Family-friendly Adventure Activities
Cartagena is a great option for a family-vacation. Besides the beautifully preserved old walled city, there are oodles of outdoor activities that you can do. Cartagena is also a relatively safe city, especially if you stay within the touristy areas.
Visit The Baru Bird Sanctuary
If you are a family of nature lovers, or even if you just want your kids to see the diversity of wildlife in Colombia, a visit to the Baru Bird Sanctuary is a great learning experience. The birds’ natural habitats are recreated as closely as possible to their which also allows you to get a glimpse of Colombia’s many different landscapes and microclimates.
Visit El Totumo And Take A Bath In Mud
Volcanos and a mud bath? This could be every kid’s dream come true! This unique experience is relatively easy to organize and you can book it as a day trip through most tour operators in Cartagena.
Get Out On The Water
Water sports are by far one of the most popular activities to do in Cartagena.
The land is surrounded by a large reef with is home to 280 different species of fish, sharks, and rays. The sea is calm and suitable for young swimmers. One of the best ways to get your feet wet is by visiting the Rosario Islands. The white sand beaches and turquoise waters are perfect for a day in the sun and you can easily rent snorkel gear from the nearby vendors.
If you are looking to be out on the water but would prefer to stay relatively dry, you can all of our Dream Yacht rentals here!
Check Out The Mangroves At La Boquilla
Located just 20 minutes drive from Cartagena, La Boquilla is a small fishing village that is the jumping off point for mangrove tours. The tours normally last just a few hours but are a fantastic way for your kids to learn about the rich biodiversity of these important ecological areas.
Although adventure normally implies hiking, water sports or other outdoor activities, depending on where you are from, a trip to the old walled city may be a pretty big adventure! The historic old town feels like it has been taken right out of Spain and if your kids have never been to Europe or a similar colonial city, they may experience a bit of culture shock!
Bike Tours In Cartagena
Bicycling is often one of the best ways to explore a city or area. You are able to cover a lot more distance than walking but unlike being in a car which whisks you from place to place, you are moving slow enough to really appreciate your surroundings. It can also feel a lot cooler than walking through a city, especially if you visit during the dry season when the weather is hot and sunny.
Cartagena is a flat city and is great place to discover by bike. Although the traffic can be pretty crazy outside of the city walls, an early morning ride through the old town is an amazing way to start the day. You can rent bikes from many different shops in the old town. Don’t stress too much about trying to find the best price. Most bikes cost roughly the same. However, just make sure to double check the breaks and steering before you get started.
We highly recommend riding along the city walls to get a great view of the old walled city, Bocagrande and the sea itself. Like the streets of the old city, this is best attempted very early in the morning when other visitors are still sleeping off the previous day’s nocturnal activities.
Regardless of where you decide to ride, try and go as early in the day as possible or in the evening (if you are there during the off season) to escape the heat of the day. Carry plenty of water and wear sunscreen if you are riding more than 20 minutes or so especially if you are coming from a cold climate. The best way that you can ruin a vacation is by sunstroke or sunburn (believe us, we know after finding out the hard way.)
Cartagena old walled city is a relatively straightforward city to explore but if you want to hear the history and insider tips on the city, we recommend taking a bike tour. Cartagena has an absolutely fascinating history and you won’t want to miss it! We would love to plan a personalized Dream Experience for you. Inquire about dream experience here.
