15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

Cartagena is colorful.  It’s vibrant, & one of Colombia’s most exciting cities.  And you may just want to add it to your bucket list after checking out these “15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!”  I’ll take you all over the city ~ from the colorful streets of Old Town Cartagena, to the high rises & beaches of Bocagrande.  Then we’ll venture out to gorgeous islands in the sun….called Islas del Rosario: where you can sun, swim, & snorkel to your heart’s content. 

Cartagena is a magical spot….so let’s get on our way!

Brightly colored buildings overflowing with flowers & foliage….this is CARTAGENA!!

15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip

For our first few photos, we’ll stay right in the heart of Old Town Cartagena, where most of the cruise ships dock.  This is where you’ll find the most colorful doors, buildings, & flowers in town!  There are countless restaurants, hotels, boutiques, & coffee shops here….set amidst winding, cobble-stoned streets. 

Get lost & enjoy wandering in Old Town!

All over Cartagena, you’ll see women wearing beautifully colored dresses, with stacks of fruit on their heads!

Cartagena’s famous yellow cathedral…

One of my favorite pictures EVER!! I bought this dress in a cute shop in Old Town Cartagena…

Get a photo in front of one of the city’s bright doors….

Photos of Bocagrande in Cartagena

If you want accommodations that are a little more modern, with rooftop pools & killer ocean views ~ book a room in upscale Bocagrande.  Just a mile from Old Town, Bocagrande more of a local’s feel, with less tourists. 

Plus there are tons of great restaurants & more beachfront: where you can tan, jet ski, or even get a massage on the beach! 

Imagine sipping your morning Juan Valdez coffee with this view of Bocagrande…

Rooftop pools & ocean views await…

The Bocagrande skyline.

Photos of the Rosario Islands by Cartagena

The Islas del Rosario (Rosario Islands) are those magical islands you dream about while typing at your desk ~ with their thatched palapa roofs, crystalline waters, fresh seafood, & plentiful sunshine.  From Cartagena, you can take a tour to these islands: which take about one hour to reach by boat.

For an amazing hotel stay in the islands, check out Hotel Isla del Encanto.

Welcome to Islas del Rosario, a chain of islands 100 kilometers off the coast of Cartagena.

It took us about an hour to reach this little island, where we swam, snorkeled, tanned, & ate fresh crabs!

Heading back on the boats to Cartagena…

Aerial image of the Rosario Islands.

Photos of Old Town Cartagena

And we’re back to the heart of the city, in Old Town Cartagena.  Though it can be touristy here, it doesn’t detract from the overall charm, authenticity, & vibrance of this area.  Cartagena is one of my favorite cities in Colombia (along with Medellin), & it’s an easy place to spend time….as long as you can handle humidity, which typically hovers around 80%!

You’ll get amazing sunset shots in Cartagena! Because there are rooftops galore, with great views like this one…

Rooftop pool at the Movich Hotel, in Cartagena.

My favorite sunset-watching bar in all of Cartagena: Cafe del Mar, set right on the city’s ramparts with HUNDREDS of tables. See & be seen here!

In Cartagena, I became “Noelia.” Via the sensuality & passion of the city, I discovered an entirely different side of myself.