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After dark · Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena nightlife: what kind of night, where, and the way back

A night out in Cartagena, Colombia runs in three parts: sunset on a boat or on the wall, then dinner and bars in the walled city and Getsemaní, then the way back. Cartagena nightlife sits in a small area: of the bars, pubs and clubs mapped in the four barrios on this page, 63 are in the walled city and in Getsemaní, just outside the Clock Tower gate, and from the farthest of those barrios the gate is about 12 minutes on foot. Bocagrande, the beach towers, has 3. From December to April the streets are comfortable by sunset; from May to November only later in the evening. Walk back inside the old town; from anywhere else, take a taxi booked by app or phone, as the UK, Canada and Australia advise.

Edited by Rainer LangUpdated

Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.

1The clock

Your evening on the clock, 17:00 to 3:00

Pick your month and a kind of night: its row turns coral and its order of the evening appears below. The streets are judged in still air against 35 °C (95 °F), the wall and the water with the breeze against 33 °C. Closing hours are set by decree: section 7.

What kind of night?
The evening in November, 17:00 to 3:00Sunset at 17:37, last light at 17:59. The streets are back under the walking line from 17:45. Sunset boat: 17:00 to 19:00. Salsa class: 17:00 to 19:30. Wall, then dinner: 17:05 to 17:59, 19:00 to 21:00. Plaza de la Trinidad: 17:45 onward. Party boat: 17:00 to 19:00, 19:00 to 21:00, 21:00 to 23:00. Chiva party bus: 19:00 to 21:00. Bar crawl: 20:30 to 0:45. Rooftop bar: Townhouse opens its rooftop to the public; no hours listed.17:0018:0019:0020:0021:0022:0023:000:001:002:003:00Sunset 17:37 · last light 17:59SkyIn the streetsOn the wall, on the waterunder 35 °C in still air from 17:45under 33 °C with the breeze from 17:45Sunset boatSalsa classWall, then dinnerwalldinner cruisePlaza de la TrinidadParty boatChiva party busBar crawlRooftop barTownhouse opens its rooftop to the public; no hours listed

In November the sun sets at 17:37 and the last light goes at 17:59; the streets come back under the 35 °C line at about 17:45.

  • Felt temperature, cooler to hotter
  • Over the line: 35 °C in the streets, 33 °C with the breeze
  • Start and end as the listing states
  • No listing, no fixed end

Pick a kind of night above to see its order of the evening, step by step.

A sunset boat

  1. At Muelle de la Bodeguita, below the Clock Tower, before the 17:00 boat. Carry 18,000 COP for the dock fee where the listing leaves it out.
  2. Sunset at 17:37 on the water; back at the dock after 2 hours.
  3. Dinner a few minutes’ walk away. In November the streets are under the line from about 17:45.

A salsa class, then the barrio

  1. The class in Getsemaní starts at 17:00 and lasts 2.5 hours.
  2. Dinner in Getsemaní, then Plaza de la Trinidad. From the plaza the Clock Tower gate is 680 m.

The wall, then a quiet dinner

  1. On the sea wall by 17:05; sunset at 17:37, last light at 17:59.
  2. Dinner inside the walls, or the dinner cruise: boarding 18:30, departure 19:00. Where to stand on the wall.

Plaza de la Trinidad

  1. Sunset first, then the square: public, no ticket, with 3 mapped bars within a short block of its center.
  2. Back to the gate: 680 m. Getsemaní by night.

A party boat

  1. Departures: sunset tour 17:00, night tours 19:00 and 21:00. Each lasts 2 to 2.5 hours, with an open bar and a club entry after.
  2. From the club, a taxi booked by app or phone.

A chiva party bus

  1. The Viator chiva starts at 19:00, lasts 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours and ends back where it started; the GetYourGuide chiva lasts 3 hours and ends at a nightclub.
  2. From the club, a booked taxi.

A bar crawl

  1. Dinner first: the Viator crawl starts at 20:30 and lasts 4 hours 15 minutes.
  2. It ends in Getsemaní: walk to the gate or book a taxi.

