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. With narrow, cobbled alleys, breezy squares, colorful buildings and fruit carts, souvenir stands and lots and lots of street life, your photographers eyes will be popping out when visiting Cartagena! In our opinion, the best time to explore Cartagena is at sunrise. We started doing our research weeks ahead of time, but were in for a surprise: not only had accommodation prices in Cartagena skyrocketed, but most of the decent options were already booked out for our dates. Of the many things to do in Cartagena, you may read about taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Old City. Cartagenas bus terminal is however a 45-minute ride from the old town, here on Google Maps. Civil unrest in Colombia. My answer is an emphatic yes, Cartagena is very safe to visit. To get started with Gabo, read 100 Years of Solitude. However, we know that many travellers can be a little paranoid about drinking tap water anywhere or dont want a short holiday to be ruined by getting the shits or tummy upsets. Hi, my name is Claudia. 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. The only dorm that was left was charging an extortionate amount, and we were saved by a guy who promised he knew a woman who had a room spare for a good price. 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. Hostel prices - Cartagena has some great accommodation options, although you will notice a big increase in price in comparison to the rest of Colombia. This is your best chance to catch the city while its still empty not to mention, to avoid the heat! Yes, you read that right. You can get yourshere. However, that is not the case today. Cartagena is sexy on the outside, but there are quite a few things one should be wary of before visiting. This is known in Colombia as "offering up papaya". Bocagrande beach in Cartagena is popular with kitesurfers. Fair or not, Colombia earned bad reputation for safety and crime. Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). However, to say that nothing bad will happen to you there is a little unrealistic. (artculo 17 ley 679 de 2001). 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. Before you arrive check with your ATM and credit card to verify that they will not charge you any "foreign transaction fees." Or, if they do, you're prepared to pay them. You already know it, drink lots of water and protect yourself from the sun when you come over! Cartagena International Music Festival. Particularly in case you're visiting Cartagena for the primary time, right here's some issues to remember: Don't drink the faucet water. 6. So I'm here to get some honest advice . It promotes sustainable and responsible travel for the curious modern day explorer. 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. After 4 days in Cartagena, we took a 15-hour bus to Medellin. (Be aware that this coffee shop only opens at 3pm). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Life Straw will help purify your water further if you are wanting to give tap water a try and avoid single-use plastic water bottles. Respect it. Its home to most of the nicer hotels, restaurants, and bars and is the natural epicentre for most tourism in the city. There are no seasons in Colombia. Held every January, find further details here. Were a free-spirited travel couple whose appetite for adventure and far away places fuel our wanderlusting souls. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION You can get around in Cartagena with Uber, which tends to be cheaper than taxis. Copyright 2023 Juan Ballena | Travel Experiences in Cartagena. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. Home to beautiful street murals, umbrella-covered streets, and Salsa bars, Getsemani is a perfect break from what can be the chaos of Cartagena. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The coffee region is chalk full of amazingly friendly people and beautiful mountain landscapes. However, we know that slow travel isnt always going to be possible for everyone, and most people certainly wont return to the same long-haul city twice. Having said that, there is a fairly good and cheap public transportation system which includes the Transmilenio Bus for which you will need a Transcaribe Card which you can get at one of the many stations and works on a top up basis; and the buseta, smaller, older, more colorful and significantly less comfortable buses. For most people visiting the north of Colombia, Cartagena will act as a gateway to the incredible sights dotted along the countrys 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. Meh, no. If you choose to go down this path, then you also have to accept the consequences and risks which it brings including robbery and a ruse between the dealer and police officers to then target you for a search and subsequent bribe. Get misplaced in Old Town, pattern streetside empanadas in Getsemani, and dance cumbia til daybreak earlier than heading off on a ship tour to discover the bay and close by islandsthese are simply a few of the adventures to be had in Cartagena, Colombia.. A stunning and historic coastal metropolis alongside Colombia's Caribbean coast, in . Cartagena is pretty hot and humid! When visiting Cartagena, you may take notice of some fruit vendors. Carnival of Barranquilla. This should be good preliminary preparation. Head out on an early morning jaunt to explore its streets before the crowds descend or alternatively consider a walking tour to cover the Walled Citys most impressive and important sights - this one is highly-rated. We spent almost 10 days in Cartagena and at no point did we ever feel unsafe or threatened. Things to do in San Andres: More Travel Info: The best deals for travel insurance: Excursion Bookings: Packing . Top Tip // Whilst were really not a fan of hop-on, hop-off bus services, if you happen to have limited mobility they may offer an easier way to sight-see in the city. Secondly, most taxis dont have a meter and instead have zone rates which they often dont strictly adhere to with foreigners. Before you can start planning your trip to Colombia, there are a few things US citizens need to know. Due to Cartagena being a massive port city, not only for cruises but for freight liners too, and the number of tourists this place sees, unfortunately, the water has been affected due to pollution. 