Cartagena Transportation Tips by sjvessey

Getting around

Most of the things you'll want to see in Cartagena are fairly close together. In the old town, in particular, you should walk - otherwise you'll miss out on a lot. It's even possible to walk up to Castillo San Felipe, although it will take you about half an hour or so, and you have to go through some areas where a big white English tourist sticks out like a sore thumb. Yet, away from the tourist hotspots, I found that people pretty much leave you alone to go about your business, which was a welcome surprise.

Generally people are advised to avoid taking taxis in Colombia, but I ignored this on a few occasions and lived to tell the tale. I think you just need to use your own judgement. When I got in a cab to come back from Bocagrande, the guy was a nice old geezer and we got chatting (in Spanish). He told me an interesting place to go was "La Popa", on top of a hill in the distance, so I said "ok take me there". So basically I used the taxi as my own personal tour bus.

The driver waited in the car park outside as I wandered round, then drove me back to the old town afterwards. It wasn't on the meter, but there is a fixed tariff for things like this and he even showed me the card the prices are printed on to let me know he wasn't ripping me off. In fact, he was so impressed with my efforts to talk to him in Spanish he gave me a discount.

So in the end, I was glad I'd taken the cab as I saw some things I'd never have seen otherwise.

I would, however, draw the line at public transport (i.e. buses), unless you really feel you know what you're doing.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other