Cartagena in 3 Days: What to Do from the Old City

Three days are enough to fall in love with Cartagena if you stay inside the Walled City: almost everything is within walking distance, and the rest is a short taxi or boat ride away. This is the plan we share with our guests at Casa Bugó, on Calle del Cuartel.

Day 1 · The Walled City on foot

• Morning: start early, before the heat. Walk through the Clock Tower, on to Santo Domingo Square (home of Botero's Gertrudis) and through the streets of balconies and bougainvillea to San Pedro Claver Square.
• Midday: a slow lunch and a break by the pool. At Casa Bugó, the courtyard pool and hammock are the best plan for the sunniest hours.
• Afternoon: climb onto the city walls and follow them to Las Bóvedas, with Colombian handicrafts.
• Sunset: on the walls, looking out to sea. The most beautiful moment of the day in Cartagena.

Day 2 · History and Getsemaní

• Morning: San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the largest fortress the Spanish built in the Americas. Go early and bring water.
• Afternoon: Old City museums such as the Palace of the Inquisition on Plaza de Bolívar or the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenú).
• Evening: Getsemaní, the neighbourhood next door: murals, Plaza de la Trinidad buzzing at dusk, street food and salsa. It is a short walk from the Old City.

Day 3 · Rosario Islands

• Take a boat to the Rosario Islands or Barú: clear water, snorkelling and a seafood lunch by the sea.
• For groups, a private yacht or catamaran is the most comfortable option; at Casa Bugó we can help you arrange it.
• Be back in time for a last dinner in the Old City.

Tips from locals

• When to go: December to April is drier; October and November are rainier but quieter.
• What to wear: light clothes, a hat and sunscreen. It is hot and humid all year round.
• Getting around: everything in the Old City is walkable; take a taxi to the Castle, Bocagrande or the airport.
• Where to stay: inside the walls you live the city at every hour. Casa Bugó is a colonial mansion with 13 rooms, a courtyard pool, a rooftop terrace and breakfast included, steps from everything above.

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