What to do in Cartagena: Walled City, beaches and islands

Q: What is the best beach near Cartagena?

Playa Blanca in Barú and the Rosario Islands are the most beautiful; Bocagrande is the most convenient within the city.

Q: How to get to Cartagena by bus?

Marsol has daily buses from Barranquilla (about 2 h 30 min), Santa Marta (about 5 h), Tayrona Park and Palomino to their office in Cartagena, at Carrera 2A 43-111.

Q: When are the Cartagena festivals?

The Independence Festivals are celebrated around November 11. In January, the Hay Festival of literature is also celebrated.

Q: Is Cartagena expensive?

The Walled City is the most expensive area; Getsemaní and nearby neighborhoods have more affordable accommodation and food. Always agree on the price of excursions before paying.

Q: What excursions can be done from Cartagena?

Rosario Islands, Playa Blanca, Totumo Volcano and San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town in America.

Cartagena de Indias combines a walled city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vibrant neighborhoods like Getsemaní, and excursions to Caribbean islands. Arrive by bus with Marsol from Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Tayrona Park or Palomino.

Cartagena in summary

The essentials for planning your bus trip with Marsol to Cartagena.

$40,000

Ticket from Barranquilla (COP)

2 h 30 min

By bus from Barranquilla

29

Daily departures from Marsol to this destination

View schedules and tickets

Why travel with Marsol

Official tickets

Direct purchase on the Marsol site, without intermediaries.

Multiple departures a day

Check the schedules of each route and choose the one that suits you best.

Marsol offices in each city

Departures and arrivals of these routes are at Transportes Marsol offices.

Book online

Choose your departure and book in a few steps from any device.

How to get to Cartagena by bus

Daily buses from Transportes Marsol. Schedules and prices may change; confirm them when booking.

From	Departures a day	Duration	Price from
Barranquilla	14	2 h 30 min	$40.000
Santa Marta	11	5 h	$100.000
Parque Tayrona (El Zaino)	2	6 h	$130.000
Palomino	2	7 h	$150.000

Arrival and how to get around

Where the Marsol bus drops you off and how to continue your journey.

Arrival by bus: Cartagena

Transportes Marsol Office
Carrera 2A 43-111, Cartagena, Bolívar

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How to get around Cartagena

The Walled City and Getsemaní can be explored on foot. For Bocagrande or San Felipe Castle, take a taxi; boats to the islands depart from La Bodeguita Dock.

View Cartagena on Google Maps

What to do in Cartagena

Walled City: the Clock Tower, Santo Domingo Square, the Palace of the Inquisition and a walk along the walls at sunset
Getsemaní: street art, Trinidad Square, and nightlife
San Felipe de Barajas Castle: the largest Spanish fortress in America, with tunnels and views of the city
Rosario Islands and Playa Blanca (Barú): boat trips from La Bodeguita Dock
Bocagrande: urban beaches and hotels 10 minutes from downtown
Independence Festivals: every November 11, with parades and pageants

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. San Felipe de Barajas Castle: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Clock Tower

The main gate of the Walled City and the starting point to explore the historic center.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas en Cartagena

San Felipe de Barajas Castle

17th-century fortress on San Lázaro hill, with tunnels and one of the best views of Cartagena.

Palacio de la Inquisición, Cartagena de Indias

Palace of the Inquisition

Colonial building in Bolívar Square, now a city history museum.

Frequently asked questions about Cartagena

Answers to the most common questions before traveling.

What to do in Cartagena in three days?

One day for the Walled City and Getsemaní, another for San Felipe Castle and Bocagrande, and a third for the Rosario Islands or Playa Blanca.

What is the best beach near Cartagena?

How to get to Cartagena by bus?

When are the Cartagena festivals?

Is Cartagena expensive?

What excursions can be done from Cartagena?

Travel to Cartagena with Marsol

Official tickets, purchased online, from $40,000 COP. Seats are limited during high season: book in advance.

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What to do in Cartagena: Walled City, beaches and islands