A destination our whole family continues to dream about is Cartagena with its mix of old and new, city and beach, and bursting culture. I’ve put together the ultimate way to spending 5 days in Cartagena for those looking to soak up the best it has to offer for a family!
In Cartagena, you can eat savory seafood at an affordable price, enjoy a relaxing massage for under $30, and know that everyone will greet you with a vibrant smile.
What more could you want? I know I will definitely be going back. One month there just wasn’t enough for seeing Cartagena Colombia with kids.
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Best Time To Visit Cartagena
Located in the north of Colombia, right on the Caribbean Sea, is the colorful city of Cartagena. This location brings hot weather year round.
Cartagena has a rainy season and dry season, with the dry season being between December and March. We visited during this time of year and it was sunny and hot almost every day.
Visiting Cartagena with kids during the rainy season shouldn’t deter you from a visit, though. The city gets about 40 inches of rainfall annually and much of that is concentrated during October and November. So, I would recommend just avoiding those two months.
Where To Stay In Cartagena
If you only have 5 days in Cartagena, I would recommend staying in the walled city in either Getsemani, El Centro or San Diego neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is safe to stay and has many options for hotels.
Each one brings something a little different.
If you are looking for more nightlife and art scene, stay in Getsemani.
If you are looking to be in the middle of it all amongst many of the restaurants, choose El Centro.
For a quieter stay that is still close to the attractions, choose San Diego.
However, if you are looking to play on the beach everyday, Bocagrande and Laguito are also nice options. This is where we stayed during our one month stay. However, you will just need to take a taxi to get to the attractions in the walled city.
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Best Places To Stay In Cartagena
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Cartagena with kids.
Within The Walled City
These three neighborhoods in the walled city are my top picks for locations to choose during your family vacation to Cartagena.
Getsemani
- Casa Morales Cartagena by Soho – amazing family-friendly hotel right in the heart of Getsemani. Has large rooms that are perfect for big families, a pool and a/c.
El Centro
- La Passion by Masaya – beautifully decorated hotel in El Centro with a few different spacious room options for families, including a family room.
- Sophia Hotel – family rooms and one of the most gorgeous rooftop pools I’ve ever seen.
San Diego
- Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton – this sustainable hotel in the quiet San Diego neighborhood is beautiful and has a lovely pool area. Best room option for families are 2 double beds.
- Hotel Bantu by Faranda Boutique – I love the style of this hotel with a very refreshing rooftop pool and friendly staff!
Bocagrande/Laguito
- Hyatt Regency Cartagena – Best part of this hotel is the infinity pool! But also it has amazing room set ups for families as well. It is not as pretty as a boutique hotel, but you will enjoy the amenities.
- Hotel Dann – We stayed next to Hotel Dann in an Airbnb and our kids were always jealous of the hotel. The pool is bigger and in the sun and the direct access to the beach is fantastic! They have good room options for families as well.
On The Islands
Tierra Bomba
- Vista Mare Beach House – for a peaceful stay on a private beach and family rooms, you can’t ask for much better for a stay on Tierra Bomba. Although the food is overpriced.
- Blue Apple Beach – this beautiful beach club is stunning gem on Tierra Bomba, with good food and a room large enough for a family of 5. Be prepared for day trippers during the day and tranquil evenings.
Baru
- Isla del Encanto – the closest thing to all-inclusive in the Rosario Islands with full board (three meals plus soda) and transportation included, plus amenities like kayaks, paddleboards, and a splash park pool for kids. While it’s popular with day-trippers, the resort maintains separate areas for hotel guests to ensure privacy while still allowing interaction with day visitors if desired.
- Sofitel Barú Calablanca – an immaculate luxury hotel recommended by our local travel guide, featuring excellent amenities like a stunning pool, kids’ club, private beach, and evening entertainment. The only downside is the high price point, making it ideal for those seeking a premium experience.
- Hotel Playa Manglares – offers spacious family rooms and convenient car access on Barú, located in a quiet, eco-friendly area with a stunning private beach near the Aviary. However, it lacks water activities like kayaks and doesn’t have a pool, making it better suited for families who prefer a peaceful beach experience over resort amenities.