A rooftop bar

  1. Townhouse, in San Diego, runs a rooftop cocktail bar and diner, “the first hotel in the city to open its rooftop to the public”; its two plunge pools there are open with a drink or food order.
  2. For any other hotel roof, ask at the front desk the day before whether it lets in people who are not staying there.

2Kinds of night

Eight kinds of evening, and what each listing sells

Before the listings: Canada and Australia name Cartagena for drugged drinks, crime after dating-app meetings and pickpocketing at night. What they advise is in section 7.

A sunset boat in the bay

The 2-Hour Sunset Cruise leaves Muelle de la Bodeguita at 17:00 and includes one drink (beer, a glass of wine or a soft drink) and an appetizer. More boats: the sunset page.

The wall, then dinner

Walking the walls is free and open to the public. For dinner on the water, the Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine lasts 2 hours, with a 3- or 4-course meal, 2 glasses of wine per person with that option. On land: Cartagena food.

Plaza de la Trinidad, Getsemaní

The square in front of the yellow church of the Holy Trinity (map) is the barrio’s main square. It is public and free to stand in. Drinking alcohol in public spaces is illegal in Colombia, according to the UK’s travel advice (the law).

A salsa class

The Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City meets in Getsemaní, takes at most 8 people and includes 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, 2 rum shots and 2 bottles of water per person.

A party boat

The 2-Hour Sunset Party Boat Tour has an open bar with rum drinks, music and entertainment, on a sports boat for 28 people, and its ticket includes a nightclub afterward. Not suitable, says the listing, for people prone to seasickness.

A chiva party bus

A chiva is a painted bus with open sides. The Chiva Party Bus Tour with Disco Entry on GetYourGuide lasts 3 hours, with short stops at the Zapatos Viejos monument, Castillo San Felipe and the Cartagena letters, past Bocagrande, Getsemaní and Muelle de los Pegasos, ending at a nightclub where you stay or head home. The 19:00 chiva on Viator is shorter, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, ends back where it started, and is not for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. The clock above draws the Viator one.

A bar crawl with a guide

The Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in three versions and starts inside a cocktail bar in El Centro and ends at a club on Calle de la Media Luna in Getsemaní. Drinks are extra; dress code: no swimwear, sandals, hats, shorts, sunglasses, tank tops or sportswear. The Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots lasts 6 hours and names Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

What these evenings sell for. The lowest price listed for each kind on GetYourGuide and Viator, read 12 November 2026, one figure where a single listing was found and the lowest and the highest start where there were several, per person: a sunset cruise on the bay, 6 listings, 24 to 55 USD; the bay dinner cruise with wine, 1 listing, 80 USD; a rooftop dance class, 2 listings, 35 USD; the salsa tour with Café Havana entry, 1 listing, 105 USD; the chiva party bus with disco entry, 1 listing, 30 USD; a pub crawl or bar crawl, 2 listings, 23 to 30 USD. The partner sets these prices and they change; drinks are extra on the crawls, and the dock fee beside this section is paid on top where a boat does not include it.

A rooftop bar

Townhouse, a hotel in San Diego, calls itself “the first hotel in the city to open its rooftop to the public”; it sells no day pass, and its rooftop plunge pools are open with a drink or food order. For other hotel roofs, ask the hotel whether non-guests may come up (hotel roofs, where to stay).

Dock fee, Muelle de la Bodeguita18,000 COPPer person, 2026, paid at the dock before boarding (about USD 5). Dollar figures use 3,297 COP per USD (November 2026).

Crowd on the Baluarte de Santo Domingo watching the sunset, 2019
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The wooden boardwalk of Muelle de los Pegasos with a replica galleon and sport boats moored, the Bocagrande towers across the water at dusk
Muelle de los Pegasos, by the Clock Tower, at dusk in November 2017: sport boats tie up along the boardwalk, and three of the private listings meet here.Photo: Lorenzo07ver, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A painted orange chiva bus with open sides waits at the kerb of a lit street at night
Photo: Cinematicguy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More toursTours by kind, and when to book them: Cartagena tours.

3Where

Where the bars and clubs are mapped, barrio by barrio

OpenStreetMap, the open map of the world, shows 29 bars, pubs and clubs in Centro, the southern half of the walled city, and 28 in Getsemaní; San Diego, the northern half of the walls, has 6, and Bocagrande 3. Hotel bars are often not mapped: read the counts as where the evening is, not as a census.

