Cartagena is Colombia's most expensive city for visitors, and almost all of the expense lives inside the walls. Step through them and the prices become Colombian again.
Where the money goes, and where it doesn't#
| Item | Walled city | Getsemaní / local |
|---|---|---|
| Room | Boutique mansions | Hostels and small hotels |
| Lunch | Tourist menus | Menú del día, street food |
| The walls and plazas | Free | Free |
| Beach | Hotel club or tour | Public bus to Bocagrande; public boat to the islands |
| A drink | Rooftop cocktail | A beer in Plaza de la Trinidad |
Stay in Getsemaní#
Lively, walkable, hostels and small hotels; Manga is quieter and cheaper. Where to stay in Cartagena compares all four areas.
Eat like a Cartagenero#
Arepas de huevo and empanadas from carts, fruit from the palenqueras, fried fish with coconut rice at local lunch spots, and the weekday menú del día a few streets from the main squares. Where locals eat in Cartagena names places.
Free and cheap days#
- The walls at sunset, the plazas, Getsemaní's street art: free.
- Castillo San Felipe: a modest ticket, go early.
- Bocagrande beach by public bus.
- The islands by public boat from the Muelle de la Bodeguita, early, on a weekday.
When#
Cartagena in November is the cheapest (outside Independence week); December is peak. How much does a trip to Colombia cost? covers the country.
The cheapest guide is a costeño#
A Local Friend knows the fried-fish place, the right boat and the free sunset spot. Roavi Local Friends in Cartagena set their own rates and message you directly before you meet.
Do Cartagena the way locals do.
Meet a Local Friend in CartagenaFrequently Asked Questions
Is Cartagena expensive?
For Colombia, yes, especially inside the walls. Outside them, in Getsemaní and the local neighbourhoods, prices drop to normal Colombian levels.Where should I stay in Cartagena on a budget?
Getsemaní, just outside the walls: hostels and small hotels, lively, walkable to everything. Manga is quieter and cheaper still.What is cheap to eat in Cartagena?
Arepas de huevo and empanadas from street carts, fresh fruit from the palenqueras, fried fish with coconut rice at local spots, and the weekday menú del día away from the main squares.How do I get to the beach cheaply?
The public bus to Bocagrande costs little. For the islands, the public boats from the Muelle de la Bodeguita to Playa Blanca or the Rosarios are cheaper than tours; go early and on a weekday.When is Cartagena cheapest?
October and November (rainy but short showers), outside the Independence week around November 11. December to January is peak.