the Anillo Vial in the north zone. The listing names three pools, balconies, a beachfront location and two restaurants.

Hotel Summer Frente Al Mar Hotel · La Boquilla

A beachfront hotel on the Vía al Mar, near the Las Américas convention center. It lists an outdoor pool on the roof, a restaurant and a bar; some rooms have balconies over the sea.

Hotel Las Americas Casa de Playa Hotel · La Boquilla

A beachfront complex in the Cielo Mar sector with a private beach area, several pools, a spa, mini-golf and a water park for children.

Beach in front of the apartment towers of the Morros zone north of the city, with tents and umbrellas
The beach in front of the Morros apartment towers, on the way to La Boquilla: tents and umbrellas for rent, a vendor cart and calm, sandy water at the edge.Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The wide, flat sand of La Boquilla beach with fishing boats and thatched restaurants
La Boquilla in January: a broad, flat beach of grey sand with fishing boats pulled up and thatched restaurants along the top.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Airport taxi to La Boquilla24,300 COPBoquilla, the Morros zone and Cielo Mar, zone 2 of the 2026 table.

10Islands

A night or two on the islands

A night on an island is the second half of the usual split, on Tierra Bomba, Barú or the Rosario and San Bernardo islands. Boats leave from Muelle de la Bodeguita (dock site), and a trip into the national park adds the park and dock fees of 31,500 COP per person. Ask the hotel whether the boat is included.

Tierra Bomba is the shortest crossing, across the bay. Barú can also be reached by road. The Rosario Islands lie inside the national park; San Bernardo is farther still.

Fenix Beach Cartagena Hotel · Tierra Bomba

At Punta Arena on Tierra Bomba, 7 to 20 minutes by boat from the city, on the island’s north shore. It has a private beach area, an outdoor pool, a garden with hammocks, a restaurant and a bar.

Hotel Calamari Baru Hotel · Barú

On Playa Blanca, in the Motica sector, a few steps from the sand. It lists a private beach area, rooms with sea views and balconies, a restaurant and a bar. No pool listed.

Hotel Isla del Encanto Resort · Barú

A beachfront resort that describes itself as inside the Rosario Islands national park. Two pools, massages and snorkeling trips are listed, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. The boat transfer is extra.

A quiet curved beach on Tierra Bomba under a grey sky, with a pier and thatched shelters
Tierra Bomba on an overcast June day: a calm, curved beach with thatched shelters and a small pier.Photo: HectorPertuz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Late afternoon on Playa Blanca: the sun low over the sea, a single boat at the shore and a buoy line
Playa Blanca on Barú on a March evening: one boat at the shore and the sun low over the sea (2019).Photo: Dasha Shishkova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Airport taxi to the dock24,300 COPTo Muelle de la Bodeguita, 2026 table, if you go straight from a flight to the boat.

Which islandFive island groups compared on one chart: the islands near Cartagena. Day passes: beach clubs.

11Arriving

The airport taxi to each area

Taxis from Rafael Núñez airport charge a fixed fare by zone, set by the city. The airport has authorised taxi stations: Two stations, at the domestic and the international exits; the airport recommends always using them (airport transport page). From 19:00 to 5:00, a night surcharge of 1,100 COP is added.

Official airport taxi fares, 2026From the airport's 2026 fare table. US dollars at the day's official rate, rounded.
Where you stayFareAbout
Centro, San Diego, La Matuna, Getsemaní20,200 COPabout USD 6
El Cabrero, Marbella, Crespo20,200 COPabout USD 6
Old town, hotel zone24,300 COPabout USD 7
La Boquilla, Morros, Cielo Mar24,300 COPabout USD 7
Muelle de la Bodeguita (island boats)24,300 COPabout USD 7
Manga28,500 COPabout USD 9
Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande34,400 COPabout USD 10

The full table: airport fare PDF. In town, the UK government's advice: Do not hail taxis on the street; use licensed phone or app taxi services or book through your hotel (FCDO, October 2026). Transfers and buses: the airport page.

PricesWhat else costs what: prices in Cartagena.

12Questions

Where to stay in Cartagena, asked and answered

What part of Cartagena should I stay in?

For a first visit, inside the walls: Centro for the shortest walk to everything, San Diego for a street away from the main squares. Getsemaní, just outside the main gate, suits travelers who want bars and late evenings. If a daily swim matters more than the old town, choose El Laguito or Bocagrande and take taxis into town. Add one or two nights on an island at the end.

What is the safest area to stay in Cartagena?

No government ranks Cartagena's neighborhoods. The US State Department rates Colombia as a whole Level 3: Reconsider Travel (31 March 2026) and does not name Cartagena among its do-not-travel areas. Australia warns of pickpocketing and bag snatching in larger cities including Cartagena. Details on the safety page.

Is Cartagena, Colombia walkable?

The old town is: Centro, San Diego and Getsemaní are all within 12 minutes of the Clock Tower on foot. From the beach areas it is 37 minutes from Bocagrande and 60 minutes from El Laguito, in heat that, from May to September, lasts from early morning into the evening: plan a taxi or the bus.

What is the best beach hotel in Cartagena?