Where the bars and clubs of Cartagena, Colombia are mappedPlan of the old town of Cartagena, Colombia and the Bocagrande peninsula from OpenStreetMap. Each dot is a bar, pub or nightclub mapped in OpenStreetMap, without names. Centro: 29; Getsemaní: 28; San Diego: 6; Bocagrande: 3. The walled city (Centro and San Diego) and Getsemaní lie around the Clock Tower gate; Bocagrande is the peninsula to the south-west. A line from each barrio follows the walk back to the Clock Tower gate.Clock Tower gateCentro29Getsemaní28San Diego6Bocagrande3Caribbean SeaBay of Cartagena01 kmN© OpenStreetMap contributors
Bars, pubs and clubs mapped, and the walk backCounted inside each barrio’s boundary in OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 11 November 2026. Places open and close often, and many hotel bars are not mapped as separate places: read the dots as where the evening is, not as a list. Walk back: shortest pedestrian route on OpenStreetMap to the Clock Tower gate at 4 km/h; Getsemaní from Plaza de la Trinidad.
BarrioMappedWalk back to the Clock Tower gate
Centroinside the walls29 540 m, about 8 minutes
Getsemaníoutside the Clock Tower gate28 680 m, about 10 minutes
San Diegoinside the walls, north6 830 m, about 12 minutes
Bocagrandethe beach towers3 2.4 km, about 37 minutes
The four barrios66

Getsemaní has about as many mapped bars as Centro; the Getsemaní night plan maps them street by street. It also had the most venues suspended for excess noise in 2024: 9, against 5 in the walled city, by figures the city’s environmental authority gave El Universal.

Centro has its densest group of mapped bars just inside the Clock Tower gate. Bocagrande is a taxi ride away: 2.4 km on foot to the gate. The whole city on one sheet: Cartagena map.

Plaza Santo Domingo with café tables and Botero's reclining Gertrudis
Late sun on Plaza Santo Domingo: café tables under the balconies, and Botero's reclining bronze Gertrudis at the lower left.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní
Trees shade Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní, with the yellow church on one side.Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

4The way back

Getting back: on foot, or a taxi booked by app or phone

On foot, inside the old town. To the Clock Tower gate from Centro is 540 m, about 8 minutes; from San Diego 830 m; from Plaza de la Trinidad 680 m, about 10 minutes. The UK asks for extra care on city streets after dark or when alone.

By taxi, from anywhere else. The UK, Canada and Australia advise against hailing a taxi in the street. The UK: Do not hail taxis on the street; use licensed phone or app taxi services or book through your hotel. Australia: Criminals frequently rob taxi passengers; book a licensed taxi by phone or app. On express kidnapping, the UK: Criminals, often posing as taxi drivers, pick victims around ATMs, often at night, and force them to withdraw cash. City taxi fares are set by zone under Decreto 0051 de 2026, Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena; the airport operator publishes the fares from the airport: taxi fares, and getting around Cartagena.

The Clock Tower and the city wall lit at night, with horse carriages waiting in front
The Clock Tower and the wall beside it at 19:18 on an August evening in 2013, with horse carriages waiting. The tower is the gate between the walled city and Getsemaní.Photo: Zezar02, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

EmergenciesPolice and emergencies in Colombia: 123 (Atención y Emergencias). The Policía Nacional advice line for women: 155.

5The heat

How late the heat holds, month by month

December to April: the streets are under 35 °C by sunset, and the whole evening is comfortable on foot. May to November: the heat holds after dark. The latest months are May, June, August and September, when the streets come back under the line only at about 21:15. Start on the water and keep the walk for later. The lines are the guide’s own, not a health authority’s.

