Cartagena: The Donts of Visiting Cartagena, Colombia

[@carlospineros134]

As someone born and raised there, this is the first true review of the city. I appreciate the details that can help travelers be prepared to a trip to my hometown. For all of you going there soon, enjoy it.

[@yadirasessions4153]

@@KZbinCommenter172 Not everybody there speak English.

[@nyarialnyoak4532]

Omg! I’m currently in Cartagena right now and I’m love it so far! Sunday is going to be crazy with the Copa América final. I also like to say that nothing is ever free in Cartagena when it comes to vendors & if you want something always negotiate!

[@m420-nd1if]

The lines and bumps are often free

[@theodoresmith5272]

I love colombia. It's fun. I just got back from a month there. Cartagena has such a cool vibe.

[@hismajesty5544]

You’ve answered every question I had prior to taking this trip. I feel ready.

[@test40323]

wow, a very comprehensive travel guide in 20mins. love the tips but especially the reminder on being kind and respectful to locals!

[@alb91878]

What a wonderful video as always I always love how you always stress to people to respect the locals and their way of life! I also love how you stress to them to accept the fact that things are going to move a little bit slowly. People do need to show more understanding and I love that you always put reminders in your videos! Very well thought out and extremely thorough absolutely wonderful!

[@krugmeister7301]

The Game between Colombia and Argentina was INTENSE.!! And yes ..Im part Argentinian ...The Colombians play well.. Especially when James Rodriguez is on the Pitch..🥰🥰💯🇨🇴⚽️⚽️🇦🇷

[@CityWise_Travels]

Glad to see you exploring South America there are so many great places to visit here

[@kays749]

One of the most beautiful places on earth. History, architecture, brilliant colors. I want to go back.

[@jayizzy21]

I always watch this guys videos before I go on any vacation. And not matter the destination he has a video for it !

[@mcontreras90]

Amazing this full detailed description of the city. Next vacation for sure planning to go there. Thanks 😮

[@kessas.489]

My future sister in law comes from Cartagena, but lives now with my brother and my little niece in Bogota...

[@IvyIvers]

Heading there next week thank you what a great video!

[@ChrisBCartagena]

Some nice shots!

[@AdamGordon1977]

The heat thing there is true. It’s so much more comfortable to walk around the walled city at night.

[@ProfessorWolters]

agreed. so much better at night.

[@chandrachester2149]

Thanks!

[@adolfobeteta4565]

I almost passed out from the heat when I went. It was brutal. Lovely city tho. The food is delicious! And the pineapples are the best!

[@cartagenahighlights7969]

Spot on review, it's why I love living here. If you take things too serious, if you don't like walking, if you're too flashy, and you're not social, then Cartagena is not for you. If you are down to Earth, then you'll love Cartagena, just be nice, be open minded, and be aware of your surroundings.

[@nannerz1994]

Wolters World Is a tried and true, longstanding, no frills, well narrated, travel KZbin channel that deserves way more than 1.06M subscribers. Keep going dude! I'm going to Calgary this week, my first time out of the US and I'm going to bet a million dollars you have a video on Calgary. Edit: oh my goodness you don't! I've heard wonderful things hopefully you get around to it soon!

[@johnnymartinjohansen]

1.06M isn't bad at all. 99% of youtubers would be jealous of that amount.

[@ProfessorWolters]

Thanks you @nannerz1994 I appreciate the love (this is one of my other channels i am writing from) It is really nice of you and I am sorry I didn't have Calgary. I hope i don't disappoint you again. happy travels!

[@ProfessorWolters]

We loved Cartagena!! The food and people were just awesome

[@joannunemaker6332]

Pretty city. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

[@philstrack5843]

Most aggressive and I do mean aggressive street vendors we have encountered anywhere.

[@deeptoot1453]

For real. After a while it really got to me and I visible got frustrated with some even though they didn't even deserve it. *edit: change visibly frustrated to "unleashed my anger upon" *

[@JackHeape]

Yep. I hated it there. Absolutely worst country I have ever visited (And I have been a LOT of places), because of the rudeness and persistence of the street vendors.They harass you in the hope you will just pay them something to go away.

[@chandrachester2149]

more aggressive than Jamaica?

[@1234heck]

Great video! First thing I think of is Romancing the Stone. 😂You have a lovely family

[@woltersworld]

Thank you. I loved that movie!

[@michaelkucinski4021]

@@woltersworld But Romancing the Stone was actually filmed somewhere in Mexico. But, I liked the movie, too!

[@Photobuffeddy1314]

Nice first comment ‘ good video Cheers 🥂 😅

[@woltersworld]

Thank you!

