Luxury Cartagena
Tours made for you
Historic architecture
Explore ramparts, forts and bastions
Local produce
Snack on coconut candies and freshly prepared fruit
Explore on foot
Wander through cobbled streets of rainbow-coloured houses
Rosario Islands
Visit the island on a day tour from the city
Colombia's enchanting coastal city
Cartagena is Colombia‘s coastal gem and its most romantic city. The warm Caribbean breeze gathers up sounds of salsa music and the scent of the flowers that cascade down from the balconies of the rainbow-coloured houses that line its cobbled streets.
Steeped in colonial and nautical history, Cartagena boasts impressive ramparts, forts and bastions as well as plenty of Spanish-style architecture. This is a city made for exploring: wind your way through the historic centre passing carts laden with juicy fruit and women selling coconut candies under the shade of the arches that ring the plazas.
Head to Getsemani where the doors of its colourful houses are flung open and street art adorns the walls. And be sure to find yourself a spot on a rooftop where you can take in the views of Cartagena’s skyline, from the candy coloured spire of the cathedral out towards the Miami-style skyscrapers of Bocagrande.
Highlights
Stroll around the 11km of city walls
Explore the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas
Shop for handicrafts and peruse the jewellery shops selling emeralds and gold
Explore the winding streets of the old city, stopping for refreshing lulo or tres leches ice cream
Enjoy rum tasting followed by a salsa lesson
Jennifer Richt
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Cartagena
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Where else to visit in Colombia
Barichara
Cobbled streets, charming plazas and pretty churches - Barichara is the real colombia. Hike the Camino Real to the impossibly sweet town of Guane and travel back home in a local tuk tuk for truly authentic experience.
Discover more
Bogotá
So much more than just a stopover capital city, filled with colourful neighbourhoods, museums, art galleries, exceptional fine dining and atmospheric local markets. Let your guide explain the history of this great city as you sip a cup of Colombian coffee.
Discover more
Colombian Amazon
One of Colombia’s best kept secrets, the Amazonas region is a place for true adventurers. Navigate the waterways in search of pink dolphins among the water lilies or hike the rainforest for a chance to glimpse to pumas and sloths.
Discover more
Medellin
Medellin has come a long way and is a hub for culture and diversity. Meet with a resident from a local communa and let your guide translate their story and passion for this incredible city.
Discover more
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Rising up from the stunning Caribbean coastline is one of the highest coastal mountain ranges in the world, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Magical mists shroud fascinating flower and flora as you can hike to waterfalls and dive underneath the cascading waters.
Discover more
Tayrona Region
tropical, picture-perfect paradise where you can relax and unwind. Wildlife enthusiasts will love adventuring with their guide as the region is home to more than 100 species of mammals, 200 species of birds and many reptiles.
Discover more
The Coffee Triangle
Warm temperatures combined with the fresh air of higher altitudes make this region not only perfect for coffee growing but great for adventure activities. Try hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking and hot air ballooning.
Discover more
Villa de Leyva
Despite being a relatively small rural town Villa de Leyva has one of the largest main squares in Latin America, lined with white washed houses and walled gardens hiding colourful sanctuaries.
Discover moreMeet your Latin America team
When to visit
The best months to visit Cartagena are December, January, February and March, when the chance of rain is lowest. Although temperatures don’t fluctuate much throughout the year, clear skies create the best conditions for enjoying the city’s rooftop bars, outdoor live music and salsa dancing, beaches and boat trips to nearby islands.
Independence Day
November
Some rain
July - November
Winter sun
December - January
Plan your trip to Cartagena
Whatever you want from your adventure in Cartagena, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
We have traveled with Jacada four times; to Patagonia, Tanzania, Colombia and a longer trip to northern South America. Each time we had a wonderful trip and felt very supported throughout. We stayed in world class lodgings in amazing places and had experienced guides. Never once did we wait to be picked up. On the rare occasion that there were…
A perfectly planned trip to celebrate my birthday with my son in Cartagena! Jacada never ceases to amaze me with their attention to detail!
Every detail was to be taken care of and the trip had no hitches. Alll of the hosts, drivers and guides were wonderful.
I spent 9 days traveling solo in Colombia, specifically Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. The trip was planned so thoughtfully and thoroughly, and they took into consideration all of my feedback and interests. From hotels to restaurants, to tours, everything exceeded my expectations. Lily and Berni were great to work with, and always available to discuss the details of the trip,…
Jen Richt designed the trip perfectly for me and my best friend on our first trip to Colombia. She heard us loud and clear and put together an itinerary that was diverse, covered a lot of ground and was exactly what we were looking for. A trip of a lifetime!
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
