Where to Stay in Cartagena for the First Time

If you are visiting Cartagena for the first time, planning your trip can get overwhelming. Perhaps the most important decision is where to book your accommodation and what neighborhood in Cartagena is the best for first time travelers.

I have often been asked what are the best areas to stay in Cartagena. I have also met a few travelers who made a mistake when choosing their neighborhood. That’s why I decided to write this short guide: to answer all your questions about where you should base yourself during your stay in Cartagena, Colombia.

I have visited Cartagena twice and stayed in different parts of the town. I took my time exploring Cartagena so I could get a real feel for the city. I did not stay in Bocagrande as that’s not really my ”scene,” but I ventured to different parts of Cartagena for research purposes so that I could give you the best information and advice possible.

So where to stay in Cartagena for the first time (quick answer)

Although there are quite a few different districts in Cartagena, there are three main areas that are most popular with travelers. These are the Walled City (Centro Historico), Getsemani and Bocagrande. If you are travelling for the first time, I suggest you choose one of those three, for both safety and accessibility to sights and entertainment.

Your style of travel will determine your final choice. It will depend on whether you are looking for some leisure beach time, entertainment or history and culture fix.

It’s worth noting that Cartagena is quite expensive by Colombian standards, and that includes taxi fares. This is another reason why staying close to the center is the best choice.

Although Cartagena is not one of my favourite places in Colombia, I really enjoyed strolling through the streets in the evening, be it within the historic city walls or around Getsemani area. And each time I was glad to be within walking distance to my hostel.

Although Cartagena is a safe city, I would also recommend staying around its central parts as that is where you will feel and be the safest.

Is Cartagena Safe

I personally found Cartagena to be quite safe and felt comfortable walking around, even after dark. Cartagena is indeed one of the safest destinations in Colombia for solo female travelers.

As in most other countries, you should follow some safety rules, but if you are careful and stay in the tourist areas, you should be just as safe as anywhere else.

What irritated me most in Cartagena were the many pushy street vendors – I would say they were more persistent than in other parts of the country.

But you have to remember that many wealthy tourists come to Cartagena and many are only here for a few days’ vacation. When it comes to tourism, Cartagena is the place to do business and there’s nothing we can do about it.

But back to the topic of safety.

As long as you stay in the tourist areas, don’t venture into unfamiliar areas after dark, take care of your belongings, and avoid getting drunk and losing control of your actions, you will be safe in Cartagena.

So if you are looking for some more detail, here are the three main areas you could stay in Cartagena and all the reasons why you should or shouldn’t choose them.

Centro Historico (The Walled City)

Centro Historico (The Walled City) is the best area to stay in Cartagena for historic sights, restaurants and nightlife.

The Centro Historico is the oldest part of Cartagena, which was surrounded by a wall of stone and masonry during colonial times. Many of these fortifications remain in great condition, surrounding its colourful colonial streets.

It is an incredibly picturesque and colorful area in Cartagena. All the typical Cartagena postcard-like pictures originate from the streets of the historic center. If you are visiting Cartagena for the first time, the Centro Historico is one of the best areas to stay in Cartagena.

If you want to be close to all the action, historical sights, and the biggest choice of various types of restaurants and bars – this is where you want to stay.

However…

Cartagena Centro Historico is very touristy. Not only is it full of visitors from all over the world, it is also full of street vendors and shop owners trying to catch you and sell you their goods. Colorfully dressed ladies with fruit baskets on their heads will encourage you to take photos with them (which is not free!), and you will be confronted with endless offers from horse-drawn carriages.

In the evenings, the streets get quite busy and if you dream of having a beer in peace in one of the outdoor bars, – it will not happen. While I was trying to enjoy my one and only beer, about six different street vendors were trying to sell me everything from jewelry to paintings.

There are some really lovely places where you can have a drink, dinner, and possibly listen to live music without being bothered by outsiders and vendors. But that comes with a higher price tag.

So to summarise, Centro Historico is a lovely and charming part of Cartagena, yet it is very touristy and pretty expensive.

