Outdoor Activities Outside of Cartagena Blog Travel

Over the past few years, Republic of colombia has been one of the meridian destinations for travellers, frequently highlighted by the many things to do in Cartagena, a cute and historic Caribbean city. The metropolis itself is colourful, condom, full of amazing food, and has a history relevant to the Spanish Conquest.

While many visit Cartagena for the warm Caribbean weather, at that place are so many different reasons to stay and explore.

This port city (which is surrounded by a pirate defensible wall) played a role in the Castilian conquest equally it oversaw the import and export of products to and from South America.

Cartagena'south history is rich, colourful, and occasionally violent. Because of this, yous'll notice a multifariousness of museums, tours, and sites to see. The history and people of Cartagena had me so hooked that I ended upwards staying for an extra two months!

Culturally, the people of Cartagena requite off that warm Caribbean vibe, coupled with some of the all-time music and dancing out there. The reputation for nutrient and drink is unmatched in Colombia with street food and gastronomic tours bachelor as just some of the many things to do in Cartagena.

Visit a beautiful white sand embankment, sink into an active volcano, and swallow your heart out. There are numerous things to do in Republic of colombia, with a visit to Cartagena beingness a highlight. Only first, you lot need to get from the airport to your hotel/hostel. Click here for comfortable, safe, affordable private transportation to your hotel — offset your trip to Cartagena hassle-free.

Here's my listing of the pinnacle 21 things to do in Cartagena.

Annotation: This article has been updated for 2020 to include the latest prices and top things to practise in Cartagena. Enjoy your trip!

1. Have a Swim in the Crater of El Totumo volcano

Almost every bout company in Cartagena will offer you a tour to Republic of colombia'southward Magical Mud Volcano. They say that El Totumo is an agile volcano which used to spew fire, lava and ashes until a local priest turned it into mud with holy water.

These days, visitors to Cartagena tin take mud baths in the crater of this 15m volcano. They say information technology has healing properties, merely who knows if that's true or not.

The actual journey to El Totumo takes travellers through the sweeping landscape of the Santa Catalina commune of Colombia. Once you make it, in that location is a staircase that leads to the crater where visitors tin can climb into the volcano to experience what I would consider to be the oddest feeling ever.

The mud is not hot or cold.Information technology'due south non sparse, nevertheless not thick. You lot experience weightless as if floating in space. Afterwards a while, this lack of actual control gets a piffling creepy, so go out and head into the lake side by side door for a bath, oft washed by local Colombian women.

A bout to El Totumo costs around $25 including transportation, selection-up from your hotel, lunch and guide. Bring your bathing suits and a alter of dress, and enjoy the healing mud. Click hither for details about the tour, or click on the image:

ii. Spend the Twenty-four hours at Playa Blanca

This is one of Colombia's very picturesque beaches and information technology is almost a 1-hour bulldoze from Cartagena. Equally this is one of the virtually pop things to do in Cartagena, many tour companies offer trips to Playa Blanca, however, it is just as easy and cheaper to conform a drib-off and pick up time with a taxi driver (or Uber). They exercise information technology often so they know the drill.

One time you arrive at this beautiful white sandy embankment with stunning turquoise h2o, you will be able to relax all day purchasing snacks, both nutrient and drink, from the many vendors along the beach. Some locals will even offering massages to go with your perfect picturesque Colombian beach experience. If yous want to hangout at 1 of the embankment clubs on a sun lounger, with food and drinks included, click here to learn more most that.

3. Party at Media Luna On Midweek

Cartagena is synonymous with all things party. The city boasts a massive reputation for awesome nightlife, salsa dancing and the Colombian declension'south own, Champeta musica. Every Wednesday night, Media Luna Hostel, which is situated just outside the old metropolis, opens up its rooftop patio and second floor to host a huge party for travellers.

All travellers around Cartagena come to Media Luna to trip the light fantastic toe, drink and brand friends with other adventurers. Even some of the locals attend this party. My best advice is to show up early because this party gets wild fast.

☞ Read More: Captivating Cartagena – Also Touristy, or Justifiably Pop?

4. Walk Effectually the Instagrammable Former City of Cartagena

Every building within Cartagena's walled urban center is like that of a Latin fairy-tale. The walls of the buildings are brightly coloured in reds, yellows, dejection, and oranges. There are flowers laced through colonial architecture styled windows and doors, with asphalt streets and statues in the squares…all these things create Cartagena's Instagrammable reputation.

It is easy to spend a day just walking through and taking pictures of Cartagena's walled city. Enjoying the ambient and character of the quondam city is one of my favourite things to do in Cartagena.

Stop for a coffee or juice from a local vendor, take pictures with the fruit ladies dressed in Caribbean garb, or only relax and bask cute Cartagena.

