Cartagena : Colombia’s Colorful and Vibrant City

Colombia, Destinations / / Leave a Comment

Perched on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena (Cartagena de Indias) is truly the capital of color and joy. From the moment I set foot in Colombia, everyone shared the same piece of advice: “Don’t you dare leave without seeing Cartagena!” Taking these recommendations to heart after the quiet days in Bucaramanga, I set my sights on this vibrant city.

A 500-Year-Old Story

Founded in 1533 by Spanish explorer Pedro de Heredia, its strategic location and geography made it a vital port city throughout history. Naturally, this fame came at a price, as the city faced constant invasions. After being occupied multiple times by various powers, Cartagena finally escaped this ‘ill-fated’ cycle in 1821 upon gaining independence. Since then, as part of Colombia, it has remained the shining star of the Caribbean.

A busy street scene in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring the iconic yellow Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj) and people walking near the historic stone walls.
Entering the vibrant Old City through the famous Torre del Reloj.

A City Known for Its Humidity

After a long, twelve-hour journey from Bucaramanga, my bus finally pulled into Cartagena. The moment I stepped off, I was greeted by Cartagena’s legendary humidity. I’m not exaggerating! I immediately understood why this city’s stifling; suffocating air is so famous. We’re talking about the kind of humidity that leaves you dazed and drenched after just a few minutes of walking; the kind that makes sleeping without air conditioning or a fan impossible.

Even though I was born and raised in a city known for high humidity, I was genuinely taken aback by what I encountered in Cartagena. Here is a small but vital piece of advice: no matter where you choose to stay in Cartagena, make sure that your room has a well-functioning air conditioner. Otherwise, forget about sleeping; even just breathing becomes a struggle!

Heading to the Cartagena ‘s Center

The intercity bus station is called Terminal de Transporte de Cartagena. Since the terminal is located quite far from the city center, I learned that I needed to catch one of the buses with ‘Centro’ written on them. As soon as I got that information, I started scouting the station. After just a few minutes of searching, a bus with ‘Centro’ displayed on its windshield appeared. I made a quick dash and managed to hop on.

A traditional white and green Colombian public bus (buseta) driving on a city street in Cartagena, with a yellow taxi in the background.
The “Centro” shuttle.

The bus set off toward the heart of the city immediately. After a bumpy, 30-minute ride filled with frequent stops, I finally reached the center. The area was incredibly vibrant and packed with tourists. At that moment, I realized just how lively this city truly is. My only goal now was to get to my hostel as quickly as possible, drop off my bags, and start exploring Cartagena’s famous colorful streets.

Getting Lost in Cartagena ‘s Colorful Streets

After spending a few days in Cartagena, I realized that my favorite thing about the city was its vibrant, colorful streets. They were always lively and full of energy, and visually stunning as well. Colorful colonial-era houses, walls decorated with murals, and locals who genuinely enjoy spending time outdoors all give Cartagena’s streets a unique and captivating atmosphere. During my time in the city, there were a few streets that I especially fell in love with. Here is a list of streets you must see when visiting Cartagena…

1. Getsemaní Neighbourhood

Getsemaní is the area where you can most clearly experience Cartagena’s colorful daily life and artistic spirit. As you walk through its streets, you’ll quickly lose track of time.

