All Inclusive Cartagena Colombia How to Plan on a Budget

So there I was, staring at my credit card statement after a brutal month of unexpected car repairs, thinking my vacation dreams were officially dead. You know that sinking feeling when you realize your “fun money” just became “fix the transmission money”? Yeah, that was my March.

But then my coworker Maria started showing me photos from her Cartagena trip, and I couldn’t stop staring. Those bright yellow and coral buildings, the old stone walls, people dancing in the streets – it looked like something out of a movie. When she told me her whole week cost less than most people spend on a long weekend in Las Vegas, I literally made her show me her receipts.

Two months later, I’m writing this from my tiny apartment, but my phone is full of photos from the most incredible all inclusive Cartagena Colombia adventure. And guess what? My total cost for six days was $1,247, including flights from Atlanta. Let me tell you exactly how I pulled this off.

Why I Chose All Inclusive Cartagena Colombia (And Why You Should Too)

Look, I’ll be straight with you – I’m not usually an all-inclusive person. I like exploring, trying hole-in-the-wall restaurants, being spontaneous. But after doing the math for Cartagena, the all-inclusive route just made sense.

First off, the Colombian peso situation is wild right now. My morning coffee that would cost $5 in Atlanta was 50 cents there. A full meal at a nice restaurant? Maybe eight bucks. But here’s the thing – when you’re constantly converting prices in your head, it gets exhausting. The all-inclusive option let me actually relax.

Plus, and this might sound crazy, but Cartagena’s all-inclusive resorts aren’t like those massive concrete blocks you see in Cancun. Most of them are smaller, family-run places or boutique hotels that happen to offer meal packages. You still get that authentic Colombian vibe.

What convinced me:

• No math stress during vacation (my brain needed a break)
• Built-in portion control (I tend to go overboard at buffets)
• Easy to budget beforehand
• Still plenty of chances to explore outside the resort

The clincher was realizing that three meals plus drinks at regular Cartagena prices would cost about $40-50 per day anyway. Most all-inclusive packages were charging $60-80 per day total. That extra $20-30 bought me peace of mind and probably saved me money on impulse purchases.

My Real Experience Finding the Right Package

Okay, story time. I spent three weeks researching this trip, reading every blog post and forum I could find. Half the information was outdated, and the other half felt like it was written by people who’d never actually been there.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me: not all Cartagena all-inclusive packages are created equal, and the devil’s definitely in the details.

I almost booked with this resort that advertised “unlimited premium drinks,” but when I called directly (pro tip: always call), I found out their “premium” meant local beer and basic rum. Not bad, but not what I was expecting. Meanwhile, another place offered “house brands only” but their house brands included some really decent Colombian rum and craft beer.

What’s Actually Worth Paying For

After staying at three different places (I did a resort-hopping thing), here’s my honest breakdown:

Definitely included everywhere:

• Three meals daily (breakfast buffets are usually great)
• Basic mixed drinks and beer
• Pool access and lounge chairs
• Some evening entertainment
• WiFi (though quality varies like crazy)

Sometimes included, sometimes not:

• Airport pickup (worth asking about)
• Beach equipment rental
• Laundry service
• International calls

Almost never included:

• Spa services
• Premium alcohol
• Room service
• Tours outside the resort

The biggest surprise? Mini-fridges. Some places stock them daily with water and sodas, others charge $3 per Coke. Again, just ask upfront.

When to Go (And When Not To)

I went in late May, which turned out to be perfect timing. The weather was gorgeous – maybe a 20-minute rain shower every other day, but mostly sunny and 82 degrees. More importantly, I paid about 40% less than peak season rates.

My month-by-month honest assessment:

December-February: Beautiful weather, but you’ll pay tourist prices. Think $200+ per night even at mid-range places.

March-April: Still pricey, but weather starts getting more humid. If you can handle some sticky days, you’ll save maybe 15%.

May-June: This is where I hit the sweet spot. Great weather, way better prices. Plus, fewer American tourists, so you get more authentic interactions.

July-September: Cheapest rates, but it’s rainy season. Now, “rainy season” in Cartagena isn’t like Seattle rain – it’s more like afternoon thunderstorms. But some people get nervous about it.

October-November: Good compromise between price and weather.

I actually met this couple from Denver who’d been coming to Cartagena every October for five years. They showed me photos from all their trips, and honestly, the weather looked identical to my May photos. They were paying about $30 less per night than I did, so October might be the real sweet spot.

The Resorts I Actually Stayed At (With Real Prices)

Instead of giving you some generic list, let me tell you about the three places I experienced firsthand:

Hotel Boutique Casa del Arzobispado – $148/night

This place is right in the old city, in this converted colonial mansion. My room had 12-foot ceilings and this amazing wooden balcony overlooking a courtyard. The all-inclusive package covered all meals at their restaurant plus drinks until midnight.

What rocked:

• Walking to everything in Old Town
• Incredible building character
• Really good local food
• Staff treated me like family

What didn’t:

• Small pool (more like a large hot tub)
• No beach access
• Restaurant got repetitive after day three

Best for: People who want to explore the city and use the hotel as a home base.

GHL Collection Armería Real – $165/night

This one’s also in Old Town but feels more like a traditional hotel. Bigger rooms, better amenities, rooftop pool with city views. Their all-inclusive covered meals at two restaurants plus room service breakfast.

The food variety was way better here – they had this amazing seafood night on Thursdays that was legitimately restaurant-quality. Plus, the rooftop bar became my favorite evening hangout spot.

Hotel Las Americas (One Night Splurge) – $280/night

I only stayed here one night as a treat-yourself finale, but wow. This is the full resort experience – multiple pools, direct beach access, five restaurants, even a little casino. Their all-inclusive was comprehensive: all restaurants, premium drinks, water sports, evening shows.

