5 Days in Cartagena: The Complete Itinerary

Five days in Cartagena is the sweet spot. Long enough to slow down and feel the city rather than just photograph it. Long enough to make it out to the islands twice, eat your way through Getsemaní, and still have a morning to do absolutely nothing but drink tinto on a colonial balcony.

This itinerary is structured but not rigid — rearrange as the heat demands.

Cartagena in Five Days: Overview

Day	Focus	Highlights
Day 1	Old City orientation	Walls, Plaza Bolívar, Café del Mar sunset
Day 2	Rosario Islands	Snorkeling, Caribbean beach day
Day 3	Culture & neighborhood deep dive	Castillo San Felipe, Getsemaní art walk
Day 4	Day trip to Playa Blanca & Barú	White sand, hammock lunch
Day 5	Local life, food market, slow departure	Bazurto market, shopping, last swim

Before You Arrive

Getting there: Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) is 15 minutes from the Old City. Taxi costs 20,000–30,000 COP ($5–7.50). Uber is available but less reliable.

Where to stay: For five nights, stay in Getsemaní (local, cheaper, walkable to everything) or the Old City (atmospheric, pricier). Bocagrande is a 15-minute taxi ride and makes more sense if you're beach-focused.

Currency: The Colombian peso runs roughly 4,000–4,200 COP to 1 USD. Withdraw from Bancolombia ATMs (lowest fees). Bring some USD as backup — casa de cambio in the Old City will exchange at better rates than banks.

Day 1: Land, Walk, Exhale

Cartagena rewards wandering. Don't try to see everything on day one — you'll burn out before the sun does.

Morning: Old City Orientation Walk

Drop your bags and walk. The walled Old City is compact (about 2 km across) and makes more sense once you've gotten lost in it a few times.

Plaza de Bolívar — shaded by palms, anchored by the equestrian statue of the Liberator. On one side: the Palacio de la Inquisición (15,000 COP / ~$3.50 entry), which documents the colonial-era Spanish Inquisition with unsettling artifacts. Worth the hour.

Walk to Plaza Santo Domingo and introduce yourself to Fernando Botero's La Gorda — the plump bronze figure that's become Cartagena's unofficial mascot. Street vendors sell cold corozo (a tart red berry drink) for 3,000 COP — try it.

Afternoon: Las Murallas

The city walls that surround the Old City were built between the 16th and 18th centuries and are completely walkable. Free. Views of the harbor, the bay, and the Caribbean are worth the sweat. Allow 45–60 minutes.

For a cultural detour: Museo del Oro Zenú (inside Banco de la República, free admission) has a small but excellent collection of pre-Columbian goldwork from the Zenú people. Excellent air conditioning, which you'll appreciate.

Evening: Sunset at Café del Mar, Dinner in the Old City

Café del Mar sits on top of the Baluarte de Santo Domingo and has some of the best sundowner views in the Caribbean. Expect to pay $12–18 USD for cocktails — the sunset is included.

Dinner: Carmen Restaurant (Calle del Curato 36-77) is mid-range and excellent — Caribbean-influenced Colombian food, mains 60,000–100,000 COP ($15–25). Alternatively, grab a plate of bandeja paisa from a local corrientazo (set-lunch style restaurant) for 15,000–20,000 COP.

Day 2: Islas del Rosario

This is the most essential day trip from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are a protected coral archipelago about 35 km offshore — crystal-clear water, soft white sand, and the kind of snorkeling that converts people into divers.

Getting There

Boats depart from Muelle Turístico (near the Old City walls) starting at 8–9 AM. The crossing takes 45 minutes to 1 hour by speedboat.

Cost: Day trips run 80,000–120,000 COP ($20–30) per person including boat transfer and basic snorkeling gear. Book directly at the dock the evening before (agents inside the muelle often upcharge). Look for boats with life jackets and working engines — sounds obvious, but ask.