All twelve months
The evening, month by monthSunset and last light for the 15th. Felt temperature in the shade: streets in still air, wall and water with the breeze, from airport readings (medians by month and hour). Under the line means at or below it, before rounding.
MonthSunsetLast lightStreets under 35 °CWall and water under 33 °C
January17:5818:20by sunsetby sunset
February18:1018:32by sunsetby sunset
March18:1318:34by sunsetby sunset
April18:1318:34by sunsetby sunset
May18:1618:38from about 21:15from about 22:00
June18:2418:47from about 21:15from about 22:45
July18:2818:51from about 19:30from about 18:45
August18:2118:43from about 21:15from about 19:45
September18:0318:24from about 21:15not before midnight
October17:4518:06from about 19:00from about 23:00
November17:3717:59from about 17:45from about 17:45
December17:4318:06by sunsetby sunset

The whole day, hour by hour: Cartagena weather and the best time to visit; evenings within a trip of several days: Cartagena itinerary.

A street in the walled city at night, lamps lit along the arcades and people walking
A street in Centro, inside the walls, at 19:49 on a February evening in 2019: street lamps under the balconies and people walking.Photo: Samirealva, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

NovemberThe independence festivities run from early October to mid-November 2026: events in Cartagena.

6Groups

Bachelor and bachelorette groups: what is sold for a group

For a group, the listings sell a boat of its own. The Private Boat or Yacht Charter at Sunset and Bay Skyline lasts 2 hours from Muelle de los Pegasos; food and drinks not included (bring your own), and the 2-Hour Sunset Party Boat Tour also sells a private option. By day, groups go to Cholón, a shallow lagoon on Barú where boats anchor side by side: who it suits is on boat rental in Cartagena, and the other islands on Cartagena islands. One Viator party cruise states its own rule: alcohol served only from the age of 21. A whole boat is priced as a boat, not a seat: the one private 70 ft yacht day and sunset cruise listed was 2,071 USD for the boat on Viator on 12 November 2026, the lowest price it showed; the partner sets it and it changes. Colombian law on alcohol and minors is below.

The Cholón lagoon on a busy day: people standing waist-deep among thatched bars in the water
Cholón at 13:00 on a January day: the party stands waist-deep in the lagoon around thatched bars, with the boats moored behind.Photo: Imagen23jr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

7Safety and the law

Drinks, dating apps and the law: what governments and Colombian law say

Canada (advice of 2 November 2026) and Australia (6 October 2026) name Cartagena for risks of the evening; the UK’s advice dates from 30 October 2026.

Drinks. Canada, on where drugging happens: Nightclubs, bars and restaurants, public transport including taxis, and the street; most frequent in larger cities, including Cartagena. Its advice: Never leave food or drinks unattended or with strangers; be wary of snacks, drinks, gum or cigarettes offered by new acquaintances or people in the street. If you think you or a friend has been drugged, call 123 and get medical help at once.

Dating apps. Canada: An increase in deaths linked to dating apps used by criminals to lure foreigners; most frequent in larger cities, including Cartagena. Its advice: Be cautious with dating apps, avoid meeting in isolated places, do not bring new acquaintances to your accommodation, and tell someone who you are meeting and where.

Phones. Australia: Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, particularly in larger cities including Cartagena. Its advice: Avoid using your phone, camera and other electronics in the street; do not carry large amounts of money.

  • Alcohol and minors. Selling alcoholic drinks to minors is prohibited; an adult who helps a minor obtain them is penalized (Ley 124 de 1994), and a minor is anyone under 18 years (Ley 27 de 1977). In July 2026 the mayor said the ban on minors entering or staying in venues that mainly sell alcohol would be strictly monitored (Semana).
  • Drinking in the street. Drinking alcohol in public spaces is illegal in Colombia, according to the UK’s advice.
  • Children. Sexual exploitation of minors is a crime under Ley 1336 de 2009, which adds to Ley 679 de 2001, and every tourism business must sign a code of conduct (Resolución 3840 de 2009). Canada: A serious criminal offence; conviction may bring a lengthy prison sentence. Report a case on 123 or online.
  • Drugs. The UK: Severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking; never carry items for other people.
  • Closing hours. The mayor’s office sets bar and club hours by decree and has changed them for the December season, as in Decreto 1716 of 20 December 2022 (El Universal).

All four advisories side by side: is Cartagena safe.

Read themThe US advisory, the UK advice, Canada’s advice and Smartraveller.

Women traveling aloneCanada: Sexual assaults have been reported throughout the country, particularly in tourist areas; avoid walking alone at night.

