Why go
- City in coastal northern Colombia.
- Served by Rafael Nuñez International Airport (CTG).
History
Cartagena, known since the imperial era as Cartagena de Indias, is a city and one of the major ports on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region, along the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena's past role as a link in the route to the West Indies provides it with important historical value for world exploration and preservation of heritage from the great commercial maritime routes. As a former Spanish colony, it was a key port for the export of Bolivian silver to Spain and for the import of enslaved Africans under the asiento system. It was defensible against pirate attacks in the Caribbean. The city's strategic location between the Magdalena and Sinú rivers also gave it easy access to the interior of New Granada and made it a main port for trade between Spain and its overseas empire, establishing its importance by the early 1540s.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (318, A320, A319) · 4 routes: Bogota, Cali, Miami, Rio Negro
- Copa Airlines CM (Embraer 190, A320, 737-800, 737-700) · 3 routes: Bogota, Panama City, San Andres Island*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320) · 1 route: New York
- LAN Airlines LA (A320) · 1 route: Bogota*
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 1 route: Fort Lauderdale
- United Airlines UA (318, A320) · 1 route: Miami*
- US Airways US (318, A320) · 1 route: Miami
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Rafael Nuñez International Airport (CTG); 9 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CTG has direct flights to 8 destinations on 7 airlines (incl. Bogota, Miami, Cali, Fort Lauderdale, New York…). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Ferry Pasacaballo - Barú, 14 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Cartagena, Colombia. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.