Bocagrande to Cartagena's Old Town: Taxi, App, Bus, or Walk

The taxi fare, before anyone tries it on

About COP 12,250. That's the established legal fare for a taxi between Centro (the Walled City and Getsemaní) and Bocagrande, Castillogrande or El Laguito, according to Cartagena Explorer's fare guide, updated in March 2026. Cartagena taxis don't run meters, and drivers quoting double to a new arrival is a local sport, not a scandal. Say the number first, before you open the door, and have small bills. If the driver won't take it, the next cab is thirty seconds behind him.

If you'd rather not haggle

Use a ride-hail app. InDrive is widely used here and the price is agreed in the app instead of on the pavement, which is worth a lot at 1am when you've had a few on our rooftop. You'll need data on your phone.

The bus, if you're counting pesos

Transcaribe, the city's bus system, links Bocagrande with the Old City. It's the cheapest way across and it's fine in daylight with a small bag. It is not the move with luggage in the afternoon heat.

Walking it

People do walk between Bocagrande and the Old Town along the seafront, and in the cooler hours it's a good walk with the water on one side. In the middle of the day, in September, don't be a hero. Take the taxi.

Where to be dropped

Ask for Plaza de San Diego. It's the small square in the north corner of the walls, ringed with restaurant tables from about lunchtime onwards, and we're on Carrera 7 right off it. Drivers all know the plaza by name, which is more than can be said for most street numbers inside the walls. Once you're here you won't need a taxi again: everything inside the walls is a walk.

Coming from the airport instead? That's a different run and a different price, and we sell a fixed transfer for it: 120,000 COP for up to four people, 200,000 COP for five or more.