Around Cartagena Travel Guide : best things to do and see in the area

Cartagena is undoubtedly the most visited city in Colombia by foreign tourists, who most often stop off to visit the historic center with its preserved colonial architecture and a tour of the Rosario islands. But there’s a lot of cool things to do around Cartagena!

Beaches, fishing villages, mangroves, Afro-Colombian culture, music, fishing, crafts, dry tropical forests and wildlife watching, UNESCO World Heritage sites… the region around Cartagena offers a variety of possibilities that merit a post.

Here’s all the information you need to discover the area around Cartagena!

Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.

Contents

1. San Basilio de Palenque

2. Montes de Maria

3. Archipelago San Bernardo

4. Rincon del mar

5. Aviario national

6. Mompox

7. Tolu and Coveñas

8. Barranquilla

9. Archipelago of the Rosary Islands

10. Totumo volcano and Galerazamba saltworks

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• Things to do in Cartagena

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San Basilio de Palenque

What to do around Cartagena

A palenque is a “maroon” village, in other words, a village founded by African populations who have managed to escape their condition as slaves.

During the colonial period and throughout the period of slavery in Colombia, many palenques were built in the country, particularly on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Founded in 1691, San Basilio de Palenque is considered the very first “free” village in South America. It is also the last “palenque” to exist under this name in Colombia.

Even today, the population has preserved the memory of ancestral African traditions and has developed its own language, Palenquero, a Creole combining Spanish lexical bases with contributions from the Bantu languages of Central Africa.

San Basilio is also renowned for its music and gastronomy. All this cultural and intangible heritage was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

In the village’s central square stands the bust of Benkos Bioho, the black “liberator” who founded the village. Another famous San Basilio figure is boxer Kid Pembele, who ruled world boxing for almost a decade in the 1970s.

Every year in October, the Tambores festival is held, one of the highlights of the year in San Basilio de Palenque.

For the record, the palenqueras you see strolling the streets of Cartagena with their distinctive dresses and fruit baskets on their heads traditionally come from the village of San Basilio.

Montes de Maria

What to do around Cartagena

The Montes de Maria are a small mountain range southwest of Cartagena. A long-marginalized territory where the armed conflict claimed many victims, it is gradually transforming itself towards lasting peace, notably through community-based tourism initiatives.

As you know, if you’ve been following our adventures, this is the type of territory and the type of tourism we like to promote, because it’s here that all the benefits that tourism can bring to peace in Colombia lie!

Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Gaiteros de San Jacinto“? One of Colombia’s most famous traditional music groups (we often see them come to France), they play the colors of traditional Cumbia with songs, gaïtas (indigenous flutes) and percussion.

San Jacinto is the capital of the Montes de Maria, and this is your chance to learn all about this ancestral Colombian music. You can learn more about the process of making a gaïta, take part in a percussion workshop, discover local handicrafts famous for their hammocks, and meet the locals who are just waiting for your visit!

But the Montes de Maria is also an unspoilt natural area that’s just waiting to be enjoyed. Around San Jacinto is the Los Colorados Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the best preserved tropical dry forests in the region, where over 280 species of birds and 44 species of mammals have been recorded.

The region is also home to the pre-Hispanic petroglyphs of the Zenu ethnic group, also responsible for the incredible pre-Hispanic constructions of the Canal de Dique.

Archipelago San Bernardo

What to do around Cartagena

The San Bernardo archipelago comprises a dozen islands, including the famous Isla Mucura, Isla Tintipana and Isla Palma. It also includes Santa Cruz El Islote, considered the most densely populated island in the world.

It can be reached from various points along the coast (particularly Tolu and Rincon del mar), but also directly from Cartagena.

If, from Rincon or Tolu, you can visit the islands with “pasadias”, i.e. day trips, from Cartagena the journey is too long (2h) to take advantage of them, bearing in mind that return trips take around 12h due to sea conditions. So you’ll have to sleep on site, which in any case we advise everyone to do, as day trips are not the most pleasant option if you want to laze around the San Bernardo islands.

