Hotels in Cartagena de Indias

Cartagena de Indias: Walled City on the Caribbean Coast

Cartagena de Indias sits on Colombia's northern Caribbean coast, 1,000 km north of Bogotá. Founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, the city built one of the Americas' most complete colonial fortifications — El Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, completed in 1657, dominates the eastern approach. The Ciudad Amurallada (walled city), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, contains 11 km of 16th-century stone ramparts enclosing cobblestone streets, ochre-and-rose colonial mansions, and the Plaza de Bolívar.

Where to Stay in Cartagena

Hotels concentrate in three distinct zones. The Ciudad Amurallada offers boutique hotels inside converted colonial houses — rates run higher but walking distance to Getsemaní, the artisan neighborhood east of the walls. Bocagrande, a peninsula 3 km south, holds high-rise beach hotels at more moderate prices. Getsemaní itself now draws independent travelers seeking cheaper guesthouses and a dense street-mural scene.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Rafael Núñez Airport (CTG) is 3 km northeast of the walled city; taxi to center takes 15 minutes.
• Weather: Dry season runs December–April; humidity stays high year-round at 85–90%.
• Currency: Colombian peso (COP); USD is widely accepted in tourist zones.
• Ferries: Boat services to the Islas del Rosario coral archipelago depart from Muelle de los Pegasos at 08:00 daily.