The walls of the old city are painted yellow and blue. Bougainvillea spills from balconies above narrow streets. Beyond the walls, the Caribbean Sea stretches towards the Rosario Islands, where beach clubs and small hotels dominate the white sands.
Cartagena It has become one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean, making it a city where colonial architecture, destination restaurants, rooftop bars and nearby islands can all fit into the same vacation.
It will now be easier to get there from two major regions of the United States.
United Airlines is launching new year-round nonstop flights from Houston and Washington Dulles to Cartagena starting December 17.It gives Colombian Caribbean cities two important new links with the United States.
Both routes will initially operate. four times a weekUnited becomes the first U.S. airline to provide nonstop service between Cartagena and the Houston and Washington, D.C. areas.
The airline operates the routes as follows: boeing 737 aircraftDuring winter, flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The new service provides Cartagena with a direct connection to two of United’s largest hubs and one-stop itineraries from more than 70 cities across the United States.
The latest big news for the destination, including the opening of the Four Seasons for the first time earlier this year.
Two new routes to Cartagena
The new Washington Dulles-Cartagena flight departs Washington at 8:20 a.m. and arrives in Cartagena at 1:10 p.m.
The return flight is scheduled to depart Cartagena at 4 p.m. and arrive in Washington Dulles at 8:40 p.m.
United’s new flight from Houston is scheduled to depart George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 9:35 a.m. and arrive in Cartagena at 2:50 p.m.
The Cartagena-Houston flight is scheduled to depart at 2:20 PM and arrive at 5:45 PM.
The schedule is designed to serve United’s domestic network at both hubs, putting Cartagena within one stop of cities spanning the Northeast, Midwest, Mountain West and West Coast.
United currently serves Bogota and Medellin, and adding Cartagena would give it a third destination in Colombia.
“Colombia has been an important part of United’s Latin American network for more than 30 years, and our new service to Cartagena reflects our continued investment in Colombia and our commitment to providing new and unique travel experiences for our customers,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network planning and global alliances.
Quayle said Cartagena would offer passengers “a different side of the country” while making one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations more accessible from North America.
The route still requires government approval.
A different kind of Caribbean vacation
Cartagena holds a unique place on the Caribbean travel map.
It’s a beach destination, but water is only part of the trip. Most visits begin in the fortified Old Town, where restored mansions have been converted into boutique hotels, convents have been converted into luxury buildings, and centuries-old squares are home to restaurants, cafés and cocktail bars.
Central area of the city – inclusive Historic District, San Diego, and Gethsemane — The old city, with views of the Caribbean Sea from the walls surrounding it, is small enough to be explored over several days.
You can spend the day in the afternoon. San Felipe de Barajas CastleThen return to the Old Town for dinner in a former colonial residence. Another day on a boat Rosario IslandsThis will be followed by rooftop drinks above Cartagena’s domes and tiled roofs.
The result is a multi-tiered Caribbean travel experience that includes history, architecture, food, nightlife, and island excursions.
Cartagena’s culinary culture has become one of its biggest attractions. Restaurants such as ask, Carmen Cartagena, Cevicheria and sea and ice The use of Caribbean seafood, Colombian produce and local culinary traditions has helped make the city an increasingly important food destination.
Getsemaní offers a more informal side of the city, with street art, music, casual restaurants and small bars centered around Plaza de la Trinidad.
Along the water are the following neighborhoods: Boca Grande and Castillo Grande It features high-rise hotels, residential towers and wide views of the Gulf of Cartagena.
islands beyond the city
Cartagena’s inner-city beaches are convenient, but many visitors use the city as a jumping-off point for the islands south of the bay.
that Rosario IslandsThe archipelago, located within a protected national park, features coral reefs, private villas, boutique hotels and day clubs. Boats usually depart from Cartagena in the morning, so you can use the island as a day trip or a separate overnight stay.
Properties including: Hotel Las Islas, Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort and ACASĪ Experience at Casa San Agustín It helped expand luxury hotels beyond Cartagena’s historic center.
Barú, connected to the mainland, has also developed into an important resort. The best known, Playa Blanca, attracts day visitors, while quieter parts of the peninsula are home to private beach clubs and luxury hotels.
New United flights make city and island travel easier. After spending a few nights inside the walled city, you will stay near the sea outside Cartagena.
