Bogotá and Cartagena are the same country and almost nothing else. Bogotá is 2,600 meters away, it’s cold and everything goes fast. Cartagena has the Caribbean Sea, warmth and a slowness that at first misplaced and then appreciated.
The flight takes less than two hours. That makes a weekend getaway completely viable without needing vacation days or a complicated plan. With two nights he becomes recharged. With three nights everything can be done.
Flights and times
Direct flights from El Dorado Airport in Bogotá leave throughout the day. Avianca, Latam, Wingo, and JetSmart operate the route often enough to leave Friday afternoon and return on Sunday night or early Monday if they take three nights.
The flight itself takes between 1 hour 40 minutes and 1 hour 55 minutes. With the arrival at the Rafael Núñez de Cartagena airport, the luggage and the transfer to Bocagrande, you can be at the hotel before 9:00 pm if the flight leaves Bogotá at 5:00 or 6:00 pm on Friday.
How much does the flight cost: In low season, round-trip tickets are between 250,000 and 450,000 pesos per person with hold luggage. In high season (December, Easter, holiday bridges), prices rise considerably. Buying 3 or 4 weeks in advance usually gives better rates. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are generally cheaper than weekend ones.
Real budget for 3 nights from Bogotá
For two people, with a 4-star hotel in Bocagrande, excursion to the islands and meals in good restaurants:
Air tickets (two people, round trip): 600,000 to 900,000 pesos in the medium season. Hotel in Bocagrande (3 nights, double room): 600,000 to 1,200,000 pesos depending on the season and type of room. Tour Islands of the Rosary (two people, collective): 200,000 to 400,000 pesos. Meals (3 days, two people, mix of hotels and restaurants): 300,000 to 600,000 pesos. Local transport (taxis, airport transfer, dock): 80,000 to 150,000 pesos.
Estimated total for two people, 3 nights: 1,800,000 to 3,250,000 pesos. The range is wide because the season, the type of flight and the gastronomic decisions move the number significantly.
3 night itinerary: Friday to Monday
Friday: Arrival and first night in Bocagrande
Flight from Bogotá in the afternoon. Arrival at Rafael Núñez airport. Taxi to Bocagrande: 15 to 20 minutes, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 pesos.
Check-in at the Hotel Regatta Cartagena. The first impression of being facing the sea after a week in Bogotá hits immediately. Dinner at the hotel restaurant or one of the Bocagrande restaurants within walking distance. Terrace Bar until 10:00 pm.
Saturday: Historic Center and Cartagena at night
Breakfast at the hotel from 6:30 am. Bocagrande beach in the early morning before the heat arrives.
In the afternoon, when the sun begins to go down, taxi to the historic center: tour of the walls, Plaza de Bolívar, the streets of the walled center and the neighborhood of Getsemaní. The sunset from the walls is one of Cartagena’s most photographed moments for some reason.
Dinner in Getsemaní, which has the most interesting restaurant options in town right now. Taxi back to the hotel.
Sunday: Rosario Islands
Early breakfast at the hotel. Taxi to La Bodeguita Pier, 20 minutes from Bocagrande.
Tour to the Rosario Islands: Departure between 8:00 and 9:00 am, return between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. Transfer by boat, snorkeling, San Martin aquarium, lunch on the island. The day organizes itself.
Return to the hotel in the afternoon. pool or rest. Last Supper in Cartagena.
Monday: Free morning and return flight
Last morning at Bocagrande beach or at the hotel pool. check-out. Taxi to the airport, 15 to 20 minutes. Flight back to Bogota.
With flight at noon or in the afternoon, Monday morning is still from the traveler.
2 night itinerary: Friday to Sunday
For those who only have the weekend:
Friday night: Arrival, hotel, dinner. Saturday: Tomorrow at Bocagrande beach. Afternoon and night in the historic center and Getsemaní. Sunday: Excursion to the Rosario Islands or free morning. flight back in the afternoon.
Two nights covers the essentials without feeling rushed if the itinerary is organized.
What to bring from Bogota
The temperature difference between Bogotá and Cartagena is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. What is used in Bogotá is wrong for Cartagena.
Light cotton clothing or materials that breathe well. Swimwear and an additional change for the tour to the islands. Sunscreen with high SPF (the Caribbean sun is more intense than any beach in the interior it has been in). Insect repellent. Water shoes for the islands, sandals for the city. sunglasses. A small bag or fanny pack to move around the historic center.
Bogota’s jacket stays at home.
Where to stay
For a short trip, the location of the hotel matters more than a long one. Bocagrande is the most practical option: beach in front, taxis available, restaurants nearby and quick access to the historic center when needed.
The Hotel Regatta Cartagena, on the Malecón Avenue in front of the sea in Bocagrande, works well for this type of trip. Double rooms for couples, family rooms, breakfasts from 6:30 am, terrace bar until 10:00 pm and 24-hour reception for late Friday arrivals from Bogotá.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Cartagena Airport to Bocagrande?
Between 20,000 and 35,000 pesos according to the schedule and the negotiation. The journey takes 15 to 25 minutes.
Can you go to Cartagena by bus from Bogotá?
There are buses from the main terminal in Bogotá, but the trip takes between 18 and 22 hours. For a weekend getaway, the plane is the only option that makes sense.
Do you have to book the tour to the Rosario Islands in advance?
In high season (December, January, Easter), yes. In the mid-season you can often book at the hotel or at the dock on the morning of the same day. In December you don’t have to count on that.
How different is the climate between Bogotá and Cartagena?
Bogotá averages around 14°C. Cartagena averages between 28 and 32°C during the day. The change is significant. Prepare for the heat from the moment you land.
Does the trip work with only one night (Saturday to Sunday)?
Technically yes, but the real time at the destination is less than 36 hours. It is enough for the beach and the historic center. The excursion to the islands does not fit.
Book the hotel in advance
For weekend getaways from Bogotá, especially on festive bridges and high-season months, Bocagrande hotels fill up fast. Booking directly with the hotel ensures availability and avoids intermediary commissions.
reservations in www.hotelregattacartagena.com, by mail to reservas@cartagenaregatta.com or by WhatsApp at +57 313 611 9004.
