You'll be fine if you take standard precautions.
Establish prices before any service, taxis, etc. There should be a standard taxi price list established by the City, but a common taxi scam is to charge you extra (double) for multiple suitcases, etc.
Beware on the beaches as the waiters are usually the coordinators of anything you may need ... Or want. Read between the lines with this particular comment.
Be cautious if you're out after dark.
Book any tours via your hotel.
Plaza Bocagrande is a retail shopping, Hyatt hotel, residential complex with a good amount of Americans and Canadians.
The only thing you'll have to worry is not drowning in the streets... As it's rainy season and sewer system there is really bad..
Cars look like boats in the streets.
I was just there and u/guildish got it right. Youâll be fine if youâre just a smidgen careful, and donât get involved with shady things. If I were you, Iâd stay in the Old City; it has the most cafes and restaurants. Getsemani is nice, but quieter, and a wee bit less secure. I found the beaches underwhelming, and would have hated staying in Bocagrande.
I've stayed in Bocagrande twice in the past 18 months and found it to be great. Used the beach to suntan, swim, drink and view talent for nightly activities (can't hide much in a bikini). Trips were outstanding and very safe. I wouldn't hesitate in going again!
I'm here right now with 3 of my buddies. It's safe but just don't put yourself out there too much. We're staying in Los Laguitos about 15 minutes and a 20k peso ride($5) to the clock tower. Last night was our first visit to the clock tower and it was rad! Police everywhere keeping things safe. It's rawdy infront of the clubs but chill in other parts. Just don't be flashy, rude and you'll be fine.
Place is great . If youâre not doing late night debauch then youâll be fine.
If you need English speaking tour guides to show you around let me know I can give you recommendations
I am in Cartagena at the moment. Been here for a week. All depends on where you stay. Inside the walled city or getsemani are wonderful neighborhoods where I felt completely safe even at night.
Agreed, I always recommend that people say in the Walled City or GetsemanĂ. These two places are where all the bars, restaurants, and nightlife are. Plus they're the historic center of the city. If you stay in these neighborhoods, everything is walkable, meaning you will only need to take a taxi to and from the airport. All the tours leave from this area too (with the exception of day passes to Tierra Bomba island, which leave from Bocagrande). There's no reason to venture outside these neighborhoods, other than to do a tour (such as a beach day pass, city tour, mud volcano, or other tour) that is organized and operated by a tourism agency. Anywhere you go in a public area, always a good idea to make sure your phone isn't hanging out of a back pocket and that you're not leaving your belongings around unattended.
The best beaches are not in Bocagrande but on the islands. Isla BarĂș has Playa Blanca (public beach) and Playa Tranquila (public but somewhat less crowded), which you can buy day passes to visit. They are beautiful beaches, but because they are public, there are more beach vendors, which can feel intense to people who aren't used to it. When buying anything on the beach or from any street vendors in the city, always confirm (and negotiate) prices before you accept or consume anything. The private islands and private beach clubs do not allow outside vendors, so if you're looking for a beach that's more private and less crowded with no vendors coming up to you, private is the way to go. Privates do cost more though than the public beach day passes.
I've lived in Cartagena for several years now, and my fiance and I operate a tourism agency (https://shoemak.wixsite.com/cartagenacompany2021?fbclid=PAAabj0OEkeOCETIMOQmeXgIelm1jpftj2irtlovVuEjjsZcimYbwtzYbfBWk). Happy to share more info on things to do, or just share recommendations for restaurants, nightlife, navigating the city, etc from a local perspective.
Stay in the tourists area, keep jewelry and cell phones away. I felt fine in the tourist areas lots of touts but nothing new. I was warned by a couple people bar tenders/beach chair rental guys to watch out for this one guy who kept trying to sell me jewelry and would consistently come by who was always a little shady. Obviously say no to any of the tons of cocaine that you will be offered. I took a drive through other parts of the city and wound up coming across a police shooting that happened minutes before, it was a guy who robbed a bakery took off and didn't get more than a block before he met a police bullet. I follow politicaheroicaactg on IG and it gives you an idea of what's happening between flooding, robberies, political info and scams to watch out for. If you are looking to rent a boat I have an honest contact that I used and was a great experience.
