getting around in Cartagena

[Montanagirlalways]

We will be there 9-2. Some want to see the forts and other historical sites. Some want to go into old town. Is all that reasonably walkable within the same area and enough time? It is my understanding we will take a ferry or a taxi from the port. Appreciate any ideas and help. Thanks

[Turtles06]

Sounds like this will be your first visit to Cartagena.  If so, I highly recommend doing a private tour with Dora De Zubiria (aka Dora the Explorer), who is highly recommended here on CC for good reason.  She (or one of her colleagues) will take you on an excellent tour that will cover the Old City and its highlights.  You will see the fortress of San Felipe de Barajas, but there is no time on a tour of the Old City to see much (if any) of the inside of the fortress.  (When you see the outside up a really steep hill, you'll understand why.)  We didn't go inside the Fortress on our tour, but perhaps Dora has switched things up, you should ask her.

 

http://www.cartagenatour.com/

 

Your day in Cartagena is very short, another reason to use a private guide, as you won't lose time trying to figure out where you are and how to get where you want to go.

 

Without a private tour, you can take a taxi into the old city and walk around on your own. Have a good map, plan your route, and know that the street vendors in Cartagena are extremely aggressive.

 

We saved San Felipe de Barajas for our second visit to Cartagena.  This is something you want to  start very early in the day, as it's extremely hot and humid in Cartagena, and it's a steep climb up to the Fortress.  

 

We've enjoyed our visits to Cartagena.  Have a great time!

[v3cruiser]

some ships have hop on hop off buses that hit the fort, olds town, and a few other stops. that may be your best bet. i would not want to walk from old town cartegena to the old fort. you can see it in the distance, not sure how long it would take to walk to. perhaps google map it. We walked around old town and then walked to gentsemani and then back to old town to get on water taxi back to ship. (which i dont think they are doing water taxis anymore).

 

It would be cool to go to the fort. probably get some nice views of old town.

[v3cruiser]

print a map before leaving for cruise. last time I was in cartegena no body was selling maps. lol.

 

[Rockymaya]

I did a tour with Dora from Cartagenatour.com last year.Was picked up right at the port and was able to see many of the sights in 4 hours.

[VintageCheap]

Lots of taxis.   Figure $20 +/- to Old Town a bit of a haul.   Taxis are happy to take dollars.  The average store or restaurant may not be able to handle dollars.  Most/all take credit cards.  Pesos are sold right in the port /zoo area.