Cartagena Reports

[Remy316]

I am a 10 year vet of the DR and love it. However flight to CART are very low now and I am curious. I have posted for years on DR forum but know nothing about CART. I have read many of the post here but would appreciate some help for a first time guy I like airbnbs by but not sure what area is best. Thanks in advance for help.

Can anyone share info on the mongering scene in Cart for some newcomers such as airbnb locations, chica spots, etc.

[Kafka]

You ought to see Bangkok, Phnom Phen and Siem Reap if you want to see floods. Now I'm thinking of flooded Cartagena. What do they say about insanity?

It's not a big deal it's a huge party unfortunately some of the businesses get water squashed into them and for the most part it's just fun as usual.

[Nyezhov]

To be fair, the volume of water falling in 30 minutes of storm rain in Cartagena cannot be compared with the rain in Medellin or any other place where most of us are used to live. This is tropical weather. It is true that I have never seen such flooding not only in Singapore, which is organization perfection, but even in the chaotic Batam, where wheater is nearly the same.

You ought to see Bangkok, Phnom Phen and Siem Reap if you want to see floods. Now I'm thinking of flooded Cartagena. What do they say about insanity?

[Game Time]

Some friends and I are thinking of heading back to Cartagena in Feb. Our usual routine was to work the beach, Clock Tower and Dulce Vida. Any improvement on those venues or the general scene in Cartagena? Thanks for any responses.

[Mojo Bandit]

Happens every year, multiple times during rainy season. They don't have proper storm sewers. I saw a few in Bocagrande but for the most part its rain on concrete. I remember a taxi ride into Medellin and the taxi driver commented, "can you imagine if we didn't have a storm sewer system like Cartagena?" That valley would turn into a lake.

To be fair, the volume of water falling in 30 minutes of storm rain in Cartagena cannot be compared with the rain in Medellin or any other place where most of us are used to live. This is tropical weather. It is true that I have never seen such flooding not only in Singapore, which is organization perfection, but even in the chaotic Batam, where wheater is nearly the same.

I agree with both YippieKayay and Black Page. It seems like in Cartagena the rain comes down all at once and their drainage system is horrible / nonexistent. I even read that the reason the beach is so dark looking is because of the soil getting washed into the sand when it rains. I always stay in El Laguito and in one area of the street just up from the building I stay the water comes up over the sidewalks to where you have wade no matter what and you better get out of the way if one of those crazy taxi drives comes down the road too fast or you will get drenched. As for this recent rainfall in Cartagena I read that it is the result of Hurricane Iota passing just north of Cartagena.

[Black Page]

Happens every year, multiple times during rainy season. They don't have proper storm sewers.

To be fair, the volume of water falling in 30 minutes of storm rain in Cartagena cannot be compared with the rain in Medellin or any other place where most of us are used to live. This is tropical weather. It is true that I have never seen such flooding not only in Singapore, which is organization perfection, but even in the chaotic Batam, where wheater is nearly the same.

[YippieKayay]

Whoa! I guess.

Happens every year, multiple times during rainy season. They don't have proper storm sewers. I saw a few in Bocagrande but for the most part its rain on concrete. I remember a taxi ride into Medellin and the taxi driver commented, "can you imagine if we didn't have a storm sewer system like Cartagena?" That valley would turn into a lake.

[John Clayton]

Cartagena after the rainy day.

Whoa! I guess.

[Questner]

Cartagena after the rainy day.

[OldKool]

I am a 10 year vet of the DR and love it. However flight to CART are very low now and I am curious. I have posted for years on DR forum but know nothing about CART. I have read many of the post here but would appreciate some help for a first time guy I like airbnbs by but not sure what area is best. Thanks in advance for help.

[Mojo Bandit]

LOL Basically sounds like renting apartments in BKK and Siem Reap. Footwork. Got any reasonably priced hotels in the city touse as a base?

There are threads that cover that one is titled Cartagena Hotels and Rental Apartments and one for Medellin also.

[Nounce]

LOL Basically sounds like renting apartments in BKK and Siem Reap. Footwork. Got any reasonably priced hotels in the city touse as a base?

