Cartagena

Overview

Cartagena de Indias is Colombia's premier tourist city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a stunning colonial old town, Caribbean beaches, and a nightlife scene that draws visitors from across the Americas and Europe. The Walled City's colorful streets, horse-drawn carriages, and rooftop bars make it one of the most photogenic cities in South America.

But Cartagena has a complicated relationship with tourism. The city has become a magnet for sex tourism, and local authorities are pushing back hard. Police operations targeting exploitation have increased, anti-sex tourism campaigns are visible throughout tourist areas, and foreigners seen with much younger Colombian companions draw scrutiny. The city is serious about changing its reputation.

This doesn't mean the nightlife is dead. Cartagena has a genuinely exciting bar and club scene built around Caribbean music, outdoor drinking, and warm nights. There's plenty to enjoy without crossing lines. But the risks here are real, and the consequences of poor decisions are more severe than in many other destinations.

Legal Context

Colombia's legal framework for sex work is the same as in Medellin. The Constitutional Court recognizes it as legitimate labor. Cartagena designates tolerance zones where adult entertainment establishments can operate with permits.

In recent years, Cartagena has become more aggressive about enforcement than most Colombian cities. The local government has:

• Increased police presence in tourist areas specifically targeting sex tourism
• Implemented curfews and restrictions on certain establishments
• Run public awareness campaigns in English directed at foreign tourists
• Coordinated with U.S. and other international law enforcement agencies

Colombian law treats exploitation of minors with extreme severity, including long prison sentences and no bail. Colombian courts can and do convict foreign nationals.

Key Areas

Getsemani. The neighborhood immediately outside the Walled City's southern walls. Once a rough area, it's been gentrified into Cartagena's trendiest nightlife zone. Plaza de la Trinidad is the social center, surrounded by bars, hostels, and restaurants. The streets around Calle de la Media Luna have the highest concentration of nightlife. This is where most tourist nightlife happens, from casual beers to late-night clubs.

Bocagrande. Cartagena's modern beachfront district, lined with high-rise hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. It's the most upscale area for nightlife, with hotel bars, beach clubs, and established entertainment venues. Bocagrande has a more polished feel than Getsemani but also attracts more visible street-level solicitation along its main avenues after dark.

Old City (Centro Historico). The Walled City itself has dozens of restaurants, rooftop bars, and cocktail lounges within its colonial walls. Nightlife here is more upscale and food-oriented. The area around Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza de los Coches is particularly active. This is Cartagena at its most beautiful, but it's also where tourists are most targeted by scams and overcharging.

Safety

Cartagena demands the same level of caution as Medellin. The risks are real and the consequences can be severe:

• Use only trusted transport: Uber, InDriver, or Didi. Do not hail taxis on the street at night
• Don't walk between neighborhoods after dark. Take a car from Getsemani to Bocagrande, even though it's not far
• Keep valuables at the hotel. Carry only the cash you need, a copy of your passport, and one phone
• Share your location with someone who's not with you
• Beach areas are dangerous at night. Do not walk along the beach after dark, including in Bocagrande
• Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended
• Save your hotel address and emergency numbers in your phone. Tourist police can be reached through the national line 123

Cultural Norms

Cartagena's culture is Caribbean Colombian: warm, music-driven, and social.

• You'll need Spanish for most interactions outside upscale tourist venues. English proficiency is lower in Cartagena than in Bogota
• Nightlife starts late, typically after 10:00 PM, and runs until the early morning
• Music is central. Champeta, salsa, reggaeton, and vallenato are the local soundtrack. Dancing is expected, not optional, at most clubs
• Cartageneros are generally friendly and welcoming. But this warmth, like in Medellin, doesn't mean every approach is genuine
• The heat is a factor. Cartagena is tropical and humid year-round. Dress lightly and stay hydrated, especially if drinking
• Street vendors, particularly on the beaches and in the Old City, can be very persistent. A firm "no, gracias" is the approach. Don't engage in long conversations

Social Scene

The Walled City's rooftop bars are Cartagena's signature social experience. Cafe del Mar on the old fortress walls offers sunset views over the Caribbean, though drinks run 35,000-55,000 COP and it fills up fast. Inside the walls, the streets around Plaza Santo Domingo have cocktail bars and restaurants where tables spill onto the stone streets. The atmosphere is relaxed, conversational, and distinctly different from Medellin's club-heavy scene.

