Cartagena Reports

[GeneHickman]

I am in Cartagena right now. I'd be happy to get together with anyone who's here as well. Thank you to mojo bandit for all of his invaluable suggestions. I'm working off of a phone so forgive me if there's some mistakes here. I went to see Tony on the beach. He wants 200,000 plus 30,000 tip. There are lots of nice girls on his Beach. You could go over to them yourself and just say Hello,. They probably have to give tony a commission anyway. Most of the ones I spoke to were from Bogota. They're all very angry at the government. I know there is an interesting scene at the clock tower late at night but by then I'm fast asleep. I'll have to go at least once but not right now. I ate dinner tonight at ricquisimo's. I had baby beef which I thought was awful. They're supposed to be a lot of Venezuelan women around but I haven't seen any or at least none that I identified as such. Another issue that you probably should know about is that the exchange rate on the Internet is 3600 Colombian pesos for each dollar but the exchange places only give $3,200. When I use my credit card amazingly I get almost 3,700 so that's a really good rate but you can't use credit cards for everything. My friend has a female friend in New York who is from Cartagena Colombia and she said the way that she does it when she visits is she wires herself money and then she can pick up at the bank at the high rate exchange with no fees. I'm skeptical because Banks live to charge fees but she swears up and down that there's no fees. There doesn't seem to be very many tourists here but it doesn't feel empty either. It's a relaxing place to rest and there's plenty of women of all types. I also sent about 60 messages to women on the internet but I haven't had time to follow that up. I would meet some of them for lunch at crepes and waffles and get an idea who they are. There are a lot of opportunities to meet women of all types. Spanish is an absolute necessity.

Money exchange always ATM and withdraw pesos and decline back offered rate, defaults to the daily mastercard / visa rate which will be very close to the rate quoted on the internet. No other mode of conversion comes even close. Some banks charge a fee, others do not, there is an app called hero ATM, which will give you that info. I would avoid using credit cards there, you are more exposed to CC fraud. Cash is king. Good luck.

[RacShack]

I am in Cartagena right now. I'd be happy to get together with anyone who's here as well. Thank you to mojo bandit for all of his invaluable suggestions. I'm working off of a phone so forgive me if there's some mistakes here. I went to see Tony on the beach. He wants 200,000 plus 30,000 tip. There are lots of nice girls on his Beach. You could go over to them yourself and just say Hello,. They probably have to give tony a commission anyway. Most of the ones I spoke to were from Bogota. They're all very angry at the government. I know there is an interesting scene at the clock tower late at night but by then I'm fast asleep. I'll have to go at least once but not right now. I ate dinner tonight at ricquisimo's. I had baby beef which I thought was awful. They're supposed to be a lot of Venezuelan women around but I haven't seen any or at least none that I identified as such. Another issue that you probably should know about is that the exchange rate on the Internet is 3600 Colombian pesos for each dollar but the exchange places only give $3,200. When I use my credit card amazingly I get almost 3,700 so that's a really good rate but you can't use credit cards for everything. My friend has a female friend in New York who is from Cartagena Colombia and she said the way that she does it when she visits is she wires herself money and then she can pick up at the bank at the high rate exchange with no fees. I'm skeptical because Banks live to charge fees but she swears up and down that there's no fees. There doesn't seem to be very many tourists here but it doesn't feel empty either. It's a relaxing place to rest and there's plenty of women of all types. I also sent about 60 messages to women on the internet but I haven't had time to follow that up. I would meet some of them for lunch at crepes and waffles and get an idea who they are. There are a lot of opportunities to meet women of all types. Spanish is an absolute necessity.

Most everything you say is true, but the Spanish being a absolute necessity just not true, just don't want to scare newbies away I've been all through Colombia for the last 20 years or so (even before many people spoke any English at all) at some times a bit frustrating, but by no means it should stop anyone from going especially this day and age, I still get buy with the very little I know, but yes stay away from tony he is pointless, if you see a girl talk to her and get number simple, he's a douchbag, ricquisimo's baby beef used to be awesome now here more bad then good about the place not sure what happened their, Clock tower is where most vennys hang out! Stay safe have fun buddy!