The islands of the San Bernardo archipelago are very small, with a concentration of hotels with private beaches. The only public beaches at Mucura and Tintipan are taken over by day-trippers between 10am and 3pm. In high season, they are very crowded.

Once again, our advice is to stay locally, so you can enjoy the islands at your leisure.

Rincon del mar

What to do around Cartagena

Rincon del mar is a fishing village 2h30 from Cartagena, which has become a popular destination by word-of-mouth.

We spent 10 wonderful days there in the off-season, and can only recommend that you do the same!

Rincon del mar offers a perfect combination of idleness with calm turquoise seas, good fresh fish restaurants, and great community activities, such as the mangrove conservation project, Afro-Colombian music workshops or Afro turban workshops.

Of course, you can also take part in other sea activities, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, paddle-boarding or observing luminescent plankton. But we preferred to do nothing! From deckchair by the sea to deckchair in the restaurant to deckchair by the sea to deckchair and back again.

From Rincon del mar, it’s easy to reach the islands of the San Bernardo archipelago (Isla Mucura and Isla Tintipan).

Beware: the atmosphere is very different in peak season, during bank holiday weekends and Colombian vacations… As a general rule, we advise you to avoid these periods if you can.

Aviario national

What to do around Cartagena

As you may know, we’re not big fans of zoos and other animal parks. We never promote these places. We always prefer to encourage you to go and see Colombia’s wildlife in its natural environment.

But the aviario nacional de Cartagena (national aviary) is in a class of its own, and we wouldn’t recommend it if it didn’t have a lovely conservation project behind it.

The Cartagena aviary is in fact a sanctuary for birds rescued from animal trafficking or endangered species.

Located on the Baru peninsula and extending over seven hectares, the Aviario Nacional offers an educational trail to discover three typical Colombian ecosystems: tropical forest, ocean coast and desert. There are 170 bird species and some 1,700 specimens.

An interesting outing for families with children!

Mompox

What to do around Cartagena

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mompox is a colonial town located on one of the branches of the Magdalena River south of Cartagena. Surrounded by water, both rivers and marshes, Mompox’s history is closely linked to river navigation in colonial times.

Safer than the port of Cartagena, Mompox was a kind of refuge for the region’s wealthy families. Mompox’s splendor and wealth slowly faded over the centuries, as the river silted up and prevented the arrival of large ships.

Here, you’ll find superb colonial houses and a suspended-in-time atmosphere that many visitors fall in love with. Quieter and less touristy than Cartagena, Mompox allows you to discover the history of the colony, the role of the Magdalena River and colonial architecture in complete tranquillity.

In Mompox, the Cienaga de Pijiño is a must-see. Many species of aquatic birds can be seen here, as well as iguanas and small spectacled caimans.

The town also boasts many local traditions and crafts. These include filigree jewelry, rocking chairs and the famous “Queso de capa”. So many opportunities to meet passionate craftsmen who preserve the memory of local know-how.

Tolu and Coveñas

What to do around Cartagena

Tolu and Coveñas are two well-known Colombian seaside resorts, widely visited during Colombian vacations by people from Antioquia and elsewhere in Colombia.

Like all good resorts, people come here to enjoy the sea, the festive atmosphere and the fish and seafood restaurants.

During the peak season, the hotels and beaches of Tolu and Coveñas are crowded and festive, and therefore not recommended for those looking for a quiet place to relax by the water.

On the other hand, during the off-season and on weekdays, it’s quite possible that you’ll be the only tourists!

The islands of the San Bernardo archipelago are easily reached from Tolu and Coveñas. Enjoy the Bahia de Cispata and various beaches. The further away you are from the city center, the quieter you’ll be.

