I’ve backpacked through a good chunk of Central + South America, and don’t think I’ve heard of a country more frequently hyped up than Colombia. It came up everywhere — through other travelers, hostel kitchens, beach bars, random conversations in transit. When “my turn” serendipitously came around, I set out to see Cartagena for myself!
Cartagena is a city that moves with dynamism, bursting with colorful bright buildings, flower-covered balconies, music in the streets, vendors on every corner, and people moving through the heat. That energy is instrumental to Cartagena’s daily rhythm. It pulses with synergy, culture, and life everywhere you turn.
I’m aware that the idea of a short blonde girl venturing to Colombia individually sounds like a dubious idea to many. I heard it before I left and heard it again after booking (especially from my mom haha). Still, I returned in one piece, ready to report Colombia was an out of this world travel experience and worth the hype! Partly, I write to share my belief that if I can do it, you can in tandem. Colombia is deserving of being seen beyond the headlines and experienced for its actuality: animated, vivacious, and unforgettable. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation or to go on a week-long bender, Cartagena is the perfect place for either. (Or a little bit of both lol)
Top Things to Try in Cartagena, Colombia 🇨🇴
Traveling to Cartagena is a visceral experience. I wouldn’t call it a city you exclusively just “see.” Rather, you taste it, drink it, walk it, and (sweat) through it. The city has the perfect balance of grit and charm. It’s explored through food, street corners, and those unexpected small rituals that become part of your day.
1. Explore Old Town & Getsemaní
Inside the walled Old Town, you walk through centuries of history: colonial buildings with wooden balconies overflowing with flowers, massive churches, hidden courtyards, and carriages rattling over stone streets. You’ll pass landmarks tied to pirate history and Plaza Santo Domingo. Here, people gather late into the night on the colorful streets around Getsemaní. After dark, every street turns into a party!
2. Fresh Arepas (especially in Getsemaní)
You will not escape arepas here — and you shouldn’t try to, they are worth the calories. Variations are found throughout every street corner. Con queso, con carne, o ambos! Crispy edges, soft cheesy centers, made fresh right in front of you. The best I found were wandering through Getsemaní, where you grab one hot off the pan and eat it standing in the street while music lingers all around.
3. Fruit from Street Vendors
Cartagena mangoes are cut fresh, sometimes sprinkled with chili, and perfectly ripe. Fruits in the States are not remotely comparable. You’ll see carts near the clock tower / throughout Centro and they only cost around $2 (10,000COP)🥭
4. Colombian Coffee (Juan Valdez or local cafés)
Colombia is obviously known for its coffee, and you’ll see it everywhere — especially at spots like Juan Valdez Café or smaller boutique cafés in Centro. The only thing I am pretentious about in my life is my coffee, and Colombia had some great drips.
5. Rosario Islands
If Cartagena is color and chaos, its islands are tranquility and reset. Turquoise water blankets the viewpoint, dotted with speedboats, music, and floating crowds. Each island has a different energy depending on the stop. Some islands were calm and tropical, others are purely for beach parties. The boat ride’s about an hour off the coast, and the contrast from the city’s chaos alone makes it worth your time.
Landing in Cartagena
After a long travel day + layovers in Miami and Bogota, it was relieving to finally step into that balmy heat + symphony of music, motorcycles, ocean air, and street food aroma. The streets were alive. Families sitting outside eating dinner, music echoing through alleyways, street vendors grilling food under fluorescent lights as groups drank beers on plastic chairs.
I took an Uber from the airport (which is technically illegal there, but everyone uses it anyway.) I stayed at Viajero Cartagena Hostel in Centro due to having the highest ratings on Hostelworld. Viajero (meaning “traveler” in Spanish!) was a short 20-min ride from the airport and included a scenic drive of the beaches. I’d seen the hostel chain throughout Central/South America during previous backpacking adventures, but this was my inaugural experience staying at one! Staff was kind, welcoming, and informative from the second I checked in.
Viajero Cartagena Centro had plenty of weekly activities. Yoga classes, dance lessons, painting activities, sunset cruises, drinking games, walking tours, — hence, it was easy to meet others. It had a social atmosphere without being overwhelming or being a nonstop party, which made it the perfect balance.
The location is in walking distance to the clock tower, the port, cafés, bars, and the historic walled city. Additionally, a tour agency is located directly inside the hostel lobby. Considering I arrived in Colombia with zero plans besides “figure it out when I get there,” this was very helpful. Maybe it’s just the type b in me, but going where the wind takes me causes significantly less travel stress than planing everything by the hour.
