Good morning from Cartagena, Colombia, on a gloomy, rainy November day on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam. The cruise pier is part of a working cargo port, and there truly isn’t a lot to do right around it, but the port itself is set up for tourists with a little zoo, an aviary and spots for Colombian coffee. Come along as I walk through it.
Cartagena, Colombia Cruise Port Walk Around
A rainy morning walk around the Cartagena, Colombia cruise port on Nieuw Amsterdam: the little zoo, aviary, flamingos, Colombian coffee and taxi options.
Scott's Cruises on YouTubeSubscribe
Key Takeaways
- To see the walled city, you can book an excursion through the cruise line or pick up a taxi driver right outside the port.
- Walking to the city isn’t recommended. It’s a long walk, and it’s not the place to wander around solo.
- It was a very short port call: we arrived at 7 a.m. and all aboard was 1:30 p.m., so if you want a full day out, be off the ship and on your way at 7.
- Inside the port facility there’s a little zoo and an aviary with parrots, peacocks, flamingos and an iguana, plus turtles munching on lettuce.
- You don’t have to walk through the duty free shop to get to the animals, and there’s a little shopping village and a couple of spots for Colombian coffee.
- Skip the emerald mine. It’s a waste of time, and it didn’t even look open the day I was there.
- There’s a spot to get photos taken with the birds, and the obligatory Colombia sign for your selfie on the way out.
Good to Know
If you just want to kill about 30 minutes, you can do it right here at the cruise terminal without leaving the port. The birds are a noisy bunch, and it’s a fun little walk even in the rain.
If you do want to head out, the taxi drivers wait right outside the exit. With such a short port day, decide early whether you’re going into the walled city or just staying in the port area.