Top 25 Must-Do Activities in Cartagena, Colombia

One of the most stunning, romantic, and vibrant cities globally, Cartagena is rich in history, welcoming Colombians, and, naturally, tourists. The walled city features pastel colonial buildings adorned with flowers, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and an abundance of restaurants and boutiques that cater to its numerous visitors.

Visitors can walk the city walls at sunset, explore the fortress that has protected the city for centuries, and sample a variety of Caribbean cuisine, ranging from fresh fish to exotic fruits. With options for markets, excursions, shopping, and nearby beaches including the Rosario Islands, you will be captivated by Cartagena’s beauty for days on end.

Let’s delve into the premier attractions in Cartagena:

1. Explore the Old City

Most visitors tend to stay in Cartagena’s old city, encompassing the neighborhoods of Centro, San Diego, and Getsemani, and this is advisable.

Here, you will be in proximity to the city’s most historic sites and picturesque streets, especially found within the walled city (La Ciudad Amurallada), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will encounter a plethora of colorful colonial architecture, blooming flowers, artists, and vendors selling trinkets along the streets.

Take time to visit the Torre del Reloj, the historically significant Plaza Aduana, the lively Plaza Santo Domingo featuring its Botero statue, and the leafy Plaza Bolivar, which often hosts dancers and performers.

2. Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

This may be the most impressive fortress constructed by the Spanish in their colonies, and it stands as a significant landmark in Cartagena.

Construction commenced in 1639, and it has remained unconquered despite numerous attempts to seize the city.

There are specifically designed tunnels within the fortress that enhance sound transmission to ensure early detection of any intruders.

You may wander through some of these dim passageways and traverse the fort’s walls and battlements during your visit.

Engage a guide or utilize an audio tour headset to deepen your understanding of its historical context.

3. Street Food Tour

While indulging in cheese-filled arepas and fresh lemonade from street vendors in the plazas is highly recommended, consider joining a street food tour to savor even more local dishes.

With an expert guide, you will have the opportunity to sample offerings from carts, alleyways, and shops that you would likely overlook independently.

Cartagena Connections organizes culinary tours that educate you about local cuisine and culture while sampling exotic fruits, fried delicacies such as empanadas and buñuelos, queso costeño (local salty cheese), frozen desserts, and tinto.

La Mesa tours, albeit at a higher cost, will lead you in trying patacónes, arepas filled with egg, and other coastal delicacies.

4. Visit a Mud Volcano

El Totumo is a modest volcano filled with thick bubbling mud in which visitors can bathe, located just outside Cartagena.

You will climb into the hill-like structure where you can float in the mud and also opt for a brief massage.

To capture a memorable photo, you may entrust your camera or smartphone to the individual who takes photos of tourists covered in mud.

After the rejuvenating mud bath, local women will scrub you down in the lake.

Do keep in mind that tipping is anticipated, but it contributes to a delightful experience.

5. Islas del Rosario

A wonderful day trip while visiting Cartagena, the Islas del Rosario is a collection of 27 islands nestled in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters just off the city’s coast.

These islands are replete with coral reefs that provide a natural habitat for diverse marine life, allowing for a day filled with boating, swimming, or snorkeling activities.

On land, facilities include hotels, an aquarium, and hiking options.

Public boats can take you to the larger islands, or you may opt for a private tour to explore some of the smaller ones.

Whether you are in search of white sand beaches, a festive atmosphere, or untouched stretches of coastline, there’s an island suitable for your preferences.

6. Mercado de Bazurto

Chaotic, vibrant, aromatic, and absolutely authentic, Mercado de Bazurto is a must-visit.

This is the largest wet market in the area, providing an inside look at local life as vendors prepare meats, scale fish, cook, repair equipment, and sell their goods.

Grab a bite or a drink from one of the food stalls or sample the exotic fruits available.

Exercise caution with your belongings and wear appropriate closed-toed shoes, but it presents a remarkable opportunity to experience true Cartagena.

