Day 10: Cartagena de Indias in one day: the best route
This guide of Cartagena de Indias in one day It will help you prepare a route through the most essential places of one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia.
But before we talk about our first full day in the city and what is the best route for a day, we want to tell you that in our case we have been in Cartagena de Indias for 3 full days plus a few hours yesterday. Knowing that most travelers only spend one or two days in the city, we wanted to summarize our stay in the city in two posts, Cartagena de Indias in one day and two days, in which we will show you what is for us the best route in a clear and optimized way so you can make the most of your time.
In this case today we will focus on the historic center, which of course is one of the best known in the city and the area where most places to visit in Cartagena de Indias are essential.
We start the day in the courtyard of the Casa Venita Hostal Boutique, our accommodation in Cartagena de Indias, where at 7 in the morning we enjoy a super complete breakfast, which gives us energy for at 7:30 a.m. to go out to the streets of the city , which seems to be starting to wake up, something that allows us to enjoy the beginning of Cartagena de Indias in 1 day much quieter as we lived yesterday.
Today's route will take us to know the historic center of the city and the San Diego neighborhood, which is next to the historic center. Both areas can be known in one day and even, in the afternoon-night go to Gethsemane to know this neighborhood and thus make a complete route through the city in a single day.
If you have two days, we recommend you take the route that we will talk about today and the Getsemaní neighborhood the next day next to the San Felipe de Barajas Castle. We will talk about this route in the next post.
If you have more days, as we did, it is best to make a neighborhood every day and take the opportunity to walk and get to know the city with more tranquility.
Cartagena de Indias
Bathed by the Caribbean coast, Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the world, to which its charming and colorful architecture, atmosphere and impressive surroundings, have become one of the essential places to see in Colombia.
With a historic World Heritage Site, there are many travelers who come to the city to make a route through Cartagena de Indias in one day, and although this is possible, whenever you can, we recommend you spend at least two days in it to get to know the city a little more and above all, enjoy it and taste it through its gastronomy that is, how could it be otherwise, Another of its great attractions.
Cartagena de Indias in one day
When to go to Cartagena de Indias
Although we would dare to say that any time is good to travel to Cartagena de Indias, there are certain meteorological aspects that we believe should be taken into account to fully enjoy the city.
- High season (December to March): although the high season could be reduced to the months of December and January, which is when more travelers come to the beaches, the good weather and the few rainfalls that are there until March, make this is the best time to travel to Cartagena de Indias.
- Mid season (April to August): this time, although rainy, does not reach the maximum of the following months, so it can be a good option to get to know the city.
- Low season (September to November): these are the rainiest months of the year and therefore the least recommended months. Accommodation prices are greatly reduced, so if your budget is tight, this can be a good season to visit Cartagena de Indias.
Remember that the average temperature is 30 degrees throughout the year.
Cartagena de Indias
How to go to Cartagena
Depending on the city of origin you have some options or others to reach Cartagena de Indias, in most cases the plane is the most recommended way for its speed and comfort. In addition, most internal flights to Cartagena de Indias do not usually exceed 50 euros, so in many cases it is worth opting for this option to make the most of the time.
Be sure to read the post How to go to Cartagena de Indias to know all the details about this journey.
San Diego in Cartagena de Indias
Where to sleep
With thousands of accommodation options, according to our experience, the best option to stay in Cartagena de Indias is to do it in the historic center or in Gethsemane, the city's fashionable neighborhood.
We chose the latter to stay and it was a success. After much searching we ended up deciding on Casa Venita Hostal Boutique, a small boutique hotel, with simple rooms but with all the comforts and an interior patio that is the great jewel of the accommodation.
Besides its location, in the middle of Gethsemane and just 10 minutes walk from the historic center, we believe it is perfect for any route by Cartagena de Indias in one day.
Find your accommodation here in Cartagena de Indias
Gethsemane
What to see in Cartagena de Indias in one day
As we mentioned before Cartagena de Indias can be visited in one day, since its tourist attractions are quite close to each other. In spite of that, we recommend you to spend at least a couple of days in the city to know it with more tranquility and power live it in a more personal way.
In our case, the first area we will travel in the Cartagena de Indias in one day It is the historical center, where we visit its most tourist places of which we speak next.
If you only have one day to visit Cartagena de Indias, we recommend you follow this route and include at the end of the day a walk through Gethsemane, which is only 10 minutes walk from the historic center.
