Things to do in Cartagena

Top Things to Do in Cartagena

Things to Do in Cartagena

Explore the best-preserved old colonial city in Latin America from the comfort of a party bus, or while on a walking tour. Prefer beaches instead? The Rosario Islands await.

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Cartagena.

From quick jaunts to full-day outings.

Top Attractions in Cartagena

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travellers are saying

  • CAPTMSC
    Jacksonville, FL7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Celebrity cruises Excursion “Taste of Cartagena “ run by Convi Ltda DBA was one of the beat ever. Carlos (know as Carlitos) was outstanding. He was so very knowledgeable about everything Cartagena. Highly recommended !
    Written 15 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Savannahtaylor
    Milwaukee, WI24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    On a hot, humid, full sun day, the trek to the top was a little taxing. It was so worth it though. The views were spectacular, and there was a shaded area to rest in. The price to get in was cheap, so definitely worth a visit!
    Written 7 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Maysa M
    18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great overview of understanding emeralds in Columbia and how they are mined and polished. A great learning opportunity for stone and jewellery lovers! You enter the museum and get a tour of the emerald process and see various types of emeralds in their raw and polished forms. Afterwards you are given the opportunity to browse the available stones (in gold and silver) and can decide if you would like to buy or not. There is no pressure to buy which is nice ! Our tour was in English and our tour guide George was great. They are ready to answer all your questions. If you decide to buy they resize your ring for free and prepare all the paperwork needed for tax recollection (if you are foreign). Definitely recommend visiting !
    Written 9 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Steve M
    21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The commitment of San Pedro Claver and his Jesuit brethren to the fight against slavery and mistreatment of enslaved people was truly inspiring, especially since it occurred 400 years ago. For their troubles, the Jesuits were repeatedly banned from Colombia for many years at a time. Their example of speaking truth to power with respect to basic human rights is as timely as ever.
    Written 4 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Savannahtaylor
    Milwaukee, WI24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved all the art and the mere beauty of this neighborhood. It's almost like a maze, so many corridors and turns but you always end up in awe at all the flowers and paintings. We ate a great lunch here and found an air conditioned cafe to rest in for a while. Everyone is so accommodating and friendly! Nighttime is cool too to see all the lights above the streets.
    Written 7 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Maria R
    Austin, TX8 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful place overlooking the city. Strongly recommend taking a taxi and asking them to wait as you won’t be there for long. Gave it a four as everything is in Spanish. Unless you hire a guide to interpret, it’s just a pretty place to visit. Great views of the city.
    Written 19 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rschagrin
    Delray Beach, FL17 471 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice plaza in the middle of the walled city. Surrounded by tons of stores and restaurants. There are tables in the middle of the plaza so you sit and eat and at night, enjoy the music.
    Written 1 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ron S
    New York City, NY5 471 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The museum is small but is well worth a visit. The collection consists of Zenu gold and pottery with a few outstanding items. The admission is free.
    Written 25 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rschagrin
    Delray Beach, FL17 471 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the 100's of Plaza de Bolívar throughout South America. Naturally there is a statue of Simon Bolivar in the middle. The plaza is surrounded by a Cathedral, the Palace of the Inquisition and a gold museum.
    Written 1 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rschagrin
    Delray Beach, FL17 471 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Inside the walled city which is an amazing place to visit both day & night. Full of nice stores and great restaurants.
    The clock tower is visible from almost part of the city.
    Written 1 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kawanda S-Pryor
    New York City, NY116 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    As part of a 50th birthday trip to Cartegena, 9 of us went to El Totumo and had a great experience buuut boy was it a lil scary. So my 1st experience at a mud volcano was in St. Lucia which had a few spots (large and small) where you could get in the mud and people to assist. Welp, with this experience, we were picked up at our Airbnb and our guide was funny, knowledgeable and made sure we knew what to expect. From tipping (WAIT til the end and you are on the bus folks) to making sure we had snacks and beverages after it was over.
    Sooooo, as you walk up the rickety stairs and area which might make you question your decision, you are lead to a rickety ladder that takes you down into the mud. Only one spot for this. Probably holds 10-15 people. There are people in the mud that will move other people over, massage you and cover you in mud! They have people who take your pics which was needed! Once you are done, you come down the stairs on the other side and are led to a river. This is where the FUN? begins. As you are led to the river and into the water, you are THOROUGHLY...let me write that again. THOROUGHLY cleaned!
    From there, you have your empanada, beverage and you go back to your bus. They also give you an opportunity to purchase some of the mud. Wish I did that though!
    Written 29 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Abovetheclouds
    2 442 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not my favourite plaza but has a nice atmosphere. Pretty and at night with the lights on, very nice and romantic. Smaller than other plazas in the Walled City but worth a stop.
    Written 30 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cartagena