  • Calle de la Magdalena (Umbrella Street): One of the most photographed streets in Cartagena, famous for its colorful umbrellas covering the sky. Shades of blue, pink, and purple usually dominate the scene.
  • Callejón Angosto (Narrow Alley): Another umbrella-filled street with a warm, intimate atmosphere, decorated by locals with flower pots and plants.
  • Calle de la Sierpe: Large and meaningful murals define this street. Here, you can see artworks that reflect Cartagena’s history and culture. The section decorated with hanging flags is a visual treat on its own.
  • Calle San Juan: With its brightly painted houses, this street offers a true visual feast.
Wide-angle selfie of a man in a narrow Cartagena street with white colonial buildings and green vines.
A lively street in Cartagena with colorful yellow and blue buildings, local vendors, and pedestrians.
People walking through a wide, open plaza in Cartagena flanked by historic stone and white arched buildings.
A man taking a selfie in a narrow street framed by colorful houses, with a cathedral tower visible in the distance.
Close-up of an orange colonial house in Cartagena with a purple balcony and thick green vines.
A colorful wall mural in Cartagena depicting a Palenquera woman carrying fruit on her head.
A row of small houses painted in various bright colors along a narrow street in Cartagena.
A weathered wall covered in expressive graffiti and murals with people walking past in Cartagena.
An orange colonial building with green shutters and balconies overlooking a quiet street with a parked car.
Wide-angle selfie of a man in a narrow Cartagena street with white colonial buildings and green vines.
A lively street in Cartagena with colorful yellow and blue buildings, local vendors, and pedestrians.
People walking through a wide, open plaza in Cartagena flanked by historic stone and white arched buildings.
A man taking a selfie in a narrow street framed by colorful houses, with a cathedral tower visible in the distance.
Close-up of an orange colonial house in Cartagena with a purple balcony and thick green vines.
A colorful wall mural in Cartagena depicting a Palenquera woman carrying fruit on her head.
A row of small houses painted in various bright colors along a narrow street in Cartagena.
A weathered wall covered in expressive graffiti and murals with people walking past in Cartagena.
An orange colonial building with green shutters and balconies overlooking a quiet street with a parked car.
Wide-angle selfie of a man in a narrow Cartagena street with white colonial buildings and green vines.
A lively street in Cartagena with colorful yellow and blue buildings, local vendors, and pedestrians.
People walking through a wide, open plaza in Cartagena flanked by historic stone and white arched buildings.
A man taking a selfie in a narrow street framed by colorful houses, with a cathedral tower visible in the distance.
Close-up of an orange colonial house in Cartagena with a purple balcony and thick green vines.
A colorful wall mural in Cartagena depicting a Palenquera woman carrying fruit on her head.
A row of small houses painted in various bright colors along a narrow street in Cartagena.
A weathered wall covered in expressive graffiti and murals with people walking past in Cartagena.
An orange colonial building with green shutters and balconies overlooking a quiet street with a parked car.
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2. The Historic Center: El Centro & San Diego

Cartagena’s walled historic center is one of the best places to see the most vibrant examples of colonial architecture. Colorful facades, flower-filled balconies, and historical details waiting at every corner make wandering through this area an absolute pleasure.

  • Calle de Don Sancho: A stylish street lined with yellow and orange buildings, offering a beautiful view of the iconic Cartagena Cathedral.
  • Carrera 9: Each house wears a different vibrant shade while bougainvillea spills from the balconies, making this one of Cartagena’s most colorful spots.
  • Calle 38 & Carrera 8: A charming area dominated by pastel tones, especially houses with pink and turquoise window frames.
  • Plaza de los Coches: A romantic square reflecting a more noble past, lined with colonial buildings painted in various colors.

Cartagena Independence Day Celebrations

One of the liveliest times to visit Cartagena is during the second week of November, when the city celebrates Independence Day. I was lucky enough to experience these celebrations during my trip, and it was truly unforgettable.

Parades, dance performances, street parties, beauty pageants, and countless other events take place across the city. The grand parade on November 12th marks the most vibrant moment of the celebrations. Thousands of people gather along the streets and city walls to watch dance schools march by in colorful costumes.