A highly recommended option, if you want to know the city by a guide in Spanish, is to hire one of the best free tours in Cartagena de Indias, take the Cartagena Tourist Bus, which will take you to all the attractions of the city or hire this tour of Cartagena in full with tickets.
Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
Historic center or old town
The historic center of Cartagena de Indias is the main attraction of the city and is formed by the Centro and San Diego neighborhoods. The first, located in the western part of the city, was once the place where the upper-middle class of the city lived and San Diego was formed by the homes of middle-class families. In spite of this, in both you can see at the moment infinity of colonial houses, palaces and churches that remember how the city was at the same time that they make you go back in time, while you walk surrounded by colorful houses with incredible balconies in which they are not lacking flowers.
Historic center of Cartagena de Indias
Cartagena de Indias Walls
The entire historic center of the city is surrounded by walls, about 11 kilometers, which can be traveled on foot. These walls began to be built in the 16th century, to defend the city from enemy attacks, especially after the attack of Francis Drake.
The construction lasted two centuries due to the multiple attacks received and ended in 1726, before the expulsion of the Spaniards from Cartagena de Indias.
Cartagena de Indias Walls
Although initially it may seem like a great idea, it seemed to us, do not forget that the average temperature in the city is 30 degrees, so it is much more advisable to visit only one area and more if your route is only through Cartagena de Indias in a day.
If you opt for the latter, we recommend you to visit the area that goes from the Bulwark of Santo Domingo to the Baluarte de San Francisco Javier, which is the most famous and also the one that has some of the best views of the city.
Also in the first one is Café del Mar, one of the most recommended places in the city to have a drink, especially during sunset. Keep in mind that it is usually very crowded, so if you want to drink something at that time, it is worth approaching half an hour before the sun sets to take a table.
Café del Mar at the Santo Domingo Bastion
Plaza de los Coches, one of the places to see in Cartagena in one day
Also known as the Plaza de la Yerba, this square was once the place where a slave market was located. It is currently one of the liveliest in the city, both day and night, as well as being one of the places where you can see the famous palenqueras, which we will talk about later.
Here you can see different colonial buildings in addition to two points of special interest:
- Clock Tower: this tower is considered as the main entrance to the historic center and originally connected this part of the city with Gethsemane through a drawbridge. Currently you can see the three original doors, one of them originally worked as a chapel and another as an arsenal that today are the place where many craft vendors are sheltered from the sun.
- Portal of sweets: this area of arcades, located on one of the sides of the square, is the place where from mid-morning you can find different stalls where typical sweets from the area and the country are sold.
- Pedro de Heredia Statue: located in the central area of the square, the statue of Pedro de Heredia is a tribute to the founder of the city.
We recommend you spend some time strolling through this square, where you can see the daily life of locals and travelers arriving in Cartagena de Indias
Plaza de los Coches, one of the places to see in Cartagena in one day
Aduana's Place
Known for being the prettiest square in Cartagena de Indias in addition to the oldest in the old town, the Plaza de la Aduana is another place that you can not miss on a route through Cartagena de Indias in one day.
In its origins here were located most of the administrative buildings including the Customs House that is currently the City Hall. In addition to these buildings in the Customs Square you can find the House of Pedro de Heredia and in the center a statue of Christopher Columbus.
Aduana's Place
San Pedro Claver Square
The next place we recommend you visit in the Cartagena in one day It is the Plaza de San Pedro Claver, which is for us the most beautiful in the city. Here, in addition to enjoying its lively atmosphere, both day and night, we recommend you do not stop sitting in one of its banks to enjoy during a rare of the life pass In addition to paying special attention to some of the sculptures that adorn the square.
San Pedro Claver Square
Convent and Church of San Pedro Claver
Built in the 17th century by the Jesuits with the name of San Ignacio de Loyola, this convent changed its name to San Pedro Claver as a tribute to the monk Pedro Claver, who spent much of his life defending and taking care of the slaves who came from Africa to the city.
Although its exterior is impressive and the collection that can be visited inside very interesting, including the visit to the cell where the monk lived and died, if you are visiting Cartagena de Indias in one day, we believe it is an expendable visit.
The visit includes the Church of San Pedro Claver, in which in addition to an impressive stained glass window, you can see the remains of the saint, which was canonized in 1888, in a glass coffin located in the area of the altar.
