Rafael Nuñez International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Rafael Núñez is an urban airport: the Centro Histórico is just 3 km away, 10-15 minutes by taxi, while Bocagrande, the strip of high-rises and beaches south of the city, is 20-25 minutes away. Those coming for the colonial streets and wanting to stay inside the walls or in Getsemaní pay more but can walk everywhere; those after a pool and an organised beach move to Bocagrande or El Laguito. For a dawn flight or a short layover, Crespo and La Boquilla, just outside the terminal, are enough and still have direct access to the sea.

Crespo and La Boquilla (airport area)

Airport area · The ibis Cartagena Marbella is 5 minutes by car from the terminal, on Marbella beach; the Radisson Ocean Pavillion, further north towards La Boquilla, is about 10 minutes.

Best for: Dawn flights, short layovers and those who want to stay near the terminal without giving up the beach.

Pros

The transfer from the terminal takes just a few minutes, even at rush hour
Both areas have direct beach access, no need to travel elsewhere

Cons

The Centro Histórico stays 10-20 minutes away: a taxi is still needed for the walls and the museums
Marbella and La Boquilla have few independent restaurants outside the hotels themselves

Recommended hotels in this area

ibis Cartagena Marbella: 180 recently renovated rooms on Marbella beach, 5 minutes by car from the terminal and about 8 from the Centro Histórico.
Radisson Cartagena Ocean Pavillion Hotel: Resort on La Boquilla beach, about 10 minutes from the terminal; indoor pool, jacuzzis and private beach with its own restaurant.

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Centro Histórico (Getsemaní and San Diego)

City centre · 10-20 minutes by taxi from the terminal, about 3-5 km depending on the exact spot inside the walls; there are no direct tourist bus routes.

Best for: Those who want the walls, the colonial squares and evening life on foot, regardless of the transfer from the airport.

Pros

Walls, squares and restaurants are all reachable on foot, even in the evening in the central areas
It's the area with the highest concentration of historic and boutique hotels in the city

Cons

Narrow, often pedestrian-only alleys: taxis can't reach every hotel's door
Higher prices than elsewhere in the city, especially in high season

Recommended hotels in this area

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena: A former 1621 convent on Plaza San Diego, inside the walls; 123 rooms between the colonial and contemporary wings, a spa of almost 900 sqm.
Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Cartagena: Opening in April 2026 in a complex of historic buildings, including the former San Francisco temple, on the border between Getsemaní and the walls; eight restaurants and a rooftop pool.
Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton: 49 rooms in a restored colonial building on calle del Curato, a few steps from the walls and from Plaza San Diego; panoramic rooftop terrace with pool.

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Bocagrande and El Laguito

Neighbourhood · 20-25 minutes by taxi from the terminal, about 8-9 km; El Laguito, at the tip of the peninsula, is slightly further than central Bocagrande.

Best for: Those who want an equipped beach, big hotels with pools and the life of an urban resort.

Pros

Continuous beach with sunbed and umbrella service all along the peninsula
Restaurants, shopping malls and nightlife within walking distance

Cons

The transfer from the airport is the longest among the areas in the city
Bocagrande's beach is less well kept than in other areas, according to many reviews

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Cartagena: At the tip of El Laguito, with a private beach and four outdoor pools; the most secluded and quiet of the peninsula's chain hotels.
Hyatt Regency Cartagena: On Bocagrande beach, one minute on foot from the sand; 261 rooms, 15 residences and two infinity pools overlooking sea and city.
Hotel Caribe by Faranda Grand: The oldest hotel in Bocagrande, prized for its large tropical garden and private beach with sunbeds; a well-preserved style from the 1940s.
Hampton by Hilton Cartagena: Budget option on avenida San Martín, one block from the beach; simple rooms but a central location in Bocagrande.

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