Travel Guide Cartagena De Indias
Cartagena, also known as the Cartagena of India to distinguish it from Spanish Cartagena, was built in the 16th century on the remains of a long-deserted Amerindian town - Calamari. Soon the city was fortified and became a prosperous port city, with its many squares filled with cobbled streets and erected with splendid Hispanic colonial buildings in colourful tones. A major Colombian tourist centre, this old centre, now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is attracting an ever-increasing number of curious visitors, both for the richness of its architectural heritage with its ochre and pastel ranges and for its tropical climate, where languor and laziness are a must. The Cartagena tourist guide will show you the way to these villas with their carved wooden entrances overlooking improbable green patios. It will show you the museums not to be missed, such as the MAMC or the Caribbean Naval Museum, as well as the best places to stay and eat. And then the beach road, quite naturally! Cartagena, a destination that combines culture and nature.
What to visit Cartagena De Indias?
Suggested addresses Cartagena De Indias
When to go to Cartagena De Indias?
When to go to Cartagena? There are three periods that correspond to the high tourist season in Colombia (temporada alta): mid-December to mid-January (school vacations), Semana Santa ("Holy Week", mid-April) and, to a lesser extent, from mid-June to the end of July (school vacations). During the many three-day weekends(puentes), some establishments also charge high season prices. Everything is much more expensive at Christmas and during Holy Week. When to go to Cartagena? The best time to go to Cartagena is from January to March.
Weather at the moment
Cartagena's weather depends on a Colombian climate that has only two seasons, summer corresponding to the dry season (December-February and July-August) and winter to the rainy season (April-May and October-November). In the rainy season, it rains every day, but it doesn't rain all day long The Caribbean region has a humid tropical climate, with temperatures in Cartagena at around 27°C all year round.
The Colombian currency is the peso. Cartagena is a very touristy city, so the budget for housing tends to be larger than elsewhere in Colombia. As for food, we eat very well for a small fee in Cartagena. Wine is expensive, so are cocktails, beers and aguardiente much less!
To travel to Cartagena, European and Canadian tourists in possession of a passport (valid for the next 6 months) do not need a visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days (attention, "90 days" does not necessarily mean exactly 3 months). They automatically benefit from a "PIP 5" (permiso de ingreso y permanencia), which is stamped on their passport when they pass through the Colombian migration control. To stay longer in Cartagena and Colombia, a 90-day extension of PIP 5 is possible once there, by going to the immigration offices (www.migracioncolombia.gov.co). The extension of the PIP normally costs $99,000, but it has recently become free for nationals of European Union member states!
Access to national parks is subject to a permit issued by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, in Bogotá or on site. www.parquesnacionales.gov.co
No vaccinations are required to travel to Cartagena. The sea is sometimes dangerous, so be careful: get information on the currents, do not swim alone, far from the shore, do not swim after a heavy meal or prolonged sun exposure. Beware of sea urchins, corals, manta rays and other jellyfish or poisonous fish. There is no risk of sharks, but be aware of the presence of crocodiles at the mouth of the rivers. The water is not drinkable in Cartagena.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
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How to go to Cartagena De Indias? Our advice & tips
A popular destination for travelers, Cartagena is well known to tour operators and travel agencies. The colonial city can be explored with family and friends, on a solo vacation or as part of a honeymoon. The advantage of using these services is, of course, the economic argument, but also the comfort of letting specialists take care of the details to make the most of your trip. After all, there's a lot to do in Cartagena.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationA flight from France to Bogotá costs between 700 and 1,400 € depending on the season and the time of booking. To get good prices, it is essential to book several months in advance. Afterwards, you can reach Cartagena quickly by bus or by taking an internal flight. It is always a good idea to book your hotel rooms.
It is relatively easy to travel in the centre of Cartagena, much on foot, the distances being reasonable. Otherwise, taxis and city buses criss-cross the city day and night. The Transcaribe, a bus system based on the Transmilenio model in Bogota, helps to relieve the distressing chaos of vehicles around the city centre. There are also playeras bicycle rental companies on every street corner in the historic centre and in Getsemaní. An ecological and pleasant way to discover the city.