Getsemani is where the city's social energy concentrates after dark. Plaza de la Trinidad becomes an open-air gathering spot every evening, with street performers, beer vendors, and people sitting on the steps of the church. Alquimico, a multi-floor cocktail bar on Calle del Colegio, is one of the best bars in Colombia and draws a mix of well-traveled locals and visitors. Cafe Havana on the corner of Calle de la Media Luna is the city's most famous salsa venue, packed on weekends with dancers of every skill level. Lines form after 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bocagrande offers a different pace. The beachfront hotels have rooftop bars and poolside lounges that attract a wealthier crowd. Beach clubs along the strip operate during the day. The nightlife here is more polished but also more tourist-heavy, and street-level solicitation is more visible along the main avenues after dark.

During the day, social opportunities come naturally. Walking tours of the Walled City, boat trips to Playa Blanca or the Islas del Rosario, and cooking classes all create chances to meet other travelers. Getsemani's hostels organize group activities regularly. The expat community is smaller than Medellin's but growing, concentrated around Getsemani and the more residential parts of Bocagrande.

Cartagena's Costeno culture is more outgoing and festive than what you'll find in Colombia's interior cities. Strangers strike up conversations more readily, music is louder and more constant, and the general pace of social interaction is faster and more physical.

Local Dating Notes

Cartagena has a significant sex tourism problem that the city government is actively working to address. Foreign men face more scrutiny here than in most Colombian cities, particularly when seen with much younger local companions. Police operations in tourist areas target exploitative behavior, and anti-sex tourism signage is posted throughout the Old City and Getsemani. Genuine social connections are absolutely possible, but the atmosphere is more charged than in Medellin or Bogota. Speaking Spanish and engaging with the city's cultural offerings, rather than just its nightlife, will signal different intentions.

Scam Warnings

The "friendly" stranger: People who approach you on the street with perfect English and an interest in being your guide or friend are often working an angle. The endgame is usually leading you somewhere to be overcharged or robbed, or gaining your trust to drug you later.

Beach vendor scams: Vendors on Bocagrande beach sell massages, tours, and other services at heavily inflated prices. Some use the interaction as an opportunity for pickpocketing. Decline firmly.

Fake tour operators: Unlicensed "tour guides" in the Old City offer boat trips to the Rosario Islands or other excursions at steep prices with no insurance or safety equipment. Book through your hotel or a licensed agency.

Apartment robbery: As in Medellin, inviting someone you've just met back to your accommodation is the single highest-risk activity. This is how the worst incidents happen: drugging followed by robbery of everything in the room.

Overcharging in bars: Some bars in the Old City and Getsemani run different price lists for tourists and locals, or add items to your bill. Check prices before ordering and review your bill before paying.

Best Times

Cartagena's climate is hot and humid year-round (average 28-32C). The "dry" season from December through March is the most comfortable and the peak tourist period. The wettest months are September through November, when afternoon downpours are common but rarely last long.

The city's biggest celebration is the Fiestas de la Independencia in November, centered around November 11th. The nightlife during this period is intense, with street parties throughout Getsemani and the Old City.

Weekend nightlife (Thursday through Saturday) is significantly more active than weeknights. Many clubs don't fill up until midnight or later.

Getting Around

• Uber/InDriver/Didi: Necessary for nightlife transport. Always use app-based transport at night
• Licensed taxis: Yellow taxis can be found at stands. Have your hotel call one if needed. Avoid hailing random taxis on the street after dark
• Walking: Fine during the day within the Old City and Getsemani. At night, limit walking to within a single neighborhood. Don't walk between areas
• Buses: Local buses are cheap but confusing for visitors and not recommended at night
• Horse carriages: A tourist experience, not practical transport. Negotiate the price before getting in

What Not to Do

• Do not accept drinks, food, cigarettes, or any object from people you've just met
• Do not invite people you don't know well to your accommodation
• Do not walk along the beach at night
• Do not walk between neighborhoods after dark. Use app-based transport
• Do not flash expensive phones, watches, or jewelry
• Do not resist armed robbery. Comply and report to police afterward
• Do not engage with anyone who appears underage. Colombian law enforcement actively targets this, and penalties are severe
• Do not assume that a friendly approach is always genuine. Maintain healthy skepticism, especially in nightlife settings
• Do not wander outside tourist zones (Walled City, Getsemani, Bocagrande) at night