Quick Weekend Trip to Cartagena, Colombia
I have been trying to get here for about 5 years. Things that have held me up are work/PTO, children’s extracurricular, hurricanes, other events, lack of resources due to my shopping addiction. Yes, it’s a thing. However, I was adulting when I skipped FAMU’s Homecoming to pay for this trip. I will say 1. I’ll never miss another homecoming. 2. The culture, laughs, and experiences I had here with some amazing people was worth the wait! This trip was leisure focused and not full of adrenaline rush.
PreTravel Information
As far as entry into Colombia, as of January 2023, no vaccines are needed except for certain places where you are required to have yellow fever vaccine at least 10 days prior to the trip. Fortunately, you do not need that vaccine for Cartagena! You will however need a completed an entry form as early as 3 days prior to arrival to the airport for the first leg of your flight if you have a connecting flight like we did. The form link is located here: https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/check-mig Switch to English and type away! American dollars go far over there. I took one hundred one-dollar bills over for tipping and minor street shopping. Credit cards are accepted there but in general, cash speaks louder in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
We Made It!
Our stay was booked in a bundle with round trip flights, an all-inclusive resort stay, and airport transfers included for $1090. We arrived in Colombia via a nonstop flight (for some of us) with Spirit. The airport/customs/entry line was disgustingly long! We were in it for about 3 hours. If we paid an agent, I’m sure we would’ve skipped the line. We saw people do it. Because of that our transfer turned into a taxi. We finally made it to Dreams at Karibana Cartagena Luxury Golf All Inclusive Resort.
Transportation:
Due to the high alert orange level of the country, (and also the new Nia Long movie, Missing) we only used the taxis and tour guides registered with the hotel. We paid $240 cash for our group tour and it was a round trip from the hotel, in an air-conditioned van. It was a hop on and off tour and was able to visit popular attractions that oozed color, and culture. We are at a local restaurant where all of a sudden, I like soup.
For other restaurants we used the taxis the hotel called. It probably was pricey (in their eyes) but I prefer to be with people the resort trusts to get us back there.
The Munchies:
Every time I travel out of the country to the Caribbean, I choose an all-inclusive. I prefer to not “look for meals” during a trip. I'd definitely go out and explore meals cooked by the natives in their restaurants, but if an excursion made me exhausted and I don’t feel like moving, my friends, my kids, or I can go downstairs and eat at one of 3-5 places on the resort. This was the first time I stayed at a popular Dreams chain and was told Hyatt recently acquired them. I’m going to go easy as they transition with new changes. Breakfast was at the resort every morning. It was full of a variety of items and a mimosa station. My friends and I enjoyed the little coffee shop attached to it and visited it often for coffee and desserts. We had a birthday dinner that was supposed to be arranged/decorated for us but due to a language barrier it was not. We still enjoyed ourselves and also went to a second restaurant afterwards.
Our tour guides stopped us at a local restaurant called Restaurante La Olla Cartagena. Our tour guide suggested it and states he eats there basically daily. I could see why. I’m not really a seafood or soup fan but their food made me rethink it.
Cande was suggested by the Concierge at the resort. Besides the events prior to us getting there with our taxi and another guest that needed it because their son was bit by a dog, we made it there on time for our reservation. The place was beautiful and eclectic. The people were very friendly and warm. The food was awesome. Again, I ate things I would’ve never had. I drank a few drinks too. But we left there with a big smile on our face and full tummies. The cost of my food: shareable seafood appetizer tower, entree, dessert, and two drinks was $80. Other places recommended by the resort staff were Cevicheria, La Mulata, and Donde Magola. I didn’t eat at them, but I looked at the reviews and they seemed pretty decent.
Out and About
Our tour guide came with a driver, and he was able to show us so much of the city. First stop was the famous Cartagena sign. You know a photo shoot was in play. Next, we drove to and walked the Walled City. The streets were full of colorful art, beautiful doors, merchants, and a marriage proposal for me. A lot of pictures were taken. If you go, remember to walk down the streets with the beautiful umbrellas and flags. Also, the streets are mostly cobblestone so wear flat or non-stiletto shoes.
The resort had a private beach for us to enjoy. There we had more drinks, alcohol, popsicles, sun, and visited a seafood restaurant before returning to the main campus.
The Palenque Day Tour was what I wanted to do more than anything. I was told it was a 4 hour round trip from our resort by the staff. Since it was a short trip, I didn’t want to spend that much time on the road. Our tour guide said it was only 2 hours (and I believed it based on how our driver was driving). This tour teaches you about Afro-Colombian culture and immerses you into their life through food, music, and dance. I’ll definitely be back with my kids for them to experience it.
Local Bars and Nightlife:
I stayed away from bars except the one downstairs at the resort. Drinks were included so we pre-gamed before leaving and when returning.
Cartagena has a lot of party buses that I would’ve loved to be on but didn’t want to risk a COVID exposure. Some of us had to come back to our families (kids, immunocompromised adults) and it was better to be cautious. Our driver turned his van into our own private party bus! He had a playlist of 90’s RNB and we party on the way home!
In Summary:
Accommodations: Clean, Food was ok Laid back and "mature friendly"
Local Culture: Soooo Awesome and many things to eat, do, and see.
I'm definitely going to carve out more time when I bring my kids to visit.
