Cartagena moves at street level. Inside the old city, stone lanes carry the sound of footsteps and café chairs shifting across patios. Bougainvillea hangs over balconies painted in yellows, blues and greens. The Caribbean runs just beyond the walls, visible from ramparts that once guarded the port.

Getting there is about to become easier.

JetBlue is expanding its service from Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena, Colombia, increasing flights to daily, year-round service beginning June 11. The airline previously operated the route four times per week, making this a meaningful boost in access to one of the Caribbean basin’s most distinctive cities.

What the new JetBlue schedule means

Beginning June 11, JetBlue will operate seven weekly flights to Cartagena out of Fort Lauderdale, replacing its current schedule of four flights per week.

Daily service adds flexibility when planning a trip. You gain more options for long weekends, midweek departures and shorter itineraries.

Cartagena has quietly become one of the most in-demand cities in the Caribbean basin. The appeal blends several things travelers rarely find in one place: preserved colonial architecture, Caribbean beaches and a food culture that keeps improving every year.

More flights make spontaneous trips possible, particularly during shoulder seasons when the city feels calmer and hotel availability opens up.

Arriving in Cartagena

Flights land at Rafael Núñez International Airport, located a short drive from the historic center.

From there, the road curves toward the stone walls that define the old city. Inside those walls, plazas fill with restaurants and musicians in the evenings, while quiet courtyards hide behind carved wooden doors. You move easily between small cafés, rooftop bars and centuries-old churches.

Neighborhoods outside the walls add another dimension. Getsemaní brings street murals, music and late-night energy. Along the waterfront, Bocagrande lines the coast with modern hotels and views across the Caribbean Sea.

Many travelers also leave the city by boat for the Rosario Islands, where white sand beaches and clear water create a very different side of the destination just offshore.

Why Cartagena keeps gaining flights

Cartagena has become one of the fastest-growing leisure destinations in the region.

Travelers arrive for the architecture and coastal setting, but they stay for the culture — seafood restaurants, historic hotels and streets that still feel connected to the city’s past.

Airlines have steadily increased service as demand rises across North America.

JetBlue’s move to daily flights signals confidence that Cartagena’s popularity will keep growing.

Where to Stay

Cartagena’s hotel scene keeps evolving, with both historic icons and major new arrivals.

One of the most anticipated openings is the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena, currently preparing to debut in the historic district. The project restores several landmark buildings along the waterfront near the old city, bringing the brand’s luxury service to one of the most recognizable corners of Cartagena.

For a hotel that already defines the destination, there is Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena.

This property remains my favorite place to stay in the city. The hotel occupies a former 17th-century convent, where thick stone walls surround a central courtyard filled with palms and a large pool. The architecture carries centuries of history, while the interiors balance French elegance with Caribbean character.

Rooms combine colonial elements with modern comfort, and the hotel’s restaurants — particularly El Claustro — deliver some of the most refined dining inside the walled city.

Location helps, too. Step outside the convent doors and you are already inside Cartagena’s historic center, close to plazas, galleries and the city’s best restaurants.

With JetBlue adding daily flights beginning June 11, reaching Cartagena — and checking into one of its landmark hotels — is about to become much easier.