What To Know Before Visiting Cartagena

The Beauty of Cartagena, Columbia

Cartagena is a beautiful city with beautiful and friendly people. The atmosphere is welcoming and I had no fear walking around the city at any time. I even witnessed a traffic accident where both parties went their separate ways after viewing their vehicles. The food is delicious and visually appealing. I love to come here to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, people, and culture. If you decide to visit Cartagena from another country such as the U.S. as always I will say come with patience and an open mind. I visited in April 2022 and this was my experience.

Here are some things you need to know when traveling to Cartagena:

Most People Speak Spanish

As I mentioned before, the city felt safe to me. People are friendly, there are police out and about at most tourist areas. Some may speak some English but most will only speak Spanish. It’s good to have an app such as ‘Google Translate’ to assist you with translation.

You Will Need Columbia Pesos

You will need Colombia Pesos (COP). A small number of places will take either Credit Card and/or US dollars. Majority will only accept COP. You can order COP from your local bank before you leave the U.S. or at the airport when you arrive.

Lots of Fresh Local Food

There are options for fresh fish, fruit, beef, lamb, chicken, etc. around the city. There are also a few international food options around the city. Try some of the local foods, you will not be disappointed.

Bring Washcloths

Similar to visiting most European countries, bring your wash cloths as the hotel we were in didn’t provide us with any. On my previous visit I believe this was also the case when I stayed at another International hotel in Cartagena.

Lukewarm Showers

During both visits the water was lukewarm. My showers were enjoyable, however, there was not an opportunity to take a long hot shower as you may take in the U.S. However, this wasn’t really an issue for me.

Some Areas May Not Have A/C

Many of the buildings in Cartagena are older and have more of an open air/patio styled design. I am not sure of the actual type of architecture, however, you will find that most areas that are not closed in will not have A/C. When staying in hotels, your hotel guest room will have A/C. However, some of the common areas unless they are closed in will not. This wasn’t a huge issue for me after a few days.

Tips Included In Your Bill

Masks are still required in most places and most restaurants are now including a tip in your bill. This tip may appear as ‘Ser. Voluntario’ on your bill. This charge appears to be around 10% of your total bill.

Fill Out Check Mig

Fill out Check Mig before you get to the airport. You will need to complete this application when going through customs both going into Cartagena and when leaving.

Note: If you receive an error with the form. Take a screenshot of the error so that you can show it to the customs agent. Otherwise you may be forced to complete it there at customs.

Many Places To Drink & Dance

There are many places that you can enjoy dancing and drinking in the evening hours. We went to a few Cafe Del Mar, Cafe Havana, Mondo Exotica, and several in Getsemani that have a nice vibe. Most places will provide you with bottled water as the water may not be safe to drink.

Taxis Are Plentiful

Taxis are plentiful and a ride will range between 10,000 COP to 15,000 COP. Most taxis accept cash only (COP). You can also use Uber, however, it may be more expensive.

Use Google Maps & Google Translate

I usually pay for travelpass through Verizon so that I can have access to my Google Maps. I find that Google Maps works well here. It has helped me to get around the city. Google Translate is also great!

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