Honestly? It was nice, but I preferred the boutique experience. Too big, too impersonal. But if you want that classic resort vacation feeling, this delivers.

How I Actually Saved Money (Beyond Just Booking Smart)

Let me share the tricks that made the biggest difference:

Before I Left Home

I signed up for Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going) three months before booking and caught a $320 roundtrip deal from Atlanta. Normal price was around $480, so that saved me $160 right off the bat.

I also got a Charles Schwab debit card specifically for this trip. No foreign transaction fees, and they reimburse ATM fees worldwide. Saved probably $50 in random banking fees.

The Resort Newsletter Hack

This sounds so old-school, but it worked. I signed up for email lists at five different resorts I was considering. Within two weeks, three of them sent me “exclusive” discount codes ranging from 10-25% off. The Casa del Arzobispado discount code saved me $89 total.

Packing Smart

Resort gift shops are highway robbery. I packed two bottles of reef-safe sunscreen (about $12 total at Target) versus paying $28 for one bottle at the hotel. Same with bringing my own snorkel gear – rental would’ve been $15 per day.

I also brought a small cooler bag and water bottles. Most resorts let you fill up bottles at their restaurants, and having cold water by the pool saved me from buying overpriced sodas.

Exploring Beyond the Resort (Without Going Broke)

Here’s where Cartagena really shines compared to other all-inclusive destinations – you can actually leave the resort and do amazing stuff without spending a fortune.

The Best Free Stuff

The Old Town is basically an open-air museum. I spent an entire afternoon just wandering around taking photos, and it didn’t cost me anything except shoe leather. The architecture is incredible – every building is painted a different bright color, and you’ll find little plazas and hidden courtyards everywhere.

Sunset at the city walls is magical and completely free. I went three different evenings and never got tired of it. Bring some snacks from your resort and a bottle of wine from a local shop (around $6-8), and you’ve got the perfect evening for under ten bucks.

Day Trips That Are Actually Worth It

I did two organized tours, and both were amazing:

Rosario Islands boat trip: I paid $52 through a local operator versus $135 through my resort. Same exact tour, smaller group, better experience. We snorkeled, had lunch on the beach, and I got some of my favorite photos of the whole trip.

Totumo Mud Volcano: This was $38 and absolutely hilarious. You climb into this crater filled with mineral-rich mud and just float around. Sounds weird, but it’s incredibly relaxing, and your skin feels amazing afterward. Plus, you get some truly ridiculous photos.

I skipped the expensive “cultural tours” and just walked around with my phone’s map app. Discovered way more interesting stuff that way, including this tiny café where the owner taught me to make proper Colombian coffee.

The Food Situation (Honest Take)

Resort food gets a bad rap, but in Cartagena, it’s actually pretty decent. Most places focus on fresh seafood and local ingredients, so even the buffet stuff tastes good.

That said, eating every meal at your resort gets old fast. I probably ate out for dinner 3-4 times during my six days, and it was always worth it.

My favorite outside meals:

• Cevichería La Red: $12 for the best fish ceviche I’ve ever had
• Carmen Restaurant: $35 for a fancy dinner (my one splurge)
• Random arepa cart: $2 for an incredible street food breakfast

The key is balancing resort convenience with local exploration. Eat breakfast at the resort (usually the best meal anyway), maybe grab lunch by the pool, then venture out for some dinners.

Transportation That Actually Works

Getting around Cartagena is way easier than most travel blogs make it sound. The Old Town is completely walkable – everything interesting is within about eight blocks of each other.

For longer distances, Uber is cheap and reliable. My longest ride (airport to Old Town) cost $11. Most rides within the city were $3-5. Way better than paying $25 for a taxi.

I tried the local buses once for the experience. They’re incredibly cheap (like 50 cents) but pretty chaotic. Fine for an adventure, but not practical when you’re trying to get somewhere specific.

Real transportation costs from my trip:

• Airport pickup: $11 (Uber)
• Daily exploring in Old Town: Free (walking)
• Evening rides to restaurants: $3-6 each way
• Day trip transportation: Included in tour prices

What I Wish I’d Known Before Going

Some honest mistakes and lessons learned:

Bring more cash than you think you need. Many smaller restaurants and shops don’t take credit cards. I ran out of pesos on day four and had to hunt for an ATM that worked with my card.

Download Google Translate with Spanish offline. My high school Spanish was… rusty. The translate app saved me multiple times, especially when ordering food or asking for directions.

Pack for both beach and city exploring. You’ll want flip-flops and swimwear for resort time, but also comfortable walking shoes and modest clothing for exploring churches and historic sites.

Don’t overpack activities. I planned way too much for my first few days and ended up feeling rushed. Sometimes the best vacation moments happen when you’re just sitting by the pool with a good book.

Is All Inclusive Cartagena Colombia Right for Your Trip?

After experiencing it firsthand, here’s my honest recommendation: all-inclusive works great for Cartagena if you want a mix of relaxation and exploration without constant budget decisions.

It’s perfect for people who want to unwind but still have easy access to culture and adventure. The city is safe, walkable, and affordable, so you can easily venture out when you want something different.

It might not be ideal if you’re a serious foodie who wants to eat at a different restaurant every meal, or if you’re the type who gets antsy sitting still. But for most people looking for a tropical vacation with some character and culture, it’s honestly perfect.

My final verdict: For the price point and the experience, all inclusive Cartagena Colombia beats every other Caribbean destination I’ve visited. The combination of affordability, culture, and genuine warmth from the Colombian people creates something really special.

Your dream vacation doesn’t have to stay a dream. Start with flexible dates, do your research, and don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best adventures happen when you stop planning and start booking.

Have questions about planning your own Cartagena adventure? Drop them in the comments – I love helping people discover this amazing city!