Transportation in Cartagena

Cartagena Transportation Guide

Getting to Cartagena

Travellers reach Cartagena mostly by plane. A great way to get to the city is by cruise ships or boats. Numerous cruise ships, private yachts and boats dock at the ports in Cartagena; bringing passengers from far and wide. Road connectivity is good too; highways connect Cartagena to other parts of Colombia and to neighbouring countries.

By Air

Cartagena's Rafael Nunez International Airport, located 3 km from the Old Town, is one of the biggest and busiest in the region. National and international carriers operate frequent flights to and from the city.

There are regular international flights from Panama City, Miami, Caracas, Lima and Fort Lauderdale. Daily services are there from Bogota, Cali, San Andres, Medellin and other major cities in Colombia.

From the airport to the city there are local buses, taxis and collectivos. For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world

By Bus

Buses ply from Cartagena all the way up to Caracas, Venezuela along the Central Caribbean Road passing cities like Barranquilla and Santa Marta on the way. From the southern regions, buses from Bogota and Medellin arrive in Cartagena every few hours.

The bus terminal in Cartagena is located about 6 km in the eastern outskirts of the Old Town. From the terminal to the city, there are shuttle services of local buses every 10 minutes. Taking a taxi straight to your hotel is another option.

By Boat

Charter boats make frequent trips between Panama and Cartagena, and to neighbouring destinations. Several private boats and Caribbean cruise ships also visit the city. From Panama to Cartagena, with a stopover at San Blas Islands, usually takes four to five days. The fare depends on the boat and the services offered. Information on boats and schedules are available at hotel Casa Viena in Cartagena. Private yachts and even cargo ships sometimes take passengers.

Getting Around Cartagena

By Taxi

Taxis are easily hailed on the streets of Cartagena. Hotels also arrange taxis for guests if requested. Taxis are inexpensive and very convenient when travelling to the outskirts of the town or beyond. They are also the safest mode of transport during the night time. A lot of the taxis don't have any meters and drivers tend to overcharge foreigners, so agreeing on a fare beforehand is a good idea.

By Buses and Collectivos

Buses are cheap, but they do take their time getting to the destinations. There are services at short intervals to the airport from the city centre. Long distance buses start from the bus terminal located 6 km east of the city.

Collectivos are small vans that ply the same routes as local buses; these are very inexpensive but not a good choice if you have any luggage or are in a hurry.

By Walking

The historic Old Town, where a lot of the tourist sites are concentrated, is best explored on foot. Most tourists do, particularly during the evenings when it is very pleasant to take leisurely strolls enjoying the cool breeze and taking in the attractions, churches and plazas. A firm no will keep the street vendors away.