mnlovesdisney Posted January 28, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 28, 2018 We are going on a cruise that stops in Cartagena from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We leave in 9 days and as such in looking at excursion they are basically all sold out already and even if they weren't nothing looked like a good fit for us. My questions are mainly how much walking would be involved to go to various spots on your own (walled/old city, the fort, inquisition palace, etc.) and how safe is it to explore on your own? If you take taxi's how much are they and again how safe? With such a short stop I certainly don't want to risk not getting back to the ship on time not being on a ship excursion. Thanks for help on this. I'm just very unsure about what I want to do in Cartagena. We are in our 50s so amount of walking and exertion levels do matter. Thanks for any information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vacation Nut Posted January 29, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 29, 2018 It is too far to walk from the ship to old town. It is $20 taxi fare each way (ask for the clock tower). The traffic is heavy, but the journey is about 15 mins. Didn't feel unsafe at all. Does your cruise ship have hop on hop off tickets for sale? I would do that. Cartagena is great, we loved old town, but you really don't have long to enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espmass Posted January 29, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Is the $20 fare each way per person or per cab? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted January 29, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 29, 2018 We are going on a cruise that stops in Cartagena from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We leave in 9 days and as such in looking at excursion they are basically all sold out already and even if they weren't nothing looked like a good fit for us. My questions are mainly how much walking would be involved to go to various spots on your own (walled/old city, the fort, inquisition palace, etc.) and how safe is it to explore on your own? If you take taxi's how much are they and again how safe? With such a short stop I certainly don't want to risk not getting back to the ship on time not being on a ship excursion. Thanks for help on this. I'm just very unsure about what I want to do in Cartagena. We are in our 50s so amount of walking and exertion levels do matter. Thanks for any information. Why dont you ask in your roll call there maybe someone who has looked into taxis and maybe would like to share. If you are interested in Birds Monkeys and a few other odd animals there is a small park area with flamingoes peacocks toucans parrots and a lot of other birds just on the dock. We went on the ship walking trip to the old town first time we went - It was very good but once was enough. You dont see this park when you go out on the trips or take the free dock shuttle to the main dock entrance but someone mentioned it and we went last time we were there. You walk through an open area then go through the shop and out the other side Think we spent an hour there but a keen photographer could spend a couple of hours easily and the shop is good( cooll!!) and there is a cafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberCascades Posted January 29, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 29, 2018 We went with Marelvy Pena-Hall a couple of years ago. It was around $65 per person for a 4 hour tour. I think there were 10 or 12 of us. I don't know if she'd be booked up already, but you could touch base with her. You don't have to set it up privately - she may have a bus or two coming to the pier anyway that you could join in on (making arrangements ahead of time, of course). We had an amazing time with her. It wasn't too much walking, but it also wasn't too much sitting on a bus. http://www.tourincartagena.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathy407 Posted January 29, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Why dont you ask in your roll call there maybe someone who has looked into taxis and maybe would like to share. If you are interested in Birds Monkeys and a few other odd animals there is a small park area with flamingoes peacocks toucans parrots and a lot of other birds just on the dock. We went on the ship walking trip to the old town first time we went - It was very good but once was enough. You dont see this park when you go out on the trips or take the free dock shuttle to the main dock entrance but someone mentioned it and we went last time we were there. You walk through an open area then go through the shop and out the other side Think we spent an hour there but a keen photographer could spend a couple of hours easily and the shop is good( cooll!!) and there is a cafe. Is Are the animals right by the pier? We are going on NCL in may to cartagena and would love to see this. Ty We went with Marelvy Pena-Hall a couple of years ago. It was around $65 per person for a 4 hour tour. I think there were 10 or 12 of us. I don't know if she'd be booked up already, but you could touch base with her. You don't have to set it up privately - she may have a bus or two coming to the pier anyway that you could join in on (making arrangements ahead of time, of course). We had an amazing time with her. It wasn't too much walking, but it also wasn't too much sitting on a bus. http://www.tourincartagena.com Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted January 29, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Maybe 500metres you can see it from the ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnlovesdisney Posted January 30, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thanks for tips and information. I'm not sure what we're doing yet but it won't be a ship excursion as all the good ones are full. We will probably decide when we get off the ship. Are there shopping areas walking distance if we just end up looking for souvenirs and then going back to the ship. I hate to waste all that history (I love history) but I think we simply waited too long to figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Tina Posted February 12, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 12, 2018 There isn't anything to walk to in the port other than the shop at the port next to the garden/park with the birds. The shop had coffee for twice the price in town and Molas were $28 - I got them in town for $10 to $15. Check with others on your thread to see if anyone is using the private tours - especially Dora Cartagena Tours. We were there last week and really enjoyed the tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 25, 2018 We love Cartagena. These are things that we did in photos. We went to the La Popa Monastery. Beautiful Monastery also offering beautiful views of the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Another view from outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 25, 2018 We have also visited Fort San Felipe de Barajas. The construction of this fort began in 1536 and it was not fully completed until 1656. The fort was built by Slaves. The fort was rebuilt in the mid-1990's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #14 Share Posted February 25, 2018 On some tours you can get into the tunnels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 25, 2018 The Flag of Colombia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I also recommend a visit to the walled city. Some of the old area is now used as shops and was originally dungeons that once stored provisions for the soldiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 25, 2018 As you walk towards the old city within that area is another Monastery called the San Pedro Claver Monastery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 25, 2018 There is a lot of beauty and charm to the old city. Lots to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 25, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 25, 2018 You can see a good part of the city in four or five hours. There is also the modern city but I would not do that on your first visit. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cheersforbeers Posted February 25, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Hop on Hop off Bus??? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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