February 22, 2018

A Week In Cartagena: What to eat, see and do

Happy Thursday! I’m excited to finally share all about my trip to Cartagena, Colombia. Why Cartagena? SUN, quick flight (only 5 hours from NYC) and of course, food.

Fun Fact: The city of Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia and was a major port for the export of goods to Spain.

Within the walls of the “Old Town”, you’ll find tons of culture, amazing restaurants, and colorful buildings. As my boyfriend described it, “It’s like New Orleans on steroids.”

Where To Stay:

Tcherassi Hotel and Spa: If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing stay, this is the perfect spot. The staff were super friendly and accommodating. We were welcomed with cocktails and fresh fruit in the room (super refreshing after a flight!).

We loved that we were often the only people hanging out by the rooftop pool – never had to fight for towels or a day bed. While the rooftop bar was a little slow, the drinks were delicious.

The massages at the hotel spa were super cheap (only about $60 for 90 minutes), but weren’t anything special. Relaxing, but not the “deep tissue” work we were looking for. If you’re looking for a great massage, go to the Sofitel Hotel. Which leads me to my next recommendation…

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena: If you want that luxurious resort feel, this is your spot. Loved the high archways, plant-filled courtyard and gorgeous pool area. We attended their NYE party which was a lot of fun (one of the pricier parties, but definitely worth it!).

Restaurants:

CANDÉ: This place was such an adorable date spot! It’s one of the few restaurants in Cartagena that serves authentic Colombian cuisine. The lobster is a MUST as well as the seafood with coconut rice. Had one of my favorite desserts of the trip here: Banana Cake with Kola Gelato (the gelato was pink and I loved the flavor!).

Don Juan: An upscale and popular restaurant that totally lived up to the hype. Make sure you make a reservation! Amazing ambiance and decor with incredible food to match. I felt super boring ordering the roast chicken but NO JOKE – best chicken I ever had.

La Cevicheria: This place landed itself on the map after Anthony Bourdain visited back in 2009. Be prepared to wait at least an hour to be seated. It was right around the block from our hotel, so we put our name down then laid out by the pool to pass the time. We ordered WAY too much food, but enjoyed every bite. The mixed seafood grill for two was delicious and we were sad that we ordered too much food to finish it. Fish was super fresh.

Carmen: Another MUST. Great atmosphere and great service. Had a tender and flavorful beef tenderloin, while the boy got the pork. There were no veggie sides on the menu, but the kitchen was nice enough to make me a large bowl of sautéed veggies. Win!

La Vitrola: We heard this was the best restaurant in Cartagena, so we were disappointed to hear they had no availability for at least a week (we’d be gone by then). On our last night, we sort of begged the chef to squeeze us in (and he did!). Loved the vibe here – there was a live band and the restaurant was packed. My boyfriend is a HUGE crème brulee aficionado and said this one made it to his top three of all time. Lovely end to an amazing trip!

What to Do:

Island Hop: If you want white sand and blue water, hop on a boat to one of the islands outside of Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are where it’s at, but we were a little late with our planning and most of the islands were booked (book ahead of time!!!!). A friend of ours recommended Agua Azul. Not going to lie, was a little scared for my life on the journey there. The car ride was fine, but the 10-minute boat ride was a little sketchy. The water was a little rough and the boat was a little old… BUT we made it!

We were greeted with cocktails and had an entire sunbed with cushions to ourselves. Our trip included lunch, and our driver stayed with us the entire time until we were ready to go back. I recommend this if you want a more intimate, low-key island day.

Watch sunset at Café Del Mar: We ran up to this outdoor bar three times on our trip. The sunset is to die for up here! The drinks take FOREVER so go early if you want a drink in your hand while the sun goes down. Beautiful views of the city and the water. A DJ comes on when the sun goes down. Really fun spot!

Get a Massage: We got a few massages at our hotel (only $60 for 90 minutes!), but they were a 6/10. Go to the Sofitel spa if you want the real deal. They have a great spa, sauna and steam room.

Climb the Castle: The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas was built by the Spanish during the colonial era. It was a 20 minute walk from our hotel and another 20 minute walk up to the top (honestly, this was our workout for the day! Lot’s of hills!).