3 Days in Cartagena: Bucket List for Colombia’s Colorful Caribbean City
Welcome to Cartagena, one of Colombia’s most beautiful cities nestled along the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena provides visitors with alluring colonial architecture, vibrant and colorful art, and a genuine, laid-back lifestyle that is sure to make every tourist want to stay forever. However, if you are only in Cartagena for a short trip, follow along for this three-day itinerary and bucket. Cartagena revolves around the Old City, a UNESCO world heritage site with well-preserved buildings and a vibrant atmosphere. In this Cartagena bucket list, take some time to stumble down narrow cobblestone streets as well as hit the open ocean on a fast boat.
For a short visit to Cartagena, I highly recommend staying in the quaint and picturesque Old City. However, if large modern resorts are more your cup of tea, La Boquilla has plenty to choose from.
Table of Contents
Day 1
(1) Take a Free Walking Tour
I don’t know about you, but I am a fan of free walking tours when traveling. Sure, we can take a look at various landmarks on a map, but tours by locals provide us with an in-depth analysis and explanation of historical buildings. We may be able to marvel at a plaza, but we won’t know that the Uncharted franchise featured it unless the guide tells us! Here is a fantastic tour operated by Cartagena locals which is offered in Spanish and English. We recommend getting the most out of your day and starting your trip to Cartagena with a wide breadth of new historical knowledge.
(2) Walk the Old City Walls
While I bet the free walking tour took you to at least peer over the edge of the Old City walls, there is no doubt that there is more to explore! The whole wall is over 6 miles long which means that there is a lot to explore and will certainly provide you with your daily exercise. Construction on these walls began in 1586, giving Cartagena the title of one of the most fortified cities in the Western Hemisphere. If you would rather walk the entire 6 miles, don’t worry – we will be back for a leisurely cocktail if that is more your pace.
(3) Santo Domingo Plaza
Next, wander over to Santo Domingo Plaza. This square is a hub for outdoor restaurants, bars, and occasional vendors. It is hard to ignore, however, the very bloody history that the square has. During the Spanish Inquisition, this square was the site of the executions of Jewish and other non-Catholic individuals. Now, it is one of the most famous plazas in all of Cartagena, and if you are not familiar with the sculptor Botero, you soon will be. You can find one of his many sculptures of a woman lying down in Santo Domingo Plaza.
(4) Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría
This may be a little bit silly, but I get excited when I see buildings that are very popular in photos of a certain destination but whose names I am not actually familiar with. Hence, bring in Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría. You probably have seen photos of this famous cathedral, and it is even more colorful in person. While you don’t have to go inside this Catholic cathedral, it marks a special part of the center of the city, where the cobblestone streets are narrow, and the trees provide much-needed shade. Take some time to explore the façade of the cathedral as well as the surrounding streets.
(5) Café del Mar
Finish the day with a trip to the beautiful Café del Mar. You won’t find a more awe-inspiring spot to drink a cocktail and marvel at the views of the Caribbean Sea. There’s nothing more stunning than visiting Café del Mar as the sun sets over the ocean. However, remember to get there early, as most people are also having this idea! While Café del Mar is a perfect place to wind down, we recommend eating dinner elsewhere. We had an amazing time at El Burlador Gastrobar, with live music and fantastic food.
Day 2
(6) Boat Tour of the Islas Rosarias
Enter my absolute favorite Cartagena bucket list item – island hopping. While it is certainly an option to explore some of the beaches along Cartagena’s shoreline without getting on a boat, I highly recommend taking a full-day or half-day, boat trip of the Islas Rosarias.
We greatly enjoyed this one by Airbnb. On this tour, we got a great mix of exploring, relaxing, and snorkeling, feeling like we got a taste of everything. On this particular tour, the guides fed us lunch as well as a snack. For activities, we had one snorkeling destination, one island for exploring and walking around, and one final large beach, where we were given dinner and allowed to relax. While we got involved in an insane rainstorm, the tour guides were very adept at changing the plans and adapting while not cutting out any of the fun. While half-day options are certainly available, I suggest leaving the rest of today free. You will be quite exhausted!
Day 3
(7) Getsemani Neighborhood
Welcome to my favorite neighborhood of Cartagena. Getsemani is a lively and vibrant neighborhood where you will find tourists and locals alive, taking over the streets and having a good time. Calle del Arsenal is one of the most famous streets and is also where you might return if you are interested in the nightlife of the city. If walking around during the day is more to your liking, Getsemani has a ton of street art murals, as well as small, independently-owned galleries. Don’t forget to check out Plaza Trinidad for locals and performers brining the energy. This plaza seems to hold the heartbeat of the neighborhood.
(8) Centenario Park
Next, head to Centenario Park, located between Getsemani and the Old City, outside of the walls. Now, I may be a little bit biased towards this park because guess what – we saw a sloth! It is important to note that this is not just a freak sighting. There are plenty of sloths and other wildlife creatures in this urban park, meaning you must add it to your Cartagena bucket list. Most people other not lucky enough to see a sloth, but I have read the mention of a plentiful population of iguanas and monkeys. If you’re lucky to be there during the weekend, you’ll find an extensive market of neighborhood arts, crafts, and artisanal items. During the week, you’ll see people enjoying the outdoors and the wildlife. Centenario Park was modeled on the Luxenberg gardens in Paris, and one man from Bogotá is responsible for feeding some of the wildlife.
(9) Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Finally, end your Cartagena bucket list in the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. This fortress was built in 1536 and sits atop the Hill of San Lázaro, providing a fantastic vantage point to those who wanted to protect and defend the city of Cartagena. With an entrance fee of around 6 USD, you can walk around the grounds and climb up the walls. We suggest doing this towards the end of the evening because the grounds are completely uncovered, and there is no tree shade.
That’s all for Cartagena! We hope you enjoyed this fast-paced and walkable itinerary for 3 days in this chanting Colombian city. Cartagena is one of the most magical places to watch a sunset, and while this itinerary certainly isn’t for a long stay, we hope you got a little sample of everything. Looking to extend your stay in Colombia? Check out our guide on 10 Things to Do in Medellín, or go even further in our South American guides.
Happy sampling!