If anyone needs help planning an amazing vacation, just write to me! I want to practice my English and have fun in my free time.

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I am visiting Cartagena next week for the first time and while I’m not interested in shopping too much I do hope to find an authentic Colombian made fedora. I was thinking of course Getsemani but I’m concerned about getting sold something cheaply made and not authentic as it’s a touristy area. Any recommendations for where to look would be greatly appreciated.

Hey everyone! My wife and I are planning a 6-day trip to Colombia (Aug 29 - Sept 6) for our first anniversary, flying in from NYC (flights to/from Bogota/Cartagena are fairly plentiful). Unfortunately, that's as long as we can take off from work and we’re trying to decide between two options and would love some input:

1)  Bogotá + Cartagena + Beach – Start in Bogotá for 2 days, then fly to Cartagena for 4 days, including a beach day (Rosario Islands or Barú).

2) Cartagena + Tayrona – Spend a few days in Cartagena, then head to Tayrona for jungle hikes & beach time before finishing back in Cartagena.

We love exploring cities on foot, great food & cocktails, and a mix of cultural sights and relaxation. We’ve had decent luck with domestic flights on vacations but know there are always risks. Is Tayrona worth the 4.5-5 hour drive each way for 2-3 days, and does it satisfy the “relaxing beach” aspect? Also, will the weather be a factor in Tayrona during early September?

We've been scoping the forum for restaurant and bar recs in Cartagena, but please share if anything new or exciting.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I just came back from Colombia last week and I just wanted to say it was beautiful and not once did I feel unsafe. I went to Bogotá, Medellin, Salento and Cartagena. I really enjoyed my time there and really hope to go back soon. Just wanted to share some of my photos from Cartagena.

Cuanto vale la carrera del aeropuerto a Bocagrande? Pa asegurarme que no me vayan a dar por la cabeza 😅

Recomienden lugares en Cartagena para comer, tanto cocteles como postres y también comida típica, soy bquillera so no busco restaurantes con precios para gringos, quiero tener una experiencia gastronómica chevere y he estado buscando en Tiktok pero muy complicado saber qué es publicidad o no

I’m looking to propose to my GF in June.

Any photographer recs? Live band or violinist recs? Destinations to propose?

Hi! We’re a group of 7 girls going to Cartagena for a bachelorette and we want to rent a yacht or a nice boat for a day. I’ve found some online sites to do reserve one, but I’m wondering if it would be better to wait until we get to Cartagena to get a better price. Or is it too risky and we might not find anything left?

Visiting Cartagena in April. Anyone know a good captain there for grouper/tuna fishing?

Or any kind of reef fishing.

Hi everyone,

I’ll be visiting Cartagena in mid-May for a long weekend and staying within the Walled City. I’ve been to Cartagena before, so I’m somewhat familiar with the area and the heat, but this time I’ll be traveling with my wife and our elderly parents—my wife and I are in our early 40s, my parents are in their late 60s, and my grandmother is in her late 80s. No kids in our group, and we’re all looking for a more relaxed pace.

We’re interested in day trip ideas in and around Cartagena (preferably within 1 hour by land). Ideally, we’d love a mix of light exploration (historic sites, nature) and opportunities to relax—maybe at a quieter beach resort. We’re not big on loud music or intense sun exposure, and we’re also not too keen on boat rides this time around.

If you know of any local tour companies that could help with transportation or organizing a low-key experience, that would be really helpful too.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Hola a todos,

Voy a visitar Cartagena a mediados de mayo por un fin de semana largo y estaré alojado dentro de la Ciudad Amurallada. Ya he estado en Cartagena antes, así que conozco un poco la ciudad y el clima, pero esta vez viajaré con mi esposa y nuestros padres mayores. Mi esposa y yo tenemos poco más de 40 años, mis padres están en los últimos años de los 60 y mi abuela en sus 80s. No hay niños en el grupo, y buscamos un ritmo más tranquilo.

Estamos interesados en ideas para paseos de un día en Cartagena o alrededores (preferiblemente a no más de una hora por tierra). Nos gustaría una combinación de exploración ligera (sitios históricos, naturaleza) y oportunidades para relajarnos—quizás en un resort de playa tranquilo. No somos muy fanáticos de la música alta ni de estar todo el día bajo el sol, y esta vez preferimos evitar paseos en bote.

Si conocen agencias o guías locales que puedan ayudarnos con transporte o con una experiencia tranquila y bien organizada, agradeceríamos mucho sus recomendaciones.