5. Visit Cartagena's Gold Museum – The Museo del Oro Zenu

Colombia and gold museums go hand in hand. The Museo del Oro in Cartagena is home to a fantastic drove of gold artefacts besides as sterling examples of pottery created past the ingenious Zenu people who inhabited the area prior to the Spanish conquest.

I say ingenious because of the advanced drainage systems they used to cultivate their country, something explained in detail at the museum.

Gold was important to the development of Cartagena. The urban center's founding father, Pedro de Heredia, headed the first expedition upwards the River Sinú in search of golden — ravaging the Zenu people's gravesites for gilt.

This was so successful that with the ethnic labour and cultivation likewise as with the gold, the city of Cartagena was able to financially prosper for decades. To help one sympathize its history, a visit to the gold museum is definitely 1 of the all-time things to do in Cartagena for free, yep there is no entrance fee and it'south open from ix:00am to five:00pm.

If you observe yourself in the capital letter city of Bogota, visiting the gilded museum is one of the top things to exercise at that place.

six. Party On a Chiva Bus

Partying on a Chiva Bus is almost similar a correct of passage for travellers in South America and what better place to do it than in a city of music and dance such as Cartagena?! A ride on a Chiva passenger vehicle tin exist i of the funniest activities in Cartagena. These colourful wooden buses with party lights and loud music prowl the streets at night sourcing out the best places to political party. When backpacking Colombia, this is a party highlight.

As the bus tours the beautiful city of Cartagena at night, feel gratis to dance in the bus forth the streets with the rum flowing and the music blaring. Yeah, the Chiva bus might be tacky, but with the right crowd, it can be absolutely hilarious. Chiva buses tin be booked through whatever tour company in the town or through your hotel or hostel at a cost of COP $55,000 ($nineteen).

seven. Visit the Palace Of The Inquisition

Cartagena is a urban center full of history from the pre-Colombian times as shown in the Museo del Ozo, to the fourth dimension of the inquisition as displayed here at the Palace of the Inquisition.

This 18th-century edifice was the seat of the Holy Role of the Inquisition of Cartagena. If you are wandering around the Old Urban center and looking for things to do in Cartagena, I recommend you head here for a history lesson.

As a major commercial port for Kingdom of spain, the Palace of the Inquisition was used as a identify to effort Jews or other not Catholics coming into the city, every bit well as individuals who were believed to be guilty of crimes such as black magic.

Until 2015 the museum housed ancient torture devices used for these trials. Currently, the building is considered one of Cartagena's best examples of colonial and civil architecture. It is well maintained and worth the effort to see, open from ix:00am to half-dozen:00pm and costing but COP $20,000 ($6.00). Click here for directions.

8. Enjoy Dinner and Nightlife at Plaza la Trinidad

The Plaza la Trinidad (Holy Trinity Foursquare) is without a doubt one of my favourite things to practice in Cartagena during the evening. The plaza is surrounded by wonderful street food vendors, and I hateful wonderful, also as a selection of absolutely delicious restaurants. This is my go-to dining spot in Cartagena.

The people of the city, both gringos and locals alike, make their way to the plaza to experience what that item night has to offer. Sometimes you'll find a local game of football in the streets, occasionally in that location are street performers, and often at that place is music and dancing in the plaza.

The Plaza la Trinidad is ane of the best places in Cartagena to hang out at night. It is fun for the whole family, for people of all walks of life, with cheap eats and drinks, and entertainment too. Click here for directions.

ix. Grab a Drink at Cafe del Mar

Buffet del Mar on the edge of the wall surrounding the Old Metropolis is ane of the coolest places in Cartagena to take hold of a drinkable and enjoy the view. The bar is situated on the top of the far terminate of the ancient wall, complete with beautiful seating and the 'in-crowd'.

The view from the bar looks out into the cute never-catastrophe body of water with a vista of history in forepart of you. Grab a drink, and enjoy the view at this perfectly placed Cartagena hot spot. Click here for directions to Buffet del Mar.

x. Visit the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver

The architecture in Cartagena is forever impressive.The colours of the walled urban center and the civil colonial architecture of the Palace of the Inquisition are amazing, and the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver is no less impressive.

The church is part of a ready of buildings which also includes the Curtilage of San Pedro Claver and an archaeological museum.The chantry of the church holds the remains of Saint Peter Claver who died in Cartagena later on devoting his life to evangelizing the black slaves of New Granada.

The compages of the Church is equally colourful as its history taking its manner from the Jesuit era. The façade was carved from the stone of the Tierrabomba island, and the marble altar comes from Italy, a gift from Pope Leo XIII. The architecture evolved as the church passed hands, even adding a dome.

My fine art history background has me wanting to keep, but y'all volition just accept to go and meet it for yourself! The Iglesias de San Pedro Claver is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm and costs but COP $14,000 ($4.25).

