THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE TO CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

One of the many beautiful door ways in Cartagena, Colombia

If you are lucky you will one day find a place that fills you with wonder and happiness. A place that presents beauty around every new corner, can inspire you, and can make you feel a connection. For me, this place was Cartagena, Colombia.

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena is truly Colombia’s hidden jewel. It is a vibrant city full of colonial history, beautiful architecture, and warm, friendly people. It is a city that can both charm and surprise you. A place that feels so real, so well preserved, and so authentic to its history and culture. It is a place that I dreamed for many years to one day visit, but no matter how much research or prep I did prior to going, I could never of imagined how truly beautiful and wonderful my experience would be.

This past October I spent four amazing days in Cartagena with Copa Airlines and wished I could of stayed on longer. If you are planning a trip to Cartagena, I am both super jealous and excited for you! If I ever have the opportunity to organize and curate a trip back with a group of my friends, here is a list of places, activities, and restaurants that I discovered and would want to share with them.

Things To Do In Cartagena, Colombia

Entrance to The Walled City

The Walled City (or the Old City) - One of the most beautiful and historic parts of Cartagena is the walled city (essentially a city within the city). During the colonial era a wall was built around the wealthy area of the city to protect the homes of Spanish aristocrats and wealthy businessman from Caribbean pirates. Today the wall still stands and is an important symbol of not just the city but of the entire country. Most of the architecture in the walled city has been well preserved or restored and features bright colourful building facades with large beautiful doors and sprawling bougainvillea trees. It is completely walkable, pedestrian-friendly and is where you will find some of the most beautiful boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops.

If you can afford to stay in one of the many beautiful boutique hotels located in the walled city I definitely recommend it. If you can not, I would still try and jump on a walking tour or take time over the course of you trip to explore and hang out in the area. If you are a photography lover there are endless opportunities to capture beautiful photos in this area and you will absolutely love it!


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Getsemani Neighbourhood - Once a predominantly poor neighbourhood, Getsemani was the epicentre for the Colombian independent revolution in Cartagena. Today it is known as the trendy, bohemian part of town where you can find lots of hostels, bars, cafes, and young people hanging out. Located only a ten minute walk from the Walled City, the Gatsemani neighbourhood also features numerous beautiful, vibrant, murals that add further charm to the area. Since the area is both smaller and cheaper than the walled city, it is a perfect option for those money conscious travellers.

Cartagena Restaurants

While not entirely sure what to expect, the quality of dining options in Cartagena was definitely a pleasant surprise for me. Since the city is located on the Caribbean coast menus are full of fresh seafood options as well as meat, but prices for delicious, creatively executed dishes felt quiet reasonable.

Carmen - this was the first restaurant we went to during our four days in Cartagena and it may have spoiled me in terms of setting the bar for all other dining experiences while in town. The restaurant itself had beautiful tile floors, a small outside courtyards with tables and chairs, an enclosed bar area, and another enclosed and air conditioned seating area (a refuge for us from Cartagena’s heat and humidity). The restaurant offered contemporary cuisine inspired by local flavours, executed using modern preparations. The meal we had here was unbelievable and the presentation was amazing. If you are looking for a truly elevated dining experience while in Cartagena - this is it! After lunch I read over the menu once more and noticed that a five course tasting menu was available with wine pairing for the equivalent of approximately $110 CAD! For the quality of food and service you are getting that felt like a steal!

Restaurante Candé - Although Carmen was an amazing meal my favourite dish while in Cartagena was actually at a restaurant called Candé. Like Carmen, the cuisine at the restaurant was inspired by traditional Colombian flavours and both the service and presentation were amazing. Here I had the fresh fish cooked in coconut milk and served on a bed of veggies, which was so delicious I couldn’t stop eating it even after I was already full.

Alquimico - While in Cartagena I went out to a bar in the walled city called Alquimico that made delicious cocktails. I absolutely loved the vibe here and they had a DJ spinning everything from Calvin Harris to Lauren Hill. The bar spans over three floors with a rooftop patio at the very top. If you are looking for a cool place to go out at night where both visiting and local young professionals hang out - this is it! I will definitely be taking my friends here when we go, it’s just that cool.