7. Playa Blanca

Located on Isla Barú, it is possible to access perhaps the most popular white sand beach near Cartagena via boat or car.

This area can be bustling during the day with locals, tourists, and beach vendors, but staying overnight offers a rewarding experience.

Accommodations range from luxury hotels to hostels, with options for hammocks and tents directly on the beach.

The water is stunningly blue, and the evenings bring tranquility, offering a serene ambiance.

8. Sunset Drinks at Cafe del Mar

This establishment is among the most frequented in the city due to its prime location.

Sitting along the old city walls, it provides an excellent vantage point for observing the sun dip below the horizon while seated outdoors with views of the Caribbean Sea.

Anticipate higher prices compared to other locations in the city due to this prime real estate; however, the cocktails are noteworthy.

Arriving early or reserving a table ahead of time is prudent as it tends to become crowded.

9. Convento De La Popa

This hill serves as the highest point in the city, home to a convent modeled after the poop deck of a ship.

Taking a taxi up the winding road (ensuring you negotiate the fare) allows access to this convent originally founded in 1607, with fortifications added two centuries later.

From this vantage point, you’ll be rewarded with the best views of Cartagena and its beaches. You can enter the chapel to view the image of La Virgen de la Candelaria and admire the flower-filled courtyard.

10. The Palace of the Inquisition

This intriguing museum is situated in one of the most exquisite colonial buildings in Cartagena, though it chronicles a period marked by darkness in history.

The Spanish Inquisition dispatched officials to punish heretics in the colonies for “crimes” such as witchcraft, magic, and blasphemy, which were construed as threats to the Catholic Church.

Visitors can observe and read about the gruesome instruments of torture employed—such as the strappado and “the rack”—that were used to elicit confessions.

11. Hit the Salsa Bars

One quintessential evening activity in Cartagena involves salsa dancing in the old city.

Cafe Havana is a bustling bar featuring live Cuban salsa music, a notable location where Hillary Clinton famously enjoyed a dance during her visit.

Donde Fidel boasts an impressive sound system, situated right at the picturesque clock tower of the walled city, providing an excellent opportunity for people-watching. Quiebracanto is also worth checking for amazing music and views of the plaza below, or for dance lessons, visit Crazy Salsa.

12. Walk the City Walls or Ride in a Horse Drawn Carriage

Walking along the walls of the old city provides a glimpse of its well-preserved cannons and lookout posts.

Multiple areas with steps are available for navigating up and down, offering views of the sea on one side and neighborhood streets on the other.

For an alternative experience, consider a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the city, which lasts about an hour and is economically accessible.

13. Street Art in Getsemani

This district of the city, once less picturesque than its counterparts Centro and San Diego, is experiencing an influx of new hotels and restaurants daily.

However, Getsemani still maintains its rustic charm, showcasing crumbling buildings, local residences, children playing soccer, and vibrant street art.

Engaging in a graffiti tour can illuminate the meanings behind the murals, the artists, and the socio-political movements they represent.

14. Ride the Chiva Party Bus

This concept may seem somewhat kitschy (and it is), but it’s a popular evening activity among tourists from Colombia and beyond.

Join a chiva, a colorful party bus featuring music, dancing, and an open bar. You may even enjoy live performances as you traverse the city, making stops until arriving at a nightclub.

15. Bocagrande Beaches

If visiting the Islas del Rosario or Playa Blanca isn’t possible, ultimately heading to the city’s beaches is an alternative.

This area is characterized by tall apartment buildings and condos, which contrasts with the pastel colonial homes, yet it remains worth exploring.

The beach offers a fantastic place to unwind, though it requires determination to resist the constant offers from vendors and massage services.

16. Las Palenqueras and Exotic Fruits

Colombia is abundant in unique fruits not commonly found at home, such as lulo, maracuya, and granadilla.

Purchase some from street vendors or, preferably, buy colorful cups of fruit from the iconic women known as palenqueras, who sell them throughout the old city.

These women, hailing from San Basilio de Palenque, are recognized for their traditional Caribbean dresses and their ability to balance substantial bowls of fruit on their heads.