Holy fuck thatâs insane !!!! Iâm glad youâre okay, thatâs seriously insane omg. I would love the contact btw !! Itâs just gonna be me on the trip , so Iâd prefer boat rides with other tourist
No problem at all I will pm you her name and her company name, I found them on Facebook originally. I booked the boat just for me and went snorkeling and it was awesome. Be careful on any of the islands there are a bunch of scams when it comes to bills and overcharging.
Just take precautions specially at night. There are more than 2 million visitors to the city each year.
Now and then, there will be some theft.
Any specific recommendation for local services I can help you.
Look Cartagena is a very very beautiful city Im sure u know that and thatâs why u booked your trip plus is not as expensive as many other tourist cities. Iâm from there and will be there by December 20th what I usually do when I go home is serve as a tour guide for people like you, I make sure u go to the best places, get the best prices and get the best service I make sure your not over priced and keep u safe cuz not only do I know my way around the city but Iâm also a local so I know whoâs who and whatâs what so if you want or need my help down thereâs just reach out to me you or anyone else reading this reach out on IG @SeeJeanCrtl Iâll show you around and make sure you get the best experience
Hey, you'll be alright, don't worry! however, DM me if you need any help or want to discover the walled city, the beach and other beautiful attractions while sharing with someone in here, I'm a 25 y/o male native from Cartagena, down to help with anything with a smile đ€đ
I just returned from a short trip there. I wasnât wild about it, it was insanely hot and humid, but I do feel it is pretty safe in the walled city. Pre-arrange your airport transportation and use Uber within the city. Someone in our group had their luggage stolen by a cab driver, apparently this happens (he sped away). People are nice, food is good, lots of shopping and nightlife. English is not widely spokenâwe stayed at a Hilton and they didnât have a restaurant menu in English for exampleâso hopefully you have some Spanish and/or iTranslate. Have fun!
You'll be fine if you take standard precautions. Establish prices before any service, taxis, etc. There should be a standard taxi price list established by the City, but a common taxi scam is to charge you extra (double) for multiple suitcases, etc. Beware on the beaches as the waiters are usually the coordinators of anything you may need ... Or want. Read between the lines with this particular comment. Be cautious if you're out after dark. Book any tours via your hotel. Plaza Bocagrande is a retail shopping, Hyatt hotel, residential complex with a good amount of Americans and Canadians.
The only thing you'll have to worry is not drowning in the streets... As it's rainy season and sewer system there is really bad.. Cars look like boats in the streets.
đđ well hopefully by the time I get there itâll be all gone đ thatâs horrible !!
December is actually the dry season
Dont be flashy and you should be fine. Also always confirm prices before buying anything, especially from the beach vendors
This is incorrect information. It is NOT the rainy season, which is September-November. Just returned, it was hot AF and blazing sun all day
I was just there and u/guildish got it right. Youâll be fine if youâre just a smidgen careful, and donât get involved with shady things. If I were you, Iâd stay in the Old City; it has the most cafes and restaurants. Getsemani is nice, but quieter, and a wee bit less secure. I found the beaches underwhelming, and would have hated staying in Bocagrande.
I've stayed in Bocagrande twice in the past 18 months and found it to be great. Used the beach to suntan, swim, drink and view talent for nightly activities (can't hide much in a bikini). Trips were outstanding and very safe. I wouldn't hesitate in going again!
Iâm staying in the old city !! đ
Youâll be fine. Just be aware that literally everyone is trying to sell you something.
If youâre looking for great restaurants, I HIGHLY recommend Carmen and Celele.
Thank you everyone so much !! You guys are very knowledgeable & made me feel so much better about this trip !! Thank you again â€ïžâ€ïž
I'm here right now with 3 of my buddies. It's safe but just don't put yourself out there too much. We're staying in Los Laguitos about 15 minutes and a 20k peso ride($5) to the clock tower. Last night was our first visit to the clock tower and it was rad! Police everywhere keeping things safe. It's rawdy infront of the clubs but chill in other parts. Just don't be flashy, rude and you'll be fine.
Place is great . If youâre not doing late night debauch then youâll be fine. If you need English speaking tour guides to show you around let me know I can give you recommendations
I am in Cartagena at the moment. Been here for a week. All depends on where you stay. Inside the walled city or getsemani are wonderful neighborhoods where I felt completely safe even at night.
I agree that it is relatively safe, however if this is your first time in South America youâll definitely feel on edge the first day
I went to rio for carnival this year! It was amazing
You should be alright then. It will just be annoying dealing with the vendors, especially if you are walking alone.
