Cartagena, Colombia - Cruise Port
5 Things We Learned About
Cartagena, Colombia, was only known to us from clichés—movies, Juan Valdez. So it was a treat to see the real deal and, as usual, we had surprises in store!
Cartagena is a major port city in Northern Colombia, about 469 kilometers from Panama City. Famous in history as a vital Spanish trade port, today its main attraction is the walled Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a center for culture, food, and activities.
Updates:
Cruise Port
The cruise port is actually a 15-20 minute drive southeast. It’s inside a huge industrial port, with cruise ships isolated in one section, capable of docking five ships. It can seem packed at times with all berths in use, but this layout condenses the cruise dock area and makes it easy to navigate.
1. The Port Is a Zoo—Really!
All passengers need to either board their respective tour buses—even a HoHo bus meets here—or head for the Port Oasis Eco Park, about a 10-minute walk east. Sidewalks are very smooth and flat, with clear markings for pedestrians. Alternatively, you can take the complimentary shuttle (tips appreciated), which can be an air-conditioned relief from the typical Colombian heat and humidity. The ride takes only a few minutes, dropping you off in front of a duty-free store.
For those opting for a do-it-yourself adventure, you have to go through the Eco Park—there’s no other pedestrian exit. That said, Port Oasis is fun and quite lovely. It’s a mini-zoo! Parrots, flamingos, monkeys, and peacocks abound. If you’re early, you can catch them at breakfast. The facility is well appointed with cafes, including the Juan Valdez Cafe, a gift store complex (it’s too big to just call a store), bathrooms, and a money exchange. For your reference, here’s some cafe selections and prices. And coffee, coffee, coffee—it’s Colombia! Everything is very well maintained and clean, quite a challenge with so many critters! This is selfie heaven, but just no touching! Like, I’m not tempted, but some might.
You go through the Aviary to reach the exit, private tour, and cab station, which brings me to…
2. The Cab is King
Yes, you could walk to the Old City in about 30 minutes. Not that it will be an easy 30 minutes. It’s a longer distance than the map suggests. Cabs are everywhere. Really. With limited time, the Colombian heat, and navigating long potholed streets—why do that? Even with traffic, it still beats walking. A ride to the Old City is a flat $20 USD, which makes it a no-brainer if you’re with a group. You may get a cheaper price from the unofficial cabbies outside, but be confident about your negotiating skills. We paid an official licensed port cabbie for peace of mind and the professional manner they conduct business. Dispatchers will call a cab for you, and there are lots of staff at the staging area. It’s a lot less stressful. Look for these shirts when you book.
3. Expect Lots of Street Vendors
This issue is acute in the Old City. While some vendors are more persistent, sometimes interrupting a tour or hanging around your group, the real issue is just the sheer number. It’s an old city with narrow streets and narrower sidewalks. Add the vendors and the tourists squeezed together, and it can make things uncomfortable. But it’s manageable if you know what to expect. Just walk on with a polite “no gracias”—that seems to work fine. However, if you have mobility issues, trying to navigate the sidewalks and dodge vendors at the same time might be a challenge. Be advised.
4. Local Tours Are a Good Call
We’re avid supporters of locally run tours and businesses whenever possible. And since it was our first time here, we found it helpful, and a time saver, to go on a tour to get some context. That’s why we chose an Airbnb Experience/Viator and booked a food tour. Links in the description. This one is run by born-and-bred guides who visit long-standing establishments popular with locals. Pastry at La Esquina Del Pandebono, fruit stands with some varieties we’ve never seen before—a specialty of Colombia—and Chinese empanadas from Restaurante El Polo Norte, a family business for three generations. Among many other places. All with great context and a helpful, professional team of guides. Two points about this tour: Colombians like their cheese—a lot—so be okay with lactose, and come hungry. No matter what, you’ll be stuffed at the end.
5. The Locals Are Warm and Generous
We travel a lot and we’re used to excellent service when people have something to sell. But here, we encountered a genuine warmth towards visitors. No strings attached, just pride in their city and an enthusiasm to share it. They often went beyond their job description. For example, our cabbie wasn’t just a driver but a mini tour guide, a whiz at Google Translate.
Another example is our tour guide. We arranged to be picked up at the same drop-off point in the Old Town, not realizing the tour wasn’t going to end there. We promised our cabbie the return ride, but had no way to contact him to arrange a new pickup. All we had was a picture of his cab driver license number. Our guide took time during the tour to search him out. She asked cabbies on the street, made some calls, and actually found him. She followed up by arranging a pickup and even walked with us to our rendezvous. This was a truly amazing level of care.
