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Cartagena packs its attractions into a compact, walkable center: a 16th-century fortress, 11km of colonial walls, gold and Inquisition museums, and a string of Caribbean islands within an hour by boat. Most travelers spend 3 to 4 days here, splitting time between the Walled City and Getsemaní neighborhoods and day trips to the islands. Here are the sites worth your time, with hours and entry costs.
Things to Do in Cartagena: The Walled City
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, built from 1536 and expanded through 1657, sits on San Lázaro hill about a 25-minute walk from the Clock Tower. You can climb the ramparts and walk the network of tunnels built to carry supplies and troops. Entry is COP 25,000 (about US$6) for foreigners, open 7:00 to 18:00 daily, and it is at its least crowded before 9:00. Bring water; there is little shade on the upper terraces.
The City Walls (Las Murallas)
The 11km of stone walls ringing the old town were built between the 16th and 18th centuries to stop pirate raids, and walking them is free. The best stretch runs from the Bóvedas to the San Francisco Bastion, where you can watch the sunset over the Caribbean. Las Bóvedas, the 23 vaults at the eastern end of the walls, now hold souvenir and artisan shops open daily from about 9:00 to 19:00.
Palace of the Inquisition
On Plaza de Bolívar, this 18th-century building was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition and now shows instruments of torture alongside a collection of colonial art and maps. It is open Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, entry COP 27,000 (about US$7), and signs are in Spanish and English.
Museo del Oro Zenú
The Gold Museum on Plaza de Bolívar is free and small enough to see in 45 minutes. Its 500-plus pieces focus on the Zenú people who lived on the Caribbean lowlands, including fine filigree work the region is still known for. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, closed Monday.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Churches and Viewpoints
Convento de la Popa
The Augustinian convent on the 150m La Popa hill is the highest point in Cartagena, with a 360-degree view over the bay, the old town and the islands. Inside are a colonial cloister and a gilded altar to the Virgen de la Candelaria, the city’s patron saint. Entry is about COP 20,000, open daily 9:00 to 17:00, and you reach it by taxi (roughly COP 30,000 from the center) since the road up is too steep and hot to walk.
Iglesia de San Pedro Claver
This church and its monastery honor Saint Peter Claver, a Jesuit who baptized and defended enslaved Africans in the 1600s; his remains lie in the altar. The cloister holds a small museum of African and colonial art. Entry is about COP 17,000, open Monday to Saturday 8:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 8:00 to 16:30, on Plaza de San Pedro Claver near the harbor. Bookmark the full Cartagena guide for the complete overview.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Beaches and Islands
Islas del Rosario
The Rosario Islands are a protected national park about 45 minutes by boat from the Muelle de la Bodeguita docks. Day trips cost COP 60,000 to COP 90,000 (US$15 to US$22) and usually include lunch, snorkeling gear and stops at Isla Grande and the San Martín de Pajarales oceanarium. Water is clear and calm, and the coral reefs are the main draw. Book through a licensed operator and confirm whether the park fee is included before you pay. Sort the logistics with the travel tips and FAQ guide.
Playa Blanca on Isla Barú
Playa Blanca is the closest white-sand beach, a 45-minute boat ride or a 1-hour drive across the bridge to Isla Barú. It is free to visit, though loungers and umbrellas are rented and touts are persistent. Go early or stay overnight in a cabaña to see the sand without the day-tripper crowd. Boats leave from the same Bodeguita docks for about COP 50,000 return. Match your dates to the annual events and festivals calendar.
Bocagrande Beach
Bocagrande’s gray-sand city beach is the convenient option when you do not want a boat trip, a 10-minute taxi from the old town. The water is calmer than the open coast and vendors rent chairs and sell ceviche all day. It gets busy on weekends, and the current can be strong near the jetties, so swim close to shore. To weigh weather against price, check the best time to visit guide.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Neighborhoods and Local Life
Getsemaní
The former slave quarter just south of the walls is now Cartagena’s most photographed district, with street murals, flags strung over Calle San Andrés and a nightly crowd on Plaza de la Trinidad. It is free to wander, and the best light is late afternoon. Many travelers pair it with a stay here; see the where to stay in Getsemaní section for hotels.
El Totumo Mud Volcano
About 50km northeast of the city, the Totumo mud volcano is a 15m mound you climb into and float in dense, mineral-rich mud, then wash off in a nearby lagoon. Tours run COP 55,000 to COP 70,000 (US$14 to US$17) for the 5-hour round trip including transport and entrance. The mud bath itself lasts about 15 minutes, so pair it with a stop at Manzanillo del Mar beach. For exact monthly rainfall and sea temperatures, see the weather by month data table.
