Cartagena Colombia

Cartagena de Indias is a major port city in Colombia and also one of the country's oldest settlements. The port is usually included in Southern Caribbean itineraries (leaving roundtrip from Florida USA) and often in Panama Canal transition itineraries. The city has population around 920,000 (metro around 1,3 million). Namesake is the Mediterranean Port of Cartagena in Spain.

Puerto de Cartagena (locode COCTG) has the capacity to serve all types of marine vessels, including large container ships, cargo carriers (dry, liquid, breakbulk), Ro-Ro ships, tankers and passenger ships (cruisers and ferries). The Port handles annually ~1400 vessels, ~3 million TEU containers, ~7,2 million tons of cargo.

Columbia's principal port (and the country's largest by annual shipping volumes) is Buenaventura.

For season 2023-2024, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 190 cruise ship calls/booked berthings (including 12 maiden/first-time visits) with expected 470,000+ tourists (~320,000 passengers plus ~150,000 crew). The bookings were from 30 different cruise line brands, including CCL-Carnival, Princess, HAL-Holland America, AIDA, Silversea, RCI-Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC (and Explora Journeys), NCL-Norwegian, TUI, Marella UK, P&O UK, DCL-Disney, Oceania, Windstar, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Viking OCEAN. The Port's annual economic impact from cruise shipping (2023-2024 season) was estimated at USD 50+ million.

During the Spanish colonial period, the city played a key role in the expansion of the Spanish Empire (1492-1975) and was also a center of political and economic activity. In 1984, the city was listed as a UNESCO Site. Cartagena is one of South America's most impressive colonial cities featuring cobbled streets, well-preserved fortifications (including 7 shoreside forts) and stone-made city walls. Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (1639-built) was the biggest Spanish fort in the Americas. The historic downtown is marked by narrow streets, grand colonial buildings and arcaded plazas.

Best-known buildings include the Palace of the Inquisition, the Cathedral, the Gold Museum (all located around Plaza de Bolivar), several churches and monasteries (including San Agustin, Santo Domingo, San Francisco, Santisima Trinidad). Tourists can also explore the Islas del Rosario's surrounding coral reefs or take a mud bath close to El Totumo volcano.

In 2020, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group's subsidiary company Pullmantur Cruises had ~50% market share of Colombia's ship cruising market. Pullmantur started operations here in 2014, and in 2019 Colombia was its 3rd-largest market (after Spain and Brazil) operated year-round with 1 liner (Pullmantur Monarch). The ship was homeported in Cartagena and Colon Panama for roundtrips to Southern Caribbean port destinations. Colombia is currently ranked South America's 3rd-largest market - after Brazil and Argentina.

AmaWaterways is the first major cruise brand to operate on the Magdalena River in Colombia. For a year-round deployment, the company long-term chartered two newbuild boats from Metropolitan Touring (1968-founded, Quito Ecuador-based travel company, tour operator and shipowner), both debuting in 2024 - AmaMagdalena (April) and AmaMelodia (June).

On Magdalena River, AmaWaterways operates two 7-night itineraries themed "Magic Colombia" (from Barranquilla to Cartagena) and the reverse "Wonders of Colombia" (from Cartagena to Barranquilla).

Next are listed the call ports/events part of the "Wonders of Colombia" itinerary.

• (DAY 1) Cartagena (EMBARKATION, tour of Getsemani neighborhood)
• (DAY 2) San Basilio de Palenque and Calamar
• (DAY 3) Santa Barbara de Pinto (walking tour) and Santa Cruz de Mompox (overnight)
• (DAY 4) Mompox (Cienaga de Pijino lake expedition, walking tour) second overnight
• (DAY 5) Mompox, cruising through La Mojana, El Banco (walking tour, ashore dinner and Cumbia musical and dance performance)
• (DAY 6) Magangue (birdwatching tour or Cienega hiking tour), cruising to Nueva Venecia
• (DAY 7) Nueva Venecia (tour to a stilt-house/lake village), cruising to Barranquilla (Carnaval de Barranquilla-themed small dockside event)
• (DAY 8) Barranquilla (DISEMBARKATION)

When announced in 2023, AmaWaterways' Colombia voyages were priced from USD 3600 (EUR 3410 / GBP 3030) per person with double occupancy, or ~US$515 pp per night. The fares are inclusive of guided tours (walking, cycling) as well as wildlife/birdwatching land and boat expeditions. Pre- and post-cruise programming (land tours/excursions, and hotel stays) are optional and cost extra.

AmaWaterways offers pre-cruise packages in Medellin (3-night) or Cartagena (2-night), plus a 5-night combo (Medellin plus Cartagena). These packages are combinable with a post-cruise/3-night package in Panama City (includes a visit to Panama Canal's Gatun Lake/Miraflores Locks and Chagres NP) to a 2-week/15-night vacation package.

Cartagena Colombia cruise terminal

Cartagena Colombia tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Walled City (guided tours, including on bicycles)
• Bocagrande (leisure and shopping area with galleries, clubs, cafes, shops)
• City Trolley Excursion
• City Sightseeing Excursion
• Totumo Volcano Excursion
• Organic Mud Bath Excursion
• Native Fishing and Cooking Excursion
• SCUBA Diving (Boat Excursion)