[@tobiojo6469]

Hey Mark, interesting and cool video

[@kaibooxD]

Im new to your channel and i’ve been binge watching it! My recent trip to Toronto spurred my interest in travel. I want to go to Sicily someday soon because I have relatives there and cuz your of video where you said how nice they are in southern Italy. I want to go there and hopefully meet some life long friends :)

[@jocelynwoltersworld]

Welcome to the channel! We hope your travels are more informed 😊

[@AdrianayJake]

I do recommend the special "tourist taxis" they are usually white SUVs and they charge by the hour, the price is negotiable. We found one outside the fort, and he took us around to every single famous landmark in the city for a reasonable price of around $10/hour in 2022, the driver was wonderful and we got his number and used him everyday for trips out of town, to the beach and finally to the airport.

[@joshlunt7827]

Great video!

[@fredriknielsen8791]

I'll go to Cartagena in a few months, thanks for the tips!

[@aaronhurst4379]

Chocolate beer?? Oh, I'd definitely try that if I make it there!

[@meetmeabroad]

great info.. thank you

[@BlackPawn14]

Fun fact: if you want a beach vacation, Cartagena is surprisingly _not_ the best location in Colombia for it, in spite of its reputation. Arguably, Santa Marta's "base" beaches are better. The outlying islands do have the best beaches, anyway (this applies to both Cartagenha and Santa Marta). You might want a cab to get out of the usual hotel area (Bocagrande) and into the colonial area, but if you're sticking to either location, there's no point. Especially in the colonial area; a lot of the areas in there are either heavily congested or walking-only areas anyway. And yeah, if you have to take a cab out of or into Bocagrande, expect some heavy traffic. Walking is possible, but it's a bit of a long walk, so be prepared for it. Carriage rides are an actual attraction. If you want one, it's definitely recommended (at least for the first time). If you've already taken it, or if you have somewhere else to go, just be nice and refuse ("no, gracias").

[@felipearangou.6317]

Some tips based on this video: 1. Referencing stereotypes is a bad idea, not only is it rude and can instigate a local, it signals you as a unsavvy traveler and a potential target of insults or worst 2. Just like there is no Ñ (Gh, Nya) in Cartagena, Getsemani sounds more like Heht-se-ma-knee (Religious origin word) 3. Although tap water is safe for brushing your teeth you can get the runs if your gut's biome is sensitive or doesn't adapt well. Most venues use bottled water for their drinks or have a good water treatment system. Out on the streets you have a 50/50 chance to catch a stomach bug likely from a poorly washed container or contaminated ice. 4, if you gather around a street performer and watch them do their craft, pay them or give them a tip, otherwise excuse yourself (no gracias) and move along. 5. if you struggle to communicate, don't keep repeating the same thing, try a different way. People appreciate the effort you make to speak Spanish but there is no shame in using the tools in your phone to get the message across. This is especially important in serious situations like getting a medicine at the pharmacy. Last an perhaps most important, be smart, use your wits, be street savvy. Just because you are on Vacation does not mean you should be cavalier about your safety or toss common sense to the wind.

[@jflatley38]

Cartagena, not Cartageña ;). Thanks for the video! I can't wait to go. I have already been to Bogotá and had a blast! Saludos.

[@theodoretoth2884]

5 day vacation before we fly back up to Miami to go on a cruise , Panama City or cartegena, would love peoples thoughts ! Thanks everyone !

[@keithCrawford-x2t]

What time of the year did you go in this video @woltersworld , Im trying to understand how the heat compares in this video to that of early march.

[@AdrianayJake]

The heat in Cartagena is very similar to Miami, so being that I live in Miami I thought I could handle it just fine. NOT. The difference is that in Miami air conditioning is fully pumped in every place you go. In Cartagena, if they have A/C then set it to like 80F just to take the edge off. Also you are way farther south than Miami and the sun is more intense.

[@jrfutube2013]

What restaurant has the best sancocho fish soup 🍲? Is Androgeno/Delirium nightclub a fun place for late night dancing?💃🏽🕺🏽🎶

[@HoustonGuy]

15:05 The personal consumption of drugs is NOT illegal in Colombia. You can have less than a certain amount to be considered legal. However, I don't suggest you do drugs in Colombia or any other country simply because drugs always involve sketchy characters. Btw, I love your videos of COLOMBIA!!!! Thank you!!!

[@ximontrespalacios1257]

I'm Cartagenero, and I'd say don't pass out on fried foods on the streets (specially if you've been drinking). Also, try out Mote de Queso which is a soup with cheese (very different from the french onion soup)

[@Marcos-go7rv]

Cartagena its a lot of hot than Portugal? iam very interested in Cartagena but i am affraid its way too hot for me, but i saw a lot of your videos and saw you was here in Portugal, can you tell me it theres a lot of temperature difference? :) thank you so much for sharing all your experiences with us.

[@lindsjoe2348]

What would be the suggested tip amount for a picture with the beautiful and colorful ladies?

[@alidapc]

Great video. Are the mosquitoes present even in the dry season (Jan,Feb,Mar)?

