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Cartagena Basics

Cartagena, or Cartagena de Indias, as it is formally known, is Colombia's largest port on the Caribbean. It's a frenetic, bustling city of the old, the new, and everything in between. With a multiracial population of just over 1 million people, Cartagena--located in Colombia's Bolivar Department--is the fifth largest urban area in Colombia and a center of industry and commerce in the Caribbean basin.

Tourism is the dominant economic activity of Cartagena, along with services, construction and manufacturing activities. In 1984, the fortresses and old walled city of Cartagena were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It's hot and humid year round in tropical Cartagena, with the climate changing little throughout the year. Expect an average high of 88°F (32°C) and an average low of 77°F (25°C), and a relative humidity averaging around 90 percent. The rainy seasons take place in early fall and late spring.

First Impressions

As you approach Cartagena on your cruise ship, the first thing you see are the tall buildings that line the streets of the city's Bocagrande peninsula.

The exclusive Club Naval, along with the Faro, or lighthouse, spills out at the end of the peninsula, and from there you enter the harbor. Here you'll see the Colombian naval ships that protect the coastline, as well as remnants of the stone fortifications built by the Spanish in the 17th century that sit in mute testimony to the treasure that could once be found inside the city's 15-foot thick walls. Today, it's memories of a good time, not gold, that make for a great day in Cartagena.

Your ship will dock at the Cruise Ship Terminal, which is located on Manga Island, adjacent to the industrial dock area. Most people going on shore excursions won't actually step into the Cruise Ship Terminal itself, instead picking up their transportation at the dock. If you're going to the Cruise Ship Terminal, you'll find an ATM, a restaurant, taxis and a marketplace of vendors selling everything from coffee to locally-made textiles and handicrafts. A shuttle will take you from your ship to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

Cartagena is a city of contrasts: between the old and new, between poverty and wealth, between legend and reality. The peninsula that juts out into the bay is chockablock with high-rise hotel and condo projects, making Cartagena a favorite destination of Colombian touristas. But it's the city's 17th century walled Old Town--Centro and San Diego--along with the fortresses built by the Spanish, that were, in 1984, proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage sites. While it's not unlike San Juan's Old Town, Cartagena exudes its own vibe...fun, funky, hot and humid.

Colombia is a poor country, with about half of its citizens living below the poverty line. People from the countryside come to Cartagena in search of improving their lot in life. But when times are tough in the rest of the world, they're a lot tougher in Colombia. So be prepared for the poverty you'll see.

The Old Town--the walled districts of Centro and San Diego--is undeniably the attraction here. The Old Town brings the 17th century back to life with the colorful restored Spanish colonial buildings. This area saw the slave trade, the Inquisition and brutal battles over control of the city, and legends were born here. Its up to you to discover them. Enjoy your day in Cartagena.

Just so you know, the penultimate scene in the 1984 film Romancing the Stone--featuring Michael Douglas battling it out with Danny DeVito and an alligator--was not filmed in Cartagena; instead, it was filmed in Veracruz, Mexico.

Time Zone

Officially, Cartagena is on Colombia Time. Colombia Time is equivalent to Eastern Time, five hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during Standard Time. However, Colombia does not recognize Daylight Savings Time.

Language

Spanish is universally spoken in Cartagena. Almost all of the shopkeepers catering to tourists also speak English, as well as some French, German and Italian.

Currency

The Peso is the currency of Colombia; the country uses the "$" sign to denote the Colombian Peso amount. As of September 6, 2010, the exchange rate is roughly US$1 = $1,810 pesos.

Banks and ATMs:

ATMs can be found throughout Cartagena, and in many machines, the transactions can be made in English. Take precautions when using an ATM machine in Cartagena: only use an ATM during the day, and be comfortable with your surroundings before using an ATM machine.

There's an ATM machine at the Cruise Ship Terminal building, which is convenient if you're planning to do Cartagena on your own. ATM machines can also be found in Centro (the walled Old Town) and in the modern area of the city, including Bocagrande, Castillo Grande and El Laguito. Banks with branches in the Old Town include:

Citibank: Has a branch with an ATM machine, located on Avenida Venezuela #53-13 in the Old City (2 blocks north of the Plaza de los Coches) in which you'll find an ATM machine.
Banco Union Colombiano: Has a branch with an ATM machine, also located on Avenida Venezuela, close to the Plaza de los Coches.
Bancolombia: Has a branch with an ATM machine, also located on Avenida Venezuela, close to the Plaza de los Coches.
Banco Santander: Has a branch with an ATM machine located in the Plaza Aduana.

To see the locations of Cartagena's ATMs, see our Cartagena ATM map.

Warning on Changing Money on the Street

DO NOT, under any circumstances, exchange your dollars for Colombian pesos with anyone offering to do so on the streets of Cartagena. You will be robbed.

Using US Dollars in Cartagena

While US dollars are accepted in some shops in Cartagena, the rate you'll get is heavily discounted from the market rate. The best bet is to use credit cards, which are accepted in almost all shops, restaurants and other tourist-oriented establishments.

