10/10 Excellent
David S.
16 Jan 2020
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good time in Cartagena!
We had a great time on our trip to Cartagena and enjoyed Gonzalo’s condo (and hospitality) very much. Our group consisted of 4 adults and a 6-year old. There was plenty of space and the property was exactly as advertised. Ledis kept things immaculate and cooked great food too (arepas con juevos, pescado frita, and cazuela de pescado).
Having the pool right outside the door - and the beach across the street - was very convenient...especially with a young kid.
Other recommendations:
Food - Chef Julian (Spanish restaurant with great paella, sangria, and tapas), Mistura (in the old city...good everything...try a drink called Machica).
Tours - I highly recommend Jose with JV Travel. He had nice vehicles for transport, is bilingual for mixed groups, and really knows the Aviary on Baru very well. After the Aviary, the seafood lunch at Reyato’s was excellent! We also hired captains to take us on Gonzalo’s boat for the day. The aquarium was interesting but very packed on the weekend (maybe a weekday would be better). We had lunch at Aqua Azul because the normal public beach (Cholon) was packed. Aqua Azul is a private resort...beautiful beach, good food, and a pool as well, but a bit pricey (still recommend).
For the gringos (Americans) coming to Colombia for the first time:
- Go with the flow and enjoy the beautiful country and people!
- People will always try to sell you things. A simple “No, gracias” with a smile is usually enough to fend them off. If not, walk away or ignore them. Just keep in mind these are people trying to make a living for their families like the rest of us!
- Try new things...especially the food!
- Yes, it’s hot in Cartagena. Try to avoid mid-day activities outdoors (unless the beach or the pool). Wear a hat and sunscreen. A/C isn’t always available at establishments; locals are accustomed to this. You’ll be ok, too!
- Walk. Taking a taxi during the heat of the day might make sense, but otherwise, download a map and walk to the grocery (Carulla). There’s also a small neighborhood store around the corner (Robert). Gonzalo has a small roll-around Carulla bag to make the return trip easier.
- Learn some basic Spanish words for communication.
- This condo isn’t in some private, gated community. Locals from all over Cartagena come to enjoy their beaches. Sometimes things get busy on the weekend, including music and lots of car/motorcycle traffic. Just be careful and you’ll be fine.
David S.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2020