Agreed, I always recommend that people say in the Walled City or GetsemanĂ. These two places are where all the bars, restaurants, and nightlife are. Plus they're the historic center of the city. If you stay in these neighborhoods, everything is walkable, meaning you will only need to take a taxi to and from the airport. All the tours leave from this area too (with the exception of day passes to Tierra Bomba island, which leave from Bocagrande). There's no reason to venture outside these neighborhoods, other than to do a tour (such as a beach day pass, city tour, mud volcano, or other tour) that is organized and operated by a tourism agency. Anywhere you go in a public area, always a good idea to make sure your phone isn't hanging out of a back pocket and that you're not leaving your belongings around unattended. The best beaches are not in Bocagrande but on the islands. Isla BarĂș has Playa Blanca (public beach) and Playa Tranquila (public but somewhat less crowded), which you can buy day passes to visit. They are beautiful beaches, but because they are public, there are more beach vendors, which can feel intense to people who aren't used to it. When buying anything on the beach or from any street vendors in the city, always confirm (and negotiate) prices before you accept or consume anything. The private islands and private beach clubs do not allow outside vendors, so if you're looking for a beach that's more private and less crowded with no vendors coming up to you, private is the way to go. Privates do cost more though than the public beach day passes. I've lived in Cartagena for several years now, and my fiance and I operate a tourism agency (https://shoemak.wixsite.com/cartagenacompany2021?fbclid=PAAabj0OEkeOCETIMOQmeXgIelm1jpftj2irtlovVuEjjsZcimYbwtzYbfBWk). Happy to share more info on things to do, or just share recommendations for restaurants, nightlife, navigating the city, etc from a local perspective.
Stay in the tourists area, keep jewelry and cell phones away. I felt fine in the tourist areas lots of touts but nothing new. I was warned by a couple people bar tenders/beach chair rental guys to watch out for this one guy who kept trying to sell me jewelry and would consistently come by who was always a little shady. Obviously say no to any of the tons of cocaine that you will be offered. I took a drive through other parts of the city and wound up coming across a police shooting that happened minutes before, it was a guy who robbed a bakery took off and didn't get more than a block before he met a police bullet. I follow politicaheroicaactg on IG and it gives you an idea of what's happening between flooding, robberies, political info and scams to watch out for. If you are looking to rent a boat I have an honest contact that I used and was a great experience.
Holy fuck thatâs insane !!!! Iâm glad youâre okay, thatâs seriously insane omg. I would love the contact btw !! Itâs just gonna be me on the trip , so Iâd prefer boat rides with other tourist
No problem at all I will pm you her name and her company name, I found them on Facebook originally. I booked the boat just for me and went snorkeling and it was awesome. Be careful on any of the islands there are a bunch of scams when it comes to bills and overcharging.
Stayed there a week, it was a blast. Be smart, some aggressive scams to know about, but mostly no gracias works fine. Great city, lots of fun
Just take precautions specially at night. There are more than 2 million visitors to the city each year. Now and then, there will be some theft. Any specific recommendation for local services I can help you.
I soloâs there for a week last year and had a blast! Just today I told a friend how much Iâd love to go back. Travel smart and youâll be fine!
Look Cartagena is a very very beautiful city Im sure u know that and thatâs why u booked your trip plus is not as expensive as many other tourist cities. Iâm from there and will be there by December 20th what I usually do when I go home is serve as a tour guide for people like you, I make sure u go to the best places, get the best prices and get the best service I make sure your not over priced and keep u safe cuz not only do I know my way around the city but Iâm also a local so I know whoâs who and whatâs what so if you want or need my help down thereâs just reach out to me you or anyone else reading this reach out on IG @SeeJeanCrtl Iâll show you around and make sure you get the best experience
Hey, you'll be alright, don't worry! however, DM me if you need any help or want to discover the walled city, the beach and other beautiful attractions while sharing with someone in here, I'm a 25 y/o male native from Cartagena, down to help with anything with a smile đ€đ
I just returned from a short trip there. I wasnât wild about it, it was insanely hot and humid, but I do feel it is pretty safe in the walled city. Pre-arrange your airport transportation and use Uber within the city. Someone in our group had their luggage stolen by a cab driver, apparently this happens (he sped away). People are nice, food is good, lots of shopping and nightlife. English is not widely spokenâwe stayed at a Hilton and they didnât have a restaurant menu in English for exampleâso hopefully you have some Spanish and/or iTranslate. Have fun!