jagovino Recently, my husband and I went on a kid-free trip to Cartagena, Colombia, and we loved the city! Here are some things to know before you go and recommendations of places to stay, eat, and see.
Know Before You Go:
Cartagena is a city, it can be noisy and busy, and crowded, especially at night. Although we did see many families there, it’s not the best destination for kids if you want to truly explore the city. Plus, the 90 degree temps and the humidity would make some kids complain! All this to say, we know people who have brought kids and saw many families with kids while we were there, but were happy to explore sans kids!
If you don’t speak Spanish, start to learn now! Although many people spoke English, the city is filled with people from all over the world who primarily speak Spanish. Everyone at our hotel and most servers and bartenders spoke English, but a lot of the merchants and locals did not, so we wished we knew more of the language.
The beaches in Cartagena are not that great. They are crowded, and there are a ton of pushy vendors who will approach you often trying to sell you something. To really experience the beauty of Cartagena, take a day trip to one of the many islands 45 minutes- 2 hours away by boat. We went to Isla Baru for the day (more on that later).
Research before you go. My husband and I wanted to find the best restaurants and the coolest shops while in Cartagena so we did a ton of research ahead of time. Many of the places are hard to find just from walking down the street, so knowing the exact address of places you want to see helps a lot. Cartagena is one of the oldest cities in South America so the architecture is beautiful but signs are small and finding specific places can be tough without knowing ahead of time.
Where to Stay:
Hands down, the best part of our experience in Cartagena was where we stayed. The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara came highly recommended, and everything about this hotel did not disappoint. First, the location is prime- in the middle of the Walled City, which is where we wanted to be the whole time. The hotel is like an oasis in a busy city. You walk outside into the hustle and bustle of the streets of Cartagena and return to a zen place of calm and tranquility at the hotel. The staff at the hotel made all the difference, and we were never asking for help or without assistance. From the bellhops to the wait staff to the housekeepers, everyone was amazing.
The rooms at the Sofitel are spacious and most have balconies. The best part of the hotel is the gorgeous pool in the middle of the lush gardens that make up the center of the hotel. There are plenty of shaded places to sit, they have great bar and food service and the pool is large enough not to feel like you’re floating on top of others. Most of our days were spent exploring in the morning and lounging by the pool all afternoon.
The thing that sold both my husband and me on this hotel is its history. The building used to be a convent and a hospital, and they have preserved so much of the rich history on the walls, the decor, and the overall feel of the entire hotel. We did a tour of the hotel to learn more about its histor,y and it made staying there even more special.
We cannot recommend the Sofitel more and cannot wait to return!
What to Do:
Cartagena has lots to do, from exploring the old forts, taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets, or taking a cooking class. We only had 4 days to spend in the city, so we prioritized food, walking, shopping, and relaxing. Here is what we loved:
Take a Day Trip to one of the Islands.
Our hotel had a day pass option to their sister site, Sofitel Casablanca Baru, and it was such a great trip! They start by taking you to the boat, which takes about 45 minutes to get to the island of Baru. Once on the island, we were greeted by hotel staff and given a tour around the property in a golf cart. The hotel has numerous pools and beach access as well as 3 restaurants and a beachfront food truck and grill. The service at the Sofitel Baru was once again top-notch, from the free welcome drinks to the fresh shaved ice on the beach, everything made our day truly special. A 3-course lunch included a Colombian spread of different dishes and dessert in the day pass. The boat picks you up at 4 pm to bring you back to Cartagena, and overall, it was a lovely day. A great break from the busy streets of the city and a nice chance to get to explore one of the many islands that surround Cartagena. There were many families at this resort, and they seemed to cater to this type of traveler.
One quick note- we had read about the travel back to Cartagena from the islands and how, after 3 pm, the waters get very choppy, making the ride back anything but smooth. My husband and I are not boat people, so we were prepared with Dramamine, and neither one of us had any issues. The ride back was very bumpy and scary at times, but nothing crazy, and we were happy in the end that we took the boat option rather than the 2+ hour car ride.
Visit Getsemani
The Getsemani neighborhood is full of art and color! While walking through the narrow streets, you will see graffiti, local artisans widdling goods from wood, painters and shopkeepers, streets that are covered in flowers, flags, or umbrellas. It is beautiful just to walk through, but also offers some great cafes and pizzerias, and at night, has some great cocktail and salsa bar options.
Eat at some of the many great restaurants
We had some great meals while in Cartagena, including an excellent dinner at Carmen, where the wait staff was super helpful in making suggestions, and my husband had one of the best octopus appetizers he said he has ever had! We also really enjoyed the fresh sushi at Cancha and the sticky rice appetizer. This restaurant has a laid-back vibe and live music. A few people had recommended Epoca cafe for brunch, and we were mad we didn’t go more hungry because the food was amazing and the Colombian coffee was the best we tasted. I was also pleased to have a very well-made matcha latte while there! Epoca has a fun, bar feel but has an extensive brunch menu with staples like omelets and avocado toast, but also Colombian tastes like cheese arepas and chilaquiles. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the brunch there should not be missed. By far, our favorite meal experience was the 6-course tasting menu at 1621 Restaurant, at the Sofitel hotel. Each course blew us away with its unique presentation and taste. We had an incredible snail appetizer (our first time trying!) and fresh sea bass and octopus. The best thing about this meal was the attention to detail from the entire staff. We began our meal with a brief history of the restaurant and were greeted with a delicious-smelling hand sanitizer, which is unique to the hotel. You can choose an 8-course option and also include wine pairings. Be prepared to spend some time here, around 2 hours, to thoroughly enjoy the entire meal.
Other notable options:
Alquimico Bar- very cool setup and interesting drinks.
Apogeo Restaurant– very cool rooftop spot
Juan del Mar– Right outside our hotel and always packed!
SHOP!
One of my favorite activities is to shop and Cartagena has so many options. There are a ton of street vendors throughout the city, selling authentic Colombian bags, jewelry, and souvenirs. But the real treat is when you find a store that is owned by an artisan or has handcrafted goods that are unique only to Colombia. Cartegening Handicrafts was owned by the sweetest woman and had an amazing selection of handcrafted bags, jewelry, fans, and home goods. It was hard to decide what to leave with after spending some time in this store. Mercedes Salazar is another artist whose store is tiny but has so many incredible pieces to choose from, such as earrings, necklaces, bags, and bracelets. Pirawe Market had amazing home finds including rugs, wall decor, baskets, plates and more. The detail and the quality of the merchandise is what stuck out to me the most. The best thing about shopping in Colombia is the prices! Everything is very reasonably priced and you can find some very unique options for gifts, home goods, jewelry, bags, or clothing.
We loved exploring Cartagena and found the city welcoming and vibrant!