Hours: 8h-20h
Price: 12000COP
Plaza Bolivar
Also known as Plaza de la Inquisición, a name that was used mostly a few years ago, this is one of the green spaces of the city, where you can protect yourself from the high temperatures that the city usually suffers especially in the central hours of the day
In addition to walking through its central area, we recommend surrounding it to see the colonial buildings on its sides, which are some of the most elegant in the city, and do not miss the statue of Simón Bolivar that can be seen in the central part.
Plaza Bolivar
Inquisition Palace
Located in Plaza Bolívar, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in Cartagena de Indias, although its history is one of the most painful in the city since it was the place where heresy was eradicated in the city.
Currently the building houses a museum where you can see some of the torture instruments used in addition to some pieces of pre-Columbian pottery.
As a curiosity and even if you do not visit inside, do not stop approaching its side wall, just in the corner that is at the entrance, where you can see a window with a cross on top This was where the heretics were denounced, who practiced witchcraft, magic or blaspheming and if convicted they were sentenced to death, in a public execution where they were burned at the stake.
As far as is known, it is said that in Cartagena de Indias more than 800 people were convicted and executed, none of them indigenous, since these were not judged by the Holy Inquisition.
Hours: 9h-18h
Price: 19000COP
Inquisition Palace
Gold Museum, a place to visit in Cartagena in one day
Although you have visited the Gold Museum of Bogotá as we did at the beginning of the trip to Colombia in 46 days, we recommend you visit the Gold Museum of Cartagena de Indias even a few minutes away.
With fewer rooms than the one in Bogotá, which you can include in the route through Bogotá in one day or in the route through Bogotá in two days, this museum has a very interesting collection of gold and ceramic pieces from the Zenu people.
In case your route is by Cartagena in one day and if you have already visited or will visit the one in Bogotá, you can do without the visit.
Hours: 9h-17h
Price: Free
Santa Catalina Cathedral
Known for being one of the icons of the city and one of the most representative places of Cartagena de Indias, it usually appears in all the photos and postcards, the Cathedral of Santa Catalina is another place to see in any route through Cartagena de Indias in 1 day.
Its construction began in 1575 for 11 years later, when it had not yet been completed, suffering one of Francis Drake's attacks, which partially destroyed it and was not completed until 1612.
During 2017 the cathedral was closed for restoration and reopened to the public in 2019, from which it can be seen as it currently looks.
Mass schedule: Monday to Friday 6: 30h, 12h and 18: 15h - Saturdays 6: 30h - Sundays 8h, 10h, 18h and 19h.
Price: Free
Santa Catalina Cathedral Street
Santo Domingo Square
Located very close to the Plaza Bolivar we find the Plaza de Santo Domingo which is another of the places that you can not miss in Cartagena de Indias, not for its buildings, which are not as beautiful as those you can find in other areas of the city, but for being the place where the Church of Santo Domingo is located, which is the oldest in the city.
Here you can also see Gertrude, a sculpture that Botero donated to the city.
Santo Domingo Square
Church of Santo Domingo
Founded in 1539 and located in the Plaza de los Autos, the Church of Santo Domingo was destroyed in a fire and later restored in its current location. With a somewhat controversial construction, since the roof weighed too much and caused several cracks in the central structure, in addition to a somewhat crooked bell tower, the interior of the church has a wood carving of Jesus Christ, which is wonderful.
Hours: 9 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and 12 noon to 8 pm Sundays.
Price: 8000COP. Visit with audio guide
Santa Teresa Square
Surrounded by colonial buildings, the Plaza de Santa Teresa is another place to see in Cartagena de Indias in one day. In addition to being next to the San Francisco Javier Bastion, which we talked about at the beginning of the post, it is the place where the Naval Museum and several of the city's best-known hotels are located.
In the part of the wall you can also find many of the street vendors that tour the city trying to sell some of their souvenirs among travelers who visit the city.
Callejear, one of the best things to do in Cartagena de Indias in one day
In addition to all the places we have mentioned above, one of the things to do in Cartagena de Indias is to get lost in its streets, without a map or fixed destination and enjoy the color and atmosphere that give away its streets and colonial buildings.
Although we know that Cartagena de Indias causes in many travelers a feeling of love-hate, due to its tourist character, on many occasions aggravated by the many cruises that can reach the city in a single day, we assure you that if Cartagena despite that de Indias is a fascinating city.
In addition, if you leave the most tourist areas, you will find incredible streets, in which you are probably the only tourist and in which you can live that other Cartagena de Indias that we are safe, you will fall in love with.