Pros and Cons of staying in Cartagena Centro Historico:

Pros:

• Centrally located
• Charming and colourful
• Compact and easy to walk around
• Safe
• Great choice of hostels, hotels, bars and restaurants
• Good nightlife

Cons:

• Expensive
• Busy and touristic
• Filled with street vendors

Where to stay in Cartagena Centro Historico:

For budget travelers, there are some really good hostels in Cartagena Centro Historico.

I stayed at Casa Movida and I kind of liked it. The staff were very friendly, I liked the capsule-style dorms and the breakfast was pretty decent for a hostel breakfast. But It is not the best place to meet other travelers as it lacks social common areas but for a few nights, it’s a great hostel. It’s very beautiful, but not very social. There are better options out there.

Two hostels that come highly recommended by other backpackers are Viajero Cartagena Hostel and República Hostel Cartagena. My friend raved about the latter, so it’s worth checking out.

Soy Local Centro Histórico offers well-priced and comfortable private rooms and Apartamentos Casa Gimani is a good mid-range option.

If you are looking for a more  comfortable stay, there are quite a few great hotels and boutique hotels in Cartagena Centro Historico:

Check out the beautiful boutique hotel Hotel Casa Don Luis or Hotel Casona del Porvenir for a stunning interior and luxury stay.

For a vacation extravaganza and an uber-wonderful stay, you should take a look at Casa Pestagua Relais Châteaux.

One of my favorite ways to discover a town on a budget is by joining a free walking tour whenever I first arrive. I can learn the history of the town, discover places that maybe I wouldn’t be able to find on my own and often meet other travelers in the process. If I have any burning questions about the location or safety – I always ask those questions to the tour guide. I highly recommend it!

Getsemani

Getsemani is the best area to stay in Cartagena for backpackers, art lovers and hippies at heart.

Getsemani is definitely my favorite place in Cartagena. It tickles my hippie heart in all the right places.

Upon entering, you will find yourself surrounded by colorful, graffiti-painted streets, quirky restaurants and much cheaper eateries in comparison to Centro Historico and Bocagrande.

The main square, Plaza de la Trinidad, fills with people in the afternoon and remains the center of the action and a meetup place till late evening hours. Here, you will get excellent street food, watch street artists and just hang around amongst other travelers and backpackers.

It was my favourite place in Cartagena to spend a chilled evening. 

Getsemani has its distinctive bohemian feel to it, which I very much enjoyed.

There are plenty of hostels and boutique hotels to choose from, and you will be within a 10-minute walk from Centro Historico and the marina, where all the island trips and tours start.

I would definitely recommend heading to Getsemani even if you decided to stay in a different part of Cartagena. You won’t regret it!

Pros and Cons of staying in Getsemani, Cartagena:

Pros:

• Cheaper than Bocagrande and Centro Historico
• Has a great bohemian feel
• Very artistic and lively
• Many different accommodation options 
• Great selection of restaurants, bars and street food

Cons:

• Can get pretty busy and loud in the evenings

Where to stay in Getsemani Cartagena:

Getsemani is packed full of amazing hostels and hotels. This is definitely my favorite area to stay in in Cartagena. 

For backpackers and budget travelers, Getsemani is the best option. Two of the best value hostels are Pachamama Hostel and Casa Mamá Waldy. Excellent value for money!

Los Patios is a great hostel just on the edge of Getsemani. My friend stayed there coworking and only had great things to say. They have an awesome rooftop with a pool as well.

Santuario is a wonderful hostel with great dorms and a lovely garden and Casa Zahri Boutique Hostel is just stunning. It has a pool and capsule-style dorm too. New Casa Dora is also worth checking out, the list just goes on!

For a private room on a budget, La 10B offers great value rooms and so does Casa Ebano 967.

For midrange to high-end accommodation, I recommend Lunalá Hotel Boutique and Hotel Capellán de Getsemaní.

Bocagrande and El Laguito

Bocagrande and El Laguito are the best areas to stay in Cartagena for beach bums and vacationers

Bocagrande and El Laguito are two connected neighbourhoods located in the new part of Cartagena, which is often compared to Miami.

Bocagrande is the most popular beach in Cartagena and is always packed with tourists and vendors alike.

