weekend trip in cartagena
If you ask me what my top 5 cuisines are, I will always include Colombian food. From Bandeja Paisa to Arepas and Pan de Bono, every single dish is drool worthy.
So when we planned a weekend trip to Cartagena, I KNEW I was going to eat my way through this colonial town. What I wasn’t expecting was all of the beautiful florals that blossomed on every corner, the street art that highlighted the beauty and the roots of African ancestors, and my first experience enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Let’s get into it but before we do, a few housekeeping rules (as per usual):
Travel to Colombia is currently allowed ✅ Please check the CDC website (click here) when planning your trip
While Colombia is fairly safe, there are some travel advisories you should be aware of. Please check the Travel State Government site (click here) when planning your trip
Airport testing is available but you can also set up an in-house visit
Disclaimer ‼️ the Customs entrance in Cartagena is poorly organized and super understaffed (at least the day we went). It took us 2 hours to get through customs which is record breaking for me (I almost waited 1.5 hours for US customs once)
Weather: We planned our trip for the end of March which is HOT HOT 🥵 Daily temps was around 85 degrees and humid AF. Prepare thyself ladies, there’s 100% chance you’ll suffer through sticky thighs
Currency: $1 USD = COP $3.765 (Colombian Pesos). For perspective, a bottle of water is approximately COP $2.000 (reported as of (4/19/22). Everything was pretty affordable including a fine dining experience we had - more on that below!
Flight: We flew Jetblue direct to Cartagena which was an easy ride down. A typical flight is around $400 - $600 but can vary greatly due to the timing and season
📍 Airbnb Stay
For this trip, we booked a beautiful 3 bedroom Airbnb located in Getsemani. This neighborhood gave us a bit of Williamsburg vibes. Filled with bars, restaurants, artists showcasing their work, and small businesses, this neighborhood is perfect for groups that like a mix of nightlife and relaxation.
The Airbnb itself was affordable, clean, quiet, and offered beautiful rooftop views from the private pool. Our host was extremely kind and gave us local recommendations along with setting up our in-house COVID test appointments. This place is truly perfect for small or large groups who are looking to be in the mix of it all. - Rate (10/10) ✨
To check-out this place, CLICK HERE.
Transportation: We took an easy cab ride from the airport to our Airbnb for just COP $15.000 which equates to USD $4. Historic Old Town is fairly small and super walkable - especially if you’re a New Yorker, ya’ll know the vibes. I would compare it to walking from the Chelsea Pier to the Lower East Side.
Excursions: With flexible booking policies - reserve now & pay later - and world-wide offerings, it was easy to book our experiences through Viator #sponsored
Bazurto Market Tour - Through Viator Travel, we booked an experience with Cartagena Insider, a non-profit organization that works to empower and promote the rights of indigenous and Afro communities. We met our guides, Maricluz and Kenny, bright and early for a great tour of ‘The People’s Market’. Completely different from the Historic Old Town, this tour gave us an authentic experience and showed the influence that Afro communities had on the growth of the Colombian culture. Like many experiences on Viator, this tour is offered in both English and Spanish! - Rate (15/10)
Private Boat Tour - We booked a private boat to take us around the most popular beach spots - Rosario Island and Cholon - through Hi Cartagena. Our friend had previously used their service and recommended we use them for our trip… I’m glad we did! Our Captain and Crew member were attentive and kind. They made sure we had everything we needed, including refilling our cups of champagne whenever it got low 😂 they clearly knew the vibes. Cost of a full day private boat was approximately $500.