Bocagrande skyline seen from the Baluarte de Santiago on the city walls
The towers of Bocagrande stand beyond a sentry box on the Baluarte de Santiago, part of the old city walls, at dusk.Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

8Questions

Nightlife questions, answered short

Which Colombian city has the best nightlife?

No official ranking exists, and this guide covers Cartagena only. In Cartagena the evening sits close together: 63 of the bars, pubs and clubs mapped in the four barrios on this page are in the walled city and Getsemaní, a short walk from the Clock Tower gate, with sunset boats on the bay first.

What is the party island in Cartagena?

People usually mean Cholón, a shallow lagoon on the Barú peninsula, not an island, where boats anchor side by side around thatched bars in the water. It lies 32 km from the Clock Tower in a straight line, by boat. Party boats go by day; one leaves at 8:00. Who it suits: the boat rental page.

What should you avoid in Cartagena at night?

The governments that name Cartagena point to drugging in bars, clubs and taxis, criminals using dating apps, and pickpocketing. Their advice: keep your drink with you, take nothing from strangers, meet dates in public, keep your phone out of sight and book taxis by app or phone.

Is it always hot in Cartagena, even at night?

Warm, yes. At 23:00 the streets typically feel like 31 °C in January, in still air, and in the hottest months still close to this guide’s walking line. From December to April evenings are comfortable on foot by sunset; from May to November the streets come back under the guide’s walking line later, in May, June, August and September only at 21:15.

Which is safer at night, Medellín or Cartagena?

None of the four advisories ranks the two cities. The US rates all of Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. On drugging after dating-app meetings, Canada says: Occurs most often in larger cities, naming Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín. The same habits apply in both cities: keep your drink in hand, meet dates in public and book your taxi.

