Cartagena

Under the Colombia–Mongolia agreement, since 26 January 2026 Mongolian ordinary passport holders can stay up to 90 days per entry without a visa for unpaid purposes such as tourism and business meetings. Immigration may check a return ticket and funds. With an extension the total cannot exceed 180 days a year. Connecting through the USA requires a US visa; leaving the airport in Schengen requires a Schengen visa.

Tip: Book all flights on one ticket — bags go through and you don't pass immigration at the hub.

Fill in Migración Colombia's free online Check-MIG form between 72 hours and 1 hour before the flight. It has been declared officially optional, but airlines ask for it before boarding, so complete it and keep the confirmation email. Do it again when you leave.

Tip: Use only the migracioncolombia.gov.co site — many fake sites charge a fee.

Private hospitals are expensive, so travel insurance is a must. Bring mosquito repellent against dengue; if you are going to nature parks such as Tayrona, a yellow fever vaccination before the trip is recommended.

Flying from Europe or Istanbul to Bogotá, you clear Colombian immigration in Bogotá, collect your bags and re-check them for the domestic flight (usually even on one ticket). So choose a Bogotá connection of at least 3 hours. Check that your passport has the entry permit stamp (PIP).

Cartagena taxis have no meters and charge fixed zone fares. At the airport taxi rank, get a slip from the attendant with your destination and the price: old city or Getsemaní ~COP 30,000, Bocagrande ~COP 27,500, about 20 minutes. Don't take cars offered by touts outside.

Tip: Arriving at night, book your hotel's transfer in advance over WhatsApp.

Uber and InDrive work in Cartagena; you walk a little from the exit to the pickup point. Most old-city hotels offer transfers — the easiest option with children or lots of luggage.

If your phone supports eSIM, install a Colombia plan from an app such as Airalo or Holafly before flying — it works as soon as you land in Bogotá, with no shop to find.

Tip: Download Cartagena in Google Maps and Spanish in Google Translate for offline use.

Claro has the widest coverage (including the islands and Tayrona), then Movistar and Tigo. Buy a prepaid SIM with your passport at an official shop in the old city or Bocagrande. A foreign phone not registered by IMEI may be cut off after a while, so ask the shop to register it.

The walled city and Getsemaní are a few minutes apart on foot. Taxis have no meters — agree the price before getting in, or book Uber/InDrive and see the price upfront. Don't walk around at midday in the heat.

The city's dedicated-lane bus system costs COP 3,900 per ride since 23 January 2026; rechargeable cards are sold at stations. It links the old city, Bocagrande and the bus terminal, but taxis are easier for tourists.

Take boats to the Rosario Islands and Playa Blanca from the official La Bodeguita pier. In 2026 a park fee of COP 13,500, mandatory insurance of COP 8,800 and a pier fee of COP 16,000 are added to the ticket. Cheap tours sold on the street risk unregistered boats and no insurance.

The currency is the Colombian peso. Withdraw cash in daylight from ATMs inside bank branches (Bancolombia, Davivienda, BBVA); refuse 'help' from strangers at street ATMs. Cards work in hotels, restaurants and shops; markets, street food, boats and beach vendors take cash only.

On the beaches and at Playa Blanca, agree prices for massages, fish, chairs and boats beforehand and confirm whether it is per person or for everyone. Restaurants add a 'propina voluntaria', a voluntary service charge, to the bill — you can ask for it to be removed.

Fried fish with coconut rice and green plantain (patacón); arepa de huevo — an arepa with an egg inside, the coast's favourite snack; ceviche; tropical fruit and coconut sweets from the 'palenqueras' in colourful dresses on the squares. Fresh fruit juices (jugos), which children love, are everywhere.

Tip: The palenqueras expect a small tip if you photograph them.

The 'menú del día' or 'corrientazo' lunch — soup, rice, meat and juice — is the cheapest meal. Getsemaní and the streets around Plaza de la Merced have many small eateries. Drink bottled water and be careful with street ice.

Police and ambulance — 123 (single number), fire — 119. For serious incidents, call your insurer's assistance line first and they will direct you to a private hospital that bills them directly.

The UK FCDO warns that criminal gangs put drugs such as scopolamine in drinks, food and cigarettes to knock out and rob victims, and use dating apps to target lone travellers. Accept nothing from strangers, never leave a drink unattended and don't bring new acquaintances back to your hotel.

The old city and Getsemaní are generally safe for tourists, but keep phones and chains out of sight and your bag in front in crowds. Use only registered taxis or app-booked cars. Avoid empty streets and outlying districts at night. At Tayrona and Playa Blanca swim only in flagged areas — currents are strong.

Colombians are warm and polite: say 'Buenos días / Buenas tardes' when entering a shop or taxi. People shake hands with strangers; women who know each other greet with a cheek kiss. Timekeeping is relaxed, but boats and tours leave exactly on time.

Don't walk around town in swimwear or shirtless — cover shoulders and knees in churches and museums. Ask before photographing people, especially palenqueras and street performers; they may ask for a small tip.

The old city is a residential neighbourhood — no loud music or shouting near homes at night. On the islands and beaches take your rubbish back with you; don't touch or stand on coral.

Uber and InDrive show prices upfront, so there is no haggling with taxis. Google Maps works well for old-city streets and beaches; download offline maps.

In Colombia hotels, tours and restaurants all communicate on WhatsApp — bookings, locations and payment details. Download Spanish in Google Translate for offline use and translate menus with the camera.

Check-MIG — Migración Colombia's entry and exit registration. The Cartagena de Indias city tourism site — festivals, events and sights.

Fill in Check-MIG again 72 to 1 hours before your return flight. From Cartagena you fly to Bogotá or Panama and connect to the international flight; exit immigration is usually in Bogotá, so allow enough connection time there.

The airport is about 20 minutes from the old city by taxi; for night flights have your hotel call a taxi or use Uber. Spend your leftover pesos in Colombia — they are hard to exchange in Mongolia.