[@theodoresmith5272]

I don't remember them in cartagena pf Santa Marta. Now you go inland, and much of colombia is farms, or natural and it's wet.

[@nicholasharvey1232]

These Colombian cities look very European. Must be nice to be able to see so much of the world! Especially as a kid :-)

[@chandrachester2149]

I am heading there next week and I am pretty excited! I've been in places with aggressive vendors so that's the least of my worries. My goal was to get a few hundred in 1s. Is that advised or do I need to exchange my money. Any must do excursions? I have the volcano mud bath, sunset cruise, cooking class, city tour, Freedom tour of Palenque, photo experience, dance class possible and possibly the food tour. Which beach do you recommend for a half day or day trip?

[@mk_vqz4086]

Will you be making a video on Medellín

[@krugmeister7301]

What Baseball ⚾️?? I Thought Soccer would be big in Colombia..??

[@luismg98]

Soccer is the bigger one, but Baseball is a close second in popularity in the Colombian Caribbean

[@jjdavis7471]

This video helped out a lot. I plan to visit there for my first time this year (2024). My question is, how is the cell phone service there? I have T-Mobile and I've been told it works almost anywhere. Also, do you have a video on recommended places to stay that are just as safe as Gesemeni?

[@rwsansom]

The sport here in Colombia is baseball ?? It's soccer/futball or cycling / roller skating

[@rosed.1979]

Correct! baseball is only popular in the coast. Soccer is the number 1 sport.

[@cachecow]

Check out the knockers in Cartagena? I've heard that before.

[@undisgraziato]

No one comes to your office and yells at you unless you’re a Police Officer

[@nannerz1994]

Holy crap you actually don't have a video on Calgary I'll let you know how it goes but I've heard it's pretty great!

[@julieanncheshire9960]

Putting TP in the garbage can next to the toilet is necessary in all of the Andean countries, not just Cartagena.

[@johnnymartinjohansen]

Great video, but as I often do, I miss some more info from you: - Can we use credit/debet card, or is cash king? - Tipping. Is it expected, and if so, how much?

[@bougiebohemian5393]

You can use your credit card in businesses but I would recommend you keep cash on hand. Tipping is good too.

[@johnnymartinjohansen]

@@bougiebohemian5393 Thanks :)

[@krugmeister7301]

Is eating Beef or Porc good in Colombia??😒😒

[@harminparrarueda5615]

Don't forget the "scam" street vendors that tell you that something is free and then they start asking for money for what they gave you.

[@internetlurker]

Funny how your wife kept saying CARTAHENYA. HAHA

[@Graygeezer]

Beware the in-your-face persistent beggars! They will hound you for blocks.

[@kgoerz]

No, you can't drink water anywhere in Colombia. T

[@adamaponte1792]

This is a very well done and insightful video. My family is from Cartagena and I am a very frequent visitor. Only thing I would add is that the nasty black massage women are thieves and extortion artist. Do not even remotely be cordial with these people. Tell them immediately not to touch you and get away. what they call free is very expensive even with the exchange rate. Restaurant Alma I highly recommend. It has amazing cocktails, and amazing service which tends to be very slow in Cartagena , the service part. if you live anywhere that is coastal don’t bother going to the beaches In Cartagena they suck and the vendors will not allow you a moments peace. Do not take free oyster samples or crab leg samples. You will not necessarily get sick, but that is another extortion racket. Free samples are very expensive.

[@asendorfyt]

-You're right about dr*gs. It's very important to stay away from them in Colombia because treatments like Narcan and similar aren't common in the country, so if you ov3rdos3 you'll d13 4 sure

[@Benvenjtos]

It’s like Thailand of the Latin America ,girls ,wallets iPhones, sleeping pills in your drink

[@Shadow2The]

Generally good info, appreciate you pointing out the wrong way to pronounce Cartagena. But on that topic, you're pronouncing Getsemani wrong. You're putting the emphasis on the first syllable, but the emphasis is on the last syllable. "Het-se-ma-KNEE."

[@XxHijaDeDiosxX]

I didn't like it, it wasn't for me. I would rather go to san andres.

[@joinbernard]

*Making money is an action. Keeping money is a behavior, but "Growing money is wisdom" I heard this from someone 😁*

[@justincase6803]

too bad you went with your family lmaooo

[@oiganamitio]

The best don't of Cartagena is don't go at all.

[@czn0168]

@@oiganamitio, no dejes que la envidia te carcoma, por todas la bellezas que tenemos en Cartagena. Por algo es la ciudad consentida de Colombia, y no lo digo yo.

[@MrKerrTV]

Weed and cocaine is LEGAL in Colombia.

[@luismg98]

Not exactly, they are trying to make weed legal but right now is in a kinda gray zone legally. On the other hand cocaine is totally ilegal but Coca leaves are legal

[@rosed.1979]

It is not legal at all.