Which island? The most visited is Isla Grande (biggest, most services) or Playa Blanca on Barú (technically not the Rosario Islands but often sold as part of the same trip). If you want fewer people and better snorkeling, ask specifically for Isla de Rosario (the island with the research station).

On the Island

• Snorkeling around the coral is 20–30 minutes of genuine wonder — parrotfish, angelfish, the occasional sea turtle
• Hammock rentals on the beach: ~5,000–10,000 COP
• Lunch on the island: fresh fish with rice, patacones, and salad, around 30,000–50,000 COP ($7–12)
• Freshwater showers usually available at the main beach (5,000 COP)

Back at the dock by 4–5 PM. Exhausted, salty, happy.

Evening: Low-Key Getsemaní

After a long day on the water, Getsemaní is the right call. Grab ceviche at El Boliche Cevicheria (25,000 COP, genuinely the best in town), then sit at Plaza de la Trinidad with a beer from the tienda next door (4,000 COP). Watch the neighborhood's evening ritual unfold.

Day 3: History, Art & the Fortress

Morning: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

The largest Spanish colonial fortress in the Americas deserves a proper morning. Entry is 25,000 COP (~$6). Go early (8–10 AM) before tour groups arrive and the heat peaks.

The castle's most interesting feature is its tunnel system — built for ventilation and defense, the tunnels are surprisingly complex and cool inside. Guides are available at the entrance for 30,000–50,000 COP and add significant context to what you're looking at.

The views from the top over Cartagena and the bay are excellent. Bring water.

Afternoon: Getsemaní Mural Walk

Getsemaní — the neighborhood that was once considered dangerous and is now the city's creative engine — has become an open-air gallery. The murals range from politically sharp to absurdist to beautiful.

Self-guided walk hits:

• Calle de la Sierpe for the colorful building facades
• Calle 25 for large-format political murals
• Calle 30 near Media Luna for the densest concentration

No map needed — just wander. Takes 1–2 hours.

Afternoon snack: La Mulata (Calle Quero 9-58) for patacones con hogao (fried plantains with tomato-onion sauce) and fresh jugo de maracuyá — about 15,000 COP total.

Evening: Alquímico

If you only go to one bar in Cartagena, Alquímico (Calle del Colegio 34-24) is it. Three floors of a restored colonial house, inventive cocktails using local ingredients, and a rooftop that fills up fast. Go at 7–8 PM for a seat; go at 10 PM for the party. Cocktails are $10–15 USD.

Day 4: Playa Blanca & Barú Peninsula

Playa Blanca on the Barú Peninsula is the beach photo you've seen from Cartagena: shallow turquoise water, white sand, fishing boats anchored offshore. It's more accessible than the Rosario Islands and just as beautiful.

Getting There

Option 1 — Boat: From Muelle La Bodeguita (10 minutes from Old City), boats run to Playa Blanca. Expect 50,000–70,000 COP ($12–17) round trip. Departure 8–9 AM, return 4–5 PM.

Option 2 — Road + Mototaxi: Take a bus or taxi to Pasacaballos, then a local ferry (3,000 COP) and mototaxi to Playa Blanca. Total cost: ~30,000 COP each way, ~90 minutes. Slower, cheaper, more local.

On the Beach

Hammock rental with shade: 10,000–15,000 COP

Fresh grilled fish with coconut rice and patacones: 25,000–45,000 COP

Cold Águila beer: 4,000–6,000 COP

Vendors selling fruit, mojitos, and bracelets: persistent but polite

The water is shallow and calm. Snorkeling gear is available for rent if you want to explore around the coral outcroppings to the right of the main beach.

Note: Playa Blanca has become more developed in recent years. There's accommodation available if you want to stay overnight and experience it before the day-tripper boats arrive — worth considering if you have flexibility.

Evening: Back in Cartagena, Local Dinner

Skip the tourist restaurants tonight. Find a corrientazo — a local set-meal spot — near Getsemaní and eat like a local. A full plate (soup, rice, protein, salad, juice) runs 12,000–18,000 COP ($3–4.50). El Portal de los Dulces in the Old City is good for dessert: traditional Colombian sweets like cocadas and alegrías.

