Can You Travel To Cartagena Alone?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Solo travel is great in Cartagena

; there are plenty of places where you can meet other travellers, from cafes and bars, to the very social (and very good) hostels and guesthouses that are dotted around this city.

How many days is enough in Cartagena?


3 days

is just about the perfect amount of time spent in Cartagena. It’s enough time to see all the main sites and enjoy a day at the beach, and it will leave you time to see some of those other destinations.

Is Cartagena worth visiting?

Cartagena is

one of the most visited cities in the Americas

: tourists flock here to enjoy the Caribbean climate, historic Walled City and gorgeous nearby beaches.

Is Cartagena expensive?

Cartagena is undoubtedly the current crown jewel of Colombian tourism, and as such is

one of the most expensive locations in this amazing country

.

Is Cartagena Colombia safe for solo female Travellers?

Unless you’re not walking around at night by yourself,

Cartagena is relatively safe for female solo travellers

. There will be some level of catcalling and harassment but if you ignore it, it should keep you out of trouble.

Which is better Medellin or Cartagena?


Medellín wins here

.

Medellín is a much bigger city with a metro population of over 3.7 million so it obviously has many more restaurant and nightlife options. In comparison, Cartagena has a metro population of over 1.2 million. Medellín has many more restaurant options, many of which have been covered on this website.

Is English spoken in Cartagena?

As expected, everyone speaks the local language.

Only few people speak conversational English

. So this limits interaction between (non Spanish speaking and only Spanish speaking) people as no one can understand the other.

Is Cartagena safe for tourists?

Is Cartagena safe for travel?

Generally — yes!

Locals tell us that Cartegana’s beauty and Caribbean flare make it an excellent destination. As long as travelers are aware of a few safety precautions, they should be fine.

Is there a beach in Cartagena?


Cartagena also has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Caribbean Peninsula

. With an average temperature of 81.6 degrees, nearly every day is perfect for heading to the beach. The tropical islands and beaches that surround the city attract visitors from around the world.

Which is better Bogotá vs Medellin?


Medellin is the undisputed winner in this area

. The city is renowned for its ‘perfect weather’. Medellin boasts spring-like weather all year round and provides a pleasant experience to the visitors. Bogota, on the other hand, is colder than its Colombian counterpart, as it is located in a high altitude region.

What is the best beach in Cartagena Colombia?

  1. Punta Arena in Tierra Bomba. Punta Arena beach is located on Tierra Bomba island, which is right in front of the beaches of Castillogrande. …
  2. Playa Blanca in Baru. …
  3. Castillogrande Beach. …
  4. La Boquilla Beach. …
  5. Manzanillo del Mar Beach.

What is the best time to visit Cartagena?

The best time to visit Cartagena is

December to April

. The city’s tropical climate means that, although temperatures tend to stay around the mid-80s year-round, the amount of precipitation each season varies wildly.

Is Cartagena cheaper than Medellín?

Other costs like groceries, restaurants, and other things tend to be

at least 5% to 15% cheaper in Medellín

, in comparison to Cartagena. In general Cartagena is a more expensive place to live than Medellín.

Can you use US dollars in Cartagena?

Cartagena has plenty of banks and casas de cambios. Many large hotels and emerald shops will change dollars, and

most of the larger businesses accept US dollar bills

.

What food is Cartagena famous for?

  • Mojarra.
  • Mondongo Soup.
  • Pan de Bono.
  • Posta Negra Cartagenera.
  • Colombian Empanadas.
  • Arepas de Queso.
  • Tres Leches Cake.
  • Ceviche.

Is Colombia safe for 2021?

Colombia –

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

. Reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, and COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.

Are there kidnappings in Colombia?


The chance of being kidnapped in Colombia nowadays is slim to none

. The historic ceasefire agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC and increased security forces in cities and along major roads have led to a significant decrease in kidnappings. In fact, kidnappings have fallen a whopping 92% since 2000.

What is the safest city in Colombia?


Salento

is the safest city in Colombia. With a population of just over 7000, there aren’t too many people to make this city dangerous. Not to mention, it has become a favorite location for tourism, which means crime is kept to a minimum.

Should I go to Bogotá or Cartagena?

No question here –

Cartagena hands down

. Beautiful colonial city with all the services a tourist need. Bogota is a capital and thus huge, chaotic and polluted. There’s obviously some great things to do there, but Bogota often disappoints travellers.

Which city has the best nightlife in Colombia?


Medellin

Nightlife

Medellin is Colombia’s most exciting party city and home to the world’s most amazing women.

Which cartel was bigger Cali or Medellín?

The

Cali Cartel

operated as a tight group of independent criminal organizations, as opposed to the Medellíns’ centralised structure under leader Pablo Escobar. The Cali Cartel eventually became “The biggest, most powerful crime syndicate we’ve ever known”, according to then DEA chief Thomas Constantine.

Do you need to know Spanish to go to Colombia?

Most people visiting Colombia are in the same situation as you. Being able to communicate in local language to some extent certainly helps, even if its only basic knowledge, but

it isn’t must

. On the other hand, as it is your third visit to South America, why not putting a bit of effort into learning good basics.

What percentage of Colombians can speak English?

But Colombia seems to be falling behind in many areas of English proficiency, and this is hampering the country’s capability of doing business with the rest of the world. It is hardly encouraging when only

4 percent

of Colombians claim they can speak English.

What languages are spoken in Cartagena Colombia?

More than 99.5% of Colombians speak the

Spanish language; also 65 Amerindian languages, 2 Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Romani language

are spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands.

Is Cartagena walkable?

Cartagena is, roughly speaking, a grid system of calles (running east to west) and carreras (running north to south).

It’s pretty easy to set out and explore a few different streets while walking around

. To get to the Old Town walls, walk 200m along Carrera 5 north from the Plaza de La Aduana to Calle 35.

Is Colombia safer than Mexico?

Is Colombia or Mexico safer? Both countries have been plagued by drug violence over the years. However,

Colombia has managed to reduce it significantly

(at least anywhere that you will likely see), and there’s no question that it’s an incredibly safe country for you to visit as long as you’re smart.

Is there Uber in Cartagena?


Uber is available in Cartagena

, but its legal status is in jeopardy. The concentration and reliability of taxis generally make the local companies a better option. Busses are best left for traveling between Cartagena and nearby cities.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.