How much does it cost to travel to Cartagena?
You should plan to spend around $46 (CO$185,089) per day on your vacation in Cartagena. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $9.40 (CO$38,221) on meals
- $7.17 (CO$29,159) on local transportation
- $52 (CO$209,655) on hotels
A one week trip to Cartagena for two people costs, on average, $637 (CO$2,591,252). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Cartagena has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Cartagena expensive to visit?
Cartagena is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Colombia, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Cartagena in depth.
Within South America, Cartagena is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in South America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Humahuaca, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Recife.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cartagena Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Cartagena?
The average Cartagena trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cartagena travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
CO$209,655
($52)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
CO$29,159
($7)
|
|
Food 2
|
CO$38,221
($9)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
CO$82,562
($20)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
CO$2,348 -
7,043
($1 - 2)
|
|
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1
|
CO$93,750 -
281,250
($23 - 69)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
CO$17,915 -
53,744
($4 - 13)
|
Accommodation Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cartagena is $26 (CO$104,828). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cartagena is $52 (CO$209,655). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Cartagena is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.17 (CO$29,159) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cartagena.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$7.17
CO$29,159
How much does it cost to go to Cartagena? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Cartagena will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Cartagena can vary, the average cost of food in Cartagena is $9.40 (CO$38,221) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cartagena should cost around $3.76 (CO$15,288) 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.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$9.40
CO$38,221
Entertainment Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Cartagena typically cost an average of $20 (CO$82,562) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$20
CO$82,562
Tips and Handouts Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Cartagena is $1.15 (CO$4,695) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Cartagena is 5% - 15%.
-
Tips and Handouts1
For guides or service providers
$1.15
CO$4,695
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Cartagena is $46 (CO$187,500), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$46
CO$187,500
Alcohol Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $8.81 (CO$35,830) on alcoholic beverages in Cartagena per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$8.81
CO$35,830
Water Budget in Cartagena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.79 (CO$3,221) on bottled water in Cartagena per day. The public water in Cartagena is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.79
CO$3,221
Cartagena On a Budget
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.
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.
For even more information, check out this
guide to planning a trip to Colombia.
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.
There are plenty of other
great neighborhoods in Cartagena worth exploring, too, so don't miss out on this dynamic city.
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
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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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.