Cartagena is a port of call on year-round ocean and river itineraries, with AMA Waterways, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America among the lines calling here, plus a number of departures.
Founded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century as a key port for treasure bound for Europe, Cartagena grew rich and fortified against the pirates and privateers its wealth attracted. The walled Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still holds the balconied mansions, plazas, and baroque churches of that era, while the massive Castillo San Felipe de Barajas stands guard on a hill above the city, a testament to Spanish military engineering. Cobblestone lanes open onto shaded squares filled with color, music, and the scent of street food.
Just beyond the walls, the once-humble neighborhood of Getsemaní has become known for vibrant murals and a lively, artistic character that contrasts with the polished grandeur inside the ramparts. The Gold Museum offers a look at pre-Columbian metalwork, and the Naval Museum traces the city's maritime and military past. The historic center is an easy walk from the pier, making Cartagena's layered history simple to explore on foot.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Cartagena.
Climb Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Explore the largest Spanish fort built in the Americas, with tunnels and ramparts offering sweeping views over the city. A short taxi ride from the pier; allow about an hour to explore.
Wander Getsemaní's Mural-Lined Streets
Stroll beyond the old walls into this once-scrappy barrio turned open-air art gallery, alive with street food stalls and rooftop bars. Best explored on foot in an hour or two.
Browse the Old Town's Plazas and Churches
Duck into shaded squares like Plaza de Bolívar and the baroque Cartagena Cathedral, then linger over local coffee or emerald shopping along the cobblestone lanes inside the walls.