Shower pressure was good and the beds were cozy! I had a nice hammock to perch on for my morning coffee and cigarette (my bread + butter while traveling). As long as I have that and some birdsong, Holly is happy. I only wish the AC was on during the day. Cartagena is HOT! But, it was expected. I’d implore someone going here to pack a fan to suffice for the heat.
The Walled City, Arepas, and Sir Francis Drake’s House
Friday morning I wandered through Cartagena’s historic walled city. Every street has brightly painted buildings with pink flowers hanging across stone walls. Fruit carts stacked with tropical fruit. Women in colorful dresses balancing bowls of fruit on their heads as horses pulled carriages over uneven roads. The colors almost appeared dream-like and exaggerated, like someone turned the saturation all the way up!
Cartagena was a quintessential port in the Spanish empire, making it a constant target for pirates / invasions. Following Sir Francis Drake’s attack in the 1500s, Spain built the massive stone walls still surround the old city today. Deep in the memory archives are me playing Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception as a teenager on my PS3. Suddenly I blinked and there I was in Cartagena eating an arepa near the same historical landmarks I’d only seen through a TV screen! Fifteen-year-old me would’ve lost her mind. We’ve come so far 🙂
I spent most of the day wandering through Centro near the clock tower and Plaza de Bolívar. Mid-afternoon, I sat near the park connected to the area around Sir Francis Drake and chatted with a few girls from Cali, Colombia as we fed birds together sitting on the benches. The simple things in life.
Later I saw two women snapping photos in front of one of the colorful walls; they were committed to getting the perfect shot. As a solo traveler, I’ve mastered the skill of scouting people to capture the “See, kids? Holly was cool” photo.
I asked: “Puedes tomarme una foto?” Their faces immediately lit up. One was the photographer, the other the director, and before I could think I was in a mini photoshoot with strangers repositioning me every five seconds. Oh, they absolutely got the photo. I love girlhood.
Social media + the news make Colombia seem terrifying sometimes. It’s actually the only country where my mom didn’t want me traveling alone. Meanwhile, I felt safer walking around Cartagena than in parts of Philly.
That said, it’s important not to romanticize it the other way either and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I bullshitted readers by saying any location is 100% safe. Colombia has real issues such as petty theft, opportunistic scams, and economic inequality. Cartagena has a visible sex tourism presence in certain nightlife pockets, and drugs can be a part of the broader party scene. Personally I was never offered anything nor felt pressured into those situations, but it is the reality of how some tourists experience the city.
For me, the experience was manageable by staying aware of my surroundings, not over-drinking, keeping my phone controlled in busy streets, and using that travel instinct of “if something feels off, just pivot.” As long as you’re alert, not reckless, and use common sense, Cartagena is less like a place to fear and more like a place to navigate (This goes for most places IMO). The only slight annoyance was the catcalling. Oddly enough, I wasn’t even mad about being called “Barbie Girl” and “Karol G.” (honestly was flattered by that one lmfao). There were a few times when a guy would approach me in the street and ask where I was from, I either ignored them or walked away, and the issues mitigated. I never felt unsafe; it was more innocuous/flirtatious pestering.
I bought a woven Colombian bag, jewelry, magnets, and these SUPER CUTE pants at Mallplaza El Castillo I absolutely did not need but convinced myself were necessary. One of those “if I don’t buy these pants I’ll regret it at home later” purchases. Lesson learned in Colombia: life is short, buy the pants. When I told my aunt this story she said “Well, the flight back to buy them would be more costly. Therefore, IN A WAY you saved money.” Girl math
I wandered into a grocery store, determined to track these snacks down I had on a layover in Bogota a few months back. What should have been a two-minute errand turned into me pacing aisle after aisle like I was on a scavenger hunt. A man shopping there noticed my increasingly confused laps around the store and asked if I needed help. When I explained I was looking for a specific Colombian snack I became weirdly attached to after a layover months earlier, he immediately jumped into the mission. Together, we searched multiple aisles before finally finding them tucked away exactly where I never would have looked. Victory!
It’s a small story that captures one of my favorite parts of traveling. Sometimes the memories aren’t the big attractions or the postcard moments. Sometimes they’re the unexpectedly determined quest for a cheese biscuit in a Cartagena grocery store and the stranger who decides to help you find it.