Where to stay in Cartagena?
Cartagena has one of the strongest collections of historic hotels in the Caribbean.
San Agustin House It occupies three restored colonial buildings in the old town with internal courtyards, frescoes, a swimming pool flowing under an old aqueduct and the Alma restaurant.
that Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena It is located in a former monastery built in the 17th century. The hotel features a large central courtyard and swimming pool and is located near the northern edge of the old town.
Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa It occupies another historic building near the city walls with a rooftop pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the Dome of Cartagena.
Smaller hotels such as: Amarla Boutique Hotel Cartagena, Hotel Quadrifoglio and Festagua House It offers a more residential approach, with a limited number of rooms and a hidden courtyard behind heavy old city wooden doors.
The hotel collection is a major part of Cartagena’s charm. Your stay can make you feel closely connected to the city itself, especially if your room is located in a building with centuries of history.
Why Houston changed its map
The Houston route is particularly important due to the extensive United network at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
United offers nonstop flights from Houston to: 57 destinations in Latin America and the CaribbeanIt provides the hub with one of the most extensive southbound networks in the country.
Passengers departing from cities such as Denver, Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix can connect to Cartagena via Houston on a single itinerary.
Houston also gives Cartagena another direct connection to Texas, one of the largest sources of outbound travel to the Caribbean.
The four-week schedule makes significant sense for the new leisure route, especially since United plans to operate the service year-round rather than limiting it to the winter travel period.
It operates year-round, giving the route relevance beyond the traditional December to April Caribbean season. Cartagena attracts visitors all year round, supporting demand during major holiday periods, festivals, weddings, conferences and weekend getaways.
New Caribbean Options in Washington
The Washington Dulles Route creates unique opportunities.
The airport serves the greater Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia areas while also operating as United’s primary connectivity hub in the Mid-Atlantic.
The flight will provide a rare non-stop connection between Washington and the Colombian Caribbean, opening up new vacation options for travelers who previously had to transit through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Panama City or Bogota.
Additionally, Dulles connections make Cartagena easily accessible to cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Richmond.
United currently offers nonstop flights to the following destinations: 18 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean from Washington DullesCartagena will expand its network already serving the region’s largest tourism market.
What can you find on board?
United will operate both routes with Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with seatback entertainment screens.
The airline says passengers will be able to connect their personal headphones directly to the entertainment system via Bluetooth connectivity at every seat.
The aircraft also has larger overhead bins designed to accommodate one standard roll-aboard bag per passenger.
United continues to roll out Starlink internet throughout its fleet and plans to offer complimentary Wi-Fi to MileagePlus members when the aircraft enters service. The specific aircraft assigned to individual Cartagena flights may vary.
Cartagena’s Caribbean Momentum
Cartagena has long been a major destination for visitors to Colombia and Latin America. The city’s presence in the United States grew rapidly as new hotels, restaurants, and air routes made it more familiar to American travelers.
The appeal is unusually broad.
A long weekend can be centered around the old town, which has dining, museums and rooftop bars all within a relatively small area. For a longer holiday, you can split your trip between city and sea by adding the Barú or Rosario Islands.
Cartagena also works well as part of a wider Colombia travel itinerary. Domestic flights connect the city with Bogota, Medellín, Cali and other destinations across the country.
United’s new route allows travelers to fly directly to Cartagena and return via another Colombian city, or connect Cartagena with Bogota or Medellin on a separate domestic flight.
Additionally, the airline’s arrival brings additional competition to destinations already served in the U.S. by airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, depending on gateway and season.
More competition means more itinerary options and more favorable rates for certain periods.
A major new gateway to the Colombian Caribbean
Cartagena is no longer a destination reserved for travelers looking for complex connections.
Starting Dec. 17, passengers departing from United’s two major hubs will be able to fly directly into the city, arrive early, check into a hotel within the old walls, and travel through Plaza de Bolivar to arrive at the walls before dinner.
The Houston and Washington route would also place Cartagena within one of dozens of cities that have not had a convenient route to the Colombian Caribbean.
United is entering one of the region’s fastest-growing destinations with a year-round schedule, two major hubs and eight weekly flights during the winter.
Cartagena’s streets, restaurants, historic hotels and offshore islands were already attracting a larger segment of Caribbean travelers. Two new non-stop routes are scheduled to bring more routes.
