Colombia’s nightlife is one of the best in Latin America and one of the best ways to discover Cartagena’s nightlife is by staying in a party hostel. With swimming pools, on-site bars (also open to non-guests), drinking games and organised activities, you’re sure to meet amazing people and enjoy Cartagena’s party to the maximum!
Getsemani is the best area to stay in Cartagena if you want to make the most of its nightlife. The neighbourhood has recently become a meeting point for alternative people, street artist and musicians. The recent hip of the area has made it also a popular destination for backpackers and travellers. Filled with budget-friendly hostels, cool bars and hipster cafes, the area is always bustling with life.
Best Party hostel in Getsemani: Media Luna Hostel
Click Here to Check our Other Party Hostels in Cartagena
While the party scene in Cartagena may not be as crazy as other cities in Colombia such as Bogota and Medellin, the city offers a vivid nightlife, wild enough to satisfy even the hardened party animals. With most bars open five days a week until four in the morning, it’s a city easily accessible to all kinds of fun.
Also, Cartagena is often the first stop for backpackers when they visit Colombia, so it’s often the beginner’s guide to Colombia and its neighbouring areas. With a rich history, beautiful colonial architecture and a diverse range of local flavours such as Octopus ceviche and pargo frito (fried red snapper), it’s a good start of the Colombian tour.
If you’re looking for a step into the vivacious and authentic nightlife of Colombia, Cartagena is definitely on the go-to list for travellers and backpackers. The Old Town and Getsemani districts are the two most popular neighbourhoods when looking to party and let loose. Luckily both areas are a 5-minute walk away from each other and are easily accessible.
Right smack in the centre is the Old Town, where most of the party hostels and bars are located. The area, in particular, is crammed with the vast majority of Cartagena nightlife spots ranging from low key dive bars to upscale rooftop nightclubs that overlook the entire city.
Aside from an assortment of party venues, the Old Town offers delicious little restaurants, boutiques and street performers around each corner, guaranteeing an entertaining evening for those looking for a tamer side to Cartagena’s nightlife.
If you’re looking for a luxurious, 1920s-style decor bar with experimental cocktails, head to Alquimico.
Not too far from Alquimico is Tu Candela , where you can find the real Colombian experience: reggaeton, salsa and vallenato. Don’t turn up if you’re not ready to dance.
The Getsemani neighbourhood offers plenty of clubs with live Latin music bands, perfect for dancing. Still, you don’t really need to go inside a bar or a club to party, the action can easily be found on the streets. There’s a lot of Latino bars located around the area as well. Dancing champeta, a genre of folk music and dance with deep African roots, should be in your must-do list.
The nights in Getsemani are to the sound of champeta, rumba, funk and reggae. You don’t need to arrive on the weekend to enjoy the party, the area is filled with locals and foreigners alike dancing rumba from Wednesday to Sunday.
Cafe Havana is no longer the area’s best-kept secret and here’s why: it’s really just an experience. The bar gathers expats and locals who are salsa dancing until the wee hours in the evening.
Near Cafe Havana is a place called Calle del Arsenal , which offers wild nights in a lush and tropical environment.
The legal drinking age in Cartagena is 18, and ID might be asked for more upscale bars.
The majority of bars in Cartagena are casual and not very strict with dress codes. Some bars even allow visitors to wear tank tops and flip flops.
There are certain places like Alquimico and Café Del Mar, where party-goers and guests tend to go a little more dressed up.