Amazing Hotels In Cartagena

Rooftop Cabana’s at Tcherassi Hotel and Spa

Tcherassi Hotel and Spa - I had the pleasure of staying at this beautiful boutique hotel and spa for the first couple nights of my trip in Cartagena and absolute loved it. Located in a restored colonial building within Cartagena’s walled city the hotel is owned and designed by famous Colombian clothing designer Silvia Tcherasii. Tcherassi Hotel and Spa perfectly combines casual luxury and modern design together to create a beautiful, bright and spacious 42 room boutique hotel. I absolutely loved staying here and I totally recommend it to anyone looking for contemporary accommodations while in Cartagena. The hotel also has a great rooftop pool with a handful of cabanas as well as a bar and restaurant area - all of which offer incredible views of the city, so make sure to check those out. Also breakfast is complimentary with your stay making it even more worth the price tag (starts around $230 CAD a night for a Superior Room).

Hotel Casa San Agustin - On my final night in Cartagena I moved to another hotel called Hotel Casa San Agustin that was actually jaw-droppingly beautiful! Also located in the heart of the walled city this boutique hotel is the ultimate place to stay for those looking for luxury accommodations while in Cartagena. The hotel spread across three exquisitely restored 17th century Colonial homes and is comprised of only 31 rooms. The hotel has a Hammam Spa on site and offers complimentary bicycles, mini bar (replenished daily), breakfast, and cocktails and coffee in the library every day. My room was large and decorated in an authentic Colombian style, which being able to experience even for just one night, made me fall further in love with Colombia, its culture, and all it’s charm. Room rates start at around $500 CAD a night which seems like a pretty hefty price tag if you are travelling solo, but if you are going with a group of 4-5 people you can get a suite for $800-900 CAD a night which can be a more palatable alternative.

Things To Try in Cartagena

Coffee Tasting - Colombia is a huge exporter of Coffee which is why when you are visiting Cartagena (or really anywhere in Colombia) you HAVE TO do a coffee tasting. I did a tasting at Cafe San Alberto which is a satellite store front and cafe for the San Alberto coffee farm located in Buenavista, in the Quindío province of Colombia. During the 40 minute coffee tasting I learned about Colombia’s coffee regions, growing cycle, different coffee taste profiles, and brewing methods. Coffee tastings at Cafe San Alberto cost approximately $50 CAD per person and was definitely a culture experience I was happy I did not skip out on.

Salsa Dancing - One of the funnest activities I did while in Cartagena was Salsa dancing! I am not an experienced dancer but doing a 90 minute beginners class at Crazy Salsa was so fun and went by so fast! They have drop-in classes (schedule available online) for a variety of dances, available at all different levels, and intro classes start at the equivalent of only $11 CAD. The dance studio can accommodate up to 20 people in the largest room, but if you are a beginner looking for a more private lesson or travelling with a group of people, they offer packages to easily accommodated your group’s needs and/or individual skill level.

Sailing - Since you are on the Caribbean coast, getting out on the water is a must. While there we took a boat to checking out one of the islands off the coast of Cartagena called Baru and it was so nice to be on the water. Sunset Sailing Cartagena is a boat rental company I got to experience while in Cartagena and they offer everything from day tours to weekly rentals on beautiful sail boats.

Flying to Cartagena

With flights out of both Montreal Trudeau and Toronto Pearson, Copa Airlines makes travelling to South America easy and affordable for Canadians. I flew Copa Airlines to Colombia via Toronto Pearson and thoroughly enjoyed my inflight experience. The staff were friendly, the plane was on time, the seats were big and comfortable, and the food that was served was actually really good! The best part about flying with Copa Airlines though is their ‘24-hour layover in Panama’ offer that is available at no extra cost - an offer I completely took them up on. If like me, you are interested in visiting not just one but two countries on your next trip to South America, this is the perfect bonus offer for you. Panama has some beautifully renovated boutique hotels and I definitely recommend checking out the old city - a perfectly walkable area with lots of cafe’s, stores and restaurants to keep you entertained during your quick 24 hours visit.


