Few places mix history and tropical color like Colombia. Cartagena’s UNESCO-listed walled city brims with coral-stone ramparts, bougainvillea-draped balconies, and palenquera fruit sellers, while offshore the Rosario Islands offer coral gardens and warm, glassy seas. Inland, Medellín—the “City of Eternal Spring”—trades sea breeze for mountain air, murals, and forward-looking urban design.

Founded in 1533, Cartagena weathered pirates, sieges, and empire. Today it’s a beacon for culture and cuisine, from Afro-Caribbean rhythms in Getsemaní to ceviches bright with lime and ají. Medellín reinvented itself around transit and public spaces: metrocables float to forest parks, plazas showcase Botero bronzes, and neighborhoods brim with cafes and craft cocktails.

Practical notes: The Colombian peso is widely used; cards are common in cities. Taxis or ride-hails are plentiful; use official airport cabs. Pack for heat and humidity in Cartagena (light linens), and layers for Medellín’s mild 60–80°F (15–27°C). Book domestic flights early—fares can be excellent. For flights, start with Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Cartagena

Cartagena is Colombia’s Caribbean postcard: pastel mansions, cathedral spires, and sea-battered bastions. Spend golden hours on the ramparts, get lost in jasmine-scented alleys, then follow drums into Getsemaní for street art and live champeta.

• Top sights: Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada), San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, Plaza Santo Domingo, Inquisition Palace Museum, Bocagrande beaches, La Popa Convent viewpoint.
• Island escapes: Rosario Islands for snorkeling and day clubs with overwater loungers.
• Flavors to try: Arepa de huevo, patacones, cazuela de mariscos, posta negra, coconut rice, lulo and maracuyá juices.

Where to stay: For boutique courtyards and walkable sights, base in Centro Histórico or San Diego; for nightlife and value, choose Getsemaní; for modern towers and sea views, pick Bocagrande.

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Day 1 — Arrival, First Stroll, and Sunset on the Walls

Morning: Fly into Cartagena (CTG). For best fares and times, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. CTG is 15–20 minutes from the walled city; use official airport taxis.

Afternoon: Check in and refresh. Ease into the city with a loop around Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza de los Coches; pop into Abaco Libros & Café for a cold brew amid books or Epoca Espresso for a flat white and arepa de queso.

Evening: Watch the sun sink from the ramparts near Café del Mar. Dinner at La Mulata (modern Caribbean—try the seafood cazuela) or Alma (colonial ambiance, posta negra cartagenera). Cap with coconut pie at Mila Pastelería or a maracuyá sorbet along Calle de la Iglesia.

Day 2 — Walled City Deep Dive + Fortress Views

Morning: Start with a guided wander to get your bearings and stories stitched into the streets: Private Walking Tour in Cartagena Walled City & Getsemaní.

Break for a light, citrus-bright lunch at La Cevichería (the clásico mixto is beloved) and fresh limonada de coco.

Afternoon: Taxi to Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. Walk the tunnels and ramparts that once defied privateers, then head up to Convento de la Popa for city-wide views. Cool down with paletas (fruit pops) on your way back.

Evening: Dinner at Celele in Getsemaní (award-winning new Caribbean—pork belly with corozo glaze or the vegetarian coastal feast). Drinks at Alquímico’s rooftop for herb-driven cocktails and DJ sets.

Day 3 — Full-Day Rosario Islands Sail and Snorkel

Trade the cobbles for coral on a day cruise: Excursion to the Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling. Expect an 8:00–4:00 day with snorkeling stops and a Caribbean lunch; bring reef-safe sunscreen and cash for dock fees.

After docking, keep dinner simple in Getsemaní: wood-fired pizzas and cold Costeña beers at Di Silvio Trattoria, then a nightcap at Townhouse Rooftop (city views, playful cocktails).

Day 4 — Museums, Street Food, and Salsa

Morning: Visit the Museo Histórico (Inquisition Palace) for a brisk, sobering look at colonial-era trials; then the tiny Gold Museum to glimpse Zenú goldwork. Coffee at Café del Mural—barista-led flights showcase Colombia’s regions.

Afternoon: Eat your way through plazas and alleys on a guided tasting: Street Food Tour in Cartagena—sample arepa de huevo, carimañolas, and lulo juice while tracing Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Evening: Dinner at Carmen Cartagena (tasting menu with Caribbean flair). Dance at Café Havana (live salsa) or Quiebra-Canto (more local vibe); even a beginners’ class earlier in the evening makes the dance floor friendlier.

Medellín

Ringed by the Aburrá Valley’s green slopes, Medellín pairs springlike weather with a creative pulse. Cable cars knit hillside barrios to the city, plazas brim with Botero sculptures, and restaurants turn Antioquian comfort into destination dining.

• Top sights: Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero, Metrocable to Parque Arví, Jardín Botánico (Orchideorama), Pueblito Paisa.
• Neighborhoods to know: El Poblado (dining and nightlife), Laureles (cafe culture), El Centro (historic core and markets).

