Exploring Colorful Cartagena, Colombia
After constantly hearing about how beautiful Cartagena, Colombia is I really wanted to visit. I decided to go as an early birthday trip. My mom in tow we set off to explore colorful Cartagena, Colombia.
Once we arrived to Cartagena we took a taxi to our Airbnb and of course was ripped off. There are no meters in the taxis. Not too big of a deal though we were just happy to arrive at the apartment complex as we were tired. No one spoke English and so I emailed the owner to ask the building manager to get us into the apartment as soon as he could. They were still cleaning it when we arrived.
The apartment was very open, modern, and beautiful. The views from every window made it even better. The balconies on both ends of the apartment made it even more enjoyable. We certainly enjoyed the apartment the entire time we were there and really made it a vacation. The apartment complex had a ton of stores and restaurants so we ate many meals in the area. It was also a couple of blocks from the beach which wasn’t that great up close.
We visited Centro or The Walled City a few times on this trip. There is plenty to do and see in the area. The first time we explored on our own and had an amazing meal at a restaurant called Pepe Anca. I highly recommend this place as do many guidebooks that we found in our Airbnb. The Walled City is extremely colorful and picturesque.
After walking around a bit we took a horse carriage ride around. The gentleman knew we didn’t speak Spanish fluently, but decided to act as if we did talking about what we were seeing during the ride. One thing we were not expecting to see was a woman standing in the middle of the street naked.
It was pretty hot so we headed back to the apartment and took a little stroll around the beach in Bocagrande. It was unimpressive and looked better from the apartment. We talked (mostly typing on Google translate) with the tour company which was right downstairs from where we were staying and arranged to go on a tour of all the sights.
After a great breakfast we got on this bus that looked like a truck/bus to take a tour and we saw so much. It was really hot so we were glad we brought water. Some of the highlights of what we saw included, a tour of the Emerald Museum in the Walled City, Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Los Zapatos Viejos (Old Shoes), the highest point in Cartagena, La Popa, and more. Although the truck/bus thing broke down they kept it together and safely moved us to another truck/bus.
That entire day of exploring was tiring and we relaxed and watched Netflix back at the apartment. We had scheduled another tour to go to Isla Rosario, but we decided not to go. Instead we wanted to explore some more and see the barrio, Getsemani. Since we cancelled, the tour agent decided he wanted to set us up with a tour guide.
I most likely wouldn’t have walked around Getsemani alone. It seems safer with a male or group of people as it was a bit sketchy. They were selling toilets on the street corner too. However there are a ton of hostels in the area. The tour guide we had was terrible! I told the man exactly what I wanted to see and where it was several times in English and Spanish and he ended up dragging us all over the place for 2 hours on foot in the horrible heat. He took us no where that the tour agency told him to take us. We went where he wanted to go, he really didn’t care.
Street art in Getsemani ©2016 HollyDayz Maria Mulata Street Art in Getsemani ©2016 HollyDayz
Finally we talked to our driver who took us to see some of the street art around Getsemani. While I didn’t get to see all of what I wanted to see I was happy I did see some of it. I was also able to see where they used to keep the slaves, which are now stores. There is a deep African history in Cartagena I would like to go back and learn more about.
All in all it was a great trip. I would recommend visiting as it is a fun colorful city and your money goes a long way. Definitely know some Spanish. They aren’t really ready for tourist as so many people don’t speak English. There is a good amount of things to know before you go. If you are looking for some beach life then I suggest going to Playa Blanca or Isla Rosario. Other than that you will enjoy exploring colorful Cartagena, Colombia. I would go back and take some day trips to other areas.
Have you ever been to Cartagena, Colombia?
Mike cash
Maybe the naked lady was working lmao
Holly Dayz
Who knows what she was doing lol..
Joanna
Who would buy a toilet seat on a tour and how would they carry it home? Things they didn’t think about. Hahaha. Sounds like a crazy fun time with eventful memories lol. the street artwork is beautiful
Holly Dayz
I have no idea. The tour guide was like “if you want to buy a toilet…” Why on earth would I want to do that?
staciesayzso
Your pictures are beautiful! I love how colorful this city is. Loving that statue too.
Holly Dayz
Thank you. It is a very vibrant city.
kemkem
I love all the colors! Sorry about getting ripped off by the cab driver. It happens everywhere. Glad you had a good time on the whole and the food looks like it was delicious 🙂
Holly Dayz
I do too. Oh no biggie. In American money it wasn’t much lol, but still no bueno.
Kirstin N. Fuller (@thetravelindiva)
The street art is simply gorgeous! Great pictures. I want to visit but after reading your article I think I should brush up on my spanish.
Holly Dayz
It is I loved seeing it all. Definitely brush up on your Spanish!
Mimi Green
I’m loving all of the bold vibrant colors. The Art is a lot of fun, I would have had a full on photo shoot. That apartment is nice and fancy, you totally lucked up with that.
Holly Dayz
Me too. The city is filled with colors. I loved the apartment.
MUAKimPorter
Cartagena looks beautiful. I love the colors of the buildings. I hate unmetered taxis in foreign countries for that same reason. It looks like you had a great time!
Holly Dayz
I loved the colors too. I had a good time. A mix of relaxation and exploring.
Shanita
Thank you for allowing us to experience the beauty through your eyes.
Holly Dayz
So glad you enjoyed.