Rosario Islands
- Mangata Beach – one of the most beautiful resorts on Isla Grande, offering large family rooms with 4 beds, air conditioning, and activities like snorkeling and kayaking. The resort gets crowded with day-trippers from 10am-3pm and lacks a pool, but provides peaceful mornings and evenings for overnight guests.
- Hotel Islabela – beautiful bungalows on the isle of Bolivar but requires families with multiple children to book two separate cabins. The property gets crowded with day-trippers until 3:30pm, though overnight guests enjoy privacy in bungalows located away from the main visitor areas.
- Hotel Isla Del Sol – excellent family accommodations with rooms for up to 5 people, air conditioning, and great amenities including a calm beach in crystal clear water, pool, and playground. The main downside is that it gets crowded with day-trippers during peak hours, though it provides a full range of activities from snorkeling to mangrove tours.
Get more info on the hotels in Baru and the Rosario Islands here.
How Many Days Should I Visit Cartagena?
I would recommend at least 3 full-days to explore Cartagena with kids if not longer. However, if you are planning on staying on the nearby islands, I would stay for at least 5 days.
This 5-day Cartagena itinerary has a couple of nights on nearby islands included. If you are looking for Cartagena only, check out this 3 days in Cartagena family itinerary.
All of the reservations needed for your 5 days in Cartagena have quick links at the top of each day.
Day 1 – Cartagena Itinerary
Now on to the itinerary! Here are the top things to do in Cartagena with kids on your first day.
Day 1 Reservations
- Walk, Enjoy and Taste Cartagena with Anita – Airbnb Walking Tour Experience
- Lunch Reservation Cuzco Cocina: 12:30 pm (Website wasn’t working for reservations. Call +57 302 2137139 or just stop by.)
- Pirate Ship Sunset Cruise
- Dinner Reservation Celele – 7:15 pm or later
Get To Know The Walled City Of Cartagena
Start your trip with a walking tour of the walled city of Cartagena. I would suggest booking a walking tour experience with Anita. She is a local and an amazing tour guide.
You can book through Airbnb experiences. Just click the link here to find out more information.
We did this walking tour with our kids and it was great. Anita provides so much history and details in her story telling.
You start the tour in Parque Centenario and search for animals. This gets the kids instantly interested. We saw lizards and a sloth. You can also see monkeys if you are lucky!
She breaks up the tour with Colombian snacks and drinks too! If you have small kids, I would recommend a stroller or carrier. Cartagena is always hot, so bring some water too!
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Lunch In Centro
You will end the tour in Centro which is the busiest area of the walled city of Cartagena which means there will be plenty of options for lunch. I would recommend eating at Cuzco Cocina!
It is a Peruvian style restaurant with fresh ingredients and a beautiful atmosphere. The menu is expansive, so you can find something for everyone!
Pool Or Beach Time
Go back to the hotel and relax at the pool for the afternoon. Midday in Cartagena is hot and after a morning of walking, a rest will be desired.
If your hotel doesn’t have a pool, find the nearest beach. The ones in Laguito have calm waters which are perfect for families with smaller children!
For waves, Bocagrande will work great! It may not be the most beautiful beach, but it sure is fun. There are lifeguards on the beaches in Bocagrande, but be careful with the waves. There is an undertow that can be dangerous at times.
Sunset Cruise Cruise Cartagena
For the evening, book a sunset cruise in Cartagena on a pirate ship! This sunset cruise is one of the top activities in Cartagena for kids with costumes, props, and entertainment.
This activity might sound a little cheesy, but we all LOVED it. There are a couple of options for pirate ship sunset cruises in Cartagena, but I would recommend La Fantástica. It is the smaller of the pirate ships, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in entertainment.
Read more about our experience here: Experience the Best Sunset Aboard a Pirate Ship in Cartagena
For the kids, the crew had props and costumes for them to wear and pretend to be pirates. We even played along! The crew was so friendly too.
Everyone will enjoy the drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and the funny commentary and stories told throughout with fun music playing between stories.
Then there was the sunset. Just beautiful! 😍
Dinner In Getsemani
Walk into Getsemani and eat some local cuisine at Celele. After dinner, explore the winding streets full of colonial charm, experience the lively street life, and buy some beautiful local art!