Lady dancing outside the entrance to The Walled City, Cartagena

One thing I am also very happy to report is that Cartagena is very LGBT friendly. If you are traveling with friends who are gay, there are gay bars scattered throughout the city of Cartagena.

In terms of safety, I never felt scared, or threatened, or unsafe while in Cartagena in any way, even at night while out partying.

If you have any questions regarding my trip, please feel free to hit me up in the comment section below. If you are heading to Colombia I hope you have an amazing time and I’d love to hear your feedback on any of the experiences/places I recommend if you do end up trying them yourself! Safe travels!


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Additional Photos From My Trip


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PURA VIDA IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica has always been a place I have wanted to go. My brother, having studied abroad there for a year told me tales of beautiful beaches, spending the weekends surfing, gorgeous tropical weather, and diverse ecosystems with lots to explore and discover. So as 2017 wound down I decided that 2018 was going to be the year I make as many of my travel dreams come true. So I started planning… Costa Rica was definitely at the top of my list and lucky enough Sunwing was going to help me make it happen. My plan - head to Costa Rica as a travel photojournalist and content creator, and fulfill my dream to visit Costa Rica all the while sharing my experience with you guys - FINALLY!

The morning of our flight we woke up to a massive snow fall! Getting to the airport was going to be more of a trek then we imagined and my stomach started to wrench at the thought that we may miss our flight - or worse it would be cancelled. Before I could drown in negative thoughts I decided to bite the bullet, pay the uber surge and just make my way as fast as I could to the UP Express.  Thankfully we arrived at the airport with 20 minutes to spare and with the help of Sunwing's staff and our 'Sunwing Elite' status we were processed and on our way within minutes! The flight of course was NOT cancelled and after a little de-icing we were on our way. The flight itself went very smooth, the in-flight crew very friendly, and after aecend we were offered a glass of sparkling wine - don't mind if I do.


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Tamarindo, a small town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica is located on the Pacific coast of the country. What I didn’t know when I landed was that it was also a little over an  hour drive away from the airport. Lucky enough Sunwing, arranges transfers for their customers FOR FREE to their hotels when booked as a package! Having never flown with Sunwing before and having never in my previous travels ever seen this happen (or had this service available to me), I thought it was genius! Usually when I arrive to a destination I have to pay out-of-pocket for transportation via either a shuttle service or a taxi just to get to my hotel/final destination - but not this time!

Finding the bus was easy and soon enough we were pulling up to my hotel just in time for dinner. Since Tamarindo is a small town they really only have one big hotel - the Tamarindo Diria - a beautiful 3.5 star (completely underrated in my opinion) hotel with the most gorgeous beach front views, and the only hotel with a private garden and direct access to the beach! That night I was so excited to be in Costa Rica, explore the hotel, and check out the small town of Tamarindo, I hardly slept!

Waking up to the sounds of the ocean is always nice but waking up to it and seeing the amazing panorama view of the beach right from the comforts of my large room balcony was breathtaking. Sitting there drinking my Costa Rican coffee I would see people slowly starting to claim their beach chairs, locals going for morning walk along the beach with their dogs, sailboats anchored in the distance and a group of horses available to ride roaming up and down the beach. It was perfect. It was Pura Vida!

With my last sip of coffee I quickly got ready, went down to check out the hotel and familiarize myself with the area. The small town of Tamarindo has a main strip that runs parallel to the ocean in addition to maybe two or three small streets that splinter off of it. It’s a small town, but with tons of energy. The Tamarindo Diria is located smack in the middle of the main strip and straddles either side of the road. One side (the one I was staying at) had beach-front hotel views, beach access and a smaller (but not small by any means) pool. This side was dubbed the ‘Sunset Village’. On the other side of the road you have the ‘Lagoon Village’ and the ‘Tropicana Village’. The ‘Lagoon Village’ has the most beautiful (and very large) pool oasis, a grotto, a kid friendly pool, and a swim up bar. The “Tropicana Village’ is an ‘adults only’ area with their own quiet adults only pool and lounge bar. There are hotel rooms available in all three villages, it just depending on what kind of vacation you are more into. The Lagoon and Tropicana side however, also features condos, tennis courts, shops and a casino! Oh did I also mention that the hotel also has five restaurants and bars? Weather you want pizza, seafood, steak or explore typical Costa Rican cuisine they’ve got you covered. No matter what side of the hotel you end up on, you will have access to everything!