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. Isla Grandeis the most extensive of all, with a vast offer of places to spend your day along with options of accommodation, from hotels with all the amenities to eco friendly hotels with hammocks and cabanas. Obviously, there will be quite a few travel styles and travel budgets spread across those diverse groups, but Cartagena is slowly evolving to try and cater to them all. Oh and if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. During your research, youll like have seen many photos of beaming black Colombian women dressed in beautifully colourful dresses and carrying a fruit basket upon their heads. Youre close to the equator, along the northern coast of Colombia which faces the Caribbean Sea.to say its hot is an understatement. Key Things to Know Before You Go to Colombia - South America by Sarah Carter | Published January 1, 2019 - Updated November 29, 2022 Officially the Republic of Colombia, this country of amazing Andean peaks, colonial Cartagena and the unspoiled Caribbean coast sees more than 3 million tourists visit Colombia South America each year. What stunning photos! I visited in February and it was way hotter than I had expected though a nice breeze would blow in the late afternoon every day, giving everyone a break from the heat. When we needed to work in Cartagena, this is where we went. Cartagena is beautiful. Stop reinforcing perceptions of Pablo Escobar, Cocaine, and Violence. Ranked as one of the top 50 Restaurants in Latin America, Celele is a must-stop on any trip to Cartagena. I hope you found this list of things to know about Colombia useful. If you are hoping to come back from your trip with lots of good photos, set your alarm clock nice and early and head out before everyone else does. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For more day trips from Cartagena, read this post. Whilst Colombia has nowhere near the tourism levels of Bolivia or Peru, there has been a well-defined gringo trail for years. Finally, some suggest that it is possible to visit Tayrona National Park and / or Santa Marta on day trips from Cartagena. Your post inspires me to make it more of a priority! Like in Thailand, dont ride the elephants, and in Cartagena, taking a carriage ride with some horses that dont look to be in the best shape is something you should opt to skip. Most vendors are located at the beaches of Bocagrande, Laguito and Playa Blanca; we are very sure you gonna find different prices from each vendor and please never accept nothing for free, we can asure you it will cost you more, for that you should alway agree on price before taking or accepting any product or service from any vendor. You will get by ok without it, but knowing a little bit goes a long way! One great place to sample them is small, adorable La Palettera, home of popsicles. I visited Bogota, Villa de Levya, Cartagena and Islas del Encanto last month and loved every minute of it! Its historic, colorful, and charming, which will leave that memory card of yours full. However you get your water, remember that staying hydrated as you explore Cartagena is key. Outlets 13. 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. Don't leave your bags unattended in touristy areas or flash your valuables while wandering the streets. In our 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Cartagena post, we shared our favourite experiences and places to visit in the city. A polite but firm no, gracias will normally send touts away. Dont despair! For the perfect Caribbean respite, consider flying to San Andres, off the coast of Nicaragua. With fantastic restaurants, bars, and street art, Getsemani is the hipper cousin to the more touristy old city of Cartagena. Posted on August 10, 2022 August 10, 2022 by admin. Make sure you are wearing breathable and comfortable clothes because you will sweat. This is one of the many things to appreciate about Colombians. Actually, there were 21 things you should know before traveling to Colombia, but we wrote this post on the road, and while editing it later at home, we came up with a few more, so the math does not match. Getsemani: This is an ideal area for travelers who want to being near of the historic center on a budget. Find out more here. Pin this travel guide & save it for later. Stay Out of Hostels Colombians are some amazing people, but the country is relatively poor. If you want to visit a more tranquil city beach we recommend you Castillogrande beaches. Travel Tip // If youre already a fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, then you can take this literary tour around the city focused on his works and his words. I made a post earlier this week. Cartagena is a city with too much humidity. When visiting Cartagena, two great areas are staying either withinCartagenas walled city (Centro)or just outside it, in theGetsemani neighborhood. One thing I noticed when I visited Cartagena is that drugs run abundantly in certain parts of the city especially where backpackers hangout, in Getsemani. Gold artifacts in the gold museum of Cartagena. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If it helps, it is officially recognised as safe too. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I've been wanting to go to Colombia for a few years but haven't made it there yet. ). Boy were they right! If you would like to visit Cartagena, but have no time for planning or would rather leave this job to the experts, you should consider joining a guided tour of Colombia. If you choose to partake, just be aware of the potential consequences that can come along with that decision (potential robbery, arrest, etc). The other part of town you should not miss is Getsemani, once riddled by petty crime, drug dealing and prostitution, then a backpacker hub and now one of the most up and coming areas of Cartagena, with lots of interesting street art, gorgeous narrow alleys and beautiful squares. Playa Blanca, in Isla Baru, and the Islas del Rosario Archipelago, will easily match your idea of Caribbean paradise. Cards are Accepted, but Cash is Pesos, PIN IT FOR LATER! | Claudia Tavani P. Iva 03780660928.
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