Among the most-reviewed beach hotels on Booking.com, the Hilton Cartagena in El Laguito lists four pools and a beachfront location, the Hotel Caribe a semi-Olympic pool and tropical gardens on the beach, and Hotel Las Americas Casa de Playa in the north a private beach area and a water park for children. For pale sand, sleep on an island such as Barú.

Sources
  1. Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia: authorised taxi stations: Two stations, at the domestic and the international exits; the airport recommends always using them. OINAC: Transporte.
  2. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Centro - San Diego - La Matuna - Getsemaní (2026 table): 20,200 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  3. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Cabrero, Marbella, Torices, Nariño, Crespo, Canapote, Daniel Lemaitre, Siete de Agosto, San Francisco (2026 table): 20,200 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  4. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Muelle de la Bodeguita (2026 table): 24,300 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  5. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Boquilla - Zona Morros - Cielo Mar (2026 table): 24,300 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  6. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Centro - Zona hotelera Centro Histórico (2026 table): 24,300 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  7. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Manga (2026 table): 28,500 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  8. Official taxi fare from Rafael Núñez airport (CTG), Cartagena, Colombia to Bocagrande, Castillogrande, Laguito, Cuatro Vientos, Alma Viva (hasta la Bomba del Amparo), Cuartelillo de Olaya (2026 table): 34,400 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  9. Airport taxi night surcharge in Cartagena, Colombia (2026): 1100 COP. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  10. Airport taxi night surcharge hours in Cartagena, Colombia (2026): 19:00 to 5:00. OINAC: Tarifas taxis desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (footed 'Decreto 0051 Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena').
  11. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Centro (walled city), Cartagena, Colombia: 29. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  12. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia: 28. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  13. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio San Diego (walled city), Cartagena, Colombia: 6. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  14. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia: 3. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  15. Walk from Centro to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.5 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  16. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Centro, straight line: 1.4 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  17. Walk from San Diego to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.8 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  18. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from San Diego, straight line: 0.7 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  19. Walk from Getsemaní to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.6 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  20. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Getsemaní, straight line: 1.5 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  21. Walk from Manga to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 2.3 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  22. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Manga, straight line: 2.6 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  23. Walk from El Cabrero to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 1.4 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  24. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from El Cabrero, straight line: 0.2 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  25. Walk from Marbella to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 2.9 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  26. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Marbella, straight line: 0.2 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  27. Walk from Bocagrande to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 2.4 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  28. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Bocagrande, straight line: 0.5 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  29. Walk from El Laguito to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 4.0 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  30. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from El Laguito, straight line: 0.4 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  31. Walk from Castillogrande to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 3.8 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  32. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Castillogrande, straight line: 0.3 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  33. Walk from Crespo to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 4.9 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  34. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from Crespo, straight line: 0.5 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  35. Walk from La Boquilla to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 9.3 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  36. Nearest beach mapped in OSM from La Boquilla, straight line: 0.5 km. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  37. Muelle La Bodeguita, Cartagena, Colombia: park fee bundle (13,500 park + 18,000 dock) for the Islas del Rosario: 31,500 COP. Corpoturismo Cartagena de Indias: ticket store (catalogue in page source).
  38. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Beach Day on Tierra Bomba Island, Punta Arena' (AV COL), Cartagena, Colombia: boat ride from Cartagena to the island: 7 min. GetYourGuide product page t567775 (provider AV COL).
  39. GetYourGuide listing 'Makani Beach Club w/ Boat Transfer, Drink & Sunbed', Tierra Bomba, Cartagena, Colombia: boat time from Cartagena: 15 to 20 min. GetYourGuide product page t1297562 (provider Cartagena Day Tours).
  40. Booking.com, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: properties in the 'Getsemani' neighbourhood filter (search 19 to 21 March 2027, 2 adults, 1 room): 101. Booking.com search results, neighbourhood filter di=3421, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  41. Booking.com, Getsemaní filter, Cartagena, Colombia (19 to 21 March 2027): properties of type Hotels: 52. Booking.com search results, neighbourhood filter di=3421, property-type counts, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  42. Booking.com, Getsemaní filter, Cartagena, Colombia (19 to 21 March 2027): properties with a swimming pool: 48. Booking.com search results, neighbourhood filter di=3421, facility counts, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  43. Booking.com, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (19 to 21 March 2027): properties in the 'Centro' neighbourhood filter (inside the walls): 109. Booking.com search results, Neighborhood panel, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  44. Booking.com, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (19 to 21 March 2027): properties in the 'San Diego' neighbourhood filter (inside the walls): 59. Booking.com search results, Neighborhood panel, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  45. Booking.com, Centro, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): hotels: 59. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  46. Booking.com, Centro, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 62. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  47. Booking.com, San Diego, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 25. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  48. Booking.com, Bocagrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 249. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  49. Booking.com, Bocagrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): hotels: 53. