For your next trip to Colombia, you want to know which of the most dangerous and safest areas of Cartagena to stay in.

With its proximity to white sand beaches, colonial architecture and rich cultural heritage, Cartagena attracts millions of tourists each year. However, like many tourist cities around the world, there are some neighborhoods that have higher crime rates than others.

In this article we will look at the riskiest neighborhoods in Cartagena and give you tips for choosing a safe and interesting neighborhood for a tourist stay.

This is a study on dangerous neighborhoods, areas to avoid but also tourist neighborhoods in Cartagena de Indias.

It is a summary of web information (rankings, statistics, newspaper articles, forums) and therefore does not contain any judgment or discriminatory remarks.

Is Cartagena a dangerous city?

Colombia is a country that has always been associated with crime and drug traffickers. And although the country has made significant progress in recent years to improve its security, there are still cities and regions with very high crime rates. In Cartagena, as in Bogota or to Medellin, crime has even increased.

See what the French government published: “An increase in crime, often violent, with bladed or armed weapons, is noted throughout the capital, as well as in several cities in the country, particularly Santa Marta, Medellin, Cartagena and Cali. » France Diplomacy

This is also confirmed by the Numbeo world ranking of the 352 most crime-ridden cities in the world for 2024.

Indeed, the city of Cartagena has a crime index 54.88, which is quite high. But in comparison, Cartagena de Indias is less dangerous than Guadalajara, Brasilia, Santiago de Chile, Las Vegas ou Paris.

Is Cartagena safe for tourists?

Cartagena is a must-see tourist destination in Colombia (see my 3 week tour in Colombia) and the starting point for paradise islands off the Colombian Caribbean coast (mucura for example).

But as the France Diplomatie website mentions: “The security situation is unequal depending on the neighborhood. It is satisfactory inside the walls of the old city of Cartagena and in the districts of Bocagrande, Castillogrande and Getsemaní although it is advisable to exercise caution in the alleys of the historic center which are necessarily more deserted at night, as there are flights to Armed hands have been reported there. »

Map of Cartagena de Indias neighborhoods

Cartagena has almost 1 million inhabitants. It is divided into stratos which are classified according to a social index of quality of life. These “estratos” were defined to adapt the costs of public services according to the inhabitants and their financial and social situation.

Thus, estrato 1 corresponds to the poorest neighborhoods. So these neighborhoods will have advantages regarding essential services in order to facilitate survival. Water, electricity, gas and even Internet are cheaper than in higher “estratos”.

Geographically, Cartagena is made up of many neighborhoods that it is impossible to present to you in their entirety.

However, you can identify the neighborhoods to avoid in Cartagena and the safest ones to stay in (listed below) by clicking here: Map of neighborhoods

Most dangerous neighborhoods in Cartagena de Indias

Among the city's many small neighborhoods, there are 17 neighborhoods that stand out for their high crime rates. These are the dangerous districts of Cartagena and which it is recommended to avoid for a tourist stay:

1. El Paraiso
2. The Magdalena
3. The Maria
4. Olaya and El Pozon
5. Pasacaballos
6. The Mouthpiece
7. La Quinta
8. The Forest
9. Arroz Barato
10. Nelson Mandela
11. La Candelaria
12. Bayunca
13. torices
14. San Pedro Mártir
15. Fredonia
16. The Carmel
17. Boston

Safest neighborhoods to stay in Cartagena

Two main parts make up downtown Cartagena:

• The historic center (walled colonial city) which seems to be a place rich in heritage, culture, with nice restaurants, small colonial hotels.
• Modern neighborhoods around Bocagrande with huge “sea view” buildings and crowded beaches in high season.

Among these beautiful neighborhoods, the most interesting for tourists are those located very close to the historic center. These are also the safest in Cartagena: Neighborhoods inside the walls and Bocagrande, Castillogrande and Getsemaní.

Also, I have defined the map below grouping the coolest neighborhoods to stay there as a tourist.

Getsemani district

Compared to the districts selected above but also in relation to prices and services, my choice during my trip to Colombia was the district of GETSEMANI which I loved!

For some, this neighborhood is nicer than the historic center of Cartagena. Indeed, in the heart of the historic district, street vendors and other restaurant touts constantly solicit tourists.

However, I was looking for a real neighborhood inhabited by Colombians and very close to the main tourist attractions (see how visit Cartagena on foot).

And this is the case of Getsemani. Pretty little colorful houses and small streets where tourists and locals mingle in a quiet atmosphere.

Visit Cartagena safely

If you are looking for a completely safe, comprehensive tour of Cartagena, I recommend booking a guide for:

Cartagena de Indias Private Tour