As Cartagena’s premier bachelor party agency our plan is to help expedite any trip to Colombia’s heroic city. We plan to do this with an extremely helpful The Cartagena Colombia Bachelor Party Compendium that will put the answers to all of your questions together eliminating any guesswork.
This Compendium or guide will have 8 of the main categories people scratch their heads about when it comes to bachelor parties in Cartagena. Those categories are:
- Vacation Rentals in Cartagena
- Getting Around in Cartagena
- Is Cartagena Safe?
- Yacht Parties in Cartagena
- Pool Parties in Cartagena
- Cartagena’s City Center
- Colombian Currency vs USD
- Food in Cartagena
So let’s start with #1 on everyone’s list, Vacation Rentals in Cartagena or where to stay in Cartagena?
VACATION RENTALS IN CARTAGENA COLOMBIA
Cartagena has 3 different options for bachelor parties:
Properties in the walled city – The walled city or city center is Cartagena’s most prized asset and one of the main reasons why people can’t get enough of this city. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, the center is not just full of history but also, a great place to stay.
The stunning colonial-style buildings aren’t just amazing on the outside. They also hold lavish bachelor party pads on the inside. With many of them having multiple bedrooms, full-time butlers, and indoor pools, a center is a great option if you want to experience true, old-school luxury.
Properties in Bocagrande – Bocagrande is a more affordable alternative to Cartagena’s city center. It is a neighborhood in Cartagena that’s on the beach and not as scrutinized as the center. Not to say you won’t get into any trouble if you don’t adhere to strict house rules. But this place is where you want to be if you want to be away from the crowds.
Bocagrande features multiple huge single-family homes with pools, 6+ bedrooms, and luxury decor, and best of all, party-friendly.
Private Islands – The name pretty much speaks for itself. A private island is a piece of land that you can rent per night. This is reserved for the uber VIP client that wants everything brought to them and cares not for the spotlight. Private islands come equipped with everything you can possibly dream of and realistically, the sky’s the limit.
Once you’ve discovered where you want to stay or if you’re still unsure, be sure to contact me directly for more information.
GETTING AROUND IN CARTAGENA
Depending on where you’re staying (City center, Bocagrande, or a private island) you’ll want to know how to get around in Cartagena. Groups staying in the walled city tend to stay in this sector for the duration of their trip (see below, is Cartagena safe?) while groups that stay in Bocagrande tend to move around a lot more.
Transportation in Cartagena is recommended for excursions that involve visiting the strip clubs in Cartagena (not as good as strip clubs in Medellin FYI) or commuting between the center and Bocagrande. Within the center, traffic can be chaotic and you’ll end up getting where you want to go faster on foot.
We recommend airport transportation in Cartagena as well as nighttime transportation in Cartagena if you want to visit surrounding areas. This brings us to our next point.
IS CARTAGENA SAFE?
Cartagena isn’t a huge city and realistically most of the glamour (many would argue all) is found in the center. But for those who want to explore the real Cartagena, we don’t recommend you do so on your own.
Cartagena, as with many cities in Colombia, faces extreme poverty which is hidden from the public eye. This makes many places dangerous for unsuspecting outsiders. In fact, the only places that welcome short-term rental groups that we can say are safe would be Bocagrande and the walled city. Anything aside from those places we’re not going to say something will go down, but you’re better off staying within the tourist areas.
YACHT PARTIES IN CARTAGENA
Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, yacht rentals in Cartagena. These are the reason why many choose Cartagena over Medellín and if done correctly, a true VIP experience. Yacht parties in Cartagena begin with confirming the number of guests and budget.
Once this is done, you will get a wide array of vessels to choose from. Whether it’s a speedboat, yacht, catamaran or even fishing boat, there are hundreds of options to choose from.
Here is where things get tricky. Cartagena receives so many bachelor party groups on a weekly basis that there are dozens of companies and hundreds of individuals who offer the same options. These options, unfortunately, range in prices, and the challenge is finding a good price. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is and if you have doubts, don’t hesitate to contact us directly for more information.
Once the craft has been selected, the next step is putting together the day party. You will need a DJ (depending on the type of yacht), chef, and Bartender.
Most yachts will come with a few logistics people and a captain and here is where we recommend you take precautions. These captains tend to take advantage of the fact you’re in party mode and will basically drive around in circles. We recommend a local you trust that will provide the captain with an itinerary he will need to follow. This is the only way you can be sure you will visit all of the islands on this VIP experience.
POOL PARTIES IN CARTAGENA
Pool parties in Cartagena are also a very popular item but these can be tricky depending on where you’re staying. If you’re organizing a Cartagena bachelor party where you plan on throwing a few pool parties, here are a few questions you’ll need to ask the landlord of the property where you wish to stay:
- Are DJs allowed on this property?
- This will be a bachelor party, do you accept an all-male reservation?
- Where are the cameras located in the house?
- Are pool parties permitted?
- Are there any restrictions with outside guests?
Just because you’re in Colombia, doesn’t mean you won’t get into any trouble, so please, be mindful of neighbors, respect the property and keep the house staff in your front pocket. These will be the people that will either save you or watch you sink if need be.
CARTAGENA’S CITY CENTER
We added this as a category of its own on a count of it being the city’s main attraction. A walled city is a magical place, full of color and spectacular decor. Not to mention fantastic restaurants coupled with classic street food (more on this later).
At any time you may enjoy a beer or cocktail at one of the hundreds of bars and themed pubs the center holds. For the youngsters or non-drinkers, you can enjoy fresh fruit as well as tropical fruit juices.
Once the sun sets and the temperature drops to a perfect 70 degrees, you may enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets while listening to the history of Cartagena. Visit Alquimico bar and enjoy great music as well as fantastic concoctions made from various homemade infusions and using local rums and spirits.
The city center is lively, colorful, fun and it really feels like you’ve been put back into colonial times.
COLOMBIAN CURRENCY (COP) VS USD
The Colombian peso is as weak as it’s been in a few years which is great news for those bringing a stronger currency. But Cartagena as with many touristy cities takes advantage of the fact that there are so many people looking to exchange their dollars for pesos. A cash exchange place in Medellín, for example, is currently buying $1 USD for $2940 COP while in Cartagena they’ll take your dollar for $2850 COP. Not much of a difference when you compare dollar to dollar but if you’re going to exchange $1000+ these zeros add up in the end.
We recommend exchanging some dollars at a cash house back home in your native land, you might get a better deal there. If this isn’t an option, look for a cash exchange place in Cartagena and get a few hundred dollars every few days or so. ATMs are the place to get the best rate but considering there are so many people pulling out on an hourly basis, we can’t always rely on them having enough to supply such a demand.
Have dollars, pesos, and cards handy.
FOOD IN CARTAGENA
Colombian gastronomy won’t be winning any awards in the near future but that doesn’t mean you won’t have amazing meals. Cartagena has a cornucopia of great restaurants for both local and international cuisines.
Restaurants like Carmen, Moshi, La Perla, La Cevicheria, and Cuzco can’t be overlooked and places like El Baron and Alquimico for cocktails are epic. The best part is, they’re all located in the city center and all popular spots.
If you’re going to be eating at a less fancy, more local establishment, we recommend you steer away from fresh fruit juices and opt for the bottled versions. Water isn’t clean from the tap and even ice is questionable at many places that aren’t fancy.
