How Many Days in Cartagena?: Some Practical Advice

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I often see people wondering “How many days do you need in Cartagena?”

Whether you’re just coming to Cartagena or people planning to visit multiple cities in Colombia or Latin America, how many days in Cartagena is an important question for planning your trip.

The truth is, it’s a loaded question that depends a lot on your priorities, so there’s no perfect Goldilocks answer for everyone.

However, I do think the sweet spot for how many days to spend in Cartagena is 4-7.

In this post, I’ll go over some things to consider and balance when deciding how many days in Cartagena is just right for you as well as push back on advice that suggests less time is enough for Cartagena.

How Many Days in Cartagena Do You Need?

If you’re wondering how many days do you need in Cartagena, I believe 4-7 days is the ideal answer.

After living in Cartagena for over a decade and helping loads of people plan trips via this website and my Cartagena Travel Tips Facebook group, I strongly believe 4-7 days hits the sweet spot for most people wondering how many days to stay in Cartagena.

Having at least 4 days gives you one complete day to explore the city’s highlights in the historic districts of Cartagena’s Walled City and Getsemaní plus a day to get out to the Rosario Islands, which are, in my opinion, a must do during your time in Cartagena.

So, if you’re wondering how many days are needed in Cartagena, I’d say at least 4, but how many days in Cartagena is enough depends on how much time you have, what all you’d like to do in Cartagena, and how you might want to balance those considerations with other possible destinations.

Having 1-3 additional days, so 5-7 total, lets you consider spending the night in the islands, doing some additional activities besides the must see highlights, tacking on some day trips from Cartagena, or just having some down time.

Maybe, you want to do multiple other things in or near Cartagena, spend the night in the islands, and have a day to bum around.

Then, you might want to go more towards 7 days.

Or maybe you just want to stick to the highlights of Cartagena and move on to another place or places in Colombia and only stay for 4 days.

So, the best answer to how many days to visit Cartagena is going to be unique to every individual traveler.

Why Do Some People Suggest Spending Little Time in Cartagena?

I’ll cover some more practical tips and things to consider when deciding exactly how many days to spend in Cartagena below, but first I want to address some common, but, in my opinion, bad advice I often see online:

I often see people suggest just a day or two is enough time for Cartagena. I even see some people recommend skipping it entirely.

While I disagree pretty strongly with this sentiment, I do understand the reasons why some people say it.

It really boils down to a few interconnected issues:

• People feel Cartagena is less “authentic” than other places in Colombia.
• Cartagena is more expensive than most of the rest of Colombia, besides maybe Medellín.
• People are often annoyed with street and beach vendors in Cartagena.

Cartagena isn’t “Autentic”

When people say this, what they really mean is Cartagena is a popular destination.

Or, in other words, that Cartagena is “too touristy.”

I think there is a bit of hipper than thou attitude going on here. If you’re traveling somewhere for pleasure, you are, in fact, a tourist, no matter how grungy your backpack is or how much you pride yourself for getting off the beaten path.

Look, I understand why people think this way.

I can even say that I was guilty of thinking this way at times when I was younger and at least thought I was edgier.

However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized it’s a misguided way of thinking.

It is true that there are small towns in Colombia that have fewer travelers, especially fewer international travelers.

However, if they weren’t also touristy, why would people bother to go at all?

It’s also worth pointing out that unlike a place like, say, Cancún, which was a 20th century creation to be a tourist playground, Cartagena has a long and important history and plenty of its own cultural heritage.

So, embrace Cartagena having a lot of tourism because it is a nice place to visit. Don’t reject it or scoff at it because you think you’re too cool to visit a place lots of other people go.

And, of course, do visit some small towns in Colombia if you want to see them too!

Cartagena is More Expensive Than the Rest of Colombia

There’s no real way around it, Cartagena is pricey, at least for Colombia.

It’s the most expensive city in the country, although Medellín gives it a run for its pesos nowadays.

However, it’s still cheaper than most other destinations that offer easy access to history, culture, nightlife, and Caribbean beaches.

You’ll most likely spend a lot less going to Cartagena than to a place like Cancún, for instance.