Rosario Islands (5 Islands Tour)
Saturday was my Rosario Islands tour I booked through the hostel with Backpackers Tours. The boats leave from the docks near this giant Pegasus statue, and after about an hour on the water, the Caribbean turns aggressively blue. The cerulean blue that looks photoshopped. Rosario reminded me of Nassau in the Bahamas, though every island had a different atmosphere.
Every time the boat slammed against waves hard enough to launch everyone slightly into the air, our guide started handing out rum to improve morale.
At Bocachica we stopped near the old fort guarding Cartagena’s bay entrance. Crystal clear water, old stone fortifications, tiny fish swimming around your legs.
Also sea urchins. Several people in our group stepped on them including me, which turned everyone into a bonded trauma unit for the rest of the day. I ended up spending most of the tour with travelers from Peru and Miami. That’s one of my favorite parts of solo travel — entire friendships forming for one perfect day before everybody disappears back into different countries.
At Isla Grande, the group snorkeled around coral reefs and colorful fish. If you aren’t a strong swimmer, wear a life jacket because the current gets stronger than expected. Also: bring sunscreen. Then bring more sunscreen. I felt so free playing mermaids with my new friends 🙂
Then, you take a rest on the private club Mambo Beach on the famous Barú, where lounging, cocktails, tasty gastronomy and the vibrance of the club create an unforgettable experience.
Cartagena sun has no consideration regarding your feelings. By the end of the day I looked violently burnt. Cholón was chaos, but I like it that way. Boats tied together blasting reggaeton as people danced waist-deep in the Caribbean holding beers. Vendors paddling oysters and clams from boat to boat. Hookah smoke drifting through the air while music bounced across the water.
By the fourth beach we were feeling good after the drinks. Meaning- I ended up unexpectedly line dancing with girls from Atlanta in the middle of the ocean. I would’ve loved to stay here longer! This location was by far the most popping lol
The beaches reminded me of the Bahamas, which is why I totally get why some classify Cartagena beaches as overrated. If you’ve visited the Bahamas or other Caribbean islands, you may be unimpressed with Cartagena or find it repetitive. However, the energy encapsulates fun and makes the experience worth doing. Every island had its own personality. However, if I could go back, I would’ve opted for only one or two of the beaches to have more time at them. The stops felt rushed and the group only had 30min-1 hour at each. Still, having a little taste of each was a fun experience 🙂
Playa Blanca
Our last stop was at Playa Blanca. I don’t have much to say about this beach other than it was absolutely gorgeous. The waves were PERFECT; I could’ve spent all day here.
Trying Colombian Coffee
I got back around 5:30. After showering (I felt so gross lol) I walked 10 minutes to Nia Bakery & Coffee Shop in Centro after seeing it all over TikTok. I hate being that person that’s all, “Oh, well, I saw it on TikTok so I have to go here.” This coffee shop was 100% worth the hype and was just so girlie coded lmao. The pastries were incredible. Nothing better than your hands hugging a warm cup of coffee in a new country 🙂
I know I’ll probably get incredulous eyebrow furrows for saying this, but I wasn’t completely blown away by the coffee I had in Cartagena. Don’t get me wrong, I had some great coffee here—there’s definitely a noticeable difference compared to what you’ll typically find in the States. It’s smoother, often a bit lighter, and has this fruity, subtle floral flavor.
I think the “coffee snob” part of me went in expecting to have the best cappuccino of my life on the spot. What I found was more subtle. Especially at places like Nia Café & Bakery in Cartagena, it felt less like bold, heavy espresso culture and more like a softer, café-style experience where the coffee is piece of a slower morning rather than the main event.
Nonetheless, there’s something special about drinking coffee in Colombia itself. Knowing where it comes from, being surrounded by the culture that grows it, and just experiencing it in a completely different setting. Even if it didn’t fully blow my mind cup-for-cup, it changed the way I think about what coffee can taste like.
Exploring Getsemaní
That night I explored Getsemaní with two guys from LA I met at the hostel. Centro feels calmer and more historic, while Getsemaní feels alive in every direction. Murals covering buildings, tight alleyways filled with music, people dancing in the streets holding drinks while smoke from food carts filled the air. This part of the city can feel more overwhelming if you’re not expecting it, but I loved the visceral energy dancing through every corner.
It was a giant colorful block party. I got another arepa there which fully confirmed my belief that Colombia may have perfected street food. If I’m being honest I don’t even have any restaurants to report on in Cartagena sadly because that’s how in love I was with the street food.
New Country, New Tattoo!
