This guide is for you if you have one day in Cartagena and want to see the whole city in it: the walls, La Popa, San Felipe, the old town, Getsemaní and a look at Bocagrande. It helps you decide whether one long day beats two half days, which dates to avoid, and how to get through eight hours of tropical heat without wilting by lunch.
One full day or two half days?
We run the same ground as two separate half days: the forts and La Popa and the walled city and Getsemaní. Which you choose comes down to how much time you have and how you cope with heat.
- Take the full day if you are in Cartagena for a day or two, arrive on a cruise ship, or simply want the city done in one go, with lunch in the middle.
- Take two half days if you have three or more days, travel with young children or older relatives, or want a pool and a siesta between the hills and the streets.
The full day is planned around the climate: the hills and the fortress in the cooler morning, lunch through the hottest hour, and the old town and Getsemaní after it, finishing back at your hotel at about 15:00.
When to go
The dry season runs from December to April, and those are the easiest months for a long day on foot. From May to November it rains more, with September and October usually the wettest. Pack a light rain jacket in those months.
Crowds follow the calendar. Cartagena is busiest from December to March and in July and August, and fullest at Christmas, New Year and Holy Week. May, September and October are quieter.
A few dates affect particular stops:
- Late January to 2 February: the feast of La Candelaria, patroness of the city, at the convent on La Popa, with masses early in the morning and in the evening.
- The last Sunday of the month: San Felipe has let Colombians with ID in free on these days, so expect more local visitors; check the fortress's calendar for this year.
- The first half of November: the Independence festivities, which mark the declaration of 1811, with parades through the historic centre and along Avenida Santander. Check this year's programme, and if your date falls on a parade, ask your driver to change the order.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 anywhere in Cartagena. The walls come first, while it is still cool, then La Popa, which opens at about 08:00. San Felipe follows at around 09:30. The fortress opens daily from 07:00, so there is no waiting at the gate, and the San Lázaro hill it stands on is only 40 metres at its highest point, a short climb but a hot one by mid-morning.
From about 11:00 you are on foot in the walled city, through the Clock Tower gate, past the cathedral and on to the Plaza de Santo Domingo. Lunch is at 13:00: fried fish, coconut rice and patacones, the coast's classic plate. Lunch is not included in the price, so you pay for what you order. In the afternoon you walk the painted streets of Getsemaní, then drive past the beachfront towers of Bocagrande before heading back to your hotel.
It is private, so the plan bends. Want less time on the walls and more at San Felipe? Prefer the beach to Getsemaní? Bocagrande has a beach in the city, and you can swap the afternoon for it. Tell your driver on the day.
Doing it yourself, or with a car and driver
All of these places can be visited independently. What makes it hard in one day is the sequence: two hills, a fortress and an old town, spread out across the city, in heat that makes every wait for a taxi longer. The private car is air-conditioned, waits at every stop and carries your bags, water and spare clothes. The tour covers the vehicle and the driver; it does not include a guide.
Entrances to La Popa and San Felipe are paid on the day, as is lunch. Colombians over 62 and children under 6 can enter San Felipe free, subject to the fortress's requirements, so carry ID. The price of the day depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes. San Felipe has plenty of steps and ramps, and the old town is cobbled.
- Water, a hat and sun cream. Leave a spare bottle in the car for the afternoon.
- A change of shirt. After the morning on the hills you will be glad of it at lunch.
- Swimwear, if you might swap the afternoon for the beach at Bocagrande.
- ID, and cash or a card for entrances and lunch.
Pace yourself in the morning. The heat builds through the day, and the old town after lunch is the longest stretch on foot.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits travellers short on time and cruise passengers. The cruise terminal handles most of the ships that call in Colombia, and we collect from it: tell us the ship and the time when you book.
- Young children or anyone who struggles in the heat: two half days on different dates will be kinder.
- Limited mobility: there are steps at San Felipe and cobbles in the old town. Tell us when you book, and ask your driver to adapt the stops on the day.
- A beach day instead: our Playa Blanca day trip goes by road to Barú.
Questions people ask
Where do we eat?
At a local restaurant, with the coast's classic fried fish, coconut rice and patacones. Lunch is paid separately.
Can we finish somewhere other than the hotel?
Yes. Ask your driver to drop you at a restaurant, a beach or anywhere else in the city.
Can we cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund. Details are on our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Decide between one day and two half days, check your date against the festivals, and pack for heat and steps. Our guide to day trips from Cartagena compares all five tours. To choose your group size and book, go to the Cartagena in a day tour page.
