Cartagena Reports

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2662180]That is crazy about Cafe Mar. I guess it makes sense though do to how popular it is. And the fact that when I originally started frequenting Cartagena you would not see but maybe one or two other people from the U.S. in a day. It has been years since I actually sat down at a table in the restaurant area though. Back when I used to be younger and would hit on chicas on LatinAmerican Cupid that was my go to meeting spot. But that was a while ago. I do remember thinking the food was bad. I would not reccomend the food to anyone unless is has improved by a lot. So since those days I walk up to the bar and order a bottle of beer and then hangout by the cannons tyo the far right of the building. I will keep in mind the reservation thing though in case I need to meet any chica there in the future.

I would also reccomend to anyone to look up the Cartagena neighborhood of Getsemani online and look at photos - not too long ago Forbes magazine rated it in the top ten coolest neighborhoods in the world. But its not for everyone - so i recomend looking at some pics online before committing your time to walking the neigborhood[/QUOTE]The food a Cafe del Mar wasn't the best IMO. Its more of a tourist attraction to get a photo of the sunset or that perfect sunset selfie. Drinks and live music. The Instagram influencers have completely ruined many good places. They ruined that beach in Phuket from the movie The Beach trying to get Instagram famous with selfies, They are currently doing it in Plays Sosua and Cartagena as well. When I was there in December, they were ton of foreign women just taking selfies in the street just to get the colorful buildings behind them. Some even selfishly held up traffic in the narrow streets.

Just for shits and laughs I just checked Cafe Del Mar reservation site and nothing is available until March 7th. I've never seen it this crazy. [URL]https://cafedelmar.precompro.com/select/[/URL].

MadMax is going to have to scratch that off their list and get a plan be ready or show up early and wait to see if they have an opening. Off the top of my head the only suggestions I have as an alternative is doing the Castle tour or the Monastery shortly before sunset to get good sunset photos.

I second the suggestion for Getsemani. Cool place and the murals are amazing. Its best viewed in the early morning around 7 am when there aren't many vendors and the murals aren't blocked. Food is wonderful there too.

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662484]The food a Cafe del Mar wasn't the best IMO. Its more of a tourist attraction to get a photo of the sunset or that perfect sunset selfie. Drinks and live music. The Instagram influencers have completely ruined many good places. They ruined that beach in Phuket from the movie The Beach trying to get Instagram famous with selfies, They are currently doing it in Plays Sosua and Cartagena as well. When I was there in December, they were ton of foreign women just taking selfies in the street just to get the colorful buildings behind them. Some even selfishly held up traffic in the narrow streets.

Just for shits and laughs I just checked Cafe Del Mar reservation site and nothing is available until March 7th. I've never seen it this crazy. [URL]https://cafedelmar.precompro.com/select/[/URL].

MadMax is going to have to scratch that off their list and get a plan be ready or show up early and wait to see if they have an opening. Off the top of my head the only suggestions I have as an alternative is doing the Castle tour or the Monastery shortly before sunset to get good sunset photos..[/QUOTE]Thanks guys for all the valuable suggestions.

Sorry for the late response as got busy with shopping and packing stuff.

Will note down these places in map and probably will attempt to rent a scooter to stroll around during the afternoon.

Not sure if that is good idea or stick to cabs and / walking?

Any idea how much the scooters will be rented and any suggested place to rent?

I really enjoyed driving scooter in Bali. Which is hardly $10 per day. Can explore many places around the town on your own.

[QUOTE=MadMax9336;2662570]Thanks guys for all the valuable suggestions.

Sorry for the late response as got busy with shopping and packing stuff.

Will note down these places in map and probably will attempt to rent a scooter to stroll around during the afternoon.

Not sure if that is good idea or stick to cabs and / walking?

Any idea how much the scooters will be rented and any suggested place to rent?

I really enjoyed driving scooter in Bali. Which is hardly $10 per day. Can explore many places around the town on your own.[/QUOTE]I strongly oppose renting a scooter to ride around in. The streets are not that nice. Many potholes and there are little to no traffic lights. I would suggest taking cabs with Uber or InDriver.

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662163]...I just have to add make reservations in advance, on 3 separate trips they were fully booked three days out when I wanted to go the night of...[/QUOTE]Does reservation guarantee you have a table by the wall?

[QUOTE=MadMax9336;2662570]Any idea how much the scooters will be rented and any suggested place to rent?

I really enjoyed driving scooter in Bali. Which is hardly $10 per day. Can explore many places around the town on your own.[/QUOTE]Funny you ask that. I just bought one for me and my gal. If you do an electric scooter under 150 CC I think, no license at all is required. I rented from two places on the main drag in Bocagrande. One place is near the Persian restaurant Persepolis gastrobar. The other is further down on the same street as you go towards the Hilton and the end of the peninsula. Both were 100,000 COP per hour or about $25.

I went ahead and bought one for my gal. Most common type is Auteco but the one I recommend to buy or rent is Strarker. They have a smoother ride, and some have a 50 mile range and can get up to 35 MPH. That is more than enough speed and range for most of Cartagena.

If you rent a scooter, called motos there, for you and a gal you like, you all will have a ball.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2662760]Does reservation guarantee you have a table by the wall?[/QUOTE]To my knowledge when I went it was first come first serve. The only choice we had was smoking or non smoking.

Travellers don't actually need to be at Cafe Del Mar to get good selfie sunset shots as the entire wall along that side gets soaked in int glow at sunset. Its just more of a status thing to say "I was at this famous place during sunset and here a picture to prove it" Instagram flex.

