Cruise ships and the city
2022-2023 season, which began on July 1, 2022 and ended on May 23, 2023.
Approximately US $54 million is received by Cartagena during the annual season. These are some of the sectors and actors that benefit from this activity.
- Direct jobs were created at the Cartagena de Indias Cruise Terminal, as well as those created by service providers.
- 500,786 total passengers arrived at the Cruise Terminal.
- We expected 26 cruise lines.
- 13 first time arrivals.
| Type of passenger | Number of passengers | Average daily expense | Approximate revenues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers |
340,637 |
USD 122.43 | USD 41,704,187.91 |
| Crew members |
160,149 |
USD 70.01 | USD 11.212.031.49 |
Approximate total revenues USD 52.916.219,4
Sources:
The Port of Cartagena Group. Data for the 2022-2023 season. 2019 BREA (Business Research & Economic Advisors) Studies.
Reasons to visit Cartagena de Indias
Through its impressive fortifications, cobblestone streets, and colorful façades, Cartagena de Indias takes visitors back to the 16th century, to colonial times, when the city was the Spanish crown’s main port and the epicenter of regular attacks by English pirates and French buccaneers.
The current entrance to the bay is a magnificent example of those memorable times. Forts San José and San Fernando stand tall and welcome tourists arriving on cruise ships from somewhere in the Caribbean, as a taste of what they will see in the city.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cartagena has become a sought-after tourist destination in the Caribbean and Latin America. This is reflected in renowned international newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Life, and The New York Times. Many of its visitors consider it one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in the world.
Cartagena is a city with tourist sites for all tastes. It boasts a large number of museums, monuments, streets, walls, colonial houses, and various sites for all types of travelers. It offers a range of experiences focused on culture, nature, the ocean, and gastronomy. For example:
Beyond a market is an attractive tour of the Bazurto Market that will give visitors a complete vision of how people in Cartagena live, as well as its history. It teaches visitors about some important icons in the market related to local music—champeta—and they’ll learn how to dance to it.
Percussion classes, a workshop that provides the opportunity to learn the basic beats of the tambor alegre, play Colombian cumbia music, and discover the typical rhythms of our Caribbean coast.
The mangrove forest, a fishing village visited in a handmade canoe driven by someone from the community of La Boquilla. Here, visitors will have direct contact with the flora and fauna of the mangrove ecosystem.
Coffee Baptism, a coffee experience that awakens the senses, in which participants will learn to appreciate and enjoy the particular attributes of coffee through a delicious sensory exploration.
Testimonials
“The colombian city that fueled the fiction of Gabo is embracing the famous author and spinning its surreal mystique into a modern destination”
The New York Times
“Un viaje a Cartagena es el más reciente antídoto contra las vacaciones del Caribe que repiten: ‘ya he estado, ya he hecho”.
The Wall Street Journal
“The rare american visitor will find a vibrant contemporary city with an intriguing history, within easy reach of caribbean islands”.
The New York Times
Cartagena in data
Population: 1.000.000 inhabitants according to DANE projections for 2015.
- Weather: Tropical wet climate
- Temperature: 28°C - 32°C (82°F - 90°F)
- Humidity: 90%
- Area: 606 square kilometers
- Currency: Colombian peso
- Emergency telephone numbers: Firefighters 119
- Police 123
- Marine Corps 152
For further information, please visit the Cartagena de Indias Tourism Corporation website.
Photos of the cruise terminal
