19 Best Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia

Located in the heart of Cartagena, this walled city, protected by a fortress, was once used to shelter the city from pirates and storms. Within this small sector, you will find an incredible array of bars, restaurants, shops and some beautiful (and rather expensive) hotels. Despite it being filled with tourists pretty much all year round, this historic corner of the city has not lost its charm.

This small, leafy park just outside the entrance to the Walled City would be fairly nondescript were it not for the fact that it is home to a small population of wild monkeys, iguanas and sloths. There can’t be a much more unexpected sight in the city than these sleepy sloths making their way through the park at dusk. Recommended by Chris Bell

You cannot visit Cartagena without making a trip up to this huge castle, which peers out over the city. This grand construction was started in 1639 but was not completed until 150 years later. However, since its completion, it has been the crowning landmark in the city, and visitors can now stroll through the battlements, weave their way through underground passages and admire the impressive architecture.

Playa Blanca is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia. Located on Barú Island, it is 45 minutes by boat from the Port of Cartagena, or around a two-hour car journey from the main city. Crystal-clear waters lap the perfectly white sand, and visitors have the option to spend a day relaxing on this incredible beach or, should that not be enough, to also stay overnight. Come for the day, and make the most of some delicious fresh fish served alongside coconut rice. Stay the night, and you can appreciate the beach in complete stillness and silence once all the day-trippers leave. Either way, a visit to this beach is a must for anyone spending more than a day in Cartagena.

Almost every large Colombian city has a gold museum, and Cartagena is no exception. Although it is small, the Museo del Oro Zenú hosts a fantastic collection of the gold and pottery of the Zenú (also known as Sinú) people, who inhabited the departments of Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre and Northern Antioquia before the Spanish Conquest. Look out for special exhibitions and the guided tours, offered in both English and Spanish.

It’s loud, busy and pretty overwhelming, but for those travelers looking to experience the real Cartagena, a visit to Mercado de Bazurto is a must. This food market sells everything from fresh fruit to cooked turtle (which is discouraged by authorities but considered a traditional meal in many indigenous communities). You are sure to revel in the sheer array of produce and food on offer at Mercado de Bazurto, and you’ll be stunned by the prices, too: expect a two-course lunch to set you back no more than about $2 (£1.50). Remember to be mindful of your belongings as you wander through the market.

Formerly a hotbed of vice, Getsemani has fast evolved into Cartagena’s hippest and most exciting neighborhood. The focal point of the area is the buzzing Trinidad Square, where locals and tourists alike gather each night to eat, drink and dance. The walls of Getsemani are also covered in beautiful street art. Recommended by Chris Bell

Regarded as one of the best ceviche and fish restaurants in the whole city, head to La Cevichería for a break from all the fritos (fried food) you’ve been eating and experience some incredible Peruvian/Colombian fusion food. Expect fresh fish, exciting flavors, lots of lime and some seriously good cocktails. The place is eternally busy and you’ll have to wait for a table.

Cafe Havana is the place to be if you like listening or dancing to salsa music. Even if you’ve never danced it in your life, it’s still worth heading to the city’s cultural and party center, Getsemani, to try out this Cuban-style bar. Cafe Havana draws a mixed crowd of locals and immigrants and welcomes talented live salsa bands, who keep the crowd entertained until the early hours. Even if you’ve got two left feet, head on down for some perfectly mixed cocktails, enjoy the music and watch others take to the dance floor.

La Boquilla is a fishing village on the outskirts of Cartagena. What it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in character and authenticity, as this is the beach favored by locals. If you head down on a weekend, you’ll find it heaving with Cartageneros who have come to kick back, sip some beer and sunbathe. The food on offer is fantastic – you can feast on some freshly caught fish and try the local delicacy arroz con coco (rice with coconut).

A night spent on a chiva (party bus) is a very Colombian activity – expect live musicians playing Vallenato, an open bar with local liquor and a lot of dancing. While the party starts on the bus, you’ll, then, be dropped off at various bars around the city, ending up in a larger club, where your chiva will leave you to dance the night away. Most of the hostels in the city arrange chiva tours, and, for those traveling alone, this is a great way to meet new people. Just make sure you’re ready to have fun!

A popular backpacker day trip, this active mud volcano, as well as being the smallest volcano in Colombia, is famous for its alleged healing properties. Up to 15 guests at a time can bathe in the dense, warm mud (with an optional massage), before heading to the nearby sea to be washed off. It’s dirty, relaxing fun! Recommended by Chris Bell

Located at the site of a former jail, Las Bovedas is one of Cartagena’s best street markets and the perfect place to pick up any souvenirs you’ve been after from your trip. Each stall is housed in a former cell. It is said that the cells were so close to the Caribbean that prisoners would often find themselves knee-deep in seawater! Recommended by Chris Bell

This pretty, shady square in the heart of the Walled City is the perfect place to sit back and watch the world go by: local dancers often perform in the square, making for a festive vibe. Recommended by Chris Bell

Don’t be fooled: although the Palace of the Inquisition is one of the loveliest buildings in Cartagena, it was also the site of the some of grizzliest moments in the city’s history, as the Inquisition used it to imprison and torture suspected heretics. It’s now a fascinating museum, housing some of the original torture weapons, as well as all sorts of colonial artifacts. Recommended by Chris Bell

One of the busiest and most bustling squares in the Old Town of Cartagena, Santo Domingo Square is the perfect place to grab a cold beer in the sun and watch the world go by. It’s also surrounded by gorgeous old buildings and, at the center of the plaza, stands one of Fernando Botero’s most famous sculptures. Recommended by Chris Bell

This monastery sits on a 150m(492ft) hill, the highest point in Cartagena. With lovely gardens and fascinating religious iconography, it is one of the city’s most underrated and beautiful tourist destinations. The views are, as you’d expect, spectacular. Recommended by Chris Bell

The theatre itself is a beautiful building, but it’s what’s inside that counts at the Adolfo Mejia Theatre: the stage curtain and magnificent cupola were both painted by famous local artist Enrique Grau and are some of the most gorgeous works of art in the entire city.

An easy day trip from Cartagena, San Basilio de Palenque holds the distinction of being the first free slave city of the Americas. A fascinating window onto Afro-Colombian culture, the village is a Unesco-recognised site, with its own unique language, customs and musical genres. Recommended by Chris Bell