Weather

The climate of tropical Cartagena is generally hot and humid, although sea breezes make it more comfortable than many tropical cities. Temperatures range from an average high of 32° C (88° F) from May to July to an average low of 24° C (74° F) in January and February.

The rainy seasons take place in early spring (April and May) as well as in early fall (October and November). Cartagena receives around 40 inches (1000 mm) of rain each year.

The windiest months are from November to February, keeping the climate "comfortable."

Cartagena Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High - F	88	88	88	88	89	89	89	89	88	88	88	88
Avg. High - C	31	31	31	31	32	32	32	32	31	31	31	31
Avg. Low - F	73	74	75	76	77	77	77	77	76	76	76	75
Avg. Low - C	23	23	24	24	25	25	25	25	24	24	24	24

Cartagena Average Precipitation
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg, Inches	1.4	1.9	3.9	6.0	5.9	2.5	1.9	1.0	1.1	5.1	5.9	1.3
Avg, mm	34	49	100	152	150	65	49	26	28	130	151	34

Cartagena Weather Forecast, Colombia

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes

The cyber cafes in Cartagena are centered in the Centro (Old Town) district, as well as in the Bocagrande/El Laguito areas. They're generally inexpensive, although the bandwidth is usually slow. Here's a partial listing of internet cafes in Cartagena:

In the El Laguito & Bocagrande areas:

Cafe.com, Edificio Belmar, Local 103. Open daily, year round. Tel: 665-2170.
Internet Cafe Colombiano, Avenida San Martin, No. 4-134 Esquina. Tel: 665-4240.

In the Centro area:

Caribenet, Calle Santo Domingo No. 3-54, located around the corner from Bolivar Square. Price is $6,000 pesos/hour. Open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, year round. Tel: 664-2326.
Cyber-Cafe Olano, located at Calle de las Damas No. 3-102, at the Pasaje de la Candelaria. Offers email service, plus serves food, drinks and coffee. Charges $6,000 pesos/hour. Open daily from 9:00 am to noon, and 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tel: 664-5438.
Micronet, located at Calle de la Estrella No. 4-47, in the San Diego neighborhood, near the University. They've got 11 fast computers that cost $6,000 pesos/hour. Tel: 664-0328.

To see the locations of Cartagena's Internet Cafes, see our Map of Cartagena Internet Cafes.

Finding US Newspapers

Don't expect to find US newspapers in Cartagena.

Kindle Connectivity

In Cartagena, you can download your Kindle newspaper and magazine subscriptions, as well as books and selected blogs, through EDGE/GPRS coverage provided by Comcel, Movistar or Tigo.

Local Holidays & Festivals

The following local festivals, holidays and events are slated to take place in Cartagena in 2010:

New Year's Day (Ano Nuevo), January 1.
Epiphany, January 6. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.
Mapfre Hay Festival, January 28 to 31. Features the best of national Colombian and international literature, as well as conversations about culture, geopolitics and the environment.
International Film Festival, February 26 to March 6. Screenings of features, shorts and documentary projects. Competition for films produced in Latin America, Spain and Portugal only.
San Jose (St. Joseph's Day), March 19. Colombia's version of Father's Day.
Carnaval, February 26 to March 8. Expect street theater, carnival pageants, parades of masks and concerts in different parts of the city.
Semana Santa, March 26 to April 4. Holy week celebrations that end on Easter Sunday.
Dia de los Trabajadores (Labor Day), May 1. Honors those who labor and their struggles.
Corpus Cristi, May 15. A feast that honors the Eucharist, which believers consider to be the actual body and blood of Christ.
Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Ascension of Christ), May 13. A Christian holiday, held 39 days after Easter, that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief.
San Pedro y San Pablo, (Saint Peter and Saint Paul Day), June 29. A feast day commemorating the martyrdom of the two great Apostles, Peter and Paul.
Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day), July 20. Celebrates Colombia's declaration of independence from Spain.
Simon Bolivar's victory at the Batalla de Boyaca, August 7. The Battle of Boyaca triggered the revolution that led to Colombia's independence from Spain.
La Asuncion de Nuestra Senora (Ascension of The Virgin Mary), August 15. A public holiday that celebrates the Virgin Mary's ascent to heaven.
Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12. Celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.
Dia de Todos Santos (All Saints Day), November 1. Celebrates and honors all of the saints in Christianity.
Concurso Nacional de Belleza de Colombia (National Beauty Pageant), November 1 to 16. The Miss Colombia pageant elects representatives to the Miss Universe competition (who is Miss Colombia) and Miss International competition (who is Miss Colombia International). A big, big deal in Colombia.
Independencia de Cartagena (Cartagena's Independence Day), November 11. Commemorates the city of Cartagena's declaration of independence from Spain in 1811.
Immaculada Concepcion (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. A public holiday timed exactly nine months before celebrating the birth of Mary.
Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25.

Cruise Lines Making Port

Cartagena has become an increasingly popular cruise destination for ships on Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean cruises, with over 170 cruise ships visiting the city in 2009. If you'd like to see when ships are scheduled to arrive in Cartagena, check out the 2010/2011 Cartagena Cruise Ship Calendar (pdf).

The following cruise lines make port in Cartagena: