🇨🇴 Cartagena, Colombia — Cruise Port Guide
A walled Caribbean jewel of colonial balconies, bougainvillea and salsa — one of South America's most beautiful and best-preserved old cities.
Updated September 2026
Quick facts
Getting ashore
When to visit Cartagena
Best December-April (dry season) for lower humidity and less rain; it's hot and humid year-round with a rainy season May-November.
Getting back to the ship on time
Because the port sits far from the walled city in heavy traffic, independent travelers should book a taxi with a phone number or agree on a fixed return time/fare in advance, since traffic delays getting back are common and the ship will not wait.
All-aboard is ship's time — check it in the daily programme, and set your watch to it.
Things to do in Cartagena
Walled Old Town walk
Wander colonial plazas, balconies and centuries-old churches.
Castillo San Felipe
Climb the largest Spanish fortress built in the Americas.
Getsemaní street art
Murals, music and cafés in the city's creative quarter.
Rosario Islands boat trip
Sail to coral-reef islands for swimming and white sand.
Palace of the Inquisition
Colonial tribunal building turned history museum.
Sunset on the ramparts
Walk the old city walls as the sky turns pink over the sea.
Popular excursions
Walled City & San Felipe Castle
Colonial old town plus the mightiest Spanish fortress in the Americas.
Getsemaní & Old Town Walking Tour
Street art, flower-draped balconies and plaza life with a local guide.
Rosario Islands Beach Break
Speedboat to coral-fringed island beaches off Cartagena.
What to eat
- Arepa de huevo
- Ceviche de camarón
- Posta cartagenera
- Coconut rice
- Patacones
Weather by month
Best time to visit: Dec–Apr (dry season)
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87° | 75° | 0.2" |
| Feb | 87° | 75° | 0.1" |
| Mar | 88° | 76° | 0.1" |
| Apr | 88° | 78° | 0.9" |
| May | 89° | 79° | 3.5" |
| Jun | 89° | 79° | 3.5" |
| Jul | 89° | 78° | 3.3" |
| Aug | 89° | 78° | 4.6" |
| Sep | 89° | 78° | 5" |
| Oct | 88° | 77° | 6.5" |
| Nov | 88° | 77° | 5.2" |
| Dec | 87° | 76° | 1.5" |
Local phrases
A little history
Cartagena's walled Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built to defend against pirates for over two centuries.
Palenqueras — women in bright dresses balancing fruit bowls on their heads — descend from San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African town in the Americas.
Gabriel García Márquez lived and set scenes here; his ashes rest in the old city.
Champeta, a local Afro-Colombian music and dance style, fills Getsemaní's streets at night.