Sources
  1. Fiestas de Independencia 2026, Cartagena, Colombia: official programme runs: from early October to mid-November 2026. IPCC (Instituto de Patrimonio y Cultura de Cartagena), Alcaldía de Cartagena: official programme, 17 Sep 2026, 2026-09-17.
  2. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Centro (walled city), Cartagena, Colombia: 29. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  3. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia: 28. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  4. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio San Diego (walled city), Cartagena, Colombia: 6. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  5. Bars, pubs and nightclubs mapped in OpenStreetMap inside the barrio Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia: 3. OpenStreetMap via Overpass, amenity=bar|pub|nightclub (OSM base 2026-11-11), counted inside the barrio boundary, 2026-11-11.
  6. Walk from Centro to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.5 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  7. Walk from San Diego to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.8 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  8. Walk from Getsemaní to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 0.6 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  9. Walk from Bocagrande to the Clock Tower, Cartagena, OSM route: 2.4 km. Valhalla routing on OpenStreetMap, 2026-11-11, 2026-11-11.
  10. Muelle La Bodeguita, Cartagena, Colombia: dock fee 'Uso de Muelle 2026' per person: 18,000 COP. Corpoturismo Cartagena de Indias: ticket store (catalogue in page source).
  11. Viator listing 'Cholon island party boat from cartagena' (d4498-334413P4), Cartagena, Colombia: start time: 8:00. Viator product page d4498-334413P4, 2026-11-11.
  12. Townhouse Cartagena: rooftop: a rooftop cocktail bar and diner, “the first hotel in the city to open its rooftop to the public”. Hotel website.
  13. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 2-Hour Sunset Party Boat Tour', Cartagena, Colombia: on board: an open bar with rum drinks, music and entertainment, on a sports boat for 28 people. GetYourGuide product page.
  14. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena de Indias: 2-Hour Sunset Cruise', Cartagena, Colombia: departure from Muelle de la Bodeguita: 17:00. GetYourGuide product page t190083.
  15. Viator listing 'Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City' (Real Experience Cartagena, d4498-257814P1), Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia: maximum group size: 8. Viator product page d4498-257814P1, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  16. Viator listing 'Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City' (d4498-257814P1), Cartagena, Colombia: drinks included per person: 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, 2 rum shots and 2 bottles of water. Viator product page d4498-257814P1, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  17. Viator listing 'Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia' (5am Club Tours, d4498-360315P11): duration: 4 hours 15 minutes. Viator product page d4498-360315P11, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  18. Viator listing 'Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia' (d4498-360315P11): where it starts and ends: starts inside a cocktail bar in El Centro and ends at a club on Calle de la Media Luna in Getsemaní. Viator product page d4498-360315P11, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  19. Viator listing 'Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia' (d4498-360315P11): dress code: no swimwear, sandals, hats, shorts, sunglasses, tank tops or sportswear. Viator product page d4498-360315P11, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  20. Viator listing 'Chiva Party a Night Walk through the Streets of Cartagena' (Forever Summer, d4498-472051P1): duration: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Viator product page d4498-472051P1, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  21. Viator listing 'Chiva Party a Night Walk through the Streets of Cartagena' (d4498-472051P1): who it is not for: people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. Viator product page d4498-472051P1, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  22. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Chiva Party Bus Tour with Disco Entry' (t548957): the route: short stops at the Zapatos Viejos monument, Castillo San Felipe and the Cartagena letters, past Bocagrande, Getsemaní and Muelle de los Pegasos, ending at a nightclub where you stay or head home. GetYourGuide product page t548957, full description, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  23. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots' (t436724): duration: 6. GetYourGuide product page t436724, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  24. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots' (t436724): nights named in the description: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. GetYourGuide product page t436724, full description, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  25. Viator listing 'Premium Cruise Tour in Cartagena with Sunset and Open Bar' (d4498-374721P31): the operator's rule on alcohol: alcohol served only from the age of 21. Viator product page d4498-374721P31, Additional Info, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  26. Viator listing 'Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City' (d4498-257814P1), Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 2.5. Viator product page d4498-257814P1, read in the browser, 2026-11-12.