Rosario Island: INCREDIBLE. The water is so vibrant and blue, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ocean with that color palette before! The boat docks in the middle of the ocean where there’s a floating bar and canoe that goes around delivering drinks straight to your boat - issa vibe. A pineapple with alcohol was COP $50.000 which equates to USD $14. It’s the perfect place to sip on a drink and do several jumps into the ocean! - Rate (10/10)
Cholon Island: The infamous party beach also known as ‘The Island of Young Travelers’ deff gave me yacht week energy. Boats line up around the shores of Cholon, each blasting their own music with people on board or in the water dancing on table tops. Everyone is pretty much lit lol and it’s fun to be around if that’s the vibe you’re going for. The island itself offers lunch (menu below) as well as drinks, hookah, and tables in the beach that are rentable. The fried fish was BOMB.COM, please do yourself a favor and cop that, but I would highly recommend eating your food on your boat as the waters in Cholon… can be a bit sus. Still a fun time and would recommend making a stop here for the experience. - Rate (6/10)
Things to Do:
Explore some of Cartagena’s historical churches:
Check out the great culinary scene:
Carmen Cartagena - Do yourself a favor and book this place for a wonderful experience! We made reservations for a 7-course pairing dinner a month in advance (yes, they book fast). The food, ambiance, drinks, and performers all made our evening one to remember.
Oh La La - Thissss place, SPECIAL. I will forever dream of their Arepas and Leche de Coco. It’s also a great and quiet spot to work remotely. I spent the morning taking calls and eating my heart away. Included on their menu is Cabeza de Gato which is their version of Mangu - mashed plantains topped with cheese or a fried egg
PS - They also offer private cooking classes! I got to watch some of it while on a conference call and everything they were cooking looked delish. I will definitely book a cooking class with them next time I am in town.
La Cevicheria - Cute decor and near tons of great restaurants and bars, we made a stop here for a light bites and BOMB drinks. The winner was the mojito and coconut rice though I wasn’t a huge fan of their ceviche… sadly
Donia Lola - Let’s talk about aesthetics! This restaurant was beautifully decorated and the food certainly matched the vibe. The ceviche here SLAPPED but what really stuck with me was the Fish Fillet with Sancocho cream.
PS - This place also has a cute ass rooftop that has mini pools - super cute during the nighttime and probably a great vibe during the day!
A Los Chingadazos - Mexican food in Colombia!? Yes, pls. El Pastor sent me to another levellll - so good that I ordered two servings… just for me haha
Grab a drink and vibe out at these places:
El Baluarte San Francisco De Javier - Great place for sunset drinks right near Sactuario de Saint Pedro Claver!
Epoca Espresso Bar - Officially holds a special place in my heart. This Espresso bar offers a variety of freshly roasted coffee (locally made) as well as different brewing methods. The coffee mixologists (yes, you read that right!) are super informative and know a lot about their flavors and pairings. You MUST order the flan… it was the best Flan I’ve ever had in my life 😩 Please check this place out for an Elite coffee experience!
Mirador Gastro Bar - Another fun experience! This place is most known for its rooftop vibes that offers a live salsa band and views of the town. However, we spent our time on the first floor enjoying the customized drinks we had with a dedicated mixologist. Its was BOMB!
Cafe Havana - This place was on our list and we passed it several times but did not have a chance to check it out. Adding it here as I’ve read lots of great things about it and would love to stop by when I return to Cartagena!
Purchase some amazing artwork and accessories. Local vendors fill the streets of the Historic Old town offering many gems for you to take home.
Support the local community and offer your professional services to a small business. In partnership with FEM, Cartagena Insider connects you with locals to offer different volunteer services. Some examples of professional services include: photography, business consultation, and marketing support.
IG Q&A
Question: Did you feel safe when traveling throughout Cartagena?
Answer: I know many think of crime when they think of Colombia but in truth, Cartagena is pretty much occupied by tourists so it feels pretty safe. I did not feel in danger at any point during my trip. For the most part, we walked everywhere at all times including late evenings and never had any strange encounters. We also had an incredible doorman who made us feel protected
Question: Is it expensive?
Answer: Not at all, I would definitely recommend Cartagena as an affordable place to travel. In total, I think I took out just $350 USD for the whole weekend
Question: Why did you choose Cartagena and not Medellin?
Answer: Gooodddd question. For the purpose of a girls weekend, Cartagena felt like a better place to enjoy together with warmer temps, beaches, tons of bars to choose from. However, Medellin and Bogota are both on my list to visit next time I go to Colombia!
