Cartagena Vacations

Cartagena Weather

COP?

	Sell Rate
Updated daily at 8AM EST
	0.0007121

With the warm Caribbean Sea, sultry salsa, colonial history and undeniable European charm, the historic city of Cartagena, on Colombia's northern coast, is a great alternative for Canadians looking for a break from winter.

Where to Stay

Most of Cartagena's hotels and resorts are either in the old walled city or clustered along the beaches of Bocagrande.

• Ciudad Amurallada or the old city within the colonial walls, is where you'll find most of Cartagena's historic sites. The hotels here reflect the colonial atmosphere and are close to the best restaurants and interesting shopping.
• Bocagrande is the hotel area at the tip of the peninsula that stretches into the Caribbean. With the city's nicest beaches, Bocagrande is packed with Cartagena's best hotels and all-inclusive resorts.

When to Go

Because of its beaches and resorts, travellers from both North and South America flock to Cartagena. Christmas and winter weekends are busiest, so choose departures in January to find the best package deals.

Cartagena is warm regardless when you travel there. Spring and fall can be especially humid, but drier weather is more typical during the North American winter when Canadians head down to escape the cold.

The city is most well known for having some of the best examples of colonial architecture in the Americas. As an UNESCO World Heritage Site be sure to plan to spend at least one day exploring the old town. The city also hosts world-famous performers during the major music festival that takes place in January.

Peak holiday periods like Christmas and New Years are always priciest. To get the best deal, opt for an all-inclusive package that includes airfare, meals and hotel. These vacations are available from mid-December to March and are a very affordable alternative to booking airfare and hotel separately.

What to See & Do

Cartagena's beaches are brown sand. The best are along the Bocagrande peninsula, near the main hotel and resort area.

If you want to experience soft, white sand beaches, head south down the coast to Playa Blanca near Baru. Or take a boat out to Las Islas del Rosarioto, a national park, for beautiful, uncrowded beaches. If you'd like to try something different, play in the warm mud baths and lagoon in nearby Arboletes. You can arrange any of these trips through your hotel.