  27. Private 70 ft yacht day and sunset cruise, Cartagena, Colombia: from-price on Viator, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (per group): 2071 USD. Viator Cartagena page (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  28. Rooftop dance class in Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia: from-price on GetYourGuide and Viator, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (2 listings, all the same, per person): 35 USD. GetYourGuide and Viator Cartagena pages (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  29. Salsa tour with Café Havana entry, Cartagena, Colombia: from-price on Viator, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (per person): 105 USD. Viator Cartagena page (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  30. Pub crawl or bar crawl, Cartagena, Colombia: lowest to highest from-price on GetYourGuide and Viator, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (2 listings, per person): 23 to 30 USD. GetYourGuide and Viator Cartagena pages (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  31. Chiva party bus with disco entry, Cartagena, Colombia: from-price on GetYourGuide, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (per person): 30 USD. GetYourGuide Cartagena page (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  32. Shared sunset cruise on the bay (2 hours), Cartagena, Colombia: lowest to highest from-price on GetYourGuide and Viator, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (6 listings, per person): 24 to 55 USD. GetYourGuide and Viator Cartagena pages (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  33. Bay dinner cruise with wine, Cartagena, Colombia: from-price on GetYourGuide, read 12 November 2026, in US dollars (per person): 80 USD. GetYourGuide Cartagena page (read 2026-11-12, USD), 2026-11-12.
  34. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena de Indias: 2-Hour Sunset Cruise', Cartagena, Colombia: included: one drink (beer, a glass of wine or a soft drink) and an appetizer. GetYourGuide product page.
  35. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine', Cartagena, Colombia: on board: 3- or 4-course meal, 2 glasses of wine per person with that option. GetYourGuide product page.
  36. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Private Boat or Yacht Charter at Sunset and Bay Skyline', Cartagena, Colombia: meeting point and drinks: Muelle de los Pegasos; food and drinks not included (bring your own). GetYourGuide product page.
  37. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Private Boat or Yacht Charter at Sunset and Bay Skyline', Cartagena, Colombia: duration in hours: 2. GetYourGuide product page.
  38. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena de Indias: 2-Hour Sunset Cruise', Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 2 h. GetYourGuide product page t190083.
  39. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Chiva Party Bus Tour with Disco Entry', Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 3 h. GetYourGuide product page t548957.
  40. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine', Cartagena, Colombia: boarding and departure: boarding 18:30, departure 19:00. GetYourGuide product page t154584.
  41. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 2-Hour Sunset Party Boat Tour', Cartagena, Colombia: departures: sunset tour 17:00, night tours 19:00 and 21:00. GetYourGuide product page t591367.
  42. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine', Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 2 h. GetYourGuide product page t154584.
  43. GetYourGuide listing 'Cartagena: 2-Hour Sunset Party Boat Tour', Cartagena, Colombia: duration: 2 to 2.5 h. GetYourGuide product page t591367.
  44. Viator listing 'Dance Class In a Secret Rooftop Of The Old City' (d4498-257814P1), Cartagena, Colombia: start time: 17:00. Viator product page d4498-257814P1.
  45. Viator listing 'Chiva Party a Night Walk through the Streets of Cartagena' (d4498-472051P1), Cartagena, Colombia: start time: 19:00. Viator product page d4498-472051P1.
  46. Viator listing 'Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia' (5am Club Tours, d4498-360315P11), Cartagena, Colombia: start time: 20:30. Viator product page d4498-360315P11.
  47. 5am Club Tours bar crawl on Viator (d4498-360315P10, P11, P12), Cartagena, Colombia: nights it runs: Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Viator product pages d4498-360315P10 to P12.
  48. Colombian peso exchange rate (TRM) valid 2026-11-11: 3297.07 COP per USD. Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia: TRM, open dataset on datos.gov.co, 2026-11-11.
  49. EPA Cartagena (the city's environmental authority): venues suspended for excess noise in Getsemaní in 2024, the most of any barrio: 9. El Universal: 'Los barrios donde realizaron más suspensiones por exceso de ruido' (Esteban Espriella Pérez, 2024-12-17), figures from EPA Cartagena, 2024-12-17.
  50. EPA Cartagena: venues suspended for excess noise in 2024 in the Centro Histórico (the walled city), for comparison with Getsemaní: 5. El Universal (2024-12-17), figures from EPA Cartagena, 2024-12-17.
  51. Alcaldía de Cartagena, Colombia: decree that set special opening hours for bars, nightclubs and similar venues for the 2022 holiday season, to January 2023: Decreto 1716 of 20 December 2022. El Universal: 'Es oficial: estos son los nuevos horarios para la rumba en Cartagena' (21 Dec 2022), 2022-12-20.
  52. Alcaldía de Cartagena, Colombia: draft decree announced 1 December 2023 with special opening hours for bars and nightclubs for the 2023-24 holiday season: until 21 January 2024. El Universal: 'Extienden el horario de rumba en Navidad y fin de año en Cartagena' (1 Dec 2023), 2023-12-01.
  53. Alcaldía de Cartagena, Colombia, July 2026: what the mayor said would be strictly monitored in venues whose main business is selling alcohol: the ban on minors entering or staying. Semana: 'Cartagena endurece controles y cierra tres establecimientos nocturnos en el Centro Histórico' (19 Jul 2026), 2026-07-19.
  54. US State Department travel advisory level for Colombia: Level 3: Reconsider Travel. US State Department: Colombia travel advisory (official RSS feed TAsTWs.xml), 2026-03-31.