Another common complaint about Cartagena’s prices is about overcharging of tourists. This is most common on the beaches and by taxi drivers, and isn’t really a big concern at reputable restaurants and bars.

Be aware of prices at informal establishments and the correct taxi prices in Cartagena, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

You can read my tips about dealing with vendors on the beach in my guide to Cartagena’s beaches and in my guide to Playa Blanca in Barú, the beach that has the worst reputation for this too.

Street and Beach Vendors Can Be Annoying

Speaking of vendors, there are lots of them in Cartagena.

Vendors on the street and beaches hawking everything from bracelets, cigars, and sunglasses to oysters, massages, and fruit salads are frustrating to deal with.

Trust me, I lived in Cartagena for over a decade…I know!

They can make sitting at outdoor tables, trying to relax on the beach, or just simply walking around town difficult to impossible to do without being approached.

However, a simple but insistent “No, gracias,” and finger wag for good measure, is usually enough to get most of them to leave you alone.

I suggest not engaging with them beyond that.

This goes for street performers like rappers too.

More importantly, though, come prepared for them. I don’t like that many of them can be pushy, but it’s just a reality of a country and city that is very unevenly developed.

The simple reality is, for better or worse, most of these people are more concerned with making sure they have food on the table today than your impressions of the city.

Embrace it as a nuisance alongside all the great things Cartagena has to offer and don’t let it ruin your trip!

How Many Days to Spend in Cartagena: What to Consider

In the following sections, I’m going to touch on what I think is the minimum and maximum number for how many days you need in Cartagena.

Then, I’ll give you some things to consider when you decide just how many days in Cartagena is just right for you.

What’s the Minimum Amount of Time to Spend in Cartagena?

3 days is the very bare minimum number of days for Cartagena I’d suggest.

Honestly, I don’t see any reason to go anywhere for less than 3 days and 2 nights.

If you just do 1 night, you won’t even get a full day there.

So, why bother at all?

However, as I stated above, the reason I think most people should do at least 4 days and 3 nights is that you’ll get one full day to explore the city and then get another full day out in the nicer beaches of the Cartagena islands.

If you are getting your beach fix somewhere else in Colombia, like say in San Andrés Island or Tayrona National Park, I think 3 days just in the city can work though.

If you have a very early arrival time or very late departure time, or preferably, both, I think you could also make two half days in town and your one full day in the islands work, but it still sounds like a long and busy 3 days!

I guess you could make 2 days work to see simply the highlights of the city in the case you arrive early and leave late too.

It still feels awfully whistle stop to me though!

What’s the Maximum Amount of Time to Spend in Cartagena?

Well, I spent 11 years in Cartagena, so I don’t know that I’d say there is truly a maximum amount of time to spend in Cartagena.

I do think for most travelers, after 7 days, you’ll have seen all the highlights, at least a few lesser visited things, and had a chance to enjoy some down time to relax too.

If you wanted to disconnect entirely for a few days, like say out in the islands (more on that below), and do several day trips to other things nearby, you could maybe push that out to 10 days.

However, as much as I love Cartagena and don’t fault anyone for wanting to spend more time here, I think after 7 days, people with more time will probably get more out of visiting other places in Colombia than spending more time in Cartagena.

For example, with 6 days in Cartagena, you might visit the Colombian National Aviary nearby one day.

However, with 8 days, I think you’ll get more out of spending 5 in Cartagena and heading up to the mountain town of Minca for 3 days, where you can do some proper bird sighting, plus see waterfalls and tour a coffee farm.

What to Consider When Deciding How Many Days You Need in Cartagena

Ok, now that we’ve gone over what I consider to be the minimum and maximum time you should spend in Cartagena, let’s talk about what you should think about when finding that sweet spot for your own trip.

Seeing the City’s Highlights

I think taking a complete day, or at least the better part of a day, to stroll the historic districts is a must. That way, you can hit up some good restaurants and cafes to take breaks from the heat along the way.

Doing something like a walking tour can be a good way get an introduction to the city’s history and get an idea for how to get around, but you could also explore on your own.

I also think going to the Castillo San Felipe fort is well worth it, and there are several decent museums in Cartagena too.

If you do just have one complete day, you might consider something like a Cartagena city tour that includes the Castillo plus a walking tour in the Walled City. Get 20% off when you use code ExploreColombia20 when you book at that link, by the way.

