Cartagena Tourist Traps

Plaza Santo Domingo is no different than the other plazas in Cartagena with their churches and other outlets with common space for the pedestrians decided to go on their business or hang out for a while. Yet at the same time there is the notion that the Santo Domingo plaza is definitely for the tourist as opposed to the Plaza Bolivar which seems to be dominated by the locals. I have no idea how it came about but it is a fact well known by the locals who are plying the tourist trade. So much so that if you succumb and sit down for a drink a whole series of artist of any calibre are going to offer their services and thus poison your impression of the place. Day time hustlers are the so called "palenqueras" or fruit-selling ladies while at night there are the "troubadours" who would be willing to entertain you with amazing repertoire of songs and if not enough some might suggest other tricks akin to circus performance. Just hold on to your stout NO as long as your beer is over and move...

Horse-drawn carriage tours are generally a very touristy affairs and in the western world a prohibitively expensive one. Fairy tale towns like Cartagena are perfect places to make this splurge and we saw many people doing just that. There were almost too many of them on all the narrow streets! We were on a long trip with a fairly tight budget and assumed it was too much money for something we didn't really “need” so never even asked how much it might be. Only on returning, I saw some prices in the 30-40,000 COP ($15-20) range for an hour tour. This is certainly not cheap by local standards but far less than you'd pay in bit North American cities. Perhaps some day if we ever return and they sure did make for some atmospheric photos and of course, these were free.

Basically, don't talk to anyone who approaches you, especially if they speak English. Make sure you buy from someone inside a building, not a mobile shop, so you can go back and complain if things don't work out.

But you still have to shop around, people inside the hotel were offering boat tours for a higher price than the place just a few blocks down the road.

I was so stupid. Just walked out on the streets for a few hours and I've been ripped off twice already.

Once by the oyster guy on the beach, I probably could have walked away but I felt I had to pay him something.

And by the money exchange guy offering me 2500 pesos for US$1 when the exchange rate was at 2000 pesos. He was quick with his hands and took some of the bills away after counting the money and before handing me the money. He was so confident, he even had a small chat to the guard outside the bank while he was doing it.

We were on a full day excursion from the ship 'Island Princess' and towards the end of the day we were taken, in our coach, to an up-market area of the city. As we climbed off the 'bus we were herded into a shop to buy emeralds. No choice was given by our guide: we had to go in. We went in and immediately informed one of the assistants that we didn't wish to emeralds. She seemed surprised. We left and wandered around the other shops ---a mixture of jewellers and jewellers! To be fair, there were a few craft stalls on the pavement. It was such a wast of forty minutes. Why hadn't we spent longer at another place? Okay, the itinerary had mentioned a stop to buy emeralds ---but so much time!
Above the shops was another shop we sells great quality coffee to drink or in packets to take home. The ice-cream there was great.

Unique Suggestions: Go up the steps to the shops up there.

Not really a tourist trap, but a touristy sight... Ladies in the old walled town sellig fruits or candies/biscuits from large baskets that they carry on their head, in perfect balance. They dress up in costumes with the colour of the Colombian flag.

Unique Suggestions: The candies/biscuits look vile, and i never found the courage to taste them. Fruits... I bought them from the supermarket, more choice, fresher and cheaper.

Fun Alternatives: Do take a phot of them... they are quite characteristics.

Book the tour to Rosario Islands at the port on Avenida Blas de Lezo called “Muelle Touristico”. The building is called “Turismo Cartagena de Indias”. You can also book it with a travel agency in the city but not with the street vendors because you might have surprises...Have in mind that diving or the show in the Aquarium is always extra and not included in the price.

"hola my friend",
this is something you will hear approximately every hour while walking through the old city ! Sometimes it´s just to say hello and to show that they speak english (or maybe only these few words) but sometime you will see that the guy (99%) is following you and want to help you showing things, giving local "insider" tips etc... Some of these guys speaks quite good english and often looks more or less well dressed compared to the rest of locals you will see ! But take care - DANGER !
These guys may help you with different things (getting better apartment for lower money, show you nice local restaurant, often specialist in nightlife or getting a girlfriend for single male traveler) but at the end they are just working on getting make you feel comfortable with them at your site ... one day ... in a moment where you may leave them 5 minutes in your room or apartment or in the restaurant taking care of your personal stuff, it will happen. They will steal everything and often they plan it quite well waiting only 1 day or few hours before you leave the city so you do not have any chance to look for them and you will realize that you never saw their ID or any document that shows you WHO the person was or where to contact him !
Sometimes other people they present you (girls) maybe the real thief !

I didn´t lived that experience myself, just saw cases and even know 4 guys working that way because I live here in Cartagena - when I see them with foreigners I try to warn the person but can´t do it to obvious for the bad guy because they might make me problems or get aggressive.

They are smart .. .even inviting you to a lunch or lending their cel-phone to make calls just to make you feel as friend - TAKE CARE !

Another trap are the guys which offers you to change money on the street - NEVER .. NEVER do it ! They are trick thieves - they are capable to count money right in front of you and double so fast a bill and count them twice or they may FOR SURE gave you false bills ! NEVER CHANGE ON THE STREET !

Unique Suggestions: If you read my description you will not have to make experience with that trap !

Fun Alternatives: If you read my description you will not have to make experience with that trap !

So tourist want to mix in with the locals, go partying and meet people right?
The Getsemani, especially The Media Luna street is an area offered often, but by locals with questionable intentions.

Yes, you'll find everythings really cheap, you'll meet weird people adn men will usually meet girls ( too friendly sometimes ).

Just by the look of the place , DO NOT GO, unless you like getting robbed, pry stoned and meet social companions ( prostitutes ) who could end up being fernandos or diegos with make up.

Unique Suggestions: Just avoid it.
I assure you theres much better places.

Fun Alternatives: Any other place.
You'll notice with a little common sense where they're taking you.