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Imagine Latin America  >  Destinations  >  Colombia  >  Cartagena
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Cartagena

The crown jewel of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most utterly romantic, enchanting and perfectly preserved colonial cities in Latin America. With its cobbled streets, ornate churches and majestically eroded forts, Cartagena transfers you back in time and seduces you with its beauty.

When to go

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Nestled on the Caribbean coast, the old city of Cartagena is extraordinarily well preserved and one of the country’s major allures. Totally enclosed by a series of forts and Las Murallas, (thick stone walls) that were built to protect the city from its invading buccaneers, the old city is beautifully atmospheric. Given UNESCO World Heritage status, within the old walls resides a maze of cobbled alleys, leafy plazas and carved wooden balconies overflowing with brightly coloured bougainvillea.

Restored convents and colonial buildings house a number of museums that provide a glimpse into Cartagena’s past, displaying everything from religious arts to pre-Colombian ceramics and pre-Hispanic gold. The Palace Inquisition is a hauntingly interesting experience, where instruments of torture from Cartagena’s colonial days are displayed. Beautifully decorated churches are scattered around the city, and handicraft markets line the streets, selling vibrantly coloured paintings, coconut carved jewellery and panama style straw hats.

Aimlessly wandering around is the best way to soak up the history and charm the city exudes; mix with locals as they seek shade in the leafy-green plazas, cool down from the glistening sun in a quirky café or waltz around the city on a horse-drawn carriage. Come afternoon, plazas are blissfully alive as street performers entertain, jazz bands fill the air with a pulsating beat and local vendors create a banquet of varying delicacies such as empanadas (meat/cheese pastries), arepas (fried maize dough with a fried egg )and maize cheese balls.

Outside of the old town, a number of day trips can be enjoyed. The archipelago of Isla Del Rosario is a short boat ride away and is made up of idyllic islands, surrounded by coral reef and warm-turquoise waters. The sugar-sand beach of Playa Grande on Baru Island, entices visitors with its swaying palms and snorkelling opportunities.

Cartagena offers the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Former convents and colonial mansions have been beautifully restored into luxury boutique hotels, and an array of fine dining and cocktail bars are dotted around the city. To experience the best of this colonial gem, call us to hear about our favourite places, from the best seafood haunt, to our favourite hotel, let us arrange the perfect trip for you.

Please read our blog to find out about our top five things to do in Colombia.

The word is out about Cartagena! It might just be the prettiest and best-preserved colonial city in South America and many celebrities (Bill Clinton for example) own a house in Cartagena.


Sam Gough

I enjoyed strolling along the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, beneath massive balconies covered in bougainvillea with church spires looming overhead. It felt like something out of a fairy tale.


Sam Gough
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Cartagena, Colombia

Ananda Hotel Boutique is a beautiful colonial retreat located in the heart of historic Cartagena. Superbly located near the city’s major sights, restaurants and galleries, Ananda is utterly charming and one of our very favourite Colombian hotels.

Ananda Hotel Boutique

Cartagena, Colombia

Bastión Luxury Hotel is situated in Cartagena's beautiful historic centre & a short walk from the Caribbean sea. It offers a perfect location & fantastic rooftop pool, making it an excellent base from which to explore the city and escape the midday heat.

Bastión Luxury Hotel

Cartagena, Colombia

Hotel Casa San Agustin is a small luxury boutique hotel that has been lovingly restored into a fantastic contemporary hotel with contemporary Cartagena design, using Caribbean colours and combining old architecture with modern features.

Casa San Agustin

Cartagena, Colombia

A charming boutique hotel within the walled city of Cartagena, Hotel Bantu combines traditional colonial design with Caribbean influenced décor. With great service, good facilities and comfortable rooms, it offers excellent value within the Old Town.

Hotel Bantu

Cartagena, Colombia

A magnificently restored 17th century convent, perfectly situated in the old walled city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa

Baru, Cartagena, Colombia

Peeping out of the tropical forest canopy, Hotel Las Islas is a collection of treetop bungalows and private villas combining comfort with an eco-friendly ethos. Though just a 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena, this is a picture-perfect island retreat.

Hotel Las Islas

Cartagena, Colombia

Hotel Quadrifolio is a beautifully restored colonial residence, in the heart of Cartagena's Old Town. Feel right at home in this elegant and stylish boutique hotel that offers 8 well-appointed suites, excellent service and plenty of traditional charm.

Hotel Quadrifolio

Cartagena, Colombia

The Sofitel Santa Clara is an exquisite 17th century converted convent and grand luxury hotel with excellent facilities in Cartagena in Colombia, one of the most beautiful colonial cities in South America, set against the blue waters of the Caribbean.

Sofitel Santa Clara

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Bogota, Coffee Triangle, Medellín, Cartagena & Tayrona

This whirlwind trip showcases the best that Colombia has to offer and is ideal for a first time visit to the country. Explore beautiful Bogota, the picturesque Coffee Triangle, fascinating Medellin, vibrant Cartagena and wild Tayrona all in 2 weeks. Wander the colourful and buzzing streets of three major cities, explore the Caribbean coast and taste some of the best Colombian coffee along the way!

