Cartagena

Food & Drink

• Restaurante Celele • Colombian / A unique dining experience: crab served in a hollowed-out crab shell, the martini using cactus fruit syrup, the chandelier made from a large tree branch and a mural on the wall depicting a lively rainforest scene. A classy and authentic spot!
• Restaurante Espiritu Santo • Caribbean / Quality spot serving oconut rice, beans, plantain, ground beef and chicken for less than $10USD.
• La Mulata • Colombian / Serving Colombian classics with a focus on seafood.

• Alquimico • Cocktail bar / Three floors of bars in a traditional & regal-looking colonial building. As the hostess told us, “For the full experience, start on floor one and work your way up.”
• El Baron • Cocktail bar / An unpretentious drinking spot. Order their Rosarito (mezcal with cilantro, pineapple extract and bitters).
• Epoca Coffee & Epoca Espresso Bar • Bar / A cafe-style bar serving coffee & good cocktails.

• • Libertario Coffee Roasters, Época Café Bar, Café San Alberto, Érase un Café Calle De La Tablada, Se Volvió Prisprí Coffee Shop

Activities & Attractions

• Boat to Nearby Island Beaches • (1) Playa Blanca: 40-minute boat ride from Cartagena on Isla Baru with white sand and crystal blue water. One of the best white sand beaches in Cartagena. (2) Isla Grande and Rosario islands: a one-hour boat ride to a "Caribbean style paradise" in Colombia. Bora Bora beach club in Isla Grande is one of the liveliest beach clubs in Cartagena. (3) Cholon and Isla del Encanto: both are located on the Baru peninsula. Cholon is known as the ultimate boat party spot while Encanto is a beautiful beach close to a casual beach resort.
• Tayrona National Park • This park is a four-hour drive from Cartagena, but definitely worth it! Tayrona National Park is known for its palm-shaded coves, coastal lagoons, rainforest and rich biodiversity. Check out the Pueblito ruins, an archaeological site (built by the Tayrona civilization) accessed via forest trails.
• Volcan de Lodo El Totumo (Mud Volcano) • Totumo Mud Volcano is a one-of-a-kind attraction home to mineral-infused mud that is reputed to have healing properties.

Stays

• A
  Apartment Loft 2, Centro Histórico • Great Airbnb in the heart of Centro Historico. Down the street from Alquimico (#10 bar in the world, 2022).
• H
  Sofitel Legend Santa Clara • Originally built as a convent in 1621. This hotel offers the ideal combination of colonial architecture and French luxury.
• H
  Casablanca Belle & Boutique • 4-Star hotel set 500 meters from Playa de las Tenazas. A beautiful hotel with a pool in the heart of the Historic Centre.

• Centro Historico, Bocagrande, Castillo Grande, El Laguito

More

• More Food • Restaurante El Gobernador, Carmen Cartagena, Inkanto Cartagena
• More Drinks • Mirador Gastro Bar, Café Havana, The Clock Pub Cartagena
• Beaches • Playa Blanca, Isla Grande (and Bora Bora Beach Club) and Rosario Islands, Cholon, Isla del Encanto and beaches on the Baru peninsula.