Barranquilla

What to do around Cartagena

Barranquilla is best known for its Carnival! Every year in February, the city plays host to one of the world’s biggest carnivals, second only to the Rio Carnival. Concerts, parades and events transform the city into one giant party.

Outside this period, it’s true that Barranquilla doesn’t attract many foreign tourists.

However, there are a number of interesting experiences to be had, including a visit to the Barrio del Prado and its beautiful Republican-style houses, as well as the Carnival Museum, where you can discover the history of the city even outside Carnival time.

The new deck along the Río Magdalena is also one of the city’s proudest attractions. Unfortunately, depending on the day, the stench of the river, polluted by thousands of kilometers of pollution throughout Colombia, can spoil the ride.

That said, community tourism initiatives are developing around the Cienaga de Mallorquin, with walks through the mangroves.

Around Barranquilla, you can visit the villages of Galapa and Usiacuri.

In Galapa, you’ll discover wooden handicrafts such as the masks used at the Barranquilla Carnival, and an archaeological museum that tells the story of the region’s pre-Columbian culture (Zenus, Tarona, Mocana).

The village of Usiacuri, meanwhile, is renowned for its Iraca palm handicrafts and colorful houses that tell the story of the village.

Archipelago of the Rosary Islands

What to do around Cartagena

Although Isla Barú and the San Bernardo archipelago are technically part of the Parque Natural del Rosario, most travellers only refer to the islands off Cartagena as the “Rosario Islands” (Islas del Rosario).

These islands are home to some of the most beautiful beaches near Cartagena, but they are all private beaches. Here, we’re very close to the ideal image of a Caribbean paradise: bright sunshine, crystal-clear water with turquoise reflections, and postcard-perfect scenery.

Isla Grande, as its name suggests, is the largest of the archipelago, with a large number of beaches and accommodations. Surrounding it are numerous private islands belonging to wealthy owners, hotels or temporarily accessible to visitors arriving by boat.

There’s one point we’d like to emphasize, because while these islands are the stuff of travelers’ dreams, many return disappointed:

• Avoid day trips that take in several islands and Playa Blanca in record time.
• Instead, book your own accommodation to make the most of your stay.

Another way to make the most of your stay is to hire a boat with skipper. This will give you the freedom to go to the best spots on the Rosaire islands.

Totumo volcano and Galerazamba saltworks

What to do around Cartagena

From Cartagena, here are two day trips that seem to be very popular with tourists: the mud volcano of Totumo and the pink salt flats of Galerazamba.

Galerazamba salt flats

The Galerazamba salt flats have recently appeared on the radar of things to visit around Cartagena, but, frankly, we can’t really recommend them.

Its characteristic color, for which it is renowned, is due to its high salt concentration. In addition, the presence of halophilic marine microalgae produces beta-carotene, which contributes to the intensity of the pink.

Galerazamba has developed in a haphazard way following a boom on social networks showing spectacular photos of a “pink sea” which, seen from a drone, makes you want to discover this place. The video clip directed by Carlos Vives for his song “Indira” also contributed to the fame of the place.

In fact, uncontrolled tourism has led to ecological problems. What’s more, visitor care and on-site information appear to be of poor quality.

Totumo mud volcano

The Totumo mud volcano is an activity that all local tour operators will suggest. It’s one of the most popular activities to do around Cartagena. It’s a small mound, about 15m high, with a crater that can be reached via a wooden staircase to immerse yourself in the mud.

Those familiar with the action of clay on the skin will know its benefits and the pleasant sensation it leaves on the skin.

But the Totumo volcano is also a tourist trap in that the entrance fee doesn’t include any of the services you’ll be offered afterwards… So be warned, you’ll have to pay to wash yourself, for massages, to keep your belongings, to help you get out of the mud, to take photos, to park your car, and so on.

Time in the mud bath is limited to 20 minutes, to give everyone in the huge flow of tourists (especially at weekends and during peak tourist season) the opportunity to “enjoy” it.