13 nights from $4780 per person Culture & history, Highlights, Imagine Favourites

Classic Colombia

Bogota, San Agustin, Villa de Lleyva, Barichara & Cartagena

Packed with the country's best archaeological sites, finest colonial architecture and most spectacular scenery, this fascinating journey will lead you to Colombia's best kept secrets.

12 nights from $3963 per person Culture & history, Off the beaten track, Walking & Trekking

Authentic Colombia

Bogota, Los Llanos, Medellin, Nuqui & Cartagena

From whale-watching along the remote Chocó coast to riding amongst capybara and scarlet ibis in the vast wetlands of Los Llanos, our Wildlife in Colombia itinerary takes you off the beaten track and promises unforgettable experiences and encounters with some incredible mammals and a whole array of bright and beautiful birds.

15 nights from $5913 per person Off the beaten track, Wildlife, Imagine Favourites

Wildlife of Colombia

Bogota, Coffee Triangle, Cartagena, Palomino & Tayrona

With its winning combination of pretty colonial towns, lively nightlife, cute boutique hotels, remote hideaways and secluded coastal spots, we think Colombia makes for the perfect place for those looking for something a little different on their honeymoon.

14 nights from $6101 per person Hideaway, Honeymoon, Beach

Colombia Honeymoon

Bogota, Coffee Triangle, Medellin & Cartagena

If you're looking to see some of Colombia's best bits without breaking the bank then our Simply Colombia itinerary is the one for you. A perfect trip for those heading to Colombia for the first time, this 11-night itinerary combines three buzzing cities with the verdant countryside of the sleepy coffee region. We've included well-located boutique hotels that offer excellent value and serve as a great base from which to explore the best that each destination has to offer.

11 nights from $2768 per person Highlights, Culture & history, Beach

Simply Colombia

Bogota, San Gil, Medellin, Nuqui & Cartagena

Lots of Latin America is ruled out for a break over the school summer holidays as it's bang in the middle of the cold winter or rainy season. This is the best time to see the incredible humpback whales that visit Colombia's Pacific coast though, which is an amazing experience for all the family! Combine this with three lively cities and white-water rafting in the adventure capital of San Gil and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable family holiday.

12 nights from $4151 per person Family, Off the beaten track, Wildlife

Colombia for Families

Quito, Galapagos, Bogota, Coffee Triangle & Cartagena

This all-encompassing itinerary combines the best bits of Colombia with the Galapagos Islands. Discover lush dramatic landscapes, colonial charm, and an array of incredible wildlife, all whilst staying in boutique and characterful accommodation.

14 nights from $8617 per person Culture & history, Spectacular scenery, Wildlife

Colombia and the Galapagos

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Save 10% when visiting Colombia on selected dates between March and September. Terms and conditions apply.

Visit Colombia and save 10%

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Cartagena, Colombia

Located in the clear waters of the Caribbean, the coastal lagoons, mangroves and tropical forest of the Rosario and San Bernardo National Park teem with wildlife. Discover these rich ecosystems by boat from Cartagena and snorkel in the turquoise waters.

A Day in the Rosario Islands

Cartagena, Colombia

One of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, Colombia’s birdlife is exceptional, and a trip to the National Aviary is a chance to see around 135 species and learn about the conservation plans that contribute to this wealth of wildlife.

A Morning with the Birds

Cartagena, Colombia

Just 20 minutes outside Cartagena lie fertile mangroves and small fishing villages and paddling through this lush vegetation in a canoe you’ll discover a rich ecosystem and a rural life far removed from the big city.

Canoe in La Boquilla

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena’s culture, people and history can be discovered through its food and spending a morning or afternoon exploring the markets and taking a cooking class in the home of a local family is an ideal way to get under the skin of the city.

Bazurto Market & Cooking Class

Cartagena, Colombia

With a diverse cultural heritage that traces its roots through Africa and Spain, Cartagena’s cuisine is a rich melting pot of flavours that can be explored, sampled and savoured on an afternoon’s walking tour of the city.

Cartagena Street Food Tour

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Inspiration

Colombia Itineraries

Ten things you didn’t know about Colombia…

Top 5 things to do in Colombia

Off the beaten track

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We want to be really clear about this. We offer amazing value. Tailor-made does not have to mean expensive, it simply means attention to every detail of your trip arranged by a true expert.

Here at Imagine Latin America, we are so confident that we offer the best value on the market that we have a price promise. If you find the exact same holiday cheaper with another UK tour operator, then we promise to beat their price by £50.

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Rest assured that all our holidays are 100% financially protected. Our ATOL bond protects holidays booked in the UK with flights. Our ABTOT bond protects holidays which are booked without flights or those booked outside the UK, either with or without flights.

Protection means that in the unlikely event that we become insolvent; your holiday will be refunded or you will be repatriated if already travelling or have flights with us.

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