Have you ever wanted to explore South America but didn’t know where to start? Spending three days in Cartagena is the perfect introduction to this incredible continent!

This vibrant Colombian city offers the ideal mix of old and new, city and beach, all steeped in rich culture. Here 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 our family.

Here’s the ultimate way to spend three days in Cartagena for those looking to soak up the best it has to offer!

If you are there for longer, check out my other post on how to spend 5 days in Cartagena. There are also a couple of alternative suggestions for activities sprinkled in if what I outlined is not to your liking.

Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. When clicking on the links and booking travel, I receive a small commission with no extra costs for you. Please note, I only recommend brands I actually use and trust. Please see full disclosure here.

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 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.

If you looking for the best time to visit for the best price, I would aim for September. This is when you will find the lowest cost before the majority of the rain begins!

Where To Stay In Cartagena

If you only have three 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. However, 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. Be aware that you will find more vendors and noise in this are of the city.

For a quieter stay that is still close to the attractions, choose San Diego.

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. You will need to take a taxi to get to many of the attractions in the walled city, though. Keep that in mind.

If you are in Cartagena longer than 3 days, I would recommend staying a couple of nights on a nearby island. You can choose between Tierra Bomba, Baru and the Rosario Islands.

Check out our hotel guide to the Rosario Islands: Rosario Islands Hotels: The Best Places To Stay With Kids

Best Places To Stay in Cartagena

After researching dozens of properties, I’ve found the best hotels for families exploring Cartagena with kids. These accommodations prioritize family comfort with spacious rooms, kid-friendly amenities, kind staff, and convenient locations.

Within The Walled City

Getsemani

• Casa Morales Cartagena by Soho – This boutique hotel offers spacious family suites with separate living areas and exceptionally welcoming staff who go above and beyond to accommodate families exploring the vibrant Getsemani neighborhood.

El Centro

• La Passion by Masaya – Located in the heart of the historic center, this charming hotel features an attentive staff who cater to children’s needs, and easy walking access to Cartagena’s top attractions. No family rooms at this hotel, so you would need to book two rooms.
• Santo Domingo – Centro Histórico – If this two-bedroom apartment is available, it is an excellent option in El Centro. The set up is perfect for families with a small kitchen and a washer and dryer. The price is right too. Only downside is that there is no pool.

San Diego

• Cozy 2 Bedroom Apartment – For a budget friendly option in the quiet San Diego neighborhood, this apartment is a great option for families. It comes with a small kitchen, friendly host and enough space for the kids.
• Hotel Bantu by Faranda Boutique – This stylish hotel offers well-appointed family rooms with flexible bedding arrangements, exceptionally friendly staff who welcome children warmly, and a fantastic rooftop pool in the charming San Diego district.

Bocagrande/Laguito

• Hyatt Regency Cartagena – This beachfront resort excels with expansive, clean family suites, a kids club, multiple pools, and direct beach access in the modern Bocagrande area.
• Hotel Dann – Families appreciate this reliable hotel for its comfortable family rooms with city or sea views, consistently helpful and patient staff, convenient amenities like babysitting services, and excellent location on Bocagrande’s beach with an amazing pool for kids.

On The Islands

If you have more than 3 days in Cartagena, I would highly suggest spending a couple of nights on the islands. Here are our favorite places to stay with kids!

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 expert, featuring excellent amenities like a stunning pool, kids’ club, private beach, and evening entertainment. The only downside is the high price point, making it only ideal for those seeking a premium experience.
• Hotel Playa Manglares – Offers spacious family rooms and convenient car access on Barú. It is 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, like many resorts on Isla Grande, 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 days in Cartagena to fully explore with kids, if not longer. If you are planning on staying on the islands, I would stay for at least 5 days.

Check out this 5 days in Cartagena itinerary here for some additional recommendations.

Note: All of the reservations needed in this itinerary for three days in Cartagena have quick links at the top of each day. 

Day 1 – Cartagena With Kids Itinerary 

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. This is the best way to get to know the city and its layout.

I would suggest booking a walking tour experience with Anita. You can do this through Airbnb experiences. Just click this link to find out more information.

We did this guided tour with our kids and it was great. Anita provides so much history and details in her story telling.

You start your tour in Parque Centenario by searching 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! 

We ate there for dinner one night and Isaac even got to try lobster! He was a fan!

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.

I would highly recommend booking a hotel with a pool if you are visiting Cartagena with kids.

However, 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 life guards 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 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.

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! 😍 It is sure to become one of the most memorable experiences while visiting Cartagena with kids.

Read more about our experience here: Experience the Best Sunset Aboard a Pirate Ship in Cartagena

Dinner In Getsemani

Walk into Getsemani this evening 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.

