While Colombia is an affordable destination overall, visiting touristy Cartagena can leave your wallet feeling lighter.
Luckily, there is a wealth of free or almost-free activities and experiences that showcase the coastal city’s rich heritage, stunning beaches, and lively atmosphere. Whether it's strolling through the picturesque Old Town or discovering the vibrant street art in Getsemaní, here are Cartagena's memorable free and budget-friendly adventures.
Get lost in the maze of picturesque streets within the ciudad amurallada (walled city), where you can spend hours admiring the Unesco-recognized colonial architecture and do a fair share of people-watching. From mid-morning, Old Town comes to life with a flurry of activity that doesn’t stop until late at night. Get to know the city’s history better with no-charge walking tours of the Old Town with either Free Tour Cartagena or Beyond Colombia, but expect to pay around COP$20,000 for a tip.
Planning tip: Wear a hat, sunglasses, and your most comfortable shoes, then set out early in the morning to beat the crowds and avoid the midday heat. Don’t forget to slather on sunscreen.
Cartagena's historic city walls have withstood the test of time, enduring attacks from notorious pirates and the relentless fury of tropical storms. Las Murallas are no match for the throngs of people who climb the ramparts for an extraordinary vantage point to witness an unforgettable Caribbean sunset. Observe this captivating spectacle from the northern edge of the city or the western side, where the iconic Café del Mar serves cool cocktails to go along with the warm glow of the setting sun. You can relish the same mesmerizing beauty and save money by grabbing a spot anywhere along the wall just outside the café. Mobile vendors are on hand to supply you with a more wallet-friendly refreshment.
Planning tip: Sunset in Cartagena takes place between 5:30pm in November and 6:30pm in June.
The free Museo de Oro Zenú has a dazzling display of priceless pre-Columbian artifacts dating back 6000 years. Luminous gold pieces continue to be a source of fascination among visitors to the museum, which recently reopened after an extensive renovation. Ornate nose rings, breastplates and beaded necklaces are among the exquisite objects fashioned from gold or tumbaga (a gold and copper alloy) by Indigenous people that inhabited the Caribbean region before Spanish colonizers arrived. They also worked with a diverse range of materials beyond gold. Shells, feathers, ceramics and clay were skillfully crafted into animal and human forms.
Don’t miss the collection of ocarinas, or flutes, meticulously restored to fulfill their original purpose of producing enchanting melodies, which you can listen to with
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