A traveler posing with a local woman in a colorful traditional dress during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with a lively street parade and historic yellow colonial buildings in the background.
Colorfully dressed performers in snake-themed costumes marching during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with musicians, spectators, and packed grandstands in the background.
Dancers wearing gold costumes and tall decorative headpieces perform during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with confetti in the air and a cheering crowd behind barriers.
Dancers in bright orange traditional dresses and musicians parade through the streets of during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with crowds watching and a seaside stage in the background.
A large, jubilant crowd in Cartagena, Colombia, celebrating Independence Day while being sprayed with white foam. Many people are wearing yellow Colombian football jerseys.
Participants in a parade in Cartagena, Colombia, wearing traditional green and yellow costumes. Women balance baskets of fruit on their heads while men wear "sombrero vueltiao" hats.
A parade in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring dancers in elaborate red and black costumes. Women wear large, shimmering red dresses, while a man in a red suit and mask walks with a staff.
A colorful parade float in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring beauty pageant contestants waving from a platform and a giant, smiling cartoonish figure of a man in a green cap.
Smiling dancers in vibrant red, lime green, and yellow traditional costumes during a parade in Cartagena. A man in a red and green satin shirt and a traditional hat stands in the center.
A long shot of the historic stone walls of Cartagena, Colombia, during Cartagena Independence Day. A dense line of spectators sits along the very top edge of the high wall, overlooking a green field.
A street food vendor in Cartagena, Colombia, grilling various meat and potato skewers on a small outdoor grill during Independence Day. Colorful umbrellas provide shade for the stall.
A traveler posing with a local woman in a colorful traditional dress during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with a lively street parade and historic yellow colonial buildings in the background.
Colorfully dressed performers in snake-themed costumes marching during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with musicians, spectators, and packed grandstands in the background.
Dancers wearing gold costumes and tall decorative headpieces perform during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with confetti in the air and a cheering crowd behind barriers.
Dancers in bright orange traditional dresses and musicians parade through the streets of during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with crowds watching and a seaside stage in the background.
A large, jubilant crowd in Cartagena, Colombia, celebrating Independence Day while being sprayed with white foam. Many people are wearing yellow Colombian football jerseys.
Participants in a parade in Cartagena, Colombia, wearing traditional green and yellow costumes. Women balance baskets of fruit on their heads while men wear "sombrero vueltiao" hats.
A parade in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring dancers in elaborate red and black costumes. Women wear large, shimmering red dresses, while a man in a red suit and mask walks with a staff.
A colorful parade float in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring beauty pageant contestants waving from a platform and a giant, smiling cartoonish figure of a man in a green cap.
Smiling dancers in vibrant red, lime green, and yellow traditional costumes during a parade in Cartagena. A man in a red and green satin shirt and a traditional hat stands in the center.
A long shot of the historic stone walls of Cartagena, Colombia, during Cartagena Independence Day. A dense line of spectators sits along the very top edge of the high wall, overlooking a green field.
A street food vendor in Cartagena, Colombia, grilling various meat and potato skewers on a small outdoor grill during Independence Day. Colorful umbrellas provide shade for the stall.
A traveler posing with a local woman in a colorful traditional dress during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with a lively street parade and historic yellow colonial buildings in the background.
Colorfully dressed performers in snake-themed costumes marching during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with musicians, spectators, and packed grandstands in the background.
Dancers wearing gold costumes and tall decorative headpieces perform during Cartagena Independence Day parade, with confetti in the air and a cheering crowd behind barriers.
Dancers in bright orange traditional dresses and musicians parade through the streets of during Cartagena Independence Day celebrations, with crowds watching and a seaside stage in the background.
A large, jubilant crowd in Cartagena, Colombia, celebrating Independence Day while being sprayed with white foam. Many people are wearing yellow Colombian football jerseys.
Participants in a parade in Cartagena, Colombia, wearing traditional green and yellow costumes. Women balance baskets of fruit on their heads while men wear "sombrero vueltiao" hats.
A parade in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring dancers in elaborate red and black costumes. Women wear large, shimmering red dresses, while a man in a red suit and mask walks with a staff.
A colorful parade float in Cartagena, Colombia, featuring beauty pageant contestants waving from a platform and a giant, smiling cartoonish figure of a man in a green cap.
Smiling dancers in vibrant red, lime green, and yellow traditional costumes during a parade in Cartagena. A man in a red and green satin shirt and a traditional hat stands in the center.
A long shot of the historic stone walls of Cartagena, Colombia, during Cartagena Independence Day. A dense line of spectators sits along the very top edge of the high wall, overlooking a green field.
A street food vendor in Cartagena, Colombia, grilling various meat and potato skewers on a small outdoor grill during Independence Day. Colorful umbrellas provide shade for the stall.
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There’s also a playful side to the celebrations 😄 Many young people roam the streets spraying foam and throwing colorful powder at each other. While walking through the event areas, I got my fair share of foam and color too. No getting mad—if you’re there, it’s all part of the experience.

