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Cartagena from about 20 euros a night: pirates, fortress walls and a colonial old town

16 October 2026 · 3 min read · based on our own price measurements

By Borderbasket · Updated

In short

In our data, the cheapest Cartagena stays rated 4.0 or higher start at about 20 to 20 euros a night for two guests (La Terraza de Estella - Hostal, Casa Mamá Waldy - Bar & Hostel, Pachamama Hostel).

Cartagena was founded in 1533, and for centuries it was one of the richest ports of the Spanish Caribbean. Gold and silver passed through here on the way to Spain, and pirates and foreign fleets tried again and again to take the city. That is why it has thick stone walls and the huge San Felipe de Barajas fortress, and why its old town today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a place where history includes darker chapters, since the port was a centre of the slave trade.

The old town of Cartagena (AI-generated image)
The old town of Cartagena (AI-generated image)
🛏️from about 20 €Cheapest rated stay
🏨28Hotels with prices in our data
⭐4.0Minimum rating we looked at
🏰UNESCOWalled city

The cheapest well-rated stays right now

We kept only places with a Google rating of at least 4.0. Prices are for two guests, 25 to 28 November 2026, read from Google Hotels in October 2026, lowest price we found for that offer.

HotelFrom per nightRatingCompare
La Terraza de Estella - Hostalabout 20 €4.4 (137 reviews)2 sites
Casa Mamá Waldy - Bar & Hostelabout 20 €4.0 (498 reviews)1 site
Pachamama Hostelabout 20 €4.2 (304 reviews)1 site
República Hostel Cartagenaabout 24 €4.5 (1,000+ reviews)5 sites
Hotel Masinda Cartagenaabout 25 €4.1 (179 reviews)5 sites
Casa Movidaabout 29 €4.5 (930 reviews)1 site
Good to know: Hostels may list a dormitory bed or a private room, so open the hotel page and check what the cheapest offer includes. Prices change daily, so treat the table as a snapshot.

Why people love it

  • The walls and the old town. Pastel houses, balconies with flowers and plazas with live music.
  • San Felipe fortress. A huge Spanish fortress with tunnels, on a hill above the city.
  • Getsemaní. A lively neighbourhood with street art, bars and small hostels.
  • The Caribbean. Warm water, island trips and beach days.

What to experience

  1. Walk the city walls at sunset.
  2. Visit the San Felipe de Barajas fortress early in the morning to avoid the heat.
  3. Explore Getsemaní and its murals.
  4. Learn about the history at a museum or on a guided walk, including the story of the slave trade in Cartagena.
  5. Take a boat trip to the Rosario Islands.

What does it cost?

Cartagena is generally more expensive than Medellín, especially inside the walled city. In our data, rated hostels and guesthouses cost about 20 to 31 euros a night. We did not measure food prices. Menu-of-the-day lunches in local restaurants outside the old town are usually much cheaper than a table on a tourist square.

How to save even more

Questions

Is Cartagena worth it? For history, colonial architecture and the Caribbean atmosphere, yes. Many travellers combine it with Medellín.

Where should I stay? Getsemaní has many hostels and a lively atmosphere, but check the exact location on each hotel page.

Are these prices permanent? No. They are a snapshot for late November 2026. Compare your own dates.

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