Things to Do in Cartagena

Cartagena sits on Colombia's Caribbean coast like a living museum that never forgot how to party. The old city, wrapped in massive stone walls built by the Spanish centuries ago, feels almost impossibly romantic with its colonial mansions painted in sherbet colors and bougainvillea spilling over wrought-iron balconies. You'll find yourself wandering cobblestone streets that lead to hidden plazas where salsa music drifts from doorways and the smell of fresh arepas mingles with sea air. Beyond the postcard-perfect historic center, Cartagena pulses with modern energy - the Bocagrande district bristles with high-rise hotels and beach clubs, while neighborhoods like Getsemaní have transformed from gritty to hip, filled with street art, craft cocktails, and the kind of authentic local life that makes a place feel real rather than preserved.

Cartagena's dining scene spans from world-class restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs to humble street carts serving some of the best food in the city. The old town concentrates most of the upscale dining, where you'll find innovative takes on Caribbean and Colombian cuisine, though prices reflect the tourist location. Getsemaní offers better value with trendy bistros and local joints mixed together, while the real deals hide in neighborhood spots where locals eat - think $3 lunch plates and fresh seafood that hasn't been marked up for tourists. Don't miss trying local specialties like mote de queso (a hearty soup), posta negra (slow-cooked beef), and whatever fresh fish was caught that morning.

December through March offers the most reliable weather - sunny, hot, and relatively dry, though this is also peak tourist season with higher prices and bigger crowds. April and November can be good shoulder season bets with fewer tourists and still decent weather, though you might catch some rain. May through October brings the rainy season, which doesn't mean constant downpours but rather afternoon thunderstorms that can be dramatic and cooling. The heat stays fairly consistent year-round (80-90°F), but the humidity varies, and the trade winds that blow December through March make a real difference in comfort.