To Stay or Not to Stay in the Islands

In my opinion, this is the biggest consideration you should take into account when deciding how many days to spend in Cartagena.

As I’ve already said, doing at least a day trip to the Rosario Islands is, in my opinion, a must in Cartagena.

Spending the night can be a great way to get some extra R&R and beach time too.

However, I only suggest spending the night if you have 5 or more days in Cartagena.

One of the most common “mistakes” I see people make is people planning their last night in the islands.

It makes sense!

You get to spend some time enjoying the city and then end your trip relaxing in the islands while trying not to think about going home.

However, boats going out to the islands leave early in the morning and return late in the afternoon.

So, unless you have a night time departure, you’ll be stuck paying a hefty price for a private boat transfer to make your flight if you spend your last night in the islands.

You can make some of the places in Barú Island, reachable by land, work for this, but to spend the night at one of the best Rosario Islands hotels, you’ll need to basically devote 2 complete days to it.

What Other Things Would You Like to Do in Town?

Besides doing a walking tour or exploring the historic districts on your own, there are plenty of other things you might want to do which will factor into your Cartagena how many days decision.

If you’re a history buff and nerd like me, you’ll want to check out the museums and take the time to actually properly read them.

Maybe you want to tour the Bazurto Market.

Maybe you want to do a cooking class, a coffee tasting, or a rum tasting.

While you might be able to squeeze one or even two of those of those into a busy day exploring the town’s highlights, if you’d like to do several of them, you’ll want to tack on at least one more day when deciding how many days for Cartagena.

Do You Want to Do Any Other Day Trips?

Next, you’ll want to consider if there are any other day trips outside Cartagena you’d like to do in addition to the islands.

Some I recommend considering are:

• Tour of the Free Slave Town of San Basilio de Palenque
• An ATV Tour on Tierra Bomba
• A Soak in the El Totumo Mud Volcano
• A Visit to the Colombian National Aviary
• A Tour of the Mangroves in La Boquilla

Most of these can be done in a half day, but they can be difficult logistically to combine, so I’d suggest tacking on an additional day for each you’d like to do.

If you’d like to do, say, 2 of them, I think you could add one additional day and combine exploring the city with them instead of devoting an entire day to the city.

If you’re a true beach bum, you might also consider hitting another of the best Cartagena beaches. Or, you might want to do a longer nature tour and hike.

You can see more ideas for these in my post on the best day trips from Cartagena.

Are You Going to Party and/or Dance the Night Away?

Colombia has a fun nightlife and party scene, and Cartagena is certainly no exception.

If you think you’ll be out until the wee hours enjoying the Cartagena nightlife, you might want to plan to have at least one later start to the day.

That way you can spend the morning nursing your hangover by sleeping in or bumming around the hotel pool.

And, well, even if you’re not going to be out late and/or nursing a hangover, having some downtime to enjoy that hotel pool, sip some coffee, pick up some souvenirs, or even read a book or watch TV in your room, isn’t exactly a bad thing when you’re on vacation either.

Are You Going Anywhere Else?

I alluded to this above, but you’ll also need to balance how long to stay in Cartagena with whether you want to include any other destinations on your trip.

As mentioned earlier, if you’re getting your beach fix somewhere else, maybe you skip the islands (although I’d still try to fit them in, personally!).

If you’re going to, say, Medellín, maybe you don’t go out and party hard in Cartagena and save it for there. Or maybe you’re going to the coffee region and don’t need to do a coffee tasting in Cartagena.

Personally, I think anything less than 7 days is really, really hard to make two destinations work, but if you’ve got 7+ days, you’ll have to balance all the above considerations with wherever else you’d like to go.

How Many Days Do You Need for Cartagena?

I hope this guide has helped you decide how many days you should spend in Cartagena, or at least given you some things to think about when deciding.

If you’re still not sure, well, err on the side of an extra day (or three!).

Most importantly, I hope you have a wonderful time, no matter how how many days in Cartagena settle on.

I’d love to hear what you decided and if you felt like you did or didn’t have enough time in Cartagena in the comments!

Do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan your trip as well.

Cheers and Happy Exploring!