1. Located on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is one of the MOST popular destinations in Colombia. MARTINVASQUEZPHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock.com. #1. 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. Don't walk around alone at night. Five things to know before traveling to Cartagena Oh, and don't forget to carry your camera ;), Older Post Choln Island is the most famous holiday destination in Colombia. 13 Things You Should Know When Traveling to Medellin - Desk to Dirtbag Islas del Rosario, Playa Blanca, and Islas del Encanto are all easy to reach from Cartagena in less than a couple of hours independently or with a tour. @Colombian from tx, You must be a miserable individual who was looking for trouble and when you look for trouble trouble follows you. Though there are so many fun things to do in Cartagena, there are quite a few day trips that are worth doing if you have a couple of extra days. For entry to Colombia It is not necessary show a negative PCR test for Covid-19. Things To Know Before Visiting Cartagena Most hotels do have WiFi for guests and you can buy a cheap local SIM card to use data or even hotspot yourself. If you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. From safety to sunsets, transport connections and travel scams, to why youll sweat and the one book to read before you fly, these the essential things to know before you visit Cartagena. Recent Posts. Share The Article Last Updated 6 hours in the past. We focus on showing you the local and authentic side of Cartagena, giving you a full picture of our culture and lifestyle throughout our professional travel experiences. Cartagenas bus terminal is however a 45-minute, 20,000 COP taxi ride from the old town, but its you best place to go for the majority of onward transport connections to the rest of Colombia. With mouth-watering arepas and coffee for breakfast, fresh tropical fruits throughout the day, and all kinds of local dishes to sample for dinner, you will eat well in Cartagena. With that said, this lovely neighborhood is one of the most expensive. There's plenty of police officers on the street and the city is seeing improvements to the crime rate and general security. A number of businesses accept payment by card, and there are a several ATMs in the old town where you can safely withdraw cash (BCP is the best bank to withdraw from as it generally doesnt charge fees, and Servibanco is the next best option as you can take out up to 780,000 COP per withdrawal for a fee of 15,000 COP. 7 Things To Know Before You Go To Cartagena, Colombia. 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. Here are nine things you should know before heading to South America's most northern country. For example, a bus ticket to Medellin from Bogota runs around $52,000 Colombian Pesos, or $18 USD. Once youve received your luggage, follow the signs and just queue up at the kiosk, tell the person which neighbourhood youre going to and theyll give you a receipt and point you to the waiting official taxi. 6. Read Next | The Best Day Trips from Cartagena. There's actually not a lot to do in Cartagena; it has a few museums, a couple of activities and sights, but none that are world-famous or absolute must sees like Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Cusco. In areas recently opened to tourism following the conflict, you might even spot tanks and other military . Rates from $200-$300 per night. Tips for Visiting Cartagena, Colombia - Culture Trip Here are the top things to do in 2022. Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox, Travel Off Path is an Off Path Enterprises production, This post may have affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) 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. A private room will cost about 130,000 COP per night, and that's about as low as it gets. Speaking to a few locals about the evident pace of change we could see in Cartagena due to the increased levels of tourism, they couldnt decide if it was all good or all bad either - they felt it was part of the story of new Colombia and the main hope was that the money would filter down and around the city as a whole. The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). Touch device users, explore by touch . Go somewhere else unless you want to do drugs and meet hookers. You can pay with debit or credit card almost anywhere, most of the stores and restaurants accept cards, although if you are hanging out at the beach or want to buy something from a street vendor take cash. Filled with eye-popping images, vibrant colors and a unique charm, Cartagena is one of South Americas most beautiful cities. I visited Bogota, Villa de Levya, Cartagena and Islas del Encanto last month and loved every minute of it! if you choose to purchase through them. In Cartagena we have two types of weather, hot and very hot :) During the whole year temperature in Cartagena average goes between 25 and 32 degrees (77 to 88 fahrenheit) and 80% humidity. Money. Here's why. 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. 6. Ride the Chiva Party Bus. Watch out if you go out clubbing, because there are stories of people being drugged and then mugged. When we needed to work in Cartagena, this is where we went. Here are seven things to know before you go: The Walled City is a historical center and probably the most charming place in Cartagena for lodging and entertainment. If this is your first stop in Colombia, then there are a few key things that you'll need to do before you get on a plane - things like look at like innoculations, proof of onward travel and some specifics of travel insurance (read our guide to Travel Insurance here)- do not, for instance, bring food or meat stuff into Colombia. However, we know that isnt always going to be possible for everyone. However you get your water, remember that staying hydrated as you explore Cartagena is key. 17 Things to Know Before You Go to Barranquilla - Roads & Kingdoms The colorful streets of Cartagena are a beautiful place. if you choose to purchase through them. . We had arrived on a Friday night in January, on one of the busiest night of the year, in high season. 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. A day trip to the islands is a popular activity and can be visited on a tour. Dress appropriately for the temperatures, wear a hat, and lather yourself in suncream too. Sofitel Bar Calablanca Beach Resort in Cartagena, Colombia Sep 15, 2022 4 min read. 10 Things Travelers Need to Know Before Visiting Cartagena Best things to do in Cartagena, Colombia | CNN Travel Things to Know About Cartagena Before Visiting - Culture Trip Make sure to read up on more dos and donts before your trip. 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. It is . Many locals take advantage of Cartagena's popularity by performing on the streets and selling handmade crafts. Breakfast in Cartagena can be found for cheaper, and plan to spend less than $4 on a plate of eggs, arepa, and coffee (or chocolate completo, most likely). Cartagena heat is unprecedented - this is another important thing to know before visiting Cartagena! Expect to pay about $100 per person (if youre in a group of 4 people) to charter a boat. Check if y Rincn del Mar is in the Sucre province about 3 hours south of Cartagena. Things to know before you go to Cartagena Colombia. If you're planning on a trip to this South American country, here are 10 essential tips to know: 1. Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit you'll likely see in Colombia. However, Omicron still spread quickly. The Rosario Islands is an archipelago located off the Caribbean coast, about 62 mi (100 km) from Cartagena. 11.12.18 Colombia, South America, Travel 9. Here are 10 things that first-time visitors should know before visiting Continue reading 10 Tips For First Time . 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. It is a small town of a few thousand reside Copyright 2022 Juan Ballena | Travel Experiences in Cartagena. 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. The neighborhood consists of reasonably priced hotels, restaurants, and cafes. 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. Always know and agree the price with the driver before the journey starts and ensure you have small bills; it is a common travel scam in Colombia for drivers to switch out your big notes for little ones. This is known in Colombia as "offering up papaya". Poblado: #1 Hostel in Poblado: Los Patios Boutique Hostel (Manila) #1 Budget Hotel in Poblado: Kolor Hotel Boutique (Provenza) #1 Mid-Range Hotel in Poblado: Celestino Boutique Hotel (Parque Lleras) #1 Luxury Hotel in Poblado: Medellin Marriott Hotel (Milla de Oro - the Golden Mile) Read my in-depth review. 1. Everyone is out to rip you off You may like: Where to exchange money in Cartagena. Stories of people being drugged and then mugged that first-time visitors should know before Cartagena. Else unless you want to do drugs and meet hookers visited on a tour opened to tourism following the,! Of people being drugged and then mugged one of South Americas most beautiful cities x27 ; ll see... High season to tourism following the conflict, you might even spot tanks other... You go to Cartagena, Colombia local currency is the Colombian Peso COP. For First Time you off you may like: where to exchange money Cartagena... 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