Cartagena Activities from Salsa to Snorkelling

October 20, 2026

Advisory for visitors: Colombia is a Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) country in the US State Department system, set on 31 March 2026, and the UK FCDO tells travellers to avoid a list of border and rural regions that includes southern Bolívar Department. Cartagena itself is not on that list. What you are likely to meet there is petty crime: snatched phones and gold chains, drinks laced with scopolamine, and taxis with no licence. Ride only in app or hotel-arranged cars, never take a drink from someone you do not know, and carry less than you think you need. Latest wording: US State Department , UK FCDO .

Cartagena de Indias has plenty to do for every budget. This page sorts the options from free to pricier, with peso amounts that convert at roughly 3,200 COP per US dollar (look up the same-day rate).

Free

Walk the walls. The ramparts are open to the public at no charge, and the Baluarte de Santo Domingo is a free public viewpoint for sunset. Colombia’s tourism site puts the total length of the walls at about 11 km.
Stroll Getsemaní. The murals and Plaza de la Trinidad cost nothing. The plaza gets busy with street food and music in the evening.
Museo del Oro Zenú. Reported to be free, with gold, ceramics and ocarinas, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Monday.

Under about 40,000 COP

Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. 38,000 COP for a foreign adult, 7am to 6pm every day. The tunnels can be slippery. Details on the official page .
Totumo mud volcano. Entry about 20,000 COP, with extra charges for massage and photos, 1 to 1.5 hours from the city.
Live salsa. Quiebracanto lists socials on Wednesdays and Fridays with entry of about 20,000 COP. Café Havana, near Getsemaní, has a nightly live band. Confirm hours and entry before you go.

Mid-range

Mangrove canoe at La Boquilla. Local fishermen paddle dugout canoes through the Ciénaga de la Virgen. Listings show roughly 45 minutes on the water, from about US$60 shared to US$125 private.
Kitesurf lesson. Nativo Kite (La Boquilla) and Pure Kitesurf (Manzanillo del Mar) are listed, with a one-hour private lesson at about US$70 to 76. The windy season runs about December to April.
Chiva party bus. A night tour with music and club entries, listed by one reseller at about 26 euros including entries. Ask what is covered before you pay.

Island snorkelling

Snorkel and dive spots lie around Isla Grande and Isla Tintipán in the Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo national park. Boats depart from the Muelle de la Bodeguita and take 45 minutes to an hour. On top of the tour price, set aside cash for a pier fee (about 18,000 to 34,000 COP), park entry (13,500 COP in the Rosario sector) and the compulsory accident insurance, reported at about 8,800 COP. Without the insurance you cannot land. You will see coral, reef fish and sea turtles.

Rules and habits to know

Drinking alcohol in public places is illegal.
Drink bottled water and skip the ice.
Daytime heat is fierce, so schedule outdoor visits for early or late in the day.

For prebooked trips, try Viator searches for Cartagena activities .