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  50. Booking.com, Bocagrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): entire homes and apartments: 185. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  51. Booking.com, Bocagrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 174. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  52. Booking.com, Laguito, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 143. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  53. Booking.com, Laguito, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): hotels: 6. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  54. Booking.com, Laguito, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): entire homes and apartments: 137. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  55. Booking.com, Laguito, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 117. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  56. Booking.com, Castillogrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 17. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  57. Booking.com, Castillogrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): entire homes and apartments: 12. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  58. Booking.com, Castillogrande, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 3. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  59. Booking.com, Manga, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 67. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  60. Booking.com, Manga, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 17. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  61. Booking.com, Marbella, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 67. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  62. Booking.com, Marbella, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): entire homes and apartments: 61. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  63. Booking.com, Marbella, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 41. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  64. Booking.com, La Boquilla, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 230. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  65. Booking.com, La Boquilla, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): hotels: 19. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  66. Booking.com, La Boquilla, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): entire homes and apartments: 200. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  67. Booking.com, La Boquilla, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 179. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  68. Booking.com, Crespo, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 119. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  69. Booking.com, Crespo, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): hotels: 20. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  70. Booking.com, Crespo, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): with a pool: 73. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  71. Booking.com, Barú, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 64. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  72. Booking.com, Rosario and San Bernardo Islands, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 129. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  73. Booking.com, La Matuna, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 15. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  74. Booking.com, Tierra Bomba, Cartagena (19 to 21 Mar 2027): places listed: 12. Booking.com search, read 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  75. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 5-Stop Rosario Islands Day Tour with Lunch & Beach Club Passes', Cartagena, Colombia: Eco ticket hours: 8:00 to 16:30. GetYourGuide product page t497946.
  76. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Rosario Islands Excursion with Snorkeling and Playa Blanca in Barú', Cartagena, Colombia: meeting time at Muelle de la Bodeguita, gate 2: 8:30. GetYourGuide product page t934710.
  77. Colombian peso exchange rate (TRM) valid 2026-11-11: 3297.07 COP per USD. Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia: TRM, open dataset on datos.gov.co, 2026-11-11.
  78. EPA Cartagena (the city's environmental authority): venues suspended for excess noise in Getsemaní in 2024, the most of any barrio: 9. El Universal: 'Los barrios donde realizaron más suspensiones por exceso de ruido' (Esteban Espriella Pérez, 2024-12-17), figures from EPA Cartagena, 2024-12-17.
  79. EPA Cartagena: venues suspended for excess noise in 2024 in the Centro Histórico (the walled city), for comparison with Getsemaní: 5. El Universal (2024-12-17), figures from EPA Cartagena, 2024-12-17.
  80. US State Department travel advisory level for Colombia: Level 3: Reconsider Travel. US State Department: Colombia travel advisory (official RSS feed TAsTWs.xml), 2026-03-31.
  81. US State Department Colombia advisory: what it says about Cartagena and Bolívar: Names neither Cartagena nor Bolívar; Bolívar is not among the Do Not Travel areas. US State Department: Colombia travel advisory (official RSS feed TAsTWs.xml), 2026-03-31.
  82. UK FCDO on taxis in Colombia: Do not hail taxis on the street; use licensed phone or app taxi services or book through your hotel. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  83. Smartraveller on petty crime in Colombia: Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, particularly in larger cities including Cartagena. Australian Government, Smartraveller: Colombia, 2026-10-06.
  84. Transcaribe (BRT) bus fare, Cartagena, Colombia: 3900 COP. Transcaribe S.A.: news 'Alcaldía de Cartagena expide decreto que fija nueva tarifa de Transcaribe', 2026-01-20.
  85. Felt temperature by month and hour. NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database, station 800220 (Rafael Nunez airport, Cartagena), hourly observations, 2016 to 2024; medians per month and hour (Steadman apparent temperature, shade).
  86. Sunrise, sunset, sea and rain by month. Sunrise and sunset for the 15th of each month, UTC-5. Rain: IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020, station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, mean days with 1 mm or more and mean millimetres per month. Sea: typical values from the Open-Meteo Marine model, 2016 to 2025 (CC BY 4.0).
  87. Ship days. Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena, Programación de Cruceros 2026-27 (PDF updated 2026-11-03).

Photographs

  1. Colonial facades with wooden balconies on Plaza de la Aduana. Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Arcade of Las Bóvedas below the walls at sunset, with kites in the sky. Photo: Jami430, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Torre del Reloj above the Puerta del Reloj, the main gate in the city wall. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Plazuela del Pozo in Getsemaní with café tables, benches and the old well. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Church of the Holy Trinity on Plaza de la Trinidad, Getsemaní. Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. Bocagrande skyline seen from the Baluarte de Santiago on the city walls. Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  7. Bocagrande beach from above, between two rock groynes, with umbrellas, tents and swimmers. Photo: Joe Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  8. Beach in front of the apartment towers of the Morros zone north of the city, with tents and umbrellas. Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  9. The wide, flat sand of La Boquilla beach with fishing boats and thatched restaurants. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  10. A quiet curved beach on Tierra Bomba under a grey sky, with a pier and thatched shelters. Photo: HectorPertuz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  11. Late afternoon on Playa Blanca: the sun low over the sea, a single boat at the shore and a buoy line. Photo: Dasha Shishkova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  12. Tower of the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría framed by a colonial street. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons