Cheap flights from London to Cartagena

March is the cheapest month on this route, and the one to aim for if your dates can move. Fares show up on the calendar from September through to July, so there is plenty to compare across most of the year. Summer school holidays and the run-up to Christmas are when London departures get busy and pricey; late autumn and early spring are calmer. Flying out midweek usually costs less than a weekend departure, and the same goes for the way back. Check Colombian public holidays as well, since they fill Cartagena's hotels even when the airfare stays reasonable. Book a few months ahead for peak weeks, and later for March.

Every option here is a connecting itinerary, since nothing flies London to Cartagena non-stop. Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines and Helvetic Airways connect you through European hubs, while JetBlue Airways, Air Canada, Air Transat and United Airlines sell the trip with a stop on the North American side. Easyjet is the low-cost name in the mix and keeps its fares lean. On full-service long-haul tickets a checked bag and a meal usually come with the fare; on low-cost and leisure tickets they often do not, and choosing a seat can cost extra. Compare the total with bags included before you pick.

Rafael Nunez airport sits close to Cartagena, a short drive from the walled old town rather than a long haul out of the city. Taxis and app-based rides are the usual ways in, so agree the fare or check the meter before you set off and keep some local currency on you. If your routing touches another Colombian city before Cartagena, ask where you clear immigration, because it is not always at the final stop. Arrivals get slow when several flights land together, and the heat hits you the moment you step outside. Confirm your pickup point with your hotel if you land late.

Currency

COP (COL$)

Power sockets

Type A, B · 110 V

Language

Spanish

Emergency number

123

Driving side

right

Calling code

+57

Internet domain

.co

Population of Cartagena

915 k (2020)

Time zone

UTC-05 (America/Bogota)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you fly from, because Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City are far apart and switching between them eats a day.
• Check whether your fare includes a checked bag, especially on Easyjet and other low-cost tickets.
• Check whether your connections sit on one ticket or on separate bookings, since separate tickets leave you carrying the risk of a missed leg.
• Check your passport validity and Colombia's entry rules well before departure.
• Check the total journey time, because there are no non-stop flights and each connection adds hours.
• Check March, the cheapest month, against your own dates before you commit.