Is Cartagena Safe? 2024 Travel Guide
Welcome to our Cartagena safety guide.
Known for its colorful architecture and festive scenes, Cartagena is by far one of the most popular cities you can visit in all of Colombia.
However many wonder if it’s safe to stay in, and whether some areas are better than others (especially since Colombia as a whole still has somewhat of a reputation from many decades ago).
Cartagena Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Northern Colombia
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Very Easy
- ⏱ Time needed: 3-5 Days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: December-March
Is Cartagena Safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Cartagena as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
Is Cartagena Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: Cartagena is an interesting one when it comes to safety. Firstly it depends on the area you are in, and anything outside of the touristy zone (in the north-west which is from Getsemani to Bocagrande) is not recommended for travelers to stay in.
However within the touristy areas is fine as long as you know what to look out for. Unfortunately criminals do target tourists in these areas given how popular it is, so it’s simply a case of following the tips in this guide and you’ll have no issues.
Where to Stay in Cartagena
This is probably the most important part of our guide, given areas in this city can be really hit or miss. Travelers are best-off staying in the touristy areas of the Historic Centre (within the walls), Getsemani and Bocagrande.
If you’re looking to keep things cheap, then we recommend staying at the Casa del Pozo Boutique Hostel. Here you’ll have a cheap and comfortable dorm bed, and will also be located in the heart of the trendy area of Getsemani. They also include breakfast and have an on-site swimming pool.
Those who are looking for an upgrade without breaking the bank will love the Ganem Suites Cartagena. Here you’ll have your own private apartment equipped with a living room and kitchen (perfect for couples or larger groups), and will be staying within the walled historic center.
Looking for more luxury? Then the Hotel Almirante is the perfect option for you. Here you’ll be staying in a king-sized room overlooking the beach, with an on-site restaurant, spa and swimming pool all to enjoy. You’ll also be located strategically close to the harbor, so you can easily head on day trips to Barú and the Rosario Islands.
Things to do in Cartagena
Within the city there are many attractions worth seeing in Cartagena. Starting with Getsemani we can roam around to see lots of incredible graffiti, which is also a more novel Colombian neighborhood full of culture.
It’s worth spending quite a bit of time in the historic center too, where we can see lots of colorful buildings and stunning architecture. This includes the Plaza Santo Domingo, Catedral Santa Catalina de Alejandria as well as being able to walk along the giant fortified walls that surround the historic center.
There are also some really awesome day trips to do from Cartagena too. This includes the Rosario Islands, which are known for their incredible, crystal-clear waters which you can go snorkeling and diving in. It’s also worth heading to El Totumo Mud Volcano for a nice day of relaxation too – which in total stands at an impressively small 15m in height!
Is Cartagena Safe to Visit?
Cartagena Travel Warnings
The main thing to be wary of in Cartagena is pickpocketing. This unfortunately happens within the touristy areas too, so always be careful and don’t bring anything of great value out with you.
You’ll also want to be careful when leaving the touristy area of Getsemani further east or north (especially at night). These areas can get sketchy pretty quickly, so only go with someone you know well from the area or with an organized tour.
Crime in Cartagena
During the day in Cartagena you’ll likely have zero issues, given areas are policed and that it’s simply too hot for criminals to keep walking around and looking for targets.
However at night tourists can be targeted for theft or even be mugged. It’s important to say that most of the cases involve either drunk tourists, those who look for prostitutes or lurking where you shouldn’t. So simply don’t do those three things above and you’ll likely have no problems.
Safety in Cartagena During the Day
Cartagena is quite safe during the day, and is a really nice place to walk around and explore. Of course there can be the odd case of pickpocketing now and then – so simply make yourself less of a target (by dressing down and not bringing valuables with you) and you’ll be fine.
The main thing to watch out for during the day in Cartagena is actually the heat. Given it can get really hot at times (and isn’t helped with more light reflecting off the concrete), be sure to drink lots of water and take frequent breaks in the shade.
Cartagena Safety at Night
The evening can bring some really fun and memorable times in Cartagena – however you’ll want to be careful given attacks on tourists have been increasing in recent decades.
It’s mostly an odd phone snatch here or there, or pickpocketing other things they can see lying around. However there are more serious incidents of assault or rape too, and especially so with the increasingly used drug of Scopalamine which is put into unsuspecting targets’ drinks. For this reason always watch your drinks, and be wary of overly friendly people that approach you.
Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?
7 Safety Tips for Cartagena
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when heading to Cartagena.
Stay within the Historic Center
Whilst all areas in the extreme north-west of Cartagena are safe, the walled historic center is the safest by far. If you’re a more confident traveler then you can stay in Getsemani, just take care when heading alone out at nighttime.
Drink Lots of Water
By far the most important thing to do when in Cartagena is to stay well hydrated. The temperatures can get really hot here, and it’s common to feel unwell if not drinking enough. So drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, and also take time to rest in the shade too. We recommend learning more on how to safely drink water when in Colombia.
Avoid Bringing Valuables out with you
Unfortunately pickpocketing remains a big issue in Cartagena, and especially so within the touristy zones. For this reason you should avoid bringing out things like your passport or credit cards, given they’ll make you more of a target for theft (not to mention you’ll be fretting more than necessary).
Be Wary of your Nighttime Activities
By this we mean if you plan on taking drugs or meeting prostitutes, given there is a big underground scene of this in Cartagena. We of course can’t stop you if you want to… however just use caution since most issues with tourists arise from these kinds of situations.
Always Keep an Eye on your Drink
This is especially so at nighttime in bars or clubs, given drink spiking is a common issue in these areas of Colombia. For this reason you should never accept a drink from a stranger too, and ideally head out with a trusted friend to keep yourself safe.
Take out Solid Travel Insurance
It’s always a good idea to take out travel insurance before coming to Cartagena. This way you’ll be covered in the unfortunate event that something does happen – and even if it doesn’t you’ll have much more peace of mind.
Don’t Venture out the Touristy Zones alone
These areas include anything further north or east of Getsemani, which is the outskirts of the touristy zone. These areas can be pretty dangerous, and not great for tourists (especially at nighttime). If you must go for whatever reason, it’s best to go with a trusted local or take an Uber there and back in daylight hours.
Cartagena Safety FAQ Guide:
Here are some popular questions our readers ask when it comes to visiting Cartagena:
Is Cartagena Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in Cartagena.
A highly popular city to visit in Colombia, Cartagena really does have it all. Here we can relax on postcard-perfect Caribbean beaches, enjoy wild nightlife scenes and also see some beautiful colonial architecture.
It’s important to take your safety seriously when in Cartagena, given there are risks for tourists here. However if you stay within the areas mentioned in this article and follow our main safety tips, then most likely you’ll have no issues when here.
In this guide we’ve explored the current safety situation in Cartagena, which includes whether it’s safe to visit, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in the Cartagena, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
Be sure to read our backpacking Colombia Itinerary where you can piece together your own perfect trip around this spicy South American nation.
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