How do I get around Cartagena?

The Ciudad Amurallada spans about 1 km north to south. You can cross it on foot in 15 minutes, and walking is the only practical way through its narrow streets. Getsemaní sits right outside the southern wall, a 5-minute walk through the Puerta del Reloj clocktower. Sidewalks throughout both neighborhoods are uneven colonial stone, slick after the daily 3 p.m. downpour, so wear shoes with grip. After 11 a.m., heat becomes the real obstacle. At 87% humidity and a feels-like temperature above 33°C, a 10-minute walk leaves your shirt stuck to your back. Plan routes for mornings before 10 a.m. or late afternoon past 4 p.m. The midday stretch belongs to an air-conditioned table at Plaza Santo Domingo.

Cartagena taxis don't run meters. You agree on a zone-based fare, typically 7,000-35,000 COP, before climbing in. Walled city to Bocagrande costs about 10,000-15,000 COP ($2.50-3.75 USD). Rafael Núñez Airport to the walled city runs 25,000-35,000 COP. InDriver has become the default ride-hailing app in Cartagena. You propose a fare, the driver counters, and you can track the car on InDriver's map once agreed. Uber technically operates, but its legal standing in Colombia has been contested, and some drivers cancel or ask you to ride in front. DiDi is the third option. Download InDriver before you land. After midnight from Getsemaní's bars on Calle de la Media Luna, expect both apps and street taxis to charge a 30-50% premium.

TransCaribe is Cartagena's bus rapid transit system. Articulated buses run on dedicated lanes along the main avenues for 2,800 COP per ride, about $0.70. The network connects the Terminal de Transportes, Bocagrande, and the Bazurto market corridor, but it does not enter the walled city or Getsemaní. The closest stops sit near the India Catalina monument, about a 10-minute walk from the walls. For visitors, TransCaribe's strongest use is the run to Bazurto market. The smaller colectivo buses on secondary routes cost 2,500 COP, have no fixed stops, no route maps, and drivers assume you know Cartagena. They work if you speak some Spanish. Otherwise, a 10,000 COP taxi is money well spent.

Boats to the Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca leave from the Muelle de la Bodeguita and the Muelle de los Pegasos, both within 10 minutes' walk of the walled city. Day trips to Rosario cost 60,000-80,000 COP per person with lunch included. Boats depart around 8 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. The 45-minute crossing gets rough between June and November. You'll smell diesel exhaust and feel salt spray before the Rosario dock comes into view. Faster lanchas to Playa Blanca run 30,000-50,000 COP one way from the same piers. The overland alternative goes through La Boquilla by colectivo for about 15,000 COP. Book through your hotel rather than the touts at Muelle de los Pegasos, who tend to add 10,000-20,000 COP in unlisted fees for island entry and environmental taxes.