Getsemani is one of the liveliest areas of Cartagena in the evenings and a fun place to take in the electric atmosphere.
Day 2 – Cartagena Itinerary
Day 2 Reservations
- Tierra Bomba – Vista Mare Beach House or Blue Apple Beach
- Baru – Isla del Encanto, Sofitel Barú Calablanca, or Hotel Playa Manglares
- Rosario Islands – Mangata Beach, Hotel Islabela, or Hotel Isla Del Sol
Spend The Night On The Islands
The Rosario Islands, Isla Baru and Tierra Bomba are where the best beaches in Cartagena are located. All three have many stunning beaches to choose from.
I would recommend taking an overnight trip to Tierra Bomba, Barú or the Rosario Islands. Spending two nights is the perfect amount of time to relax and, so that you have one full day where you don’t have to travel to and from Cartagena.
Tierra Bomba
If you are short on time and can only spend one night on an island, choose Tierra Bomba. This island is only a 15-minute boat ride from Cartagena and is a true treasure. Staying the night will give you time to relax and take in its beauty.
I didn’t get the opportunity to stay on Tierra Bomba, unfortunately, but after doing some research, Vista Mare Beach House looks like a nice option for a family. The family suite is reasonably priced, amazingly decorated and has good reviews.
Another option, if your budget allows for it, is Blue Apple Beach with their private bungalows tucked away by a serene beachfront. The laid back atmosphere comes with a pool, private beach and free bike rentals to explore the island.
Barú And Rosario Islands
Isla Baru and Rosario Islands offer similar experiences near Cartagena, so it just depends on which hotel and/or resort you choose.
For a list of recommended hotels with pros and cons of each place, check out this post: Rosario Islands Hotels: The Best Places To Stay With Kids
Many of the resorts on Baru and Rosario Islands also have day trip options available from Cartagena. This is convenient for folks that are looking to only spend the day on the islands.
If you are staying at a hotel, it is good to note if day trips to the resort are an option or not. If it is, be aware that between late morning and about 3:30pm, the beaches and pool will be crowded with people.
This is one of the best reasons to stay on the islands. If you visit on a day trip, there’s no avoiding the crowds, but if you stay at the hotel, the staff and the other guests of the hotel will be the only people you will encounter in the mornings and evenings. This makes it a much more pleasant experience.
Day 3 – Cartagena Itinerary
Day 3 Reservations
- Any activities with your hotel
Spend The Day On The Islands
If you are staying at a hotel with day trippers, plan your afternoon to be away from the hotel. Spend the morning however you would like either relaxing on the beach, taking a refreshing swim in the ocean, a quick paddle around the mangroves, sleeping in or just enjoying a cup of coffee on your deck while taking in the view.
Afternoon Activity Options
Many of your activities will be planned directly through your hotel. This makes it easy to plan your island getaway, but limits you to what they offer.
I would match your hotel to your interests. If you want to pack your day with fun activities, make sure your hotel has these options. Some do and some don’t.
Location is also a consideration. It will be much easier to enjoy snorkeling, the Oceanario (aquarium) and other aquatic activities if you are at a resort in Rosario Islands and not Baru.
However, if you have a car and want to experience the Baru Peninsula and see various different beaches or go to the Aviary, choosing Baru would be best.
Types of activities you might find at your hotel:
- Visit to the Oceanario
- Snorkeling
- Kayaking
- Swimming at the beach
- Pool time
- Stand up paddleboarding
- Scuba diving
- Tour of the mangroves
- Spa treatments
- Boat tour of the Rosario Islands
- Sunset tour of Cholon Bay
- Luminous plankton tour
- Trip to a nearby beach (Playa Blanca or Playa Azul)
- Visit to the National Aviary
Beach And Pool Time
In the late afternoon and evening, plan your pool and beach time. This is when the day trip visitors have left and you get the place to yourself.
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Day 4 – Cartagena Itinerary
Day 4 Reservations
Return To The Walled City Of Cartagena
Arrange your transportation back to Cartagena and check into your new hotel in the city.
