The Best of Cartagena

Cartagena is a fabulous city to visit and even consider investing (Airbnb rental) or living full or part-time.

If you choose to have Manizales as your ¨home base¨, there are daily flights (about 1 hour) to Cartagena from Manizales or Pereira.

If you are looking to buy or long term rentals, we recommend Laura at Towers Realty or Mauricio at ER Inmobliaria. They work with all the brokers in Cartagena so they can show you any properties. It is best to find one broker to work with in our opinion.

For visiting, there are many high quality hotels (see list below) and Airbnb rentals. There are 3 main areas to stay.

  • Bocagrande and Castillogrande: This is a mix of high tourism (Bocagrande) and residential (Castillogrande). Both are minutes away by taxi to the Old City.
  • Morros / Las Americas Hotel :  This area is close to the airport and the Old City but has less tourist activity and fewer venders trying to sell you stuff while you are trying to relax. Morros is a high class developer which has built 1,000´s of beachfront condos in Bocagrande, this area and the new development, Serena del Mar about 15 minutes towards Barranquilla.
  • Serena del Mar: this is a whole new ¨city¨ developing very quickly. It will have everything. Hospital, clinics, grocery and drug stores, gas stations, tons of restaurants and shopping and of course, the beach.

 

Real Estate Brokers:

Towers Realty - Laura Lopez  -  +57 301 468 3925

ER Inmobiliaria - Mauricio Espana - +57 316 472 2670

Things to Do: 

  1. The Old City: I suggest you take the horse buggy ride tour or a walking tour to get an idea of all there is to see in the maze of narrow cobblestone streets full of shops, restaurants, bars, museums and jewelry stores. The Old Fort is next close by and is a don´t miss attraction. At night, the place comes alive with music and people watching and it is a little cooler from the ocean breezes which start up after mid day. It is HOT so wear a hat and put on lots of sunscreen.
  2. The Beach  and swimming in the ocean or hotel pool. Careful of the currents and DO NOT go into the ocean if it is rough.
  3. Baru and Rosario Islands: There are many day tours. Great for families. Usually include lunch. There is a cool outdoor aquarium too.
  4. Restaurants and Nightlife: Tons of great restaurants (can get pricy) and bars, music. 

Colombia strongly enforces its laws against sex tourism and drugs.

Restaurants: Cartagena has like 1,000 restaurants according to Tripadvisor. Some come and go; others were great but it might have gone to their heads and they are no longer great. 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g297476-Cartagena_Cartagena_District_Bolivar_Department.html

Ceviche, Sushi and the Peruvian restaurants seem to be the most consistent, at least in our opinion having been to Cartagena a dozen times.

Crepes & Waffles in Bocagrande is on an old remodeled house on the main drag for excellent lower cost meals and ice cream !

Kiosko El Bony right on the beach in Bocagrande is fun with good fish and shrimp dishes.