11. Take a Walk Along the Historic Walls

Equally a consequence of its location between the Sinú and Magdalena rivers, Cartagena de Indias, was historically i of the most important cities to both Colombia and Kingdom of spain equally a key port. Cartagena was the main port for things similar export of Peruvian argent to Spain and the import of African slaves.

Due to the of import role information technology played in merchandise, the city was built to be defensible against pirate attacks in the Caribbean also equally any other threat.

There is so much history in Cartagena as a result of its connection with Spain. To be able to walk forth the aboriginal protective walls is one of the coolest things to do in Cartagena. Not only are they historically relevant to the urban center itself, merely they also provide sweeping views of the land around Cartagena. A vista that gives a bird'southward middle view of the old urban center, and an appreciation for the size of the city. Don't miss this UNESCO moment.

12. Join a Street Nutrient Tour

Ane of the all-time activities in Cartagena is without a doubt, a street food tour. Cartagena is famous for its delightful street food. Information technology fifty-fifty brought the tardily Anthony Bourdain to the city. There are a multifariousness of street food tours available which highlight the unique fruits, fried foods, drinks, and sweets native to Cartagena.

Get down with the locals and tour the street food of the old city and the Getsemani neighbourhood. Get set to sample things such equally the lulo, guanabana, and arequipe, some of the tastiest food on the Colombian coast in typical Colombian style.

13. Take a Bout of the Bazurto Market

The Bazurto Market is often described as a location for audacious travellers merely. This busy bustling market is located just 15 minutes away from Cartagena's urban center centre. It's chaotic, loud, dingy and lacks typical tourists. Want to go down with the locals? Then this extremely big market full of twists and turns is the place to go.

You tin notice everything from fresh fish and fruit, to spices and truthful Colombian civilisation in this chaotic market. Notwithstanding, if you are not comfortable taking on an experience like this alone, many tour agencies offering guided trips to the Bazurto Market place, some of them in conjunction with the street food bout.

14. Get On a Walking Tour of the Onetime City (El Centro)

The city of Cartagena is full of history, restaurants, and markets and information technology is all jam-packed into a 100 foursquare kilometre space, perfect for a walking tour!

Cartagena boasts a rich history including Castilian colonialism, pirates, slaves, Catholicism and the accompanying inquisition. Drugs, crime and the arts, both historic and current, offer a fascinating perspective on this S American country.Its history, as you might judge, makes for a nifty metropolis tour which is why I am recommending this as i of the best activities in Cartagena.

Tours can last anywhere between 2 and 4 hours, depending on which blazon of tour you book, giving an opportunity to take a detailed look at the history, the architecture, music, food and culture of Cartagena. A bang-up style to commencement any visit to this relevant city. Click hither for complimentary walking tours in Cartagena.

fifteen. Go Shopping In The Walled City

One of my personal favourite ways to spend time in Cartagena is to shop for artisan crafts in the photogenic streets of the walled metropolis. Vendors line the streets of this beautiful town selling things similar colourful mochila numberless, prints and paintings, and various types of jewelry.

You never know what kind of unique souvenir you can detect while shopping for artisanal crafts in Cartagena. Oh yea, and don't forget to bargain!

xvi. Visit the Puerta del Reloj

The clock belfry is the main city gate to the celebrated centre and was once the original archway to the fortified metropolis. Equally far equally things to encounter in Cartagena, the clock tower, having had its clock since the 18th century, is full of historical relevance. During the colonial catamenia, a drawbridge which linked the walled city to the Getsemani neighbourhood was installed.The Getsemani neighbourhood is some other fabulous walking area in Cartagena.

The bridge at the clock belfry was built to serve as a defence confronting enemy assault (pirates) on the city of Cartagena. Withal, today it is a place locals similar to hang out to escape the Colombian sun.You can likewise climb to the top of the metropolis wall and enjoy a stunning vista. Information technology'south a beautiful instance of fabulous colourful colonial compages, so on your manner into the old city for your food, drink and shopping, take a moment to check it out. You tin can observe the clock tower on the map, here.

17. Visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

Even though this is not Europe, I'1000 pleased to say that one of the best things to do in Cartagena is to visit its castle!Built by the Spanish in 1536 and expanded afterward in 1657, the castle is located on the Hill of San Lazaro, positioned perfectly to protect the city from the country and sea. It has had a tumultuous life as buying – or at least occupancy – has passed dorsum and forth between privateers and admirals.

As far as things to do in Cartagena, taking a bout of the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas ranks high on my list as with the walled city bout. Information technology provides meaning insight into Cartagena'due south colourful past. Sometimes these tours can be booked together as one.