Callejear, one of the best things to do in Cartagena de Indias in one day
Palenqueras
Special mention we want to make of the palenqueras of Cartagena de Indias, protagonists of one of the most famous images of the city. These women, who came to the city from San Basilio de Palenque, have African roots and past slavery. They used to work selling fruit in the city, dressed in dresses with the colors of the Colombian flag and the fruit placed on their heads in baskets.
Currently and due to tourism, this work has given way to have become a tourist attraction and many of them have stopped selling fruit to be in the most famous streets and pose for tourists in exchange for a tip.
From what we have read, this has also caused the mischievousness of some African-American women who have chosen to dress in the same dresses and put fruit baskets on their heads, to pose for the photo as well.
Our experience tells us that the majority are really palenqueras, that they have seen in tourism another way of life, something that we believe is totally lawful and more when in most cases they are super respectful and in case of not wanting a photo, you just have to Tell them you're not interested.
Palenquera
On the last day we chose to take some photos of one of them, with which we negotiated to make 5-6 photos for 10000COP. Although we are no one to give advice, we do not think it is necessary to take any photo stolen and provoke the anger of these women who spend hours in the sun, hoping to put their best smile in exchange for a few pesos. If you want to take a picture, pay them those pesos and enjoy one of the best known images of the city.
Palenquera
Arriving at 14:30, we end the morning route by Cartagena de Indias in one day and we approached the Candé Restaurant, one of the most recommended in the city to taste the local cuisine, where we ask for asparagus with egg and as a second rice, eggplants with crab and crab syrup, more water and beer for 175,000 pesos. Highly recommended!
Candé Restaurant
After eating and to continue with the Cartagena de Indias in 1 day, we recommend you go to the San Diego neighborhood, located next to the Center, which is the perfect complement to this route through Colombia for free.
San Diego neighborhood
Next to the Center, the San Diego neighborhood forms the historic center of the city. So close that it is even difficult to determine where one begins and the other ends, if your route is by Cartagena de Indias in one dayWe recommend that you visit both neighborhoods during the morning.
Curiously and despite the proximity, this is much quieter than the previous one, and we would even dare to say that many of its streets are even more striking and photogenic, especially Carreras 9 and Streets 37 and 38 that are the ones that cross them .
What to see in San Diego
Although San Diego is for a walk and somehow forget about the maps and places to visit, we leave you some things to see and do in San Diego so you can get an idea of its attractions and the places that we believe are essential to know better the neighborhood.
San Diego neighborhood
Carrera 9 and Calle 37 and 38
As we mentioned earlier this is the most beautiful race and streets in the neighborhood. Despite this, we advise you to walk around the neighborhood since there are many others that are worth knowing and more considering that you are probably almost alone, since most travelers do not get here despite being only a few minutes from the most central area of the city.
San Diego neighborhood
Fernandez Square in Madrid
We could say that this is one of the green lungs of San Diego. Although small and quiet, as the day progresses there are many locals and some lost travelers who arrive at the square without pretending it and end up staying to enjoy the atmosphere, music and some of the terraces where you can try a delicious lemonade of Coco for 10000COP, as in the KGB, an entire institution in the city, which we are sure, at least, will surprise you.
Santo Toribio Church
In one of the corners of the square you can see the Church of Santo Toribio, with a sober exterior and an interior in which they say it stands out its Mudejar style architecture and the Baroque altar, with gold and pink sheets, which we read is unique in the city. In this case we could not enter since the two times we passed it coincided that it was closed despite the schedule they put on the internet and in the guides, and we did not know what time I had as much as we asked.
Hours: 10h-22h
Price: Free
Santo Toribio Church
From Plaza Fernández de Madrid we recommend you continue along Carrera 7, direction to the sea, to Plaza de San Diego, since this is another of the most scenic areas of San Diego, in addition to getting lost in some of the parallel streets, which We are sure, you will fall in love with their colorful houses, adorned with hundreds of flowers.
At the end of Race 7 you can also see what was the house of Gabriel García Márquez.
San Diego in Cartagena de Indias
San Diego Square
This small square, which highlights the Hotel Convento de Santa Clara, one of the most famous in the city, also deserves a brief stop in the Cartagena de Indias in one day, as it is one of the charming ones in the city. Here you will not stop seeing the street vendors who travel most of the tourist areas of the city, hoping to earn some pesos.