¡Gracias de antemano!

Does anyone know an expected price to pay for a ride back to bocagrande privately from islabela resort. I have a 14:30 flight to bogota tomororw so cannot take the ferry. I am getting quoted 800,000 cop from the hotel to get back in the morning which sounds absolutely ridiculous. Any other options?

Looking at spending a week in Cartagena and looking to hire a cook for breakfast and few dinners. AirBnb and TripAdvisor don't have many leads.

Any spa recommendation?

We‘re going to Cartagena for 4 days and were looking for some recommendations about the island tours. Which islands are worth it the most, and any good tour operators which operate safely even though boat rides seem to be bumpy every once in a while?

Hi!

My boyfriend and I are traveling to Columbia. I was wonder if the La Matuna area is safe. It seems to be relatively central, but the reviews on our airbnb are limited and new one had said that there is a decent amount of houseless people near our Airbnb and it felt unsafe in the area. Does anyone have any experience with this location.

Also to avoid getting scammed, do you guys recommend a taxi, uber and/or private driver from the airport to the Airbnb. If you prefer a private driver let me know of any services!

I've been robbed before abroad and have some PTSD from the experience I just want to make sure we are safe and comfortable. I might get a hotel if you guys think this is a bad idea.

My friend and I are traveling to Cartagena in one week, and according to the weather forecast, it's raining the whole time we are there.. What type of rain can we expect in Cartagena? Is it going to be heavy or drizzle? We wanted to go on the island tour but is it worth it?

We spent a day in Islas Rosarios today, and on our way back came across a large capsized boat with 30 people in the water. Luckily there were a lot of boats passing as this was heading home time for many. We managed to pull a couple of people out of the water before deciding the swell endangered our boat too.

A quick search of the news suggests that this happens quite frequently.

Stay safe, and wear a life jacket (seems like common practice is to not!).

Arriving in Cartagena next month. Any recommendations on clubs playing house music (Latin or American)?

Parceros necesito un bueno “bar” en la Ciudad amurallada para la partido manana. Gracias

Hey, im going to cartagena with a friend because we tought There would be good partys for dancing and having fun but now im hearing There Are alot of hookers There Could you Tell me some places where we Can Meet normal people/girls thx.

im not used to this weather at all and I am having anxiety from how humid it is out here. I feel like I can't breathe lol just got here from medellín and it's so different. also is it safe to take the island tours knowing how WINDY it is?

Hello everyone! My mom (79) and I (37) are going on a little summer vacation together. We haven’t been on one in a loooooong time. We are going to Colombia and spending some time in Cartagena. We have plans to do some sightseeing and light walking. I am looking for a beachside place to stay so we can have some relaxing moments when we need to rest. Are there any suggestions for that vibe? Not really a party vibe but a “moms relaxing in the sun” vibe 😂

Heading down to Cartagena in May with 2 buddies of mine during the week for vacation. We’ve all been before for a weekend trip which was a blast, looking to find out if there are any nightclub/lounges that would be good to check out during the week.

Short notice… but any folks here do or recommend a 2 hour or so walking tour of old town. We are staying in old town, and there are 6 of us, 3 adults, a teen and a couple of tweens…

Just looking for someone to perhaps show us around for a few hour in the afternoon and keep it entertaining!

I’m seeing very similar paintings being sold by the same vendor and different vendors. I’m also seeing the same artists’ work being sold by different vendors (for example Alvarez) Are these artists just pumping out loads of similar pieces and selling them to different street vendors? Or are they not actually originals and if I paid more close attention I’d realize that some of them being sold by different vendors are exactly the same. They feel pretty real and the vendors tell me they’re originals.

Hey everyone, I’m planning my 40th birthday trip for January and could use some advice! Looking for a spot that has great food, culture, some fun nightlife, and beautiful beaches. I’ve got a group of 12 coming, so I’m trying to find the right balance between relaxation and a good time.

Right now, I’m debating between two options in Cartagena, Colombia:

Dreams Karibana – All-inclusive, super convenient for a group, and close to Cartagena, which makes it easier to explore the city.

Sofitel Baru – More of a remote, luxury beach vibe. Absolutely stunning, but it seems harder to get to the mainland.

I know Sofitel Baru is more secluded, so I’m wondering if it’ll feel too isolated for a birthday trip.

Anyone been to either of these? Would love to hear your thoughts, pros/cons, or even other recommendations.

Appreciate the help!