Occupying a prime position on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, Cartagena is where Latin American and Caribbean cultures collide. The seaside city is a bold and beautiful banquet for the senses—brightly-colored buildings, bougainvillea-clad balconies, fragrant street food stalls, bustling markets, and party-fuelled chiva buses all jostle for your attention in the UNESCO-listed Old Town of this one-of-a-kind place—and that’s just in the center. Travel further afield for some of the best things to do in Cartagena, including volcanic mud baths, paradise islands, and spectacular national parks.
Caratgena’s prime position on Colombia’s Caribbean coast means that for most of the year, the UNESCO-listed city is bright, beautiful, and brimming with bougainvillea—however this tropical climate does mean that the length and intensity of downpours varies dramatically between the wet (May–November) and dry season (December–April). To see the city in celebration mode, visit for Cartagena Independence Day in mid-November or for the Cartagena International Film Festival in March.
There’s no metro train in Cartagena, and attractions outside of the UNESCO-listed old town are far-flung. The colonial center is easy to navigate on foot, but when you’re exploring outside of it, you'll do best by taxi. Popular ride-hailing apps such as Uber are available in Cartagena, and they are a good way of locking in a price—some taxis don’t have meters and are prone to change the price midway through your ride.
Brightly colored colonial architecture and Caribbean flair aren’t all there is to Cartagena. Less than an hour from the center is a lakeside volcano shrouded in legend. According to myth, the Totumo Volcano used to erupt molten lava before a priest poured holy water into it—today, you can climb into the volcano to bathe in mineral-infused mud before rinsing off in the warm waters of the lake beside it.
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Cartagena is best known for the colorful colonial architecture of its UNESCO-listed Old Town—top sights include San Felipe de Barajas Castle and Bolivar Square—and its proximity to Rosario Islands and Totumo Mud Volcano. It also boasts vibrant culture and cuisine that combines the best of Latin America and the Caribbean.
...MoreTo fully explore Cartagena’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town and venture to the neighboring Caribbean islands, you need a minimum of three to five days. As well as exploring the Walled City, spend a day at the Totumo Mud Volcano and another on the idyllic shores of Playa Blanca and Isla Baru.
...MoreThings to do inside the UNESCO-listed Walled City of Cartagena include admiring the colonial architecture of Las Bovedas, and visiting San Felipe de Barajas Castle and Bolivar Square. Day trips head to Playa Blanca and Baru Island, the African town of San Basilio de Palenque and Totumo Mud Volcano.
...MoreWith one day in Cartagena, you can fully explore the UNESCO-listed Walled City. Admire the bright buildings and bougainvillea-covered balconies of Old Town and Las Bovedas; delve into the colonial history of San Felipe de Barajas Castle and the 17th-century Convento de la Popa; and sample coffee and Caribbean-style street food.
...MoreYes and no. During the day, Cartagena is a safe and welcoming place to explore—exercise the usual caution when it comes to valuables, and your chance of encountering petty crime will be low. After dark, the city can be riskier, so avoid walking alone in dimly-lit areas at night.
...MoreYes. Cartagena should be on your Colombia itinerary. The jewel in the crown of Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, the city offers a vibrant mix of colonial architecture and a brightly colored, UNESCO-listed Old Town, plus easy access to natural delights such as Playa Blanca, Isla Baru, Totumo Mud Volcano, and Rosario Archipelago.
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