San Diego Square
The Vaults of Santa Clara
Located between the bastions of Santa Clara and Santa Catalina are the Vaults of Santa Clara, which are 23 vaults that were once used as a weapons depot, and later became a prison.
Currently they have been rehabilitated and in them you can find some souvenir shops, which although they sell more or less the same as you can find in most places, they have a special atmosphere and charm, especially those that still retain details of their time pass.
The Vaults of Santa Clara
Tips for visiting Cartagena de Indias
We leave you a series of tips to visit Cartagena de Indias that we hope will help you get to know and enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia.
- Remember that in Cartagena de Indias the average temperature is 30-35 degrees, so it is important to bring sunscreen a lot of water and hydrate continuously.
- According to our experience, we would recommend you to find accommodation in Gethsemane or the historic center, preferably the first option, since it is much quieter, it is very close to the center and also has a wide range of restaurants.
- If you want to take photos without many people, in any of the neighborhoods, we recommend you leave early in the morning. Between 7 and 9:30 there are not many people and you can take advantage of the time.
- In Cartagena de Indias it is very common to meet street vendors every few steps. They are going to want to sell you anything, be it souvenirs, tours, hats or tobacco. Do not take it badly and if you are not interested, just say so. They are very friendly and will not insist. This is also part of Cartagena de Indias, so we believe and invite you to take it easy and with philosophy.
- Exactly the same happens with the palenqueras, a topic we have talked about previously. Although they tend to be less insistent than sellers, they are likely to try sell you the photo. In case it is preferable to pay some pesos and do it before trying to steal it from afar.
- Another important thing to value is that Cartagena de Indias is much more expensive than any other place in Colombia. We can not forget that it is the most tourist city and therefore prices always rise, both in drinks and crafts as restaurants and hotels. Do not be overwhelmed by this either and avoid comparing prices at all times. That will only make you angry and end up taking a bad image of Cartagena de Indias.
- In addition to what has been previously mentioned, Cartagena de Indias, being so famous, is one of the most visited cities in the country, so according to the time, you can coincide with many tourists and more if they have docked several cruise ships in the port.
- In these cases it is best to get up very early and go to both downtown and San Diego and Gethsemane in the early hours, to enjoy these neighborhoods practically without people.
Although all tourist attractions are very close to each other, if at any time you have to take a taxi, the fixed price is 10000COP within the city.
Cartagena de Indias
Security in Cartagena de Indias
Although Cartagena de Indias a few years ago was not a safe city, now and after different improvement plans, it can be said that Cartagena de Indias is a safe city. In spite of that, we must also say with this we always refer to the tourist areas and in this case to the Downtown, San Diego and Gethsemane areas.
In case you want to move around other areas, it is best to ask at the hotel, so that they inform you and give you the most reliable information. In the same way, it is always advisable to travel with common sense and not to bring many valuables in sight and if you want to go out at night, ask at the accommodation what are the recommended areas to do so.
Cartagena de Indias
After touring San Diego we approached Gethsemane again, where we had dinner at DiSilvio, a highly recommended Italian, where we ordered a pizza, Alfredo pasta plus crostini, beer and water for 71500COP, which are spectacular.
And so, after the complete Cartagena in one day, we return to Casa Venita Hostal Boutique, where we fall like children dreaming of the next day in the city.
Proposed route to get to know Cartagena de Indias in 1 day
As we have commented on several occasions, we were in the city for 3 and a half days but we wanted to unify in this guide all the visits in two days that we believe is the time that most travelers usually stay.
If you only have one day to visit the city and you stay in Gethsemane, we recommend you get up early and get to know the most famous streets and corners of the neighborhood when there are still no tourists. This will not take you more than an hour and from here you can walk to the historic center, in about 10 minutes. The rest of the morning and afternoon, you can visit the Downtown and San Diego neighborhoods, following the route we explain in this post and eating at a restaurant like Mar y Zielo or Candé Restaurant.
To enjoy the sunset, nothing better than going to Café del Mar in the Baluarte de Santo Domingo and from here return to Getsemaní, where you can spend a couple of hours knowing the neighborhood, at the time when it is more lively, then eat in a restaurant in the area like DiSilvio or if you want something more special, the Celele restaurant, which is another of the most recommended in the city.
Cartagena de Indias
We leave you the important points to know Cartagena de Indias in one day.
Day 11-12: Cartagena de Indias in two days: the best itinerary
