Curator’s statement
Cartagena is a breathtaking city with amazing food, culture and people. The city is filled with vibrant colors and music that gives you the relaxed sensation we all crave after a long week. There are so many ways you can enjoy the city. The luxury way, the relaxing way or the adventurous way. The city has A LOT of culture to learn about and see no matter where in the city you travel to. We took the all-inclusive route and everything about the experience was great.
The Fora Difference
Book with Danielle to access exclusive perks and experiences on your trip.
Killer perks
Free upgrades, spa credits and more—we got you
Personalized recs
Customized travel planning for your style
Insider knowledge
Expert advice from people who’ve actually been there
Where to stay
Unlock perks by contacting Danielle to book your trip.
Day 1: Arrive in Cartagena
Once you arrive in Cartagena, you'll go through customs and security which is an easy process but can be a little bit of a wait. It does move quickly so don't let that deter you. You'll take a taxi to your place of stay whether it be a hotel, bed and breakfast or Airbnb. Since we did the all-inclusive, I recommend the Hotel Estelar Playa Manzanillo. Check in, find your room and head down for food and some drinks.
Many nights the resort does have night time shows on the beach. Enjoy a sunset walk along the water and enjoy the show and music.
Day 2: Hotel day
Sleep in if needed, but I recommend waking up early and catching the sunrise and breakfast. Food is fresh and delicious! By lunch time, the bars will be open and drinks and food can be enjoyed alongside the incredible pool or head down to the beach to find a canopy bed. Enjoy the amazing weather, soak up the sun with the iguanas.
Day 3: Rosario Island boat tour
This was the best excursion we did. Wake up early to get breakfast and pack a bag for the day. Some sunscreen, sunglasses, a cover up and maybe a hat. Take a taxi to the designated meeting point and tour four different islands throughout the day. Lunch will be provided on the third island. The waters are incredibly clear and so so so warm. The last island, which is the best, is the party island. Food, music and drinks will be available so the vibes are there. Make sure you book with Gigi as the tour guide. She is such a great tour guide and really joins the fun with you.
After the tour, return back to the resort have a nice dinner and enjoy the rest of the night with the great bartenders and views.
Day 4: Walled city
Try to wake up relatively early to grab some breakfast. The resort offers a bus to the walled city early in the morning or afternoon. About a 20-minute bus ride brings you right outside the city and after a short walk you can explore the wall and its history, sightsee some shops, grab some street food and let the city tell you where to go next. This day was best to not have an itinerary and just let your instincts guide your way. The bus will take you back late afternoon so you don't have to worry about a taxi
Day 5: Departure day
I recommend booking a return flight in the afternoon so you can get one last dip in the pool/ocean and grab some food before leaving. It will be hard to leave this country and it will linger in your mind for a while but all the more reason to visit again!
Need to know
If you stay longer than five days, I recommend taking another day or two to really explore the walled city and maybe go out to dinner and the clubs. I also recommend the Palenque Tour. On this tour, you'll visit a number of sights related and significant to Black culture and learn about the history of the slaves within this town. If you are not up for the boat tour, I highly recommend this tour. The people are so nice and inviting and they will show you a good time.
Travel Advisor
Danielle Coss
Get in touch with Danielle
Did you like this guide? Reach out to customize and book your own experience. Or, just to chat about travel in general.
You can normally expect a response from Danielle within a business day or so. You’ll also be subscribed to our travel newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time).
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cartagena page.