Later that night I randomly got a flash tattoo at the hostel. I believe Viajero only has these for a few nights only, so if you have the chance, take it!
Totumo Mud Volcano
Sunday ended up being my favorite day of the trip. I booked the Totumo mud volcano tour through the hostel and headed toward Santa Catalina early that morning. It’s a 1-ish hour drive from Cartagena, but mostly due to pickups in other areas such as Boca Grande.
The volcano itself looks ridiculous at first glance. Just this giant mound sticking out of the earth with a ladder attached to the side of it. Inside is deep, warm mud where people float because the density keeps you from sinking. This was actually on The Amazing Race about 20 years ago, and one of the challenges was to find items in the mud. This would’ve been REALLY difficult given it felt hard to swim from how buoyant you are.
You climb down into this giant pit with strangers from all over the world and within seconds, everybody is laughing because the entire experience feels completely absurd. I had tears rolling down my eyes from how silly this was but it’s a good bucket list item.
The mud is thick, warm, heavy, and weirdly calming all at once. You physically cannot sink no matter how hard you try. Little wasps walked around the edges while people floated covered head to toe in gray mud looking all prehistoric. There are guides in the mud who give you massages, which is nice. I do think my skin felt nice afterwards. I leaned backward and floated there staring up at the sky thinking, “What a bizarre little planet this is.”
Some women help wash the mud off you in an adjacent river and it strangely felt healing. As if I were little again while my mom scrubbed shampoo out of my hair in the tub. Except now you’re an adult covered in volcano mud in Colombia while strangers dump buckets of water over your head. Oh, those women were not shy. At first, I was all tense being like, “Girl why are you all up in my shit,” but when she gently sat me down and poured the bowl of water over my head, all my words left my body. It was so nice. I had just met this one other solo traveler only two hours before and ended up inadvertently flashing her in a river. Travel is insane sometimes, but I live for these moments.
I was worried about my tattoo getting infected and telling the girl next to me, “but the mud is HEALING,” so it’s fine- and it was. Before the drive back you get a little empanada and soda as a snack!
One Last Night In Centro
My final night in Cartagena included one last solo travel plot twist. All I wanted was this cute woven bag I saw, only costing $4usd in local currency. Except, I was just short because I had purchased most of my souvenirs that day. I had accidentally taken out way more cash than I intended from an ATM. Colombian pesos have a lot more zeros than U.S. dollars. For example, 100,000 COP is only about $25 USD, so when the ATM starts asking if you’d like to withdraw 500,000 or 1,000,000 pesos, it’s easy to momentarily forget you’re not a millionaire😂 I finally bought that colorful woven bag I’d been eyeing, picked up a magnet for myself and another for my mom, and spent my final evening wandering through Cartagena’s colorful streets.
I also got a photo with one of Cartagena’s famous Palenqueras, the women dressed in vibrant dresses who balance bowls of fruit on their heads. While many tourists know them as a popular photo opportunity, their story goes much deeper. The Palenqueras are descendants of the people of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African town in the Americas. Historically, women traveled to Cartagena to sell fruit and support their families, eventually becoming one of the city’s most recognizable cultural symbols.
One thing to know: if you take a photo, they expect a tip (around 10,000-20,000 Colombian pesos or $1-5usd). It’s part of how they make a living, and I was happy to contribute in exchange for one of my favorite pictures from the trip. In the end, my accidental ATM mistake turned into the perfect excuse to bring home extra souvenirs and one last Cartagena memory.
Leaving Colombia, MIA Layover-Maxing, + Overall Thoughts & Consejos
Leaving Cartagena was poignant. Like waking up from a colorful dream you wanted to last a little longer. Because my original flight was canceled, I had to leave at 3am for my flight to Bogota, Miami, and then Fort Lauderdale to Philly. Luckily, this guy staying in the hostel bunk above me from Argentina had a similar departure, and we ended up having an adventure going to the airport together.
I spent my layover in MIA walking around South Beach eating gelato while people filmed music videos outside clubs and self-driving cars moved through the streets.
I’ve traveled mostly solo and I’m very comfortable in my own company, but South Beach was one of those places I found myself thinking, man, I really wish I had some friends here to share this with. Maybe it was just travel exhaustion catching up with me, or maybe the place just has that kind of energy that feels inherently built for group memories.
Still, I was grateful to step out of the airport at all. Trading a layover terminal chair for salty air, pastel buildings, and a slow walk along the beach that makes even a short stop feel like a bonus chapter in the trip is something I’d do any day.
