Where is Cartagena?

Cartagena is a port city, colonized during the Spanish Colonial era, on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region.

Cartagena's Old City/Ciudad Amurallada, where our wedding is being held, is its main attraction. Particularly the inner walled town, consisting of the historical districts of El Centro and San Diego. It is a real gem of colonial architecture, packed with churches, monasteries, plazas, palaces and mansions with their famous overhanging balconies and shady patios.

The best approach to experiencing the Old City is to wander leisurely, savoring the architectural details, street life and local snacks along the way. See all of our favorite spots to eat and things to do in our below "Things to Do" section!

What’s the weather like?

The average temperature in Cartagena in September ranges from 78 degrees Fahrenheit to 89 degrees Fahrenheit- so let's hope for beautiful weather!!

Currency

The official currency of Cartagena is the Colombian Peso and the symbols are "$," "COP," or "COL$." The meaning of periods and commas when it comes currency are the opposite of that in the US. Example: $15.000 = fifteen-thousand Colombian pesos (about $5.25 USD).

USD and other foreign currency is not accepted.

We recommend pulling out cash at the ATMs in the airport once you land. If you happen to forget, you can find a handful of ATMs around the city. You will always get a better conversion rate at the ATM, so avoid using the currency exchange counters.

You can use your credit cards for many things, however you will want to make sure you also have some cash for taxis, street vendors, etc.

Click here to see the current conversion rates.

Credit cards

Credit cards are accepted in all major shops, hotels, and restaurants in Cartagena. As with many South American countries, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are the most commonly accepted credit cards in Colombia.

To minimize inconvenience, tell your bank or card issuer that you’re going to be travelling abroad to Colombia and the dates you'll be traveling. This will stop them from freezing your card for potential fraud when you’re using it in Colombia.

Most credit cards offer no foreign transaction fees, but we recommend double checking with your bank.

Tipping

There is typically a 10% tip (service) added to your bill automatically. If service is extraordinary, feel free to add some extra pesos. If not, you will not be offending anyone.

If you sign up for any excursion or tour, we recommend you tip your guides. We also recommend tipping your masseuse if you spend time at the spa.

Phone and internet

We recommend checking with your cell phone provider regarding international data plans and roaming charges. If an international plan is not an option, you should turn off "cellular data"/keep your phone in airplane mode once you land to avoid any surprise charges for international roaming, texting, or data usage.

We recommend purchasing a local sim card (TIGO is our favorite) for minutes and data if needed. These can be purchased at the airport or convenient stores in Cartagena. Keep in mind, doing this will give you a local Colombian phone number.

The hotel offers complimentary WiFi.

For Apple users, you can use iMessage and FaceTime while connected to a WiFi network for no charge.

We highly recommend using the app, WhatsApp, for international texting. This is the best way to reach Karoll and Kris throughout the wedding festivities.

Safety

Cartagena is an incredibly safe city and the people are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet! We do not recommend carrying your phone in your back pocket or counting your cash out on the street, as those are easy targets for pickpocketers. Just like traveling to any foreign country, you always want to be aware of your surroundings.