Cartagena CVB Logo
Hero · Special event

Every event becomes
a story.

Cartagena de Indias is built for events that need to be extraordinary. Historic venues of the 16th and 17th centuries, Caribbean islands, five international festivals, and a city that turns every gathering into a scene no one will forget.

  • Luxury gala dinners
  • Product launches
  • Destination weddings
  • International festivals
  • Elite sporting events

81

Event venues

500

Max. gala pax · historic venues

5

International festivals

30+

Private islands available

#1

Best Intl. Destination 2026 · T&F Awards

Intro · Editorial

5 centuries of colonial venues

UNESCO Walled City · 17th century fortresses · private Caribbean islands

Why Cartagena for special events

A city that is itself the special event.

Most event destinations offer a venue. Cartagena offers a world. A UNESCO World Heritage city of 500 years where the streets, fortresses, courtyards, and Caribbean sunsets are not the backdrop to your event they are the event itself.

For luxury gala dinners and product launches, the city's collection of 16th and 17th century private venues creates settings that no hotel ballroom or purpose built event space can manufacture. For destination weddings, the colonial architecture, Caribbean coastline, and intimate boutique hotels provide the most naturally romantic setting in the Americas. For sporting events, the Caribbean geography and year round climate create elite race and adventure conditions that have attracted IRONMAN to the city repeatedly.

And for attendees who want to experience a culture rather than just visit a place Cartagena's five international festivals, from the Hay Festival and FICCI to the Music Festival and Jazz Festival, provide a cultural calendar that gives every event program an extraordinary context.

Four types of special events

Whatever the occasion — Cartagena has the stage.

Segment 01 · Luxury gala
Most requested segment

01

Luxury social events & gala dinners

  • Gala dinners at Castillo San Felipe de Barajas 17th century fortress with Caribbean Sea views, up to 500 guests, entirely private access
  • Product launches and brand activations in the UNESCO Walled City streets, plazas, and courtyards as the event environment
  • Corporate anniversaries and milestone events in private colonial mansions Casa 1537 (up to 1,362 pax), Sofitel Legend Santa Clara cloister
  • Rooftop dinners with panoramic Caribbean views multiple boutique hotel properties available for exclusive buyout
  • Author gastronomy integration Best International Destination 2026, award winning chefs for any group size

Up to 500 pax · Fully private · Historic settings

Segment 02 · Destination weddings

02

Destination weddings

  • Colonial courtyards and cloister gardens Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, boutique hotels of the Walled City, Casa 1537
  • Private island ceremonies Rosario Archipelago and Barú, for couples and small groups seeking absolute exclusivity
  • Full boutique hotel buyouts the entire property for the wedding party, from rehearsal dinner to farewell brunch
  • Caribbean sunset ceremonies on the city walls the most naturally dramatic wedding backdrop in the region
  • Dedicated DMC network specialized in destination weddings full coordination from arrival to departure

South America's Leading Honeymoon Destination · WTA · 8 years

Segment 03 · International festivals

03

A city of international festivals

  • Hay Festival Cartagena January · One of the world's leading literary festivals, attracting global authors and intellectuals to the Walled City
  • FICCI January/February · Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena, the oldest film festival in the Americas
  • Festival Internacional de Música de Cartagena January · Classical and world music in colonial venues, acclaimed internationally
  • Festival de Jazz de Cartagena October · Caribbean jazz in the atmospheric streets and venues of the Historic Center
  • Festival de Champeta Caribbean music tradition celebrated city wide · unique cultural immersion for groups

5 international festivals · Jan–Oct · Programming context for events

Segment 04 · Sport & adventure

04

Elite sport & adventure events

  • IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena Caribbean swim, city bike course, historic run through the Walled City · international field
  • Sailing and regatta events Caribbean Sea conditions ideal for competitive and leisure sailing programs
  • Open water swimming in the Rosario Archipelago crystal Caribbean waters, coral gardens, elite and amateur programs
  • Custom sporting programs for corporate and incentive groups private race formats, team triathlons, cycling tours
  • Mangrove kayaking, kite surfing clinics, and adventure packages for groups combining sport with cultural immersion

IRONMAN certified · Year round · Caribbean conditions

Signature venues for special events

81 venues. Every one tells a different story.

From 17th century fortresses to private Caribbean islands. Six highlights from Cartagena's non-traditional event venue portfolio.

Venue · Castillo San Felipe

17th century fortress · Gala dinners

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

San Lázaro Hill · 10 min from Walled City

The most iconic event venue in Cartagena. Gala dinners and receptions on the ramparts of a 17th century Spanish fortress 360° Caribbean Sea views, ancient stone, golden sunset. Entirely private access for your event.

500

Max. pax

17th c.

Built

Private

Access

Venue · Casa 1537

16th century mansion · Private dining

Casa 1537

Historic Center · 5 min walk from major hotels

A 16th century colonial mansion with 6 versatile event spaces and an open courtyard. The most requested private event venue in Cartagena from author dinners for 20 to gala receptions for over 1,000.

1,362

Max. pax

6

Rooms

16th c.

