F is for… Family Fun in Cartagena
Happy Kids Happy Holidays
Keeping the kids happy in Cartagena can be hassle-free, especially with a little help from This is Cartagena
Don't panic we've got everything you need to know about having fun with kids in Cartagena covered.
Cartagena may be as old as the hills but this former playground for pirates and swashbucklers has plenty to offer a younger generation hooked on the modern-day distractions of twenty first century living.
Stash the iPad and other handheld devices in the hotel safe and throw away the key and get your little treasures out there exploring the very best in children's entertainment in the city.
Here's our list to the best places to burn off all that youthful energy.
Whether you want to use this time get closer and share some truly special moments with your loved ones or you are looking for a way to get a grown up time with your other half, This Is Cartagena, is on hand to help create the perfect family break in Cartagena.
Here’s our top tips for enjoying Cartagena with the kids, if you need more help our talented team of travel advisors can make all of these wonderful child friendly experiences happen or come up with some even more bespoke experiences to make your trip completely unique.
So if you're looking to make the most of every minute of your stay in Cartagena drop us a line and we will get to work on the perfect itinerary for you and your loved ones.
Otherwise, read on to uncover our top tips to making this Colombian family trip, the best family holiday ever!
Here's our list to the best places to burn off all that youthful energy.
Whether you want to use this time get closer and share some truly special moments with your loved ones or you are looking for a way to get a grown up time with your other half, This Is Cartagena, is on hand to help create the perfect family break in Cartagena.
Here’s our top tips for enjoying Cartagena with the kids, if you need more help our talented team of travel advisors can make all of these wonderful child friendly experiences happen or come up with some even more bespoke experiences to make your trip completely unique.
So if you're looking to make the most of every minute of your stay in Cartagena drop us a line and we will get to work on the perfect itinerary for you and your loved ones.
Otherwise, read on to uncover our top tips to making this Colombian family trip, the best family holiday ever!
A Day at the Beach
Swim, sunbathe and make sandcastles in the Rosario Islands, Cartagena’s unspoiled archipelago of petite islands. Simply perfect for making new family beach holiday memories.
Want to dive into turquoise waters and spot exotic fish and coral on your very own floating vessel then arrange to rent your own boat and ensure that you add snorkel gear.
Prefer a boutique resort that offers activities for the kids and a cocktail menu for you, our travel team has got the best beach clubs on speed dial.
Rather elope to a private island without your kiddy-winks in toe, we can create an escape plan.
Whatever floats your boat, This Is Cartagena’s on hand to help curate the ultimate day on the islands for you and your brood.
A Real Treasure Hunt
An eighteenth century treasure hunt that your kids will never forget. Let your special ones run riot through one of the historical monuments of Cartagena under the close supervision of our child-minding buccaneers.
Keep your little treasures safe and sound and away from the hand-held devices with a unique and fun way to explore Cartagena's rich cultural heritage.
Forget dragging your kids kicking and screaming through the city's museums, this fun-filled tour follows Cartagena's most entertaining pirate on a child-friendly treasure trail through the historic centre.
Laugh, learn about and live Cartagena's most emblematic landmarks picking up some special childhood memories on the way to discovering Black Beard's hidden loot.
The Cartagena Treasure Hunt is pure gold.
Learn How to Cook
Cooking is not a chore when you’re on holiday, even less so when you’re in the Caribbean!
What with all the wonderful fruits and unusual ingredients you’ve never laid eyes on before, even can’t-cook-won’t-cook kids will want to muck in.
Our traditional Colombian cooking classes are a fun and flavorsome way to learn about the country’s culture and eating customs.
Tuck into a 3-hr cooking bonanza with a team of strong-willed Caribbean women and you’ll be cooking, tasting, feeling (and even singing) to some favorite ‘grandmother recipes’.
Who knows, your mini-me could be a future MasterChef in the making.
February / Barranquilla Carnival
As the largest carnival outside Brazil, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll have an epic time at Barranquilla’s biggest party of the year.
The Barranquilla Carnival is an explosive celebration of life, where the entire city shuts down to party over four days in a flurry of bright carnival colours, upbeat music and free-flowing aguardiente. And since the city is only a short two-hour drive north along the coast from Cartagena, it’s incredibly easy to fit the carnival into your holiday planning.
Don’t leave it until the last minute to make reservations – Barranquilla’s best hotels and vacation rentals fill up fast. Get in touch with our talented team and we’ll take away the stress of planning your trip.
Marvel at Beautiful Birds in Barú
Relish a few precious hours away from hand held devices and reconnect with mother nature with a visit to the Barú Bird Sanctuary, a twitcher’s paradise that’s home to 135 different bird species.
From exotic parrots to impressive birds of prey and a fleet of stunning flamingos, this natural reserve is a holiday-calling families or any traveler looking to go off the well-trodden beach trail.
A trip to the bird sanctuary works well with a visit to Playa Blanca, one of Cartagena’s most popular beaches.
Explore the Real Cartagena
This eye-opening expedition into the other side of Cartagena is so much more than a voyeuristic peek into ‘how the other half live’.
Think of it as a real opportunity to immerse your family into a fascinating culture and show your little ones that there’s a real world beyond their PlayStation.
Led by a charismatic local hero, the trail starts in the bad-boy-gone-good neighbourhood of Getsemaní, takes in a street food pit-stop at the pulsating Bazurto market, a dreamy canoe ride through lush mangroves in La Boquilla and a visit an inspiring social project in the heart of the unpretentious San Francisco district.
It’s a fantastic way to experience the real Cartagena. Thoroughly recommended.
On Your Bike
There are plenty of places to explore Cartagena on bike. From the walled city or the tree-lined avenues of Manga there’s masses to see. For small children, however, nothing beats a stress-free tour on two wheels around the historic centre of Cartagena.
Our Cartagena Historic Bike Tour is the greenest and most entertaining way to get around Cartagena for the whole family.
Safety always comes first at This is Cartagena, and we can make sure tandems and child seats can be rented for toddlers to ensure that none of the family misses out on a really fun-tastic way to enjoy Cartagena.
Our two-wheeled, cinematographic tour of the city includes special entry into some of the most photogenic corners of the city, and you can choose to go further off the historical map if you wish and visit Castillogrande's or Bocagrande's beach districts.
En route, your bilingual guide will keep everyone hydrated with coconut water, and you can stop over at a playground or finish off the tour a quick splash in the Caribbean afterwards.
Pool Day for the Whole Gang
If you’re looking for a little guilt-free R&R hit the pool of one of the most famous 5-stars resorts in Cartagena. Hotel Caribe is blessed with the biggest paddling pool in the city.
This top end resort pays special attention to children and the shallow pool has been designed especially for you to enjoy the days splashing about with your loved ones.
Book yourself into one of the most kid-friendly corners of Cartagena with a pool, botanical gardens and poolside restaurant.
After loads of water action, your kiddie-winks can dry off in the child centre filled with games, or search for toucans and iguanas in the hotel's exotic gardens.