I sat on the sand for a bit, watched the city move behind me, and just let myself exist somewhere in between arriving and going home. It wasn’t a big moment, but it was a soft one. It was also a good time to catch up on my journaling.
I left thinking South Beach is a place I’d come back to with people. A girls weekend, late brunches, beach days that turn into nights out, laughing over things that don’t need context. I get to take this little preview with me now, and maybe use it later when the timing is right.
I left my phone in the Uber which led to me sprinting down the street yelling: “SOMEONE CATCH THIS CAR.” Nobody helped. Reasonable response tbh. I eventually got the phone back and managed to slam myself into TSA doors hard enough to leave a massive bruise on my arm before boarding my flight home. Most of those moments never made Instagram.
The beaches and coffee did. The colorful walls did. The bruises, sweat, sea urchins, exhaustion, heat rash, and chaos stayed private. But that’s the real version of travel that make for great stories. Not just perfect photos, and both are equally important in my eyes.
Solo Travel Tips for Colombia
Overall, these are the practical things I think anyone could use before going to Colombia, especially as a solo female traveler. Though I felt safe in Colombia there are precautions that need to be taken here.
Move with awareness, not fear.
You don’t need to be anxious, but you do need to be intentional. Keep your bag in front of you in crowds, don’t leave your phone sitting out on tables, and stay generally aware of your surroundings like you would in any busy city.
Cash is still king in many places.
Restaurants and nicer spots will take cards, but street food, small vendors, taxis, and random shops often won’t. ATMs are everywhere, but double-check withdrawal amounts — Colombian pesos can feel confusing fast.
Use Uber or registered taxis.
Uber works in Cartagena even if it’s not straightforward. It’s usually the easiest way to get from the airport and around if needed. Just expect slightly informal pickup/drop-off situations. Ex. when I ordered my Uber from the airport to Viajero, they have a staff member from the airport confirm its legitimate and then you’re driver finds you and takes you around to a different area LMAO
Learn a few Spanish basics.
Even simple phrases change your experience completely. People are warm and patient, but knowing how to ask for things or set boundaries confidently makes everything easier.
Don’t underestimate the heat.
It’s constant. Not just “hot weather” — more like a thick humidity that stays with you. Light clothes, sunscreen, and staying hydrated are not optional.
Stick to intention at night.
Daytime is extremely walkable. At night I’d say it’s better to stay in busier areas, go out with people you meet at your hostel, or take transport instead of wandering aimlessly.
Choose your neighborhood based on vibe.
Centro (Old City) is historic, colorful, and a bit calmer. Getsemaní is louder, more artistic, bustling, and full of street energy at night. Both are worth experiencing — just slightly contrasting moods 🙂
Trust your instincts socially.
Colombia is social and friendly, especially in tourist areas. It’s easy to meet people, but still move at your own pace and don’t feel pressured to say yes to everything.
Keynotes & Takeaways
In the movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” an idea is shared that every city has a “word.” My word for Cartagena or just Colombia in general would be “alive.” Every corner you walk around, something is there to be found. I enjoyed getting lost around the city and grew curious to see what was on each street. Colombians were so kind. Whenever I needed help, there was always someone more than willing to go the extra mile. Colombian food is some of the best I’ve had and the architecture is stunning.
4 full days in Cartagena felt perfect Between the Walled City, the Rosario Islands, El Totumo Volcano, and plenty of wandering, I thought I got a great feel for the city. Any longer and I probably would’ve been ready for a change of scenery.
If you have more time, I’d consider adding Medellín to your list. I’ve never been, but almost everyone I met in Colombia spoke highly of it. Cartagena and Medellín seem to offer very different experiences. Cartagena is more Caribbean, colorful, historic, and beach-focused, while Medellín is known for its nightlife, food scene, and mountain views.
I always thought Medellín would be my first stop in Colombia, but since it was May and I was craving somewhere warm and beachy, Cartagena won out. If you’re deciding between the two, I’d say Cartagena for beaches and history, Medellín for city life and nightlife. Ideally, do both. 🇨🇴✨
We were born on a rock spinning through space. Every language, every border, every headline trying to convince us we’re completely different from one another. Between flashes of time feeding birds in Cartagena, floating in volcano mud, and dancing with strangers in the Caribbean, I remembered that fact once again. I need to remind myself how connected we all are and that life is meant to be enjoyed fully after sitting at a canonical office most days 🙂
Where The Wind Takes Me. 
Leave a comment