[Cuba Tourist]

Cartagena Colombia is much more expensive. Many of the women in Cuba will spend all day with you or basically moving if you want because you are living in such luxury and you can take care of her nicely. In Cartagena Colombia they generally leave pretty quickly. The women who seem to come from Bogota pretty much exclusively clearly more sophisticated intellectually than those from Cuba. The Colombian women seem extremely straightforward and honest. Cubans of all types are deceptive although they won't steal off of your table. But everything they say and do has to be looked at with complete and total skepticism. It's much more relaxed and relaxing in Cartagena Colombia. In Cuba you're in a military dictatorship. To be near the women in Cuba you're living in areas with many low-income people who are pretty close to desperate. Even high income areas in Cuba are filled with people who have virtually no money even if they have very valuable houses. The whole atmosphere there is a bit surreal which is certainly an adventure if you're up for it. But cah Cartagena is much less politically charged and much more stable and that makes things much simpler and happier.

[Cuba Tourist]

I am in Cartagena right now. I'd be happy to get together with anyone who's here as well. Thank you to mojo bandit for all of his invaluable suggestions. I'm working off of a phone so forgive me if there's some mistakes here. I went to see Tony on the beach. He wants 200,000 plus 30,000 tip. There are lots of nice girls on his Beach. You could go over to them yourself and just say Hello,. They probably have to give tony a commission anyway. Most of the ones I spoke to were from Bogota. They're all very angry at the government. I know there is an interesting scene at the clock tower late at night but by then I'm fast asleep. I'll have to go at least once but not right now. I ate dinner tonight at ricquisimo's. I had baby beef which I thought was awful. They're supposed to be a lot of Venezuelan women around but I haven't seen any or at least none that I identified as such. Another issue that you probably should know about is that the exchange rate on the Internet is 3600 Colombian pesos for each dollar but the exchange places only give $3,200. When I use my credit card amazingly I get almost 3,700 so that's a really good rate but you can't use credit cards for everything. My friend has a female friend in New York who is from Cartagena Colombia and she said the way that she does it when she visits is she wires herself money and then she can pick up at the bank at the high rate exchange with no fees. I'm skeptical because Banks live to charge fees but she swears up and down that there's no fees. There doesn't seem to be very many tourists here but it doesn't feel empty either. It's a relaxing place to rest and there's plenty of women of all types. I also sent about 60 messages to women on the internet but I haven't had time to follow that up. I would meet some of them for lunch at crepes and waffles and get an idea who they are. There are a lot of opportunities to meet women of all types. Spanish is an absolute necessity.

[Mojo Bandit]

Can you all give me an idea of the range of prices for different types of girls including day time beach girls, nighttime nightclub girls and any other type of girls like from a dating website or other categories? How much for a few hours in the daytime versus overnight? Thank you!

I tried to respond to your message but your mailbox is full, please delete some messages send me a PM letting me know.

[Black Page]

Have you ever heard of Google earth before? Some of you guys have to think for yourselves sometimes. A lot of questions in this forum are not necessary. A little research goes a long way!

In general, I make such RTFF comments often, but Tomasb has longer history of posting in this thread than many other frequent posters (not more than me, but more than you probably :-) ). If he asks, it means there must be a reason to ask besides looking on Google Maps.

From the center of Manga to say LDV is a 30 - 45 minute walk. Definitely further than any chica wants to walk, and also have to consider the heat and overwhelming humidity.

Definitely, it's no more than 45 minutes, but people should be warned to not do it at night, unless very familiar with the place. Things change, and COVID may have changed Cartagena after my last visit (Feb 2020), but to put things in the right perspective 15 years ago an Italian living in Cartagena was killed just because walking out of the walls at daytime (Parque Olimpia), while in recent years it was totally safe to walk for hours at daytime along the P. De Heredia for kilometers. I would not do that at night, though.

