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Cartagena

City · Bolívar Department, 🇨🇴 Colombia
Population 914,552
Area 597 km²
Time zone America/Bogota
Official website www.turbana-bolivar.gov.co/index.shtml
Cartagena

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Featured Lists

S23678 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cartagena De Indias Essentials

Cartagena de Indias is defined by its massive stone fortifications, including the seven-mile-long City Walls and the strategic San Felipe Castle. This collection highlights the city’s colonial architecture, from the historic Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria to the 300-year-old Santa Cruz Monastery perched on La Popa Hill. Visitors can explore significant public spaces like Plaza de la Aduana and the former military dungeons at Las Bovedas, now used for local crafts. The list also includes the Gold Museum's pre-Columbian artifacts and the white sands of Playa Blanca on the Caribbean coast.

13 places
Chien / CC BY-SA 2.5

Cartagena Essentials

Cartagena’s colonial identity is defined by its defensive architecture and revolutionary history. This collection features the massive Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, and the 18th-century San Sebastián del Pastelillo Fort. It also highlights symbolic monuments, including the tribute to the indigenous India Catalina and the 'Old Shoes' sculpture. Visitors can explore the House of Simón Bolívar, where the Liberator drafted the Cartagena Manifesto in 1812, shaping the course of South American independence.

5 places
S23678 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Colonial Forts & Monuments

Cartagena’s defensive system, a UNESCO World Heritage site, represents some of the most extensive Spanish military engineering in the Americas. This collection features the massive Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, with its intricate tunnel networks, and the seven miles of stone walls that encircle the historic Old Town. Beyond the city center, the forts of San Fernando and San José at Bocachica illustrate the strategic maritime defense of the bay. These structures, including the 18th-century vaults and commemorative monuments, reflect the city's history of resisting pirate raids and naval sieges.

8 places
Ryan / CC BY-SA 2.0

Historic Churches & Cathedrals

Cartagena's religious landscape is defined by 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial architecture. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Catherine stands as a grand landmark, while the hilltop Monasterio de La Popa offers panoramic views from a 300-year-old cloister. In the historic center, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo represents the city's oldest convent, and the San Pedro Claver Church honors the legacy of the 'Saint of Slaves.' For a local perspective, the 17th-century La Trinidad Church remains the spiritual heart of the vibrant Getsemaní neighborhood.

5 places
David Shankbone / CC BY-SA 3.0

Coastal Escapes

Cartagena's coastline spans from the high-rise urban beaches of Bocagrande to the secluded white sands of the Rosario Islands. La Bodeguita Pier serves as the primary terminal for boats heading to Barú and the archipelago. While city beaches like Castillo Grande offer calm waters and views of the industrial port, the islands provide coral reefs and clear Caribbean waters. Notable spots include the historic Muelle de Los Pegasos and specialized beach clubs on Isla Grande, offering access to the region's diverse marine environments.

10 places

Cartagena — Map

Cartagena — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: February

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good
  • 31° (feels like 32°) · extremes 24°–33°
  • 25° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 24 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in February

Great
  • 32° · extremes 24°–33°
  • 25° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 19 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 27°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in March

Good
  • 32° (feels like 33°) · extremes 24°–34°
  • 25° at night
  • 5 rainy days
  • 13 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 27°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in April

Poor
  • 31° (feels like 34°) · extremes 25°–33°
  • 26° at night
  • 17 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in May

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–32°
  • 26° at night
  • 27 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in June

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–32°
  • 26° at night
  • 27 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–32°
  • 26° at night
  • 26 rainy days
  • 10 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in August

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–32°
  • 26° at night
  • 28 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in September

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 34°) · extremes 24°–31°
  • 25° at night
  • 29 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 30°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in October

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 33°) · extremes 24°–31°
  • 25° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 30°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 33°) · extremes 24°–30°
  • 25° at night
  • 26 rainy days
  • 8 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in December

Fair
  • 30° (feels like 32°) · extremes 24°–31°
  • 25° at night
  • 12 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Colombian Peso COP $ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers
123
Electricity
Type A / Type B
110 V · 60 Hz
Languages
Spanish
Tap water
Drink with caution
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+57
Learn more

Tours & Activities

San Felipe Castle
Walk
Cartagena City Walls
Walk
Cathedral of Cartagena

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Related destinations

Bolívar Department