Built

Venue · Rosario & Barú

Private island · Caribbean Sea

Rosario Islands & Barú

45 min by catamaran or yacht · Full exclusivity

Private Caribbean islands for exclusive events of any size beach galas, wedding ceremonies, team building, and full day programs. Entirely reserved for your event, no other guests.

500+

Max. pax

30+

Islands

Full day

Format

Venue · Sofitel Legend Santa Clara

17th century convent · Luxury events

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara

UNESCO Historic Center · Walled City

A former 17th century Clarisa convent, now a Leading Hotels of the World property. The cloister courtyard is one of the most requested wedding and gala settings in Cartagena colonial columns, tropical garden, private atmosphere.

300

Max. pax

Cloister

Setting

17th c.

Built

Private island · 15 min from Walled City

Isla de Tierra Bomba

15 min by catamaran or yacht · Exclusive access

The closest private island to Cartagena just 15 minutes by chartered catamaran or private yacht. Private beach events, sunset receptions, intimate ceremonies, and exclusive coves for groups that want the Caribbean without the travel time.

15'

Transfer

Private

Access

Any size

Group

Living neighborhood · Cultural activations

Getsemaní Living Stage

Adjacent to Walled City · Street culture

Cartagena's most creative neighborhood street murals, live music, Caribbean flavors, artisan craft. For brand activations, product launches, and cultural programming that requires authentic energy rather than a constructed setting.

Any size

Format

Street

Setting

Living

Culture

→ Full venue directory with capacities, technical specs, and availability: View all 81 venues →

Five international festivals

A cultural calendar that belongs to the world.

Cartagena's festival calendar creates a programming context for events held in the city five internationally recognized festivals spread across the year, each bringing global audiences, media coverage, and a heightened cultural energy to the destination.

Festival · Hay Festival

January · Walled City

Hay Festival Cartagena

One of the world's leading literary festivals, held annually in January in the UNESCO Walled City. Global authors, intellectuals, journalists, and cultural figures gather in Cartagena's colonial theaters and plazas events held in the city during Hay Festival week benefit from extraordinary cultural programming, international media presence, and a destination energy unlike any other time of year.

JanuaryInternational authorsWalled City venuesGlobal media coverage

January / February

FICCI Festival Internacional de Cine

The oldest film festival in the Americas. International films, directors, and industry professionals in the colonial venues of the Walled City and Bocagrande. A landmark event in Latin American cinema culture since 1960.

Oldest in AmericasSince 1960International cinemaJan / Feb

January

Festival Internacional de Música

Classical and world music of international acclaim, performed in the UNESCO Walled City's most beautiful colonial venues churches, plazas, and historic theaters. Internationally recognized as one of Latin America's finest classical music events.

Classical musicColonial venuesJanuaryInternational acclaim

October

Festival de Jazz de Cartagena

Caribbean jazz in the atmospheric streets, plazas, and venues of the Historic Center. Local and international artists in one of the most evocative festival settings in Latin America colonial stone, night air, and live improvisation.

JazzOctoberHistoric CenterCaribbean atmosphere

Year round · Peak: Carnival season

Champeta & Caribbean Music Culture

Champeta Cartagena's own Caribbean musical tradition, born in the city's Afro Colombian communities is a cultural experience unique to this city. For event programs seeking authentic cultural immersion, champeta workshops, performances, and community experiences are among the most memorable offerings in Cartagena's program.

Authentic CaribbeanAfro Colombian traditionUnique to CartagenaYear round

Events held during festival weeks in Cartagena benefit from the city's heightened cultural energy, additional programming, and international media presence. The CVB can advise on calendar alignment to maximize the destination experience for your attendees.

Sport & adventure

Elite events in a Caribbean setting.

The Caribbean Sea, tropical year round climate, and UNESCO city setting combine to create a natural venue for elite sporting events. IRONMAN has returned to Cartagena a mark of confidence from a race series that demands logistical precision and elite athlete standards. For corporate and incentive groups, the same geography delivers active programs that range from sailing regattas to private island triathlons.

IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena

Caribbean swim · city bike course through colonial streets · historic run through the Walled City. International field, elite standards, spectacular spectator experience.

Sailing & Caribbean Regattas

Competitive and leisure sailing on the Caribbean Sea. Custom regatta programs for corporate groups, team building, and private events.

Open water swimming · Rosario Islands

Elite and amateur open-water programs in the crystal waters of the Rosario Archipelago. Private race formats and team challenges available.

Cycling & Running Events

City cycling tours, private road races, and running events through the UNESCO streets. Custom formats for corporate groups and incentive programs.

Kite surfing, Kayaking & Adventure

Kite surfing clinics in Barú, mangrove kayaking at dawn, and multi sport adventure packages. Caribbean conditions year round.

Sport · IRONMAN

IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena

Caribbean swim · Colonial city course · Year round climate

Design your special event

Ready to create something exceptional?

Tell us about your event type, size, dates, and vision. The CVB team responds within 24 hours with venue options, DMC recommendations, and a destination proposal tailored to your program. At no cost.

Gala dinnerProduct launchDestination weddingCorporate anniversaryBrand activationSporting eventCultural program
100% free CVB support
Response within 24 hours
20 to 500+ guests
Email our team