By the way, is there anyone on the board who knows the casa managed by senora Carmen behind the Institucion Educativa Pedro de Heredia at Alcibia? I was used to go visiting her for many years, walking back to Centro (1+ hour) after the visit. Some 3 years ago, her phone number stopped to work. I did not go to check, if she's still living there or what.

[Tomasb]

Thanks. I just deleted a bunch of messages so it should ok to receive now.

I just spent sometime putting together an email message to you to provide you with some solid info and your PM inbox is reached its limit, you should delete some and then let me know on here so I can send the message.

[Mojo Bandit]

Thanks to those guys.

As for you. My 'title' says it all.

I just spent sometime putting together an email message to you to provide you with some solid info and your PM inbox is reached its limit, you should delete some and then let me know on here so I can send the message.

[Tomasb]

So I am looking for some inside info. This is why I am on the forum. Google can give you general information about a place or neighborhood but in this instance, there is very little information about this area. With Covid, things have changed worldwide. The restaurant or bar you see on a map may no longer be in business. There may a new place that opened, whether it's a coffee shop or a bar that is not listed in the map yet. Someone else sent me a helpful response that it is a five minute drive to the plaza from Manga. Someone else said it's a 45 minutes walk to LDV? All that is good to know so then I know the approximate cost of the taxi too and not to walk (in general). Thanks to those guys.

As for you. My 'title' says it all.

Have you ever heard of Google earth before? Some of you guys have to think for yourselves sometimes. A lot of questions in this forum are not necessary. A little research goes a long way!

[Mojo Bandit]

Yesterday, I checked the AIR BNB site and noticed several reasonably priced and attractive units in the Manga area. I also noticed that under House Rules, several of them did not ban guests/visitors Make sure anyone contemplating an Air BNB rental to review this section. That being said, I was not familiar with this barrio and noticed it's a bit further out from Getsemani so I guess a taxi is the best way to get back from the plaza later in the evening.

It does seem too far to walk with a P4P in tow. What is this barrio like overall? Does it have the appearance and vibe of El Centro and do a lot of local people still live here? Are there any decent restaurants or bars there?

As far as the neighborhood in general Manga is pretty nice overall. It is less touristy than the neighborhoods in the Old City (San Diego and Centro are behind the wall while La Matuna and Getsemani are just outside the walls to the east of them). It is also less touristy than the beach neighborhoods of Bocagrande and Laguito. Cartagena is a port city and Manga is home to the decent size cargo port where there is also a cruise ship dock. Manga is also home to a marina with some nice looking average size yachts. When I first started visiting Cartagena Manga was just residential but then over the years it seems like there have been more apartments for rent and hotels opening there.

Seeing how it is a lot of residential people I would strongly suggest going beyond just checking the rules on the Air Bnb web site and suggest messaging the owner to as about having visitors in your place.

From the center of Manga to say LDV is a 30 - 45 minute walk. Definitely further than any chica wants to walk, and also have to consider the heat and overwhelming humidity.

[PerkinWarbeck]

Yesterday, I checked the AIR BNB site and noticed several reasonably priced and attractive units in the Manga area. I also noticed that under House Rules, several of them did not ban guests/visitors Make sure anyone contemplating an Air BNB rental to review this section. That being said, I was not familiar with this barrio and noticed it's a bit further out from Getsemani so I guess a taxi is the best way to get back from the plaza later in the evening.

It does seem too far to walk with a P4P in tow. What is this barrio like overall? Does it have the appearance and vibe of El Centro and do a lot of local people still live here? Are there any decent restaurants or bars there?