The properties in the tourist area can be considered as beach front properties. They are expensive by Colombia standard even for yearly rental. If you are not looking for beach front places, why not consider Medellin?

[Nyezhov]

You probably have a snowballs chance in hell of keeping your housing below 500 USD a month in Cartagena. If you were looking at living down there all year and if you did not mind researching areas out and away from the tourist areas that might be safer. They do exist I just do not know them. Then maybe you could get down somewhere in that neighborhood of 500 USD a month. If you are only wintering there and not looking at 12 month lease (which is tricky to get for us gringos) then you are going to pay vacation rental prices. I am not going to tell you that I think it is impossible but finding rental in Colombia that are not vacation rentals priced for gringos requires literal foot work on the ground, walking neighborhoods and looking at signs hanging from windows etc, Colombia is not well organized real estate wise, for example one apartment may have several agents trying to rent it out, but its better to rent straight form the owner when possible, but again those people are looking to rent something on a 12 month lease.

LOL Basically sounds like renting apartments in BKK and Siem Reap. Footwork. Got any reasonably priced hotels in the city touse as a base?

[Mojo Bandit]

My loooooong SE Asia holiday is coming to an end, and it looks like Thailand is not going to be the place to be anymore. My dreams of being able to live in Siem Reap and Visa Exempt holidays and weekends in Bangkok are just not in the future I reckon. Plus, for family reasons, I need to spend more time in the states and be closer.

So I am reviewing places for my winters.

While mongering is not my priority any more (25 trips to Thailand and living there for the past several "winters" have cured me) the things I look for are nice pussy, sun, beaches, history, inexpensive to live and weed. Cartagena keeps pressing the buttons. Is it 420 friendly BTW?

So anyone want to clue me on on places to live, the culture on the ground, tips and tricks. ID like to keep my housing cost under $500 a month if possible. I speak almost passable NY Puerto Rican Spanish and can pick it up quickly.

Thanks.

You probably have a snowballs chance in hell of keeping your housing below 500 USD a month in Cartagena. If you were looking at living down there all year and if you did not mind researching areas out and away from the tourist areas that might be safer. They do exist I just do not know them. Then maybe you could get down somewhere in that neighborhood of 500 USD a month. If you are only wintering there and not looking at 12 month lease (which is tricky to get for us gringos) then you are going to pay vacation rental prices. I am not going to tell you that I think it is impossible but finding rental in Colombia that are not vacation rentals priced for gringos requires literal foot work on the ground, walking neighborhoods and looking at signs hanging from windows etc, Colombia is not well organized real estate wise, for example one apartment may have several agents trying to rent it out, but its better to rent straight form the owner when possible, but again those people are looking to rent something on a 12 month lease.

As far 420 friendly - it is popular among the chicas but I do not think I would call the place 420 friendly. If you do carry weed while you are there do not carry much. I copied this from a website.

If you a caught with over 20 grams (0.7 ounces) of marijuana OR are found selling marijuana, the police can arrest and can prosecute. In Colombia, the maximum penalty for drug trafficking is 30 years. This is higher than the maximum penalty for rape.

I have personally been stopped at a police check point between the old city of Cartagena and Bocagrande while riding in cab with a chica and told to get out of the car and then searched, so I would not risk it. Most of the chicas I have messed with on a regular basis in Cartagena brought it over when they would visit and that's fine but I would never have any in my possession

[RMundi000]

Go to the last beach south in Bocagrande. Ignore Tony. Talk to one of the other touts. Ask for the price of everything that is offered. Don't touch anything you are not going to pay for. When they show you photos of girls and offer to invite them over make sure they understand you are not buying the girls cocktails (they cost much more) only beer. If you like a chica discuss the price and understand she has to kickback to the tout. You shouldn't have to pay more than 200 k for a fuck back at your place. Since its your first time they will likely ask for stupid amounts of money.

Have fun. Not a good time to go but maybe you will make it work.

Also when the touts brings your tab it will be massively inflated. Just stick to your guns and tell them you has X beers at 5 mil pesos or whatever. I still tip them a little even when they try to fuck me every time.