Day 5: Market Morning & Slow Exit

Morning: Mercado de Bazurto

The city's main market is chaotic, vivid, and completely real. It's about 20 minutes from the Old City by taxi (8,000–12,000 COP).

Go early — before 10 AM. Watch your belongings. Don't bring your phone out constantly. But do: eat arepas de choclo fresh off the griddle (2,000 COP), try suero atollabuey (a sour cultured cream spread on everything), and watch how a functioning Colombian market actually operates.

Most visitors skip Bazurto entirely. That's a mistake.

Late Morning: Shopping for Souvenirs

Back in the Old City, Artesanías de Colombia near Plaza de Bolívar has curated regional crafts at fair prices. Look for:

• Wayuu mochilas (handwoven bags) from $20–50 USD depending on size and complexity
• Hammered silver jewelry from Mompox artisans
• Carved tagua nut (vegetable ivory) figures

Avoid the aggressive vendors on the main tourist streets — prices are 2–3x higher than what's fair.

Afternoon: Last Swim & Departure Prep

If your flight is evening, one last dip in Bocagrande (public beach, free, 10-minute taxi from Old City) before packing. The beach isn't spectacular but the sea is warm, and you'll want one more look at the Caribbean before you go.

5-Day Budget Breakdown

Category	Budget ($USD)	Mid-Range ($USD)	Luxury ($USD)
Accommodation (5 nights)	$125–200	$350–600	$1,000–1,500
Food (5 days)	$75–125	$175–300	$400+
Activities & entry fees	$60–100	$100–160	$200+
Transport (local)	$30–50	$60–100	$150+
Day trips (islands, beach)	$40–70	$80–150	$300+
5-Day Total	~$330–545	~$765–1,310	$2,000+

Recommended Accommodation

Budget Level	Option	Price/Night
Budget	El Viajero Hostel (Getsemaní)	$18–30
Budget	Media Luna Hostel	$20–35
Mid-range	Hotel Casa Canabal	$75–120
Mid-range	Casa del Curato Boutique	$90–140
Luxury	Sofitel Santa Clara	$200–350
Luxury	Hotel Casa San Agustín	$250–400

Getting Around

Cartagena is small enough that you'll walk most of it. For longer distances:

Option	Cost	Notes
Walking	Free	Old City + Getsemaní entirely walkable
Taxi	8,000–25,000 COP	Negotiate before getting in
Mototaxi	3,000–8,000 COP	Fast for short local trips
Uber	~Similar to taxi	Inconsistent availability
Bus (metrocar)	2,800 COP	Connects airport and Bocagrande

Essential Tips

Heat management: It's 30–35°C year-round with high humidity. Start by 7–8 AM, take a 1–2 hour midday break (like everyone else), revive for sunset. This isn't laziness — it's survival.

Food safety: Stick to cooked food at street stalls; avoid raw seafood from non-established vendors. High-traffic spots turn over quickly and are usually safer than they look.

Drinking water: Tap water is not safe to drink. 600 ml bottles cost 1,500–2,000 COP at any tienda. Budget $3–5 per day for water.

Spanish: Most tourist-facing businesses speak some English. In Getsemaní and local markets, you'll need basic Spanish. "¿Cuánto cuesta?" (How much?) and "Muy caro" (Too expensive) go a long way.

Connectivity: A Colombian SIM card from Claro or Movistar costs around 30,000 COP ($7) including data — buy at the airport arrivals hall or any tienda. Essential for navigation and Uber.

Plan Your Perfect 5 Days with Faroway

The difference between a good trip and a great one is usually planning: knowing which restaurants are worth the hype versus the tourist traps, timing beach days around cloud patterns, avoiding the crowds at Castillo San Felipe by going at 8 AM instead of 11 AM.

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Try it at faroway.ai before you book your flights — and arrive in Cartagena with a plan, not just a hotel confirmation.