After familiarizing myself with the hotel and running around to take some pretty pictures, it was time for a beach walk. The sand on Playa Tamarindo is made up of packed sand making it very easy to walk on with very little effort. The beach itself is very wide and the water is warm, almost like a giant salt water bathtub. Although you see many people out in the water enjoying surfing, the progression in depth is very gradual making walking out into the water very easy. This combined with the fact that there wasn’t really any undertow or sea life made it seem super safe for kids, beginner swimmers, or even novice surfers like myself! The beach is public domain and therefore you can walk around with ease, dropping in and out of different beach-front bars and restaurants, and mingling with locals as you go along. At sunset don’t be surprised if you start to hear the sounds of live music echoing from these small bars and restaurants - definitely a great way to end the day and make you feel totally decompressed. You are on vacation after all!

One thing I noticed about Tamarindo is all the expats! Finding someone who speaks English is not difficult at all. As a matter of fact all the menus are available in English even at the restaurants off the resort. If you are big into sports, Tamarindo has an American sports bar called Sharky’s so you never have to worry about missing the big game. Although the Hotel Tamarindo Diria is beautiful I definitely recommend wandering around Tamarindo. I always felt completely safe and besides the local restaurants (Green Papaya and Falafel Bar were two we loved and frequented more then once), there is a night market on Thursday from 6-10 pm where you can buy artisan products, food, drinks etc. that I definitely recommend. If you are looking for a place to go out there is also a small disco/nightclub called Crazy Monkey. Located less than 500 meters from the hotel it has two dance floors, one with a live band that plays Salsa music and one with a DJ that playing hip hop. On Friday nights Crazy Monkey gets really busy. Packed with tourists and locals alike, it’s a really nice way to immerse yourself in the vibe of Tamarindo.

If you have seen the surf documentary The Endless Summer II you would know that Tamarindo is famous for surfing. With plenty of surf shops to choose from there is no need to bring your own board to catch some waves. On top of having your pick from a handful of surf shops that rent boards, the beach also has lots of instructors equipped with boards ready to help you ride your first Costa Rican wave. Having taken surfing lessons in the past, I headed over to Surf Culture to rent a board for the day, which only cost me $10. The shop is located less than a 5-minute walk from the hotel and the staff are very knowledgeable. They can help you with everything from finding the perfect board for your skill level and height, best spots to surf, and even some friendly tourism advice like the best place to go out that night and where to eat!

As I said in the beginning Costa Rica has so much to offer in the way of exploration and discovery. Towards the end of our trip my boyfriend and I spent an entire day in a small town of Bueno Vista with Sunwing Experiences. We went ziplining, had a Costa Rican coffee tasting, went horseback riding, tried volcanic mudding, hung out in hot springs, and to finish the day off, did a hike to a magnificent waterfall. The entire tour was arranged through Sunwing and can even be booked on the flight over! Bueno Vista is about 1.5 hours away from the hotel Tamarindo Diria, but Sunwing Experiences arranges transportation there and back and provides lunch. So if you are looking to get out of the hotel and really experience Costa Rica I definitely recommend trying the Bueno Vista Tour. With about 11 hours from pick up to drop off it’s definitely a jam-packed day of fun activities and totally worth every penny.

I know this was a long post but I would be doing the trip a disservice if I didn’t give you the full scoop. Traveling to Costa Rica was everything I imagined and more. It’s not often I find a destination that I want to go back to so quickly but this is one country I am eager to explore more of. If you ever get a chance to go or are thinking about doing a trip with your loved one, family, or even a big group of friends, I definitely recommend Tamarindo, Costa Rica and for ease, great tour partnerships, and price value, Sunwing.


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