Tia
Looks like you found an awesome Airbnb in your trip. It’s always tricky though with language barriers. In countries that have taxi’s without meters I usually ask someone how much the taxi ride should cost and then negotiate prior to getting in the taxi.
Holly Dayz
I got the opportunity to ask later on. That is how I found out lol. The Airbnb was amazing!
funtravelog
Love the colors! Thinking we should head there soon 🙂
Holly Dayz
You should. I think you would enjoy.
Jenna
I love all the colorful buildings–so pretty! The apartment looks amazing too! The are always so fun to stay in. And the Grilled Salmon from Pepe Anca looks delicious–I’d like to give that a try!
Holly Dayz
I loved seeing all the colors. I loved the apartment. It felt so good to come back to it after a long day. The food was delicious at Pepe Anca.
Tia
I cannot wait to get to Cartegena for myself. Its such a vibrant and lively place it seems.
Holly Dayz
It is a nice city. You will enjoy how vibrant it is. There is much to see and do.
Love and Road (@LoveandRoad)
Great travel tips and photos, the street art looks great and match with all the colourful surrounds!
Colombia is high on my travel list, planning to visit the country next year, so really appreciate the tips!
Happy Travels,
Nat
Holly Dayz
Oh awesome glad it will come in handy for your trip. I hope you enjoy!
Vicki Louise
There is such a contrast between your super modern accommodation and the streets of Cartegena! The rustic multi-colored buildings make me think of a bygone times and the street art is just incredible!
Holly Dayz
Your so very right! The outside of the building would never imagine you to think the inside looked like that either.
London-Unattached.com
I love the contrast in this post – the calm of the apartment and the vibrant street art! I’d love to visit
Holly Dayz
That was the trip too. Relaxing inside crazy outside.
Donna Shana
Beautiful place. Looks so very inviting. Good looked amazing and I loved the art!
Holly Dayz
The art was amazing.
thewordhermit
Love your photos! Such a beautiful and colorful place. Also, what a pretty AirBnB. What made you choose Cartagena? Is it fairly inexpensive?
Holly Dayz
Thank you so much. It was a very colorful place. I enjoyed the place we stay. I choose it because it seemed so photogenic with much to see. It is inexpensive.
Carol Perehudoff
Well, now I know where to buy a toilet in Cartagenga! This truly sounds like a fabulous trip – it’s a place I’d love love love to see. Great that you scored a comfortable apartment. The Emerald Museum in the Walled City sounds so exotic.
Holly Dayz
Right! Me too lol. It was a nice trip I enjoyed myself. I really loved the apartment and wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again. The Museum was a nice tour. Learned a bunch.
Wanderlust Marriage
Looks like a beautiful city! We would love to explore Cartagena one of these days and your Airbnb looks amazing!!
Holly Dayz
It was so beautiful. I hope you get there soon.
knycx
Nice post and thanks for sharing.
The apartment was really nice! esp. seeing it from the video.
Besides, the city has quite a lot of things to see and do – which I believe it would be a great vacation like you did.
Holly Dayz
Yes it was very nice. I especially enjoyed the views. There is much to see and do for sure!
Mar Pages
I’m sorry your tour guide wasn’t good, that must have been quite frustrating. Although your apartment looks lovely! What an interesting trip to enjoy with your mum 🙂
Holly Dayz
That guy was a trip! It was very frustrating, especially for my mother.
Janna on a Jaunt (@jannaonajaunt)
I like how colorful Colombia is! It’s certainly fun to look at art almost everywhere you go. Love that you had a great time there! Thanks for sharing.
Holly Dayz
It is so pretty and colorful. It has its own personality.
SocaMom® (@SocaMomDC)
After the toilet street sales and naked lady (sales?) and the two hour mystery tour, I may have ended up spending quality time with that gorgeous Airbnb… LOL
Holly Dayz
lmao that is exactly what we did.
Jo
I really liked walking around Cartagena. Most of my pictures are of the architecture. I loved the statues also. I just wish I got better food when I went.
Holly Dayz
The architecture and colors were so beautiful. Funny you say that, the food was good, but it wasn’t like oh my God I need to eat this every day that I am here.
MariaAbroad
I love the bright colors and street art all over the city, whether it is murals or the fun and creative ol’ shoe that makes a really cool photo opp for tourists. I would love to go to Colombia and explore the culture and country!
Holly Dayz
I do too. Every single time I walked around I found something new I hadn’t seen before.
Buddy The Traveling Monkey
It certainly is a colorful city! I’m glad you were able to enjoy it, even if your tour guides weren’t that great. And your apartment looked really nice too!
Holly Dayz
The first tour we took was awesome, but that walking tour…ehhhhhh.
scmacleod
What a colorful place! I had no idea. Your pictures did a marvelous job of capturing everything, and making it a place I’d love to visit.
Holly Dayz
Thank you so much! I took so many I think I went overboard but there was so much there.
nadeen
It is definitely colorful!! Good info to know especially about the Spanish. I love anywhere with good food and a good beach lol And that penthouse is fabulous!
Holly Dayz
Yea, they barely speak English even with all the tourist. The beach nearby is eh ya gotta go a bit out for a good beach.
Elaine J Masters
Love your honesty, Holly. Not all tours are created equal but I’d love to see Cartegena guide or no.
Holly Dayz
Thank you. They are definitely not. The first tour was great the second was not. Still an overall good time.