Getting around Cartagena: walking, Transcaribe, taxis and apps

Cartagena doesn’t need a complicated transport plan. Most of what you’ll want to see sits close together, and the few things that don’t are covered by one bus route and a flat-rate taxi system. Here’s how to actually get around.

Contents hide

1 Walking

2 Transcaribe BRT

3 Taxis and ride-hailing

4 Which to use, and when

Walking

Inside the historic core, walking isn’t just an option, it’s the fastest way to move. The Walled City and Getsemaní together cover roughly 1 km by 0.8 km, small enough that a taxi often takes longer than it would to just walk, once you factor in one-way streets and traffic around the gates. Mornings are the better window before the heat sets in.

Transcaribe BRT

Cartagena’s Transcaribe is an integrated mass transit system running on dedicated bus lanes, paid for with a rechargeable smart card rather than cash. Fares run 2,300 COP per ride.

The route most visitors actually use is T103 (Portal – Bocagrande), which connects the Bocagrande hotel strip to the historic center, with stops including La Bodeguita, Estación Centro, and Estación Chambacú. If you’re staying in Bocagrande and want to spend a day in the walled city, this is the cheapest way there.

Taxis and ride-hailing

City taxis are unmetered, running on officially set zone-to-zone tariffs rather than a meter you can watch tick up. A few reference points:

Bocagrande to Manga / San Felipe Castle: around 18,300 COP
Bocagrande to Mercado Bazurto: around 20,400 COP
Airport transfers (CTG to Centro or Bocagrande): 25,000-80,000 COP, depending on destination zone and which taxi stand you book through

Uber and InDriver both operate widely in the city and tend to be the more predictable option if you’d rather not negotiate a zone tariff at the curb. Transport is a small piece of the overall spend, the full cost picture covers food, hotels, and activities too.

Which to use, and when

Getting between plazas inside the walls: walk
Bocagrande to the historic center: Transcaribe T103, cheapest option
Anywhere with luggage, or after dark: taxi or Uber/InDriver
Airport to hotel: taxi (fixed zone rate) or a pre-arranged transfer, ride-hailing pickup at the airport can be inconsistent

As usual, if all this is too much for you or you simply want to enjoy Cartagena without thinking about everything, see Exoticca’s Colombia packages, where transfers and transport during the trip are handled for you.