This past spring my 16 year old daughter and I ventured from NYC to Cartagena, Colombia. Cartagena is located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia and is a beautiful seaside walled city filled with life, color and history. See Colombia with an O for our Things to Know Before You Go guide. Cartagena is a great weekend getaway and can be done in a few days. Get lost among the cobblestone streets, take in the clip clop of the horses and admire the rich colors of the buildings. Eat the amazing food, and enjoy the people and treasures they offer. But don’t stop there! There are a few other adventures in Cartagena that should not be missed.
The first adventure in Cartagena is a 40-mile bike tour of some of the lesser known parts of the city. The second is a full day trip to the Rosario Islands including a thrilling boat ride. The third amazing adventure not to be missed in Cartagena is a paddleboard experience you won’t forget.
1. Bike Tours GN
My favorite way to get to know a new place is by starting the trip off with a bike tour. It’s a great way to cover a lot of ground. By making it your first activity, you know what you want to get back to on foot in the coming days.
We started our visit in Cartagena with Gerardo Nieto’s Manzanillo del Mar full day- 20 mile bike tour. It was a great workout and the best bike tour I have ever been on! A native Cartagenero filmmaker and bike aficionado, Gerardo gave us a very unique view of his city.
We showed up at 9am at Gerardo’s beautiful apartment in Castillogrande and were met with a fantastic view and lively introduction to the history of this incredible city. Did you know the city was a major center of Spain’s colonial trade and therefore a target for pirates?
Itinerary
Soon after our intro, we set off on our bikes through Bocagrande and back to the walled city for a bit more history. Gerardo is extremely well versed on all things Cartagena both past and present and we found his stories very entertaining. While crossing through the walled city we took a few small detours so Gerardo could round out his story of the history of the city with visuals. He showed us all his favorite places along the way.
We then set off along a 4 lane highway among the brightly colored buses and bustling traffic for the beaches of Manzanillo del Mar. While there are no official bike lanes, drivers are generally respectful of bikers. Note that Cartagena weather is super hot and the sun is strong. Drink lots of water and wear sunscreen!
After riding for a bit on the highway, we turned off to ride along the shore of the fishing village of La Boquilla. Here’s where we got a real sense for what life is like for Colombian impoverished. Humble surroundings line the beaches. Some homes have no windows or doors, and several homes are palm thatched huts. There are countless docile but mangy dogs resting in whatever tiny spots of shade they could find. Pictured below is an empty “restaurant”. It is waiting for the locals to drive their cars right up to the sand. Fisherman will arrive with the fresh catch of the day to serve and cook the meals.
A welcome interlude
At this point in the ride we were hot and tired, so the timing was great when we came upon a break in the beach. Gerardo led us to a little ecotourist spot, where friendly locals served us coconut water from freshly picked coconuts and gave us a canoe tour in the mangroves.
Refreshed and back on the bikes, I was grateful for my thicker mountain bike tires as we rode another 30 minutes through bumpy off roading bike trails to a perfect little seaside shack. Nestled in here, among the locals, we ate an excellent traditional lunch of fried fish, coconut rice, plantains and Colombian soda.
Back to the city
With full bellies, and a welcome tailwind, we started the easy journey back to the walled city.
The last part was challenging as we had to negotiate a fair amount of car and bus traffic. We finished the tour back in the city with a refreshing drink of what Gerardo said was the best orange juice in the city. After 20 plus miles of biking in the Cartagena heat, we all agreed!
Pro tip: For the slightly less adventurous option, consider Gerardo’s film tour of the city. The ride takes place mostly inside the walls and is a great insiders view of film in Cartagena.
2. Go to the Rosario Islands – Isla Del Pirata
The second must do adventure in Cartagena is a trip to the archipelago of the Rosario Islands. About an hour away by boat, there are more than 20 islands to visit. Since Cartagena is so reliant on tourism for income, you will find each one aggressively advertising a paradise just a boat ride away. I caution you to be careful however, as many travelers report trips that turned out to have hidden costs, bad service, terrible crowds, and hawking vendors. In fact, just a quick look at some of the reviews of these trips is enough to make anyone say it’s not worth the risk. With the help and recommendation of Gerardo from the bike tour company we ended up on Isla del Pirata.
While I am sure there are other island trips with a lovely experience we were not one bit disappointed with our excursion. Cartagena has a reputation of overselling its tourists to the point where it is a turnoff. While we experienced some of this during our trip, we were lucky to have the recommendations of a local on how to avoid it. We had the occasional attendant asking if we wanted a drink, or local merchants trying to sell us some jewelry. However, for the most part we enjoyed a peaceful day on the Isla del Pirata.
One of the smallest islands in the archipelago, Isla del Pirata is a gorgeous spot to spend a day. If you have the time in your itinerary, there are 5 or 6 huts scattered around the island that offer overnight accommodations.
Itinerary
You meet your boat at the dock early (around 9am) for the 45 minute boat ride to the island. A magical paradise of beautiful turquoise waters on a secluded private spot greets you when you arrive. The staff meets you with fresh fruit and coffee and will walk you through the parameters for the day.
Pro tip: While the tour advertises English and Spanish speaking guides, the entire day was conducted in Spanish. So brush up on your language skills! Fortunately I am fluent in Spanish and could translate for my teen who is learning.
You can spend your day exploring the island, swimming, and relaxing by the crystal clear blue green water. Additionally, there is an option to snorkel and/or paddleboard for an additional cost. If that’s not enough, there is an excursion available to an aquarium on a nearby island. After a few hours, they serve a beautiful and traditional Caribbean lunch of fish and coconut rice. Also, there is a bar where snacks and drinks are available for purchase.
The boat heads back to the city at 3pm. Beware! Due to the winds and the tides, the ride is quite an adventure! The thrilling ride is like being on a flume for 45 minutes. As a warning, while the ride out to the islands is calm and uneventful, the ride back is a whole other experience!
3. Sunset Paddleboarding
The third adventure in Cartagena that I recommend is A Small Group Sunset Paddleboard Experience . Colombia SUP runs it through Viator tours. On this adventure you get the opportunity to watch the glowing Cartagena skyline light up while the sun sets on the Cartagena Bay. Also, your LED lit paddleboard allows you to see below you and in front of you.
Itinerary
You will arrive on location at 5pm to fill out the necessary waivers and a short briefing. By 5:45 you will be in the water for a magical 90 minutes of paddling around the bay. Fun fact: because Cartagena is so close to the equator, the sun sets all year around no later than 6:30!
What an incredible adventure, and it looks so beautiful. That meal description/photo made me hungry!
The food was all really amazing!