Personally, I wouldn’t say I like the beaches in Cartagena. If you venture further to El Laguito, you will find smaller and less tourist-polluted beaches. However, the best beaches can be found outside the city and on the surrounding islands.

Both Bocagrande and El Laguito are popular areas for typical vacationers seeking sea and sun. As the most expensive hotels and resorts are located in this area, prices in Bocagrande go through the roof. At least by Colombian standards. There is an excellent selection of restaurants and bars but be prepared to pay a higher price.

On the other hand, Bocagrande is where you will find an excellent shopping center if you want to stock up on new wardrobe pieces.

Of the two areas mentioned above, El Laguito is definitely the nicer one due to the prettier beaches and slightly more chilled vibe.

I would say that if you are looking for a holiday resort, some chill time with cocktails by the pool in a good quality hotel – Bocagrande is the best area to stay in Cartagena for you.

Pros and Cons of staying in Bocagrande and El Laguito, Cartagena:

Pros:

• Located at the front of the biggest beach in Cartagena
• Easy access to great bars, restaurants and shopping centre
• Has a bit of a luxurious feel
• Good infrastructure catered for tourists
• Very safe

Cons:

• Very touristy
• Expensive
• Beaches are overcrowded and full of vendors (not the prettiest either)
• Not much of a ‘’vibe’’

Where to stay in Bocagrande and El Laguito, Cartagena:

You will not find any hostels in Bocagrande but no one comes to this area of Cartagena to stay in a hostel anyway.

Among some of the best and most recommended hotels and results in the area, you will find Hyatt Regency Cartagena, Estelar Cartagena de Indias or Hilton Cartagena.

Oz Hotel Luxury and Hotel Barlovento are an excellent midrange option.

Other Areas in Cartagena Worth Considering

If you are still planning to get off the beaten path and stay outside the tourist areas, there are a few neighborhoods you might want to consider.

Cabrero and Marbella are a good choice if you want to stay near the beach but away from the upscale Bocagrande. Both are within walking distance of the historic city walls and are a good compromise if you want to save money and still be close to the city walls and airport.

I have found the beaches in this area to be nicer than those in Bocagrande, but the area is also much more residential and therefore more affordable and peaceful.

Manga is close to the main tourist hubs and is a quiet residential area with some nice and inexpensive hotels.

However, do not expect too much action here. This area of Cartagena is ideal if you want to hide away from the tourists but still be within walking distance of the lively Getsemani.

I have not stayed in Manga, so can not really comment on how safe it is.

La Boquilla is the furthest away from the center and this is not often recommended but I wanted to mention it here as you will find many hotels there as you browse your favorite booking site.

La Boquilla is a lovely area, a separate fishing village in fact, with great hotels and beaches, but it’s not the best choice for first-time travelers to Cartagena. If you want to stay near, almost within walking distance of the Cartagena Centro and Getsemani, or are not prepared to take a taxi there, La Boquilla is not a good choice.

But on the other hand, if you don’t mind worrying about transportation and want to stay a bit away from the center and enjoy the beach in the meantime, La Boquilla might be a good choice.

Final thoughts

To sum up, I would wholeheartedly recommend Getsemani as a base for Cartagena if you are a backpacker or budget traveler like me. The Centro Historico would follow shortly after.

If you want to stay close to the beach, Bocagrande could be an option, but you will miss the authentic atmosphere of Cartagena and spend much more money.

That being said, the center of Cartagena is pretty compact, so no matter where you end up staying, as far as it’s one of the three Cartagena neighborhoods I listed, you will always be within walking distance of all the sights and attractions.

Where to next?

If you follow my Colombia itinerary you are probably heading towards Tayrona National Park and Palomino! Maybe you are wondering if Palomino is still worth visiting. Then be sure to check out my Palomino post!

And on the way be sure to stop for a few days in  Santa Marta. And while there you will definitely not wanna miss a trip to magical Minca!

In this post, you will learn how to visit both Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela and why you should actually stay for a couple of days in Riohacha!

Oh and if you are planning on visiting the Colombia coffee region be sure to read my coffee region guide as well as guides to towns like Salento, Jardin, or Filandia.

Happy Colombia travels!

Pati