With its beautiful Caribbean coastline and stunning colonial architecture, Cartagena is one of South America´s most romantic cities. Cartagena is also, not surprisingly, Colombia´s most tourist-friendly city and welcomes huge crowds of foreigners arriving by land, sea, and air each day. Traveling to Cartagena is quite easy and is no easier or more difficult than traveling to any major international city.

By Land

Purchase a bus ticket in the city from which you are departing. Buses leave from Colombia´s capital Bogota daily (20 hours one way). Other common departure cities include Medellin (13 hours) and Barranquilla (two hours). You can also travel to Cartagena from Caracas in Venezuela (20 hours).

Arrive at the bus station with time to spare. Although things tend to start and end later in Colombia than in the States, it´s always good to be on the safe side.

When you arrive, transport yourself and your luggage to your destination in Cartagena. The bus terminal is located on the eastern edge of the city. Take the large green Metrocar shuttle bus to the center. These leave every 10 minutes and cost $0.50. With normal traffic levels you should arrive in downtown in 40 minutes. Continue Reading