The celebrations continue well into the night. In the city center, hundreds of people gather at parties, dancing until the early morning hours to energetic music.

The Shrimp Cocktail Stand with the Giant Sombrero Vueltiao

Before leaving Cartagena, there’s one more fun stop I have to mention—especially for food lovers curious about local flavors. On Avenida Venezuela, you’ll find a small stand called Ostreria del Mar Rojo, which is definitely worth a visit.

A traveler enjoying a seafood cocktail in front of a giant hat-shaped food stall called "Ostreria del Mar Rojo" in Cartagena, Colombia.
Enjoying a fresh shrimp cocktail at Ostreria del Mar Rojo in Cartagena!

The kiosk, famous for its seafood since 1964, is topped with a massive replica of the Sombrero Vueltiao, Colombia’s national symbol. In 2015, it even earned a Guinness World Record for the largest shrimp cocktail, weighing an incredible 1,320 kilograms. The record-breaking cocktail included hundreds of kilos of shrimp, ketchup, onions, lemon juice, mayonnaise, vinegar, and vegetables.

A close-up of a fresh shrimp cocktail in a white cup, placed on a metal counter with other cups showing prices like 'Bomba' and 'Triple' at a street food stall in Cartagena
Shrimp cocktail at Ostreria del Mar Rojo.

Of course, you won’t be ordering a cocktail that size 😄 But enjoying a small cup of this famous shrimp cocktail is still a memorable and tasty experience.

Tierra Bomba Island

If you’re planning to go swimming in Cartagena—and I highly recommend that you do—you have two main options: the beaches in Bocagrande or a trip to Tierra Bomba Island.

Tierra Bomba is located right in the middle of Cartagena Bay, almost acting as a natural divider between the bay and the Caribbean Sea. With its hotels and beach clubs, the island is very popular and always lively.

There are several beaches on the island, including Anaho Beach, Bomba Beach, Palmarito Beach, Feniz Beach, Palmera Beach, and Abello Beach. Most of them offer sunbeds, umbrellas, food, and drinks, making it easy to spend a full relaxing day there.

Getting to Tierra Bomba is fairly easy. You can join a tour, use beach club transfer services, or take local fishing boats departing from the beach behind Nuevo Hospital de Bocagrande in the Bocagrande area.
If you arrange transportation on your own, be sure to negotiate the price and clearly agree on return time and pickup location. Prices typically range between 8,000 and 10,000 COP.

What Stayed with Me

For me, Cartagena is one of Colombia’s absolute must-see destinations. The city’s vibrant life, the lingering traces of the colonial era, pleasant beaches, and that unmistakable Caribbean breeze make for a truly unforgettable experience. And, of course, there’s that unforgettable humidity.

If you’re hungry for more Cartagena inspiration, the Colombia Travel website is a great place to look!

A man smiling in front of a panoramic view of Bucaramanga, Colombia, with green mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

Uncovering Bucaramanga ’s Secrets: The Magical Girón and Plaza Central

After an adventurous month-long journey through Venezuela, I finally set my sights on Colombia. Crossing the border was far from easy; the hurdles I faced and the stories from that crossing deserve a chapter of their own. But for now, I’ll set those tales aside and take you straight to my first Colombian stop: the vibrant city of Bucaramanga.

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