Travel tips · Cartagena · Colombia
Cartagena travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sgonzalezb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cartagena is a Caribbean city with African, Indigenous and Spanish roots, seen in its food, its champeta and salsa music and the palenqueras — women in colourful dresses selling fruit, descendants of San Basilio de Palenque, a town founded by escaped enslaved people. Life moves outdoors in the evenings, and locals are warm and talkative.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- COP
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 110 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated in the city, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered…
- Emergency
- 123 (national emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas tardes' before asking anything.
- Palenqueras pose for photos for a small payment; ask first and agree the amount.
- Say a polite but firm 'no, gracias' to street vendors; they usually move on.
- Cover shoulders in churches and avoid visiting during services.
- Beachwear is for the beach; shirts are expected in the old town's streets and restaurants.
- Stay in Getsemaní or Bocagrande for better value than the walled city.
Tipping
A voluntary 10% service charge is usually added to restaurant bills; it is customary to pay it if service was good. Tip guides and boat crews a little, and round up taxi fares.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenas | Hi (all-purpose greeting) |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Bacano | Cool, great |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
What to wear
Light, loose cotton or linen, a hat and comfortable sandals for cobbled streets; locals dress neatly in the evening despite the heat.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 110 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated in the city, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 123 (national emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and cafés; local SIMs from Claro, Movistar and Tigo are sold in malls and the airport.
- Time zone
- America/Bogota
The tourist areas are generally fine for visitors, but pickpocketing, overcharging and scams involving touts and street sales are common; keep phones out of sight in crowded plazas. Avoid quiet streets outside the centre at night, and decline offers of drugs, which are linked to robbery and police scams.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Colombia's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cartagena?
A voluntary 10% service charge is usually added to restaurant bills; it is customary to pay it if service was good. Tip guides and boat crews a little, and round up taxi fares.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cartagena?
Tap water is treated in the city, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water.
+What plugs are used in Cartagena?
Type A and B sockets, 110 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cartagena?
Spanish.