Cartagena 3 Day Itinerary & Map
TL;DR
3 days in Cartagena Colombia including sightseeing, history, street art, a mud volcano, island hopping, and rooftop views.
Cartagena seems to be a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it situation – we for one loved this Colombian Caribbean colonial city!
We think three days is the perfect length for your Cartagena Colombia itinerary. You can immerse yourself in the city's rich history, soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Getsemani, unwind at rooftop bars, indulge in the unique Totumo Mud Volcano experience, and top it all off with a breathtaking day of island hopping in the Rosario Islands.
3 Day Cartagena Itinerary
Cartagena Itinerary Map
Day 1 – Free Walking Tour & Castillo de San Felipe
Morning – Free Walking Tour
If you know anything about us, you will know that we like to start our trips with a free walking tour. In Cartagena, we chose this Historic Center and Gethsemane tour.
The first part of the tour takes place in the historic city centre of Cartagena. You’ll visit the most important sights like
- Puerta del Reloj
- the city wall
- Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría
- squares like Plaza de la Aduana and Plaza Bolivar
Between the historic city centre and Getsemani, you’ll visit Centenario Park and let us tell you, this place is such a gem. Here, you can find wild sloths, monkeys, iguanas, and more.
Last but not least, your tour will lead you to Getsemani. It used to be one of the most dangerous areas in Cartagena but has been transformed with loads of street art (and gentrification) over the last few years.
The most important spots in Getsemani
are
- Iglesia de la Trinidad
- Callejón Ancho (Umbrella Street)
- Plaza del Pozo
Afternoon – Castillo de San Felipe
In the afternoon, head to Castillo de San Felipe. It was built in 1639 under Spanish supervision during the colonial era. The castle itself is big and cool to explore but for us, the main reason to visit is the amazing views. There are also some tunnels under the fort which you can enter.
Evening – Rooftop Bar
Speaking of great views: Cartagena features some amazing rooftop bars. Our two favourites are
- Casa Pura Rooftop with a perfect sunset, as well as sea and skyline views.
- Movich in the centre of the old town with 360° views.
Day 2 – Totumo Mud Volcano & Getsemani
Morning – Totumo Mud Volcano
Honesty, when we booked the Totumo Mud Volcano tour, we weren’t sure what to expect – reviews online are a bit mixed. But what can we say? We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our tour was extremely well organised and we just loved floating around in the mud. We think this half-day trip belongs on your Cartagena bucket list!
If you want to learn more, we have written a full review of our tour:
Afternoon – Getsemani
Even if you’ve already visited Getsemani on your free walking tour on day 1, we strongly recommend going back, strolling the alleys, enjoying the street art, and taking some pictures. There are also some lovely shops, cafes, and restaurants dotted all around Getsemani.
Evening – Plaza de la Trinidad
Plaza de la Trinidad in front of Iglesia de la Trinidad is the most happening spot in Getsemani – especially in the evening. Get yourself some street food (we recommend salchipapa) and a drink from the many vendors and watch the performers and people.
Day 3 – Island Hopping Rosario Islands
Real talk: the beaches in Cartagena itself are not really nice. The good news: If you’re looking for picture-perfect Caribbean islands, the Rosario Islands are only a short boat trip from Cartagena. If you’re a beach person (like us), we highly recommend a day trip.
Most tours to the Rosario Islands will last the whole day and include lunch. While you shouldn’t expect deserted islands, you can definitely expect white sandy beaches and turquoise water.
Where We Stayed for Our Cartagena Travel Itinerary
We stayed at Los Patios and could not recommend it more. The location is amazing, the staff is lovely, and the rooms are cosy. The rooftops are a great place to relax and the hostel is social without being a party hostel.
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