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Day 2 – Cartagena Itinerary

Day 2 Reservations

• Rosario Islands, Baru or Tierra Bomba Day Trip 
• Dinner Reservations – Carmen

Day Trip To Rosario Islands, Baru or Tierra Bomba

Start day two of this Cartagena itinerary by booking a day trip to 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 and resorts to choose from.

Some of the beaches are private for resort guests only and some are public beaches. I would suggest visiting a private resort if you would like a relaxing day without getting asked to buy goods from vendors constantly.

If that doesn’t both you, visit a picturesque public beach like Playa Blanca to save a little money.

Extra Activity: If you end up renting a car or taking a bus or ferry to Playa Blanca, make a stop at the National Aviary. It is perfect activity for kids and nature lovers, and it is super close by.

Rosario Islands, Baru or Tierra Bomba

The Rosario Islands and Baru are about a 45 minute to 1 hour boat ride from Cartagena. Booking a day trip to a resort can be done through a travel agency or directly with the resort.

We recommend going to Islabela or Isla del Encanto if you choose the Rosario Islands or Baru.

At Islabela, you can enjoy a welcome cocktail before relaxing on the beach. Explore by kayak or take a yoga class if you are there on Saturday or Sunday. Lunch is included as well as the beach chairs and loungers. There are options to go snorkeling and get a massage for an extra charge. 

Isla del Encanto is very similar to Islabela, but has a pool. We chose this resort for the pool! There is a splash area for kids too, but unfortunately our kids weren’t allowed in. It is open for guests that spend the night at the resort only! 

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Tierra Bomba is the closest island to Cartagena and is only a 15 minute boat ride away. 

If you don’t want to be on a boat for over 45 minutes, visiting Makani Luxury Beach Club on Tierra Bomba is a great option. Here you can get the experience of enjoying a private luxury beach club on an island but not travel as far. This one also has a pool!

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 next to 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. 

You can walk on the wall all the way 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. 

Halfway through, grab a Club Colombia beer from one of the vendors walking around and grab a seat on the wall to take in the stunning sunset before continuing on.

Dinner At Carmen

One of the best dinners we had in Cartagena was at Carmen. That first link directs you to their menu if you’d like to take a peak at what they offer. You will enjoy Caribbean style cuisine that is bursting with delicious flavors set in an intimate setting.

Due to its popularity, you need to get a reservation well in advance at this restaurant. 

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 3 – Cartagena With Kids Itinerary

Day 3 Reservations

• Lunch Reservations at  Di Silvio Trattoria
• Dinner Reservations at Movich Hotel Rooftop Bar – 5:30pm

Breakfast Or Coffee In Bocagrande

Head into Boca Grande this morning and grab a coffee and maybe a bite to eat at our favorite coffee shop: Tienda Café Sabor de Montaña Bocagrande. Bocagrade is the modern section of Cartagena and called the Miami of Cartagena by the locals.

Paddleboard Or Kayak In The Bay

After finishing your coffee, walk for about 10 minutes over to Karib Kayak y Paddle Center and rent a kayak or paddleboard for the morning. See the “little Miami” from the water and view it from a different perspective. 

Lunch At Di Silvio Trattoria

Enjoy a nice walk on the other side of the Laguito peninsula where there is an excellent sidewalk along the water.  Eventually, make your way to Di Silvio Trattoria for excellent pizza or pasta. There’s even a small little playground to take the kids to in this area. 

Alternative option: If going out on the water isn’t your thing, visit The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in the morning before it gets hot and busy! The castle is open from 7am – 6pm. They also provide guided tours if you are interested in hearing more about the history. 

If visiting the castle, enjoy lunch at Lunático in Getsemani before returning to your hotel in the afternoon. 

Make your way back to your hotel for a break in the afternoon after lunch. Enjoy the pool or take a nap. After this, make your way to Las Bovedas. 

Souvenir Shopping In Cartagena

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 bullring that was renovated and now holds special events. It is a beautiful spot to visit and admire. 

Sunset And Dinner At Movich Hotel

Make a reservation around 5:30 pm at Movich Rooftop Bar. This is one of the best places to enjoy a Caribbean-inspired dinner, wonderful cocktails, and to watch the sunset over the old city with the modern city in the background.

This rooftop bar becomes a bit of a party after the sun goes down, so bring your dancing shoes. It is a fun spot to dance that’s not too crowded. Even my son Isaac had a blast dancing with me.

Double check sunset times in Cartagena, but they are usually around 6 pm. Afterwards, you will be into the heart of Centro and you can experience the flavor of downtown in the evening.

When we were there, we saw traditional dancing and celebrations in the plazas around the clock tower! 

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. Just say no and walk away.

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.

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 when you are 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 water. 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!

This Cartagena itinerary balances cultural exploration, beach time, and family fun to create the perfect introduction to Colombia.

Please share your stories from your three days in Cartagena in the comments. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I wish you the best time on your trip!