One of the near interesting parts of the castle tour is discovering the many catacomb tunnels which run underneath the castle…a truthful fortress for battle. It's also a great spot to watch sunset.

eighteen. Become Shopping in the 'Las Bóvedas'

In the old city of Cartagena, the Las Bóvedas were structures fastened to the walls. Originally built as dungeons for prisoners during the ceremonious wars in the 19th century, these structures were brutal prisons — at high tide, the ocean h2o would enter the cells covering the prisoners inside.

Today, the cells in the dungeons are ane of the most popular things to do in Cartagena considering they house shops and boutiques where traditional Colombian merchandise is sold. A slap-up identify to pick up some souvenirs, simply equally yous walk through remember that these were once the habitation to prisoners of war. Click hither to discover it on the map.

nineteen. Day Trip to The Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands are the prototype of what y'all think of when considering a Caribbean beach destination. Bright bluish clear waters on soft white sand with hundreds of fish pond effectually your every step. Warm weather and local vendors serving drinks in coconuts…yes, that'due south exactly what you will get out of a day on the Rosario Islands.

It takes just an hour to get the Rosario Islands from the docks of Cartagena, making it a totally accessible solar day trip and 1 of the coolest things to practise in Cartagena.

The islands are a national park with a heavy focus on protecting the underwater environs. You can go scuba diving, or merely laze on the beach with a repast and a drink in hand. Lunchtime offers fresh seafood that volition blow your mind. Enjoying the islands? There are a variety of accommodations on them at every level to extend your trip.

To get to the Rosario islands, you lot can ever volume a tour through any tourism agency in Cartagena, or make your way to the dock at La Muelle la Bogegita in Cartagena and grab one of the speed boats leaving at 8:00am and 10:00am and returning at 2:30pm for $40,000 Colombian pesos ($13.75) each way. Note that weather conditions tin be poor and it's non recommended to travel during rough seas. A trip to the Rosario Islands by speedboat can take up to 2-3 hours, depending on the weather.

A better and peradventure safer way to visit the Rosario Islands is sailing aboard a luxurious catamaran. Included in the day trip is snorkelling, a welcome drinkable, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, tiffin, the port fee and National Park fees. This sailing tour is 1 of the top things to do in Cartagena. Click here to learn more.

20. Walk Through the Getsemani Neighbourhood (accept a street art tour)

What was once a quiet neighbourhood full of locals and youth hostels, Getsemani has become a go-to location for nightlife, the arts, and a gustatory modality for the Colombian spirit. The neighbourhood is full of colourful homes and packed full of ballsy street art. You can accept tours hither which are like to food and historical tours found in the city.

The neighbourhood is full of crawly restaurants and cafes also as salsa and champeta trip the light fantastic clubs. This is besides the neighbourhood which is home to the Plaza de la Trinidad, a favourite nighttime-fourth dimension location. Have a walk through the cute streets of Getsemani, the trendiest area in the city.

21. Stop at The Plaza Santo Domingo For a Meal

Cartagena houses some absolutely fabulous eateries and the Plaza Santo Domingo is a smashing place to experience but that. Upon entering the Plaza you will experience as if you have been transported to the streets of Italy, right down to the street lights.

Tables cover the plaza all the way to the centre, endemic past a multifariousness of restaurants. The coloured table cloths are usually the best marker to determine which restaurant serves that table.

The plaza is domicile to a famous Botero statue, La Gorda Gertrudis, and many street performers ply their trade in the plaza to entertain you lot while you dine. People and vendors walk the streets selling artisanal goods so souvenirs can exist purchased here. An afternoon relaxing in the Plaza Santo Domingo is one of my favourite things to do in Cartagena.

Ready to Plan a Trip to Cartagena?!

Cartagena is one of the almost vibrant cities in Colombia and has become a centre for the arts boasting fabulous music, dance, street fine art and of course historic aureate art and artifacts. The vendors on the streets and within the Las Bóvedas cells provide visitors with a take a chance to take home traditional Colombian crafts at reasonable prices.

Cartagena is a foodie centre, home to one of the biggest and nigh authentic markets in Colombia. The city has a reputation for delicious street nutrient, unique fruits, and fancy gastronomic locales.

The seaside city is condom, an of import factor in Colombian travel. Nature surrounds Cartagena with beautiful Playa Blanca and the Rosario Islands at its fingertips — and don't forget the magical mud volcano of El Totumo. With so many things to do in Cartagena, sights to meet, and activities to participate in, it's no wonder Cartagena remains one of the almost well-loved tourist locations.

Some images in this article are courtesy of Shuterstock.com.

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Hola! My proper noun is Kimberly Erin and I have been traveling the world sourcing out the best take a chance and remote destinations all while maintaining luxury in lifestyle. I live for risk and am an advocate of worldly exploration and personal growth through travel. An ideal which I try to represent equally best as possible in my blog Walkaboot Travel. I am a free spirit, a aroma the roses kind of daughter. I like to squeeze every epic moment out of life, all while enjoying a hot cup of coffee and the occasional handstand.

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