Travel Budget for Cartagena

Departamento de Bolivar, Colombia
South America / Colombia /

How much does it cost to travel to Cartagena?

How much money will you need for your trip to Cartagena? You should plan to spend around CO$136,325 ($35) per day on your vacation in Cartagena, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, CO$23,969 ($6.11) on meals for one day and CO$6,978 ($1.78) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Cartagena for a couple is CO$166,668 ($43). So, a trip to Cartagena for two people for one week costs on average CO$1,908,544 ($487). All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    CO$136,325
  • One Week Per person
    CO$954,272
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    CO$1,908,544
  • One Month Per person
    CO$4,089,737
  • One Week For a couple
    CO$1,908,544
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    CO$3,817,088
  • One Month For a couple
    CO$8,179,474
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - Learn more about these numbers.
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A vacation to Cartagena for one week usually costs around CO$954,272 for one person. So, a trip to Cartagena for two people costs around CO$1,908,544 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs CO$3,817,088 in Cartagena. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Cartagena can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.



How expensive is Cartagena?

How much does a trip to Cartagena cost? Is Cartagena expensive? The average Cartagena trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Cartagena prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

While meal prices in Cartagena can vary, the average cost of food in Cartagena is CO$23,969 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cartagena should cost around CO$9,588 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cartagena is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

The cost of a taxi ride in Cartagena is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent CO$6,978 per person, per day, on local transportation in Cartagena.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    CO$83,334
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    CO$166,668
  • Food2 Meals for one day
    CO$23,969
  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    CO$2,577
  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    CO$6,978
  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    CO$80,304
  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    CO$3,756
  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    CO$150,000
  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    CO$15,784
Flights to Cartagena

How much does it cost to go to Cartagena? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend SkyScanner because they can find the best deals across all of the airlines.




Typical tour prices for Cartagena

How much do tours to Cartagena cost? Multi-day tours can often be an effecient way to see the highlights of a country or region.

  • Contiki Tours for 18-35 year olds
    8 days
    $ 1565
    ($196/day)
  • G Adventures Adventure and cultural tours
    8 days
    $ 1450
    ($181/day)
  • Intrepid Small group tours for everyone
    12 days
    $ 1750
    ($146/day)
Find a hostel, guesthouse, or B&B in Cartagena
Cartagena


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Cartagena On a Budget
Cartagena Cartagena, Colombia
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.

The peak holidays for the area are the month of December and the holy week when it's a popular destination for Colombians on holiday. The city can be extremely crowded during these times.

Cartagena has a tropical wet and dry climate with humidity that is usually around 90%. The rainy seasons are from May to June and October through November. The climate is hot and windy year around. For even more information, check out this guide to planning a trip to Colombia.
Sights
Cartagena's main tourist area is the historic old town, which is surrounded by the city wall. The main entrance to the area is the Clock Tower Building.

Other things to do in Cartagena include visiting the 500 hundred year old forts in the city that are in surprisingly good condition. The Castillo de San Felipe is a fortress that was built in 1657 by the Spanish. Also nearby is La Popa hill, where you can enjoy great views of the city and the harbor. Museums in Cartagena include the Palacio de la Inquisicion and the Gold Museum (which is free). Churches worth visiting include Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, La Catedral, and the Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
Neighborhoods
Cartagena can be broken down into several areas including the northern area, where you'll find the airport, the downtown, and Bocagrande. As a tourist, you're liking to spend most of your time in the city's downtown and the Bocagrande areas.

The downtown is where you'll find the walled colonial part of the city that is called ciudad amurallada. This area has most of the city's high end restaurants, hotels and clubs. Within the walled city you'll find the neighborhoods of Centro, San Diego, Getsemani and the modern part of La Matuna. The oldest part of the city is around Plaza Trinidad in Getsemani.

Bocagrande is a strip along the the beach that is lined with hotels and condos. There is also a third area that is up and coming. It's referred to as Castillogrande and has many condos and a nice, quiet beach.

Activities
There are a variety of activities that you can enjoy while you're in Cartagena. The Chiva Bus is an open air bus that travels around town filled with people drinking, listening to music, and generally having fun. Another fun activity is to take Latin Dance Lessons. You can learn a variety of dances including Salsa, Merengue, Rumba, and Bachata. Spanish classes are also available in town. There are a few Spanish language schools nearby including BABEL International Language Institute, which is found in the old city.

There are also many day trips that you can enjoy while you're in the area. There are a handful of picturesque fishing villages nearby as well as some decent beaches. The best beach for swimming is Playa Blanca, which can be visited on an overnight trip. Most hotels and hostels can organize this trip for you.
Food and Dining
The food in Cartagena is a wonderful mix of the cultures you'll find in the city. African and Arabian flavors show up quite often. A popular dish is a fried meat such as fish, chicken or beef accompanied by coconut rice, fried plantains, and a salad. Food is generally quite cheap, particularly at lunch when restaurants often offer a set menu.

If you're in the old town, then you'll find a good selection of restaurants throughout. The largest concentration of options can be found close to the Plaza Santo Domingo in El Centro.

Transportation
Cartagena Car Rental Prices
Compare prices across all major rental companies:
It's easy to explore Cartagena's most touristy neighborhoods on foot. Most places are walkable and you'll get a more up close and personal feel for the area if you wander around without a vehicle. If you're hoping to travel to more out of the way destinations such as the San Felipe fort, then there's a great network of buses that are convenient and cheap. If you have any problems just ask the bus driver and they are usually very friendly and helpful. Taxis are also cheap and ubiquitous. They're probably the fastest way to travel around the city.
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1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase.

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Cartagena Travel Cost - Average Price of a Vacation to Cartagena: Food & Meal Budget, Daily & Weekly Expenses | BudgetYourTrip.com

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