La Cancha For Lunch
When in Cartagena, you must try ceviche. Some of the best ceviche I ate while in Cartagena was from La Cancha (picture on the left).
There are two Cancha restaurant locations in the walled city. One in Centro and the other in San Diego.
Both serve mouthwatering ceviche you will never forget. Choose whichever one is closest to you!
Go Shopping For Souvenirs In A Dungeon
Las Bovedas is the best and most unique place to go souvenir shopping, unless you want to buy art. In that case, you should shop in Getsemani where all the best artists are located.
Las Bovedas is unique because all of the shops were former 18th-century dungeons. If shopping is not your thing, it’s also just a neat area to walk around.
For more modern shopping, visit the unique La Serrezuela Mall pictured above. Not only is it a very chic mall, but it was formerly a bull ring that was renovated and now holds special events. It is a beautiful spot to visit and admire.
Walk Cartagena City Walls
Right before sunset, take a walk along Cartagena’s city walls to enjoy the sun’s golden descent.
Enter the main gate in Centro by the clock tower. Follow the streets that align the wall to the left. You will find ramped walkways that lead to the top of the wall. Go to Fortificaciones Cartagena’s website to find more specific directions.
Or if you are starting in San Diego, there are stairs next to Las Bovedas where you went souvenir shopping.
You can walk on the wall all the way from the clock tower to the other side of the San Diego neighborhood. If you have time and energy, I would recommend walking this whole section of the wall. If not, even a part of it is great to experience.
Grab a Club Colombia beer from one of the vendors walking around and grab a seat on the wall and take in the stunning sunset!
Dinner At Carmen
One of the best dinners we had in Cartagena was at Carmen. The first link directs you to their menu. You need to get a reservation well in advance at this restaurant as it is very popular.
Enjoy Caribbean style cuisine that is bursting with delicious flavors set in an intimate setting.
After dinner you can explore the beautiful buildings and plazas in the San Diego neighborhood at night or walk a little more of this section of the wall.
Day 4 – Cartagena Family Itinerary
Day 4 Reservations
Visit San Basilio De Palenque
If you want to dive deeper into the culture and history of Cartagena, a day-trip to San Basilio de Palenque should be on your itinerary. Experience the rich history and culture of the first free African settlement in the Americas, where vibrant traditions, music, and a unique language thrive.
The tours range in length but are going to last much of the morning. The one I linked to is a small group tour that lasts 6 hours. The town is 50 km from Cartagena, so some of that time will be transportation to and from.
Dinner At Mar Y Zielo
Relax by the pool or read a book until dinner. I would recommend making a reservation at Mar y Zielo. It is known for its fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes and coastal-inspired cuisine. It is also a beautiful atmosphere.
Is Cartagena Colombia Safe?
One more note about Colombia that I’m sure is on many families’ minds is safety.
Is Colombia safe for my family?
The simple answer is yes and especially in Cartagena.
When we were there for a month, we never felt scared or intimidated. The people in Colombia are some of the friendliest people we have ever met. You may be asked to buy a lot of things by vendors, but I never felt pressured.
The only scam we saw was the taxis. If you don’t speak very good Spanish and don’t negotiate the price up front, you could be taken advantage of. Always decide on the price before getting in the taxi.
If you don’t know how much it should be, you can also use Uber or Indrive in Cartagena too. You will also not get scammed when using those apps.
Now you should always be smart when traveling. Should you walk around with your wallet or cell phone in your back pocket with a ton of cash inside? No, no you shouldn’t. BUT you shouldn’t ever do that when you travel or are even at home.
Stick to areas of the city that are busy in the evenings such as Bocagrande, Centro, San Diego and Getsemani. These are the areas you will want to be in anyway.
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Summary
Visiting Cartagena with kids is a truly special! You’ve got history oozing from every corner with cool colonial buildings and colorful streets that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook.
Plus what kid doesn’t like to play in the sea. With its many beaches, warm tropical climate, and delicious food, everyone is sure to have a good time. This welcoming place will instantly win you over while you make some incredible memories together!
Please share your stories from your 5 days in Cartagena in the comments. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I wish you the best time on your trip!
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