Blog

If you are into art, you are going to love Cartagena. This city is overflowing with creativity. Whether it’s singers, dancers, fashion designers, painters, or graffiti artists, Cartagena attracts and creates artists of all kinds. The city itself feels like a constant source of inspiration.

Cartagena is a stunning city, but if you stay in just one neighborhood, you risk missing the diversity of its colors, energy, and atmosphere. During my 8-day stay, I decided to do things a little differently. Instead of booking one hotel, I stayed in not one, not two, but four different accommodations across the city.

If you love music and dancing, you will absolutely enjoy Cartagena. I was told that many Colombians travel to Cartagena specifically to party. After experiencing the nightlife and dance scene myself, I completely understand why.

My first step toward learning about the African roots of Cartagena was visiting Palenque village (you may see different spellings of the name). I chose to take a guided tour in order to learn about the village’s history from a reliable and knowledgeable source.

Cartagena is an excellent vacation spot for solo female travelers. The food scene is incredible, the weather is hot and sunny with virtually no mosquitoes (in the dry season), and there are plenty of cultural activities to enjoy, from historic monuments and museums to dance classes and live music. However, when it comes to beaches, Cartagena itself is not the best destination.

My solo trip to Cartagena was absolutely incredible. Honestly, I don’t have a single negative thing to say about it. When I told people I was traveling there alone, many thought I was crazy because of Colombia’s reputation. I would give Cartagena a solid 10 out of 10… except for one thing. Keep reading to find out what it is.