I actually made the walk from Bocagrande to Manga last year when I forgot my wallet while visiting a chica in Laguito in the middle of the night. That is a long effing walk. But by taxi, it's 5 minutes to the clock tower (ignoring the early morning traffic). The neighborhood itself is really quiet. I didn't see a bar there, but some decent restaurants. There is a Chinese restaurant, Emperador King, run by some Chinese folks that has some great fried chicken. A grocery store is nearby. All in all, very walkable there and completely safe and absolutely no touts. Loved staying there. It is a locals neighborhood. Most of them are middle class Colombians who go to work in the morning. I had never seen this, but outside the tourist spots, the Taxis operate almost as a carpool in the mornings with folks sharing rides to go to work. Met some great people doing this.

[PerkinWarbeck]

Nicely done man, I also prefer the AirBnBs with no doorman when I'm in MDE. Just a lockbox and I'm in, no BS rules about no parties or mult girls at a time. It's not for everyone, you must a vet and not someone who use drugs or get too drunk otherwise bringing 2-4 chicas at a time can be a nightmare, and no doorman / security guard to help.

I'm looking at June / July for Cartagena right now.

I never drink around chicas, and I've been living off / on in Cartagena for almost 3 years. Most of these girls are migrants and don't even have the connections to get you set up here, so Cartagena is basically a sandbox for mongering. Just ridiculously safe.

[MongerHunger]

Yesterday, I checked the AIR BNB site and noticed several reasonably priced and attractive units in the Manga area. I also noticed that under House Rules, several of them did not ban guests/visitors Make sure anyone contemplating an Air BNB rental to review this section. That being said, I was not familiar with this barrio and noticed it's a bit further out from Getsemani so I guess a taxi is the best way to get back from the plaza later in the evening.

It does seem too far to walk with a P4P in tow. What is this barrio like overall? Does it have the appearance and vibe of El Centro and do a lot of local people still live here? Are there any decent restaurants or bars there?

Have you ever heard of Google earth before? Some of you guys have to think for yourselves sometimes. A lot of questions in this forum are not necessary. A little research goes a long way!

[Tomasb]

Yesterday, I checked the AIR BNB site and noticed several reasonably priced and attractive units in the Manga area. I also noticed that under ‘House Rules’, several of them did not ban guests/visitors — Make sure anyone contemplating an Air BNB rental to review this section. That being said, I was not familiar with this barrio and noticed it's a bit further out from Getsemani so I guess a taxi is the best way to get back from the plaza later in the evening.

It does seem too far to walk with a P4P in tow. What is this barrio like overall? Does it have the appearance and vibe of El Centro and do a lot of local people still live here? Are there any decent restaurants or bars there?

Hey buds.

Was in CTG last week for 9 days. Everything is pretty normal in Centro. Lots of chicas by the Clock Tower, but I was wifed up with a calea and didn't partake. Getting the negative COVID test to return back to the US was a breeze. Huge thanks to the gents who posted testing sites here.

I really suggest more guys use the AirBnBs in Manga. Most of them don't have doormen and it is still so close to Centro (8 mil pesos). I did it for a few months last year and I had chicas running in and out with zero hassle. Will definitely return in May.

[MaddTraveler]

Hey buds.

Was in CTG last week for 9 days. Everything is pretty normal in Centro. Lots of chicas by the Clock Tower, but I was wifed up with a calea and didn't partake. Getting the negative COVID test to return back to the US was a breeze. Huge thanks to the gents who posted testing sites here.

I really suggest more guys use the AirBnBs in Manga. Most of them don't have doormen and it is still so close to Centro (8 mil pesos). I did it for a few months last year and I had chicas running in and out with zero hassle. Will definitely return in May.

Nicely done man, I also prefer the AirBnBs with no doorman when I'm in MDE. Just a lockbox and I'm in, no BS rules about no parties or mult girls at a time. It's not for everyone, you must a vet and not someone who use drugs or get too drunk otherwise bringing 2-4 chicas at a time can be a nightmare, and no doorman / security guard to help.

I'm looking at June / July for Cartagena right now.