Where to stay: El Poblado offers the easiest base for first-timers; Laureles is quieter and café-rich. Browse a range here:

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Hotel picks by vibe (bookable via Hotels.com):

• The Charlee Hotel (party-ready rooftop pool, Parque Lleras views)
• Hotel Estelar Milla de Oro (business-chic, walkable to dining)
• Hotel San Fernando Plaza (classic full-service stay, quiet pocket of Poblado)
• Hotel 47 Medellin Street (downtown value near museums—good for urban explorers)

Day 5 — Fly to Medellín + Comuna 13 Street Art

Morning: Fly Cartagena (CTG) → Medellín (MDE). Nonstops are ~1 h 10 m, often $40–120 one-way. Compare times and fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From MDE, allow 45–60 minutes to El Poblado by taxi.

Afternoon: Explore Medellín’s most talked-about transformation on the Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food—learn the neighborhood’s history, ride outdoor escalators, and meet muralists.

Evening: Dinner at Oci.Mde (wood-fired, nose-to-tail; the 12-hour pork shoulder is a favorite) or Carmen Medellín (refined Colombian tasting menu). Cocktails at Envy Rooftop or Lumbre (Andean botanicals, moody lighting).

Day 6 — Metrocable to Nature, Botero, and a Food Hall Finish

Morning: Ride Line L to Parque Arví—a forested escape with easy trails and local farmers’ stalls. Coffee and pan de yuca at a kiosk before gliding back down with valley views.

Afternoon: Head to Plaza Botero for dozens of plump bronzes, then the Museo de Antioquia for modern Latin American art. Late lunch at Hacienda Junín (classic bandeja paisa, split one) or Mercado del Río (gourmet food hall with everything from ceviche to ramen).

Evening: Laureles café-crawl: Pergamino (single-origin filters), Rituales (community-roasted), and Hija Mía (Australian-style espresso). Later, live music at Salón Málaga (boleros, tango) or a relaxed wine bar in Provenza’s leafy streets.

Day 7 — Slow Morning, Souvenirs, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Alambique (inventive Colombian plates) or Cambria (eggs, pastries, and great pour-overs). Shop for tasteful souvenirs: specialty beans (Pergamino, Rituales), panela sweets, or handmade leather goods in Via Primavera.

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your flight home. If time allows, detour to the Jardín Botánico for a calm farewell under the Orchideorama’s wooden canopy.

Optional Swap: Beach Club or Mud Volcano (Cartagena)

If you prefer a lounge day over sailing, book a daybed at Bora Bora Beach Club in the Rosario Islands for overwater hammocks and a long lunch: Bora Bora Cartagena Beach Club Full Day Experience.

Short on time? For a quirky half-day, soak in mineral-rich goo at El Totumo: Half-Day Tour to Totumo Mud Volcano.

Where and What to Eat & Drink (Save this list!)

• Cartagena coffee and breakfast: Epoca Espresso Bar (signature cold brew, arepas); Abaco Libros & Café (books + brews); Café del Mural (guided tastings).
• Cartagena lunch: La Cevichería (ceviche mixto); La Mulata (daily fish specials, coconut rice); Máximo (casual Colombian plates near plazas).
• Cartagena dinner: Celele (innovative Caribbean), Carmen (tasting menu), Di Silvio (pizza in Getsemaní courtyards). Nightlife: Alquímico, Café Havana, Quiebra-Canto.
• Medellín coffee: Pergamino (multiple origins), Hija Mía (flat whites), Rituales (Laureles collective roastery).
• Medellín lunch: Mondongos (iconic paisa fare), Hacienda (bandeja paisa), In Situ (garden-side dining in the Botanic Garden).
• Medellín dinner: Oci.Mde (wood-fired), Carmen (elevated Colombian), Alambique (creative share plates). Drinks: Envy Rooftop, 37 Park, and craft beer at 3 Cordilleras taproom.

Logistics & Getting Around

• Flights: Domestic routes are frequent and affordable; check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. CTG⇄MDE is ~1h10m; budget $40–120 one-way.
• Local transport: Cartagena is walkable inside the walls; use taxis or ride-hail for heat or longer hops. In Medellín, ride the clean, efficient metro and metrocables; taxis are reliable.
• Where to book stays: Use VRBO Cartagena, Hotels.com Cartagena, and for Medellín, The Charlee Hotel, Hotel Estelar Milla de Oro, Hotel San Fernando Plaza, or browse Hotels.com Medellín.

Bonus experience for culture lovers: If time allows in Cartagena, consider a heritage visit to San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African town in the Americas, to learn drumming, language, and cuisine with local guides.

Across one unforgettable week you’ll walk centuries-old ramparts, snorkel Caribbean reefs, savor street foods, ride mountain-skirting metrocables, and toast a city reborn under soft Andean skies. Colombia rewards curiosity—this itinerary gives you structure, and space to follow your senses.