Cartagena Bike Tour - The Walled City, Getsemaní & the Bay by Bike

Cartagena spreads further than first-time visitors expect, from the modern towers of Bocagrande to the colonial heart within the walls and the bohemian streets of Getsemaní. On foot you see one corner of it. On two wheels you see the whole shape of the city, and you do it with a local guide setting the pace and filling in the stories. This is comfortably the most efficient and enjoyable way to take in La Heroica.

From the founder’s bay to the walled city

The ride begins with a safety briefing and a bike fitting at your hotel or at Calle de la Luna, then heads out along Bocagrande and Castillo Grande. You will stop at the spot where founder Pedro de Heredia first came ashore, where your guide explains how the bay determined everything that followed. From there you pedal back into the walled city to wind through its squares and streets, its well-preserved architecture and its remarkable system of fortifications, pausing for a cold coconut to see you through the warmest part of the ride.

The colonial balconies of Cartagena’s walled city

Getsemaní and the bay

The route then carries you into Getsemaní, the neighbourhood famous for its street art and easy, lived-in energy, before crossing to the island of Manga and Fort San Sebastián del Pastelillo. The fort once guarded the entrance to the minor bay, and today it offers some of the finest panoramic views of the Cartagena skyline. From there it is an easy pedal back to your hotel, with a far richer picture of the city than any walking tour could cover in the same time.