8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Cartagena, Colombia, During the Winter With Friends

Sensible Traveler’s Hot Take

It’s common for travelers in the the Northern Hemisphere to visit Mexico in the winter to escape the cold and snow that bombards the north. But the Sensible Traveler thinks THIS IS A MISTAKE and can’t understand why people don’t consider going a bit further south where you’re guaranteed warmer weather, potentially lower costs since you’re competing with less tourists and a more unique experience than the typical tourist experience you get in many places in Mexico. A few years ago, the Sensible Traveler rented a house with 8 other friends in the center of the old city of Cartagena, Colombia, in the middle of January and it was a dream. Food is relatively cheap, you can find amazing accommodations for a reasonable price, weather is fantastic, the city is alive with drink and dance, and there’s plenty of culture that you will not get at a resort in Cancun.

Top Things to Do in Cartagena:

1. Rent a boat with a private captain and first mate for the day
   1. Boat rentals a relatively affordable (~$60 USD per person depending on boat size and group). Most are BYOB. They make a few stops throughout the day includes islands, anchoring with other boats, jet skis. They’ll even drop you off in the middle of the old city at the end of the day.
2. Walk the old city
   1. The old city is filled with Spanish architecture, colorful buildings, bars, clubs and a big wall that you can walk on surrounding parts of it.
   2. Make sure you end your walk at Café del Mar for sunset drinks over the ocean
3. Visit resort for beaches
   1. You’re not going to find any fancy beaches right around the old town of the city. This means you’ll have to take a cab to a nearby resort hotel or rent a boat (see #1 above) to some nearby sandy islands.
   2. We enjoyed spending the day Las Americas Hotel which had several pools and access to the ocean beach. However, they may try and charge you to use the pools so you might have to be sneaky!
4. Hike to the top of the fort
   1. An easy walk from the Old Town (and a way to cure feeling crummy from too much drinking the night before) is to visit the old spanish fort, also known as Castle San Felipe de Barajas. It has some good history and great views of the city.
5. Stay in a fancy Airbnb
   • There are some fantastic accommodations within Cartagena. We found a house in the middle of the Old Town (i.e., walking distance to everything) and it was only $225 per person for four nights!
   • Plus the house came with two helpers who cooked us an amazing breakfast every morning.
   • Certainly prioritize staying in the old town which makes for easy walking to everything.
6. Enjoy the night life
   • The nightlife in Cartagena is fantastic. Plenty of restaurants, music and bars for you and your friends to explore. A favorite is Cafe Havana if you’re looking for some live music and a good time!
7. Rum Tour Bus
   • “Chiva Tours” are old school buses that include a live band and all the rum and coke you want. They take you around the city in the evening and show you the sights while keeping you glass full. It’s a bit touristy but a good way to start off any evening.
8. Safety
   • Colombia has had a difficult past due to the drug trade but much of that has been resolved. Of course you still need to be careful and aware of your surroundings at all times but if you travel sensibly like you would in any other major city in the world, you should be OK.

Food to Eat:

1. Food and drink is much cheaper at the grocery stores than eating out. That said, there are some decent priced places to eat even within the old town.
2. If you’re lucky, you’ll book lodging that can provide you the breakfast of your dreams filled with fresh fruit and avocado.

Value:

1. Budget airlines used to fly to Cartagena from the states but that’s less frequent now so airfare can be more pricy. It’s also difficult to find direct flights to the city from locations outside Central and South America.
2. Accommodations can be relatively affordable depending on where you stay and how many people are in your group.
3. Food and drink isn’t cheap but it isn’t as expensive as some resorts in other Latin American countries
4. Excursions such as boating and bus tours are very affordable for what you get.
5. Culture is off the charts here as the city has tons of history, the colombian people have wonderful traditions and South America has such a vibrant vibe that you don’t find anywhere else.

Time Needed: 4 nights, 3 Full Days

Any other Sensible Travel tips for Cartagena? Leave a comment below to help your fellow travelers!