3 Days in Cartagena
It just sounds better in Spanish! You’re in Cartagena, the city with a magical combination of Latin American and Caribbean culture, food and ambience. Enjoy it! Cartagena is an extremely unique city, as it played a crucial role in colonial times as the most important port for the West Indies and provided access to the Magdalena and Sinú Rivers for inland navigation. Today, Cartagena is a tourist destination known for its beaches, culture and nightlife. If your visit to Colombia doesn’t include Cartagena, did you really visit Colombia?!
Day 1: Playa y Comida (Beach and Food)
Cartagena is located on the Caribbean Sea and enjoys year round beautiful weather, making it an ideal destination for beach goers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. So why not head straight to the beach after landing in Cartagena! That’s exactly what we did.
Please note that Colombian beaches will be filled with a ton of panhandlers, similar to beaches in Mexico if you’ve ever been. These people are completely harmless and a simple wave of the hand or “No Gracias” is all that is needed! However, I would highly suggest you do not leave any valuables out because there are people walking the beaches looking for these things. Lastly, insist on prepaying for any beach chairs and umbrellas or honestly, be prepared for sticker shock when paying for everything. Most places will say beach chairs and food are one price and then add 10-20% and demand you pay it. Fortunately, the dollar is strong to the Colombian peso and as inconvenient as it is, the price change is not overwhelmingly significant.