17. Museo de la Esmeralda

Cartagena hosts a museum dedicated to Colombia’s renowned emeralds, showcasing the history of this valuable gemstone and the jewelry crafted from it.

Learn about the discovery and mining processes of emeralds, along with viewing one of the largest emeralds found in the country.

Exhibits also encompass the goldsmithing practices of indigenous cultures, alongside myths and legends regarding these precious stones.

18. Santuario de San Pedro Claver

When selecting a single church to visit in Cartagena, this should be your choice.

The sanctuary encompasses a museum displaying colonial religious art, a lush courtyard complete with a baptismal font, and the church housing the remains of St. Peter Claver.

He was the patron saint of slaves, advocating for better conditions, working towards abolition, and baptizing slaves during colonial times.

19. Go Shopping

As a favored tourist destination, Cartagena is filled with a multitude of shopping options for visitors seeking unique souvenirs.

If you cannot find what you seek along the streets, explore Las Bovedas, where small shops are integrated into the city walls with charming alcoves and columns.

Here, you can discover everything from inexpensive trinkets to original artwork, clothing, and hammocks.

Furthermore, higher-end boutiques featuring local designers like Silvia Tcherassi are available, along with jewelers specializing in emeralds and gold pieces reflecting indigenous designs.

20. Visit La Boquilla and the Mangroves

La Boquilla is a quaint fishing village on Cartagena’s outskirts, marked by its less affluent streets and shacks, starkly contrasting with the old city’s charm.

Visitors can gain authentic insight into local life, meet friendly residents, and savor remarkably fresh fish at beachside dining establishments like El Paraíso.

Be prepared to experience a welcoming atmosphere from local merchants eager to entice you into their establishments! Although the sand may be dark, the beaches are relatively deserted, providing ample room to unwind away from the tourist crowds.

21. Museo del Oro Zenú

Similar to Bogotá’s renowned gold museum, Cartagena exhibits a smaller counterpart.

Visitors can explore how ancient cultures crafted jewelry, mined gold, and utilized it over the centuries by various local indigenous groups.

Artifacts on display from the Zenú tribe include pottery and gold items, known for distinctive symbols of fertility, gold breastplates, and animal motifs.

22. Upscale Dining in Cartagena

Upon sampling the street food, consider dining at some of the finest restaurants in Cartagena to enjoy delicious seafood and local delicacies.

La Cevicheria is acclaimed for its exceptional ceviche with Peruvian influences and is a preferred spot (notably visited by Anthony Bourdain). La Perla offers exquisite raw and cured fish plates alongside stylish Andean cuisine.

23. Go Scuba Diving or Snorkeling

Given its location along the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena offers ample opportunities for exploring its underwater ecosystem.

If you prefer snorkeling, the natural park of the Rosario Islands and the nearby San Bernardo reef about an hour’s boat ride away are ideal destinations.

Diving facilities just off the coast feature coral formations and shipwrecks teeming with colorful fish and rich biodiversity.

24. Free Walking Tour of Cartagena

One effective way to familiarize yourself with a city is to absorb its history through the eyes of a passionate local.

Free Tour Cartagena offers daily tours conducted by local guides, typically identifiable by their bright yellow shirts, who not only narrate personal anecdotes but also share historical insights.

Highlights include significant sites within the walled city, such as churches, plazas, and the residence of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, along with intriguing local practices like the meaning of different colonial door knockers.

25. Take a Day Trip to San Basilio de Palenque

To discover the origins of the vibrant palenqueras, visit the village situated approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Cartagena.

As one of the first towns in the Americas established by escaped and liberated slaves, it is the birthplace of famous Colombian musicians and distinctive musical styles such as champeta and palenque.

The local language and customs are unique, though tourism is gradually becoming integrated into their economy.

Travel options include bus transportation or organized tours that lead you through the town while interacting with locals and learning about Palenque’s historical journey, from slavery to contemporary social movements, including insights into clothing, folklore, and cuisine.