Cartagena was the first Spanish colony in the Americas, and is the Caribbean city most often associated with pirates. It is the fifth largest city in Colombia, and is the most popular tourist destination in the country. The population is a diverse mix of African, White, and Indigenous peoples. Rainy season May-June and October-November. Opportunistic thieves will take advantage of clueless tourists, but if you are on the ball you should be fine.
The streets are heavily patrolled by police in the tourist areas. Get a taste of the good life by dining in one of the horribly expensive restaurants located within the walled city. Prostitution is rampant here. It can often be hard to tell who is and who isn't a working girl. One way to help avoid confusion if you aren't into the play-for-pay scene is to go to the bar or club with the fewest gringos. The Bar Mister Babilla is a good choice because, although it does have some gringos, it is mostly hot upper-class girls from other Colombian cities.
But be ready to pay a cover charge and meet the dress code. Overall, It's slightly more difficult to hook-up with girls in Cartagena than other Colombian cities for three reasons:. Girls here have darker skin than Colombians from inland cities. They are very sexual, have great bodies and are probably the best dancers north of Cali. For the most part they are friendly and responsive to conversation. But if you're going to Colombia just for the women, there are better cities to have as a base.
For example, Cali if you prefer darker girls, and Medellin, Bucaramanga or Bogota if you prefer lighter ones. I doubt you'd want to spend an entire month here anyway. There are plenty of clubs, and they have a better vibe than many other resort cities. However, they are expensive, and many of the women you'll meet will be pros. That being said, everything is conveniently located and there's plenty of good music, great dancing and pretty women.
I recommend: Mister Babilla. The link is a pretty accurate description. If you want to meet women in Colombia, you will need to speak some Spanish. You might be able to get work in a hostel or teaching English, but I wouldn't count on it. That basically leaves fruit vendor as your only other option. Would I live here? Would I visit again? Probably, but I'm in no rush. The nightlife is good, but the city is expensive.
