Colombia

Bogotá

Crepes and Waffles on Calle 85

After a full day outdoors, this beloved Colombian chain restaurant in the Zona Rosa area serves sweet and savory crepes, waffles, and enormous ice cream sundaes in a relaxed setting that never fails to please tired kids. The chain sources ingredients from women-led cooperatives across Colombia, a story worth sharing with older children.

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Cartagena

Lunch at Restaurant El Corales, Isla Grande

This open-air waterfront restaurant on Isla Grande is a staple for day-trippers, serving grilled red snapper, coconut rice, and patacones at plastic tables right beside the water. It is simple, fresh, and exactly the kind of meal that tastes best after a morning in the sea.

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Cartagena

La Cevicheria

Widely regarded as Cartagena's best ceviche restaurant, La Cevicheria serves coastal Colombian classics including shrimp ceviche, octopus, and fried fish in a cheerful open-front space. It is casual enough for sandy kids coming off the beach and popular enough to merit a short wait.

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Cartagena

Crepes and Waffles Cartagena

A Colombian chain beloved by families, the Cartagena location in El Centro serves reliable sweet and savory crepes, waffles with tropical fruit toppings, and ice cream in a clean and air-conditioned setting that tired kids appreciate after a long market morning. It is a dependable choice when the group cannot agree on anything more adventurous.

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Cartagena

El Bistro Cartagena

A relaxed, family-friendly restaurant tucked into a colonial courtyard on Calle del Torno, known for its fresh fish, arepas, and fresh-squeezed juices that kids love. The open-air patio is shaded and unhurried, which is exactly what you need on an arrival day.

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Cartagena

Restaurante La Boquilla

Right on the beach at the fishing village of La Boquilla, this open-sided seafront restaurant serves whole fried fish, fried shrimp, and coconut lemonade at long communal tables overlooking the water. It is the kind of relaxed, generous, local lunch that families remember long after they have forgotten the tourist restaurants.

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Cartagena

Helados Jahir

A tiny old-school ice cream cart institution in the San Diego neighborhood where a single vendor has been scooping homemade flavors like nispero, mamoncillo, and cafe con leche for decades. Prices are absurdly low and the line moves fast, making it a perfect late-afternoon sugar stop between shopping and dinner.

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Cartagena

La Paleteria Artesanal de Cartagena

A short taxi ride from the castle, this beloved local paleta shop in the Manga neighborhood serves handmade fruit ice pops in flavors like tamarind, passion fruit, and corozo berry that kids will want to try in multiples. It is a perfect mid-morning reward after the castle climb.

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Cartagena

Snorkeling at Playa Blanca, Isla Baru

The reefs just off Playa Blanca offer some of the clearest shallow water snorkeling near Cartagena, with parrotfish, sea fans, and the occasional sea turtle visible in less than three meters of water. Rental snorkel gear is available directly on the island and guides can accompany families with young children who are new to snorkeling.

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Cartagena

Kayaking Through the La Boquilla Mangroves

The mangrove channels at La Boquilla, just north of Cartagena, can be explored by kayak on guided tours that last about two hours and are calm enough for kids aged 7 and up. Local guides from the Afro-Colombian fishing community point out herons, iguanas, and fiddler crabs hiding in the roots while explaining how the ecosystem protects the coastline.

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Cartagena

Sunset from Cafe del Mar, Cartagena

Perched directly on top of the old city walls, Cafe del Mar is the classic Cartagena sunset spot with an outdoor terrace, fresh tropical cocktails for adults, and fruit drinks and snacks for kids. Arrive by 5:30pm to get a wall-side seat and watch the sky turn orange over the Caribbean while the city lights up below.

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Cartagena

Alma Colombian Cooking Class

Alma offers hands-on cooking classes designed for families where participants make traditional Colombian dishes including sancocho, arepas de choclo, and coconut flan under the guidance of a local chef. Kids as young as six can participate and the market visit included at the start of the class makes the whole experience feel like a real Colombian kitchen adventure.

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Cartagena

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

This massive 17th-century Spanish fortress is one of the best-preserved military castles in the Americas, with tunnels, ramps, and hidden passages that turn into an adventure for kids aged 5 and up. Bring a flashlight for the tunnels and arrive before 10am to beat the heat and the crowds.

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Cartagena

Las Bovedas Artisan Market

Built into the old city walls, Las Bovedas is a row of 23 vaulted chambers that now house vendors selling Colombian crafts, hammocks, tagua nut jewelry, and painted mochila bags. It is a manageable, shaded shopping experience where kids can pick out a souvenir without the pressure of a larger market.

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Cartagena

Aquarium Mundo Marino Cartagena

A small but engaging aquarium near Bocagrande with Caribbean fish species, touch tanks, and shark feeding demonstrations that younger kids find thrilling. Sessions are short enough to keep attention spans intact, and staff explain the marine ecosystem in both Spanish and English.

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Cartagena

Lanchas from Muelle de la Bodeguita to Islas del Rosario

Fast boat ferries depart from the Muelle de la Bodeguita dock each morning and reach the Rosario archipelago in about 45 minutes, passing through open Caribbean water that kids find exhilarating. Book tickets the day before and sit toward the middle of the boat with younger children to avoid the biggest spray.

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