[QUOTE=Elvis2008;2662778]Funny you ask that. I just bought one for me and my gal. If you do an electric scooter under 150 CC I think, no license at all is required. I rented from two places on the main drag in Bocagrande. One place is near the Persian restaurant Persepolis gastrobar. The other is further down on the same street as you go towards the Hilton and the end of the peninsula. Both were 100,000 COP per hour or about $25.

I went ahead and bought one for my gal. Most common type is Auteco but the one I recommend to buy or rent is Strarker. They have a smoother ride, and some have a 50 mile range and can get up to 35 MPH. That is more than enough speed and range for most of Cartagena.


If you rent a scooter, called motos there, for you and a gal you like, you all will have a ball.[/QUOTE]Thanks Elvis for the information.

Will sure check those two places. I feel its bit expensive (may be I got spoiled by Bali where I paid around $10 for 3 hours if I remember correctly) as $25/ HR seems to be bit expensive as we might need to keep it for a day or half day at least.

BTW you said "you bought one for gal" does it mean you purchased outright or rented? If its purchase how much is it. Just curious to compare the prices. Not that I am going to. LOL.

[QUOTE=MadMax9336;2662570]Thanks guys for all the valuable suggestions.

Sorry for the late response as got busy with shopping and packing stuff.
.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662855]To my knowledge when I went it was first come first serve. The only choice we had was smoking or non smoking.

Travellers don't actually need to be at Cafe Del Mar to get good selfie sunset shots as the entire wall along that side gets soaked in int glow at sunset. Its just more of a status thing to say "I was at this famous place during sunset and here a picture to prove it" Instagram flex.[/QUOTE]Nypher makes a great point you can watch the sunset from anywere along the wall near the Cafe del Mar. On either side. Grab something to drink and take with you. I think a scooter would not be as fun because the traffic can get crazy.

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662484] They ruined that beach in Phuket from the movie The Beach trying to get Instagram famous with selfies, T.[/QUOTE]I was there at that beach in Thailand in 2011 - Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Ley. I agree it is way too crowded. They said that what actually ruined that beach was the movie itself. Before the movie it was only known as a backpacker stop over. They had long boats before that bur not the speedboats loded down with people. I can't imagine how cool it was back then.

I was there about 7 years after the devistating 2004 tsunami that killed about 5000 people in the Phuket area. So on the one hand had it not been for the publicity from the movie it would not have been able to rebuild as fast. I was planning my trip and looking at places on Kho Phi Phi Don to stay I saw that history of the tsunami damage and decided I would be staying in a bungalo way up on a fucking hill. They made a movie that was a true story about one families miraculous survival experience during that tsunami experience called The Impossible.

On the other hand it got so damn crowded that they literally shut the place down from visitors for about two years because the damage to the ecology was so bad. I think the pandemic prolonged it also but was closed for about 4 years.

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662855]To my knowledge when I went it was first come first serve. The only choice we had was smoking or non smoking.

Travellers don't actually need to be at Cafe Del Mar to get good selfie sunset shots as the entire wall along that side gets soaked in int glow at sunset. Its just more of a status thing to say "I was at this famous place during sunset and here a picture to prove it" Instagram flex.[/QUOTE]I have no problem getting seat without reservation the first time that I was there but I need reservation to get the seat by the wall.

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2662924]I think a scooter would not be as fun because the traffic can get crazy.[/QUOTE]The part that sucks is the rainy season when there are huge puddles on the road. They can flood the engine and the moto does not work then.

If you ride on the East part of the Bocagrande peninsula, there is not as much traffic. Manga is usually not too bad once you get on the island, and when you go through the walled part of the city, I think it is the best way to go, better than walking or a cab.

I typically have gone to the Philippines for my fun, but expense and variety have me wanting to try Cartagena, so any websites that give good info on hotels to stay at for a guy that just wants a lot of sex? I've read all over this city has girls everywhere, but where is a good place to stay that will put me in the middle of the fun since its my first time going here, thanks in advance, PM's are welcome too.

[QUOTE=SkyWookie;2663266]I typically have gone to the Philippines for my fun, but expense and variety have me wanting to try Cartagena, so any websites that give good info on hotels to stay at for a guy that just wants a lot of sex? I've read all over this city has girls everywhere, but where is a good place to stay that will put me in the middle of the fun since its my first time going here, thanks in advance, PM's are welcome too.[/QUOTE]While there are arguments to be made all around, I've found the best deals in the casas and spas. Photoprepagos, Milerticos, and Skokka are a good place to start. A lot of pros and semi-pros hang out at Colombian / Latin American Cupid. Lots of folks have had great luck with Tinder, while others swear by Seeking Arrangements. Facebook and Instagram are options, as well. Word has it that they flushed out the SW's at the Clock Tower who are now doing business at a triad of bars in ElCentro. That should get you started.

As for hotels, I kind of triangulate between Momodo, Kayak, Google Maps, and AirBnb. Make sure to get specific information about guest policies. Some are prohibited completely, some are charged by the guest, almost all require the girls to show their cedulas (ID cards)

Smart man anyone who rides around there is nuts.

[QUOTE=Nypher;2662725]I strongly oppose renting a scooter to ride around in. The streets are not that nice. Many potholes and there are little to no traffic lights. I would suggest taking cabs with Uber or InDriver.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Kafka;2663577]Smart man anyone who rides around there is nuts.[/QUOTE]Absolutely agreed.