  55. Public drinking of alcohol in Colombia per UK FCDO: Illegal. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  56. Emergency number for police and ambulance in Colombia (UK FCDO): 123. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  57. Government of Canada on drugging after dating-app meetings in Colombia: Occurs most often in larger cities, naming Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  58. UK FCDO on street crime in Colombia: Pickpocketing, mugging and armed robbery are a problem, especially in major cities and on the Caribbean coast; take care after dark or on your own. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  59. UK FCDO on taxis in Colombia: Do not hail taxis on the street; use licensed phone or app taxi services or book through your hotel. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  60. UK FCDO on express kidnapping in Colombia: Criminals, often posing as taxi drivers, pick victims around ATMs, often at night, and force them to withdraw cash. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  61. UK FCDO on illegal drugs in Colombia: Severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking; never carry items for other people. UK FCDO: Colombia travel advice, 2026-10-30.
  62. Government of Canada on dating apps in Colombia: An increase in deaths linked to dating apps used by criminals to lure foreigners; most frequent in larger cities, including Cartagena. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  63. Government of Canada on drugging (scopolamine) in Colombia: where incidents are most likely: Nightclubs, bars and restaurants, public transport including taxis, and the street; most frequent in larger cities, including Cartagena. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  64. Government of Canada on taxis in Colombia: Avoid hailing taxis on the street; use reputable companies through your hotel or a ride-hailing app. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  65. Government of Canada on sex with minors in Colombia: A serious criminal offence; conviction may bring a lengthy prison sentence. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  66. Government of Canada on women's safety in Colombia: Sexual assaults have been reported throughout the country, particularly in tourist areas; avoid walking alone at night. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  67. Government of Canada advice for dating-app users in Colombia: Be cautious with dating apps, avoid meeting in isolated places, do not bring new acquaintances to your accommodation, and tell someone who you are meeting and where. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  68. Government of Canada advice on drugging in Colombia: Never leave food or drinks unattended or with strangers; be wary of snacks, drinks, gum or cigarettes offered by new acquaintances or people in the street. Government of Canada: Travel advice Colombia, 2026-11-02.
  69. Smartraveller on petty crime in Colombia: Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, particularly in larger cities including Cartagena. Australian Government, Smartraveller: Colombia, 2026-10-06.
  70. Smartraveller on taxis in Colombia: Criminals frequently rob taxi passengers; book a licensed taxi by phone or app. Australian Government, Smartraveller: Colombia, 2026-10-06.
  71. Smartraveller advice on valuables in Colombia: Avoid using your phone, camera and other electronics in the street; do not carry large amounts of money. Australian Government, Smartraveller: Colombia, 2026-10-06.
  72. Policía Nacional de Colombia emergency line: 123 (Atención y Emergencias). Policía Nacional de Colombia: homepage, Líneas de Emergencia.
  73. Policía Nacional de Colombia advice line for women (Orientación a Mujeres): 155. Policía Nacional de Colombia: homepage, Líneas de Emergencia.
  74. Colombian law behind the tourism code of conduct against child sexual exploitation: Ley 1336 de 2009, which adds to Ley 679 de 2001. Función Pública gestor normativo: Resolución 3840 de 2009, 2009-12-24.
  75. Ley 124 de 1994 (15 February 1994), Colombia, art. 1: selling alcoholic drinks to minors: prohibited; an adult who helps a minor obtain them is penalized. Ley 124 de 1994, Función Pública gestor normativo, 1994-02-15.
  76. Ley 27 de 1977 (26 October 1977), Colombia, art. 1: age of majority for all legal purposes: 18. Ley 27 de 1977, Colpensiones normograma (Avance Jurídico compilation), 1977-10-26.
  77. City taxi fares in Cartagena, Colombia, 2026: governing decree: Decreto 0051 de 2026, Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena. OINAC airport taxi PDF (quotes Decreto 0051 de 2026, Alcaldía Mayor de Cartagena).
  78. Felt temperature by month and hour. NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database, station 800220 (Rafael Nunez airport, Cartagena), hourly observations, 2016 to 2024; medians per month and hour (Steadman apparent temperature, shade).
  79. Sunrise, sunset, sea and rain by month. Sunrise and sunset for the 15th of each month, UTC-5. Rain: IDEAM: Normales Climatológicas de Colombia 1991-2020, station 14015080 Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, mean days with 1 mm or more and mean millimetres per month. Sea: typical values from the Open-Meteo Marine model, 2016 to 2025 (CC BY 4.0).
  80. Distances on the chart. Straight-line distance from the Clock Tower, computed from OpenStreetMap coordinates (ODbL).

Photographs

  1. The Clock Tower and the city wall lit at night, with horse carriages waiting in front. Photo: Zezar02, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. A street in the walled city at night, lamps lit along the arcades and people walking. Photo: Samirealva, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Crowd on the Baluarte de Santo Domingo watching the sunset, 2019. Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. The wooden boardwalk of Muelle de los Pegasos with a replica galleon and sport boats moored, the Bocagrande towers across the water at dusk. Photo: Lorenzo07ver, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní. Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. A painted orange chiva bus with open sides waits at the kerb of a lit street at night. Photo: Cinematicguy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  7. Plaza Santo Domingo with café tables and Botero's reclining Gertrudis. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  8. Bocagrande skyline seen from the Baluarte de Santiago on the city walls. Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  9. The Cholón lagoon on a busy day: people standing waist-deep among thatched bars in the water. Photo: Imagen23jr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons