Flights to Cartagena

From the airport

Taxis from the airport to the old town take around 10 to 15 minutes, and fares are usually fixed by zone, so check the price before setting off. The walled city and Getsemaní are compact enough to explore on foot, though the midday heat makes early mornings and evenings the most comfortable times to wander. Bocagrande, a strip of high-rise hotels on the beach, is a short ride south.

The walled city

Founded in 1533, Cartagena became a key Spanish port, and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enter through the Clock Tower gate to reach Plaza de los Coches and a grid of streets lined with balconied houses, churches and plazas. The Church of San Pedro Claver honours a priest who cared for enslaved Africans, and the Palace of the Inquisition is now a museum. At sunset, many people walk along the thick city walls.

Getsemaní and the fortress

Just outside the walls, Getsemaní has street art, small hostels and an evening crowd around Plaza de la Trinidad. Across the lagoon, the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas was built to guard the city, with tunnels and ramparts to explore. For a wider view, the hilltop monastery of La Popa looks over the bay. Horse-drawn carriages and evening salsa bars add to the atmosphere after dark.

Islands and timing

Boats leave from the harbour for the Rosario Islands, a protected marine park with coral reefs, and for the beaches of Barú, around an hour away. Cartagena is hot all year, usually 25 to 32°C, and the driest months run from December to April, while October and November bring the heaviest rain. Try fried fish with coconut rice and fresh fruit from street vendors.

Heading to Cartagena? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll arrange your flights via Bogotá.