The procession of the Virgen de la Candelaria in the Getsemaní neighborhood: dates, route and what to expect as a

What it is and context

On February 2, while tourist Cartagena has a quiet breakfast on the balconies of the Ciudad Amurallada, the celebration of the Virgen de la Candelaria takes shape in the Pie de la Popa neighborhood. A wind band, fulfilled promises and entire families walking behind the image. If you are in the city that week, this is the window to see the real devotion of the hill, the kind that doesn't appear in brochures.

La Candelaria is one of the oldest Marian devotions in the Christian world and is celebrated on February 2, forty days after Christmas, when according to tradition the Virgin presents the Child in the temple. In Cartagena that date has a concrete physical anchor: the Convento de la Popa, also called Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, at the top of the hill, and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria in the Pie de la Popa neighborhood, center of local Marian devotion and starting point of the February 2 procession.

A detail that confuses many visitors: the Candelaria procession documented in Cartagena is the one in Pie de la Popa, not the one in Getsemaní. Getsemaní is the neighborhood where it's best to sleep and go out before and after, but the processional route belongs to the hill. In this verified Malokal guide you will find updated prices; use the interactive cards for each place on malokal.com to check the safe map by neighborhood (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday hours and book directly via WhatsApp.

To give you an idea of the budget: entrance to the church in Pie de la Popa is free, access to the Convento de la Popa is around $10,000–$20,000 COP depending on the current rate, and a full fritanga in the neighborhood ranges between $10,000 and $25,000 COP. These are reference prices from October 2026; it is advisable to confirm them before traveling.

Event details (lineup, program, dates)

There is no artist lineup or ticketing here: the "program" is liturgical and popular. The central date is February 2, and the day is usually structured in three moments that you can plan in advance.

Convento de la Popa (Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria)

The 17th-century Augustinian monastery crowns the hill and is the spiritual reference point of the entire celebration. The climb, with its 360° views over the bay and the walled city, already justifies the trip. But on February 2 the landscape changes: pilgrims arriving on foot from different neighborhoods, vendors of water and hats along the road, and a mass that brings together devotees from all over the city.

Go with comfortable shoes and water. The midday sun on the hill hits hard and gives no respite. Check mass and convent opening times before going up, because they change according to the year's parish calendar.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Pie de la Popa)

This is the real epicenter of the procession. The temple, in the Pie de la Popa neighborhood, concentrates local Marian devotion and from there the February 2 route departs. Arrive early: the pews fill up and the atrium becomes a meeting point for families who only see each other that day. Entrance is free.

The procession moves through the neighborhood streets with the image, the band and the faithful. The exact route and departure time vary each year, so the recommendation is simple: check the church's parish calendar before traveling and confirm the current year's itinerary.

Getsemaní

Although it is not the processional epicenter, Getsemaní is the ideal base to experience the date. The historic and cultural neighborhood has street art, nightlife and a bohemian atmosphere that works as the perfect counterpoint to the morning's solemnity. Many visitors do the procession in Pie de la Popa and return to Getsemaní to have lunch and walk around. Access to the neighborhood is free.

Prices and how to get tickets

Good news: the procession of the Virgen de la Candelaria has no ticketing. It is an open religious event, and both the church in Pie de la Popa and the processional route are free to access. What does cost money is everything surrounding the experience, and there it is worth having a clear budget.

• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Pie de la Popa): free entrance.
• Convento de la Popa: approximate entrance of $10,000–$20,000 COP. Price subject to change, check directly at the ticket office.
• Neighborhood food: fritangas and stalls between $10,000 and $25,000 COP per plate.
• Accommodation in Getsemaní: February prices rise due to high season. If you want to watch the procession from a balcony, book months in advance.

There is no official ticketing platform for this event, and be wary of any resale: it doesn't apply. To confirm schedules, route and parish activities for the year, the correct channel is the church's parish calendar and communications from the Arquidiócesis de Cartagena. On malokal.com you can check the interactive cards for each point with live holiday hours.

How to get there

To Pie de la Popa

The Pie de la Popa neighborhood is in the upper part of the city, northeast of the Centro Histórico. From Getsemaní or the Centro, a taxi or ride-hailing app will leave you at the base of the hill in a short trip. If you go by your own car, expect holiday congestion and informal parking on the road.

On February 2 many families go up on foot out of devotion, and that walk, although demanding due to the slope, is part of the experience. Bring water, a cap and sunscreen.

To the Convento de la Popa

Access to the convent is via the road that goes up the hill. On normal days you can go up by vehicle; on the date of the Candelaria, the influx of pilgrims may mean the final stretch is done on foot. Check access conditions on the same day.

From and to Getsemaní

Getsemaní is right next to the Centro Histórico and can be explored on foot without any problem. To move around after the procession, the most practical thing is to walk to a main road and request transport from there, avoiding the narrow streets of the neighborhood where traffic gets complicated during peak hours.

Tips for attendees

This is a religious celebration, not a festival. The difference matters, a lot. Dress respectfully, avoid very short shorts and beach tops inside the temple, and put your phone away during mass. If you want to photograph the procession, do it from the edges of the route, without crossing in front of the image or interrupting those who are praying. Ask before photographing someone up close; in a neighborhood, courtesy is noticed.

• Arrival time: aim to arrive with at least an hour to spare before mass or the processional departure. The atrium fills up quickly and the heat builds from mid-morning.
• What to bring: water, a cap, sunscreen, closed and comfortable shoes, and cash in small bills for fritangas and transport.
• What to avoid: umbrellas inside the church, loud music, drones over the procession and any behavior that turns the event into a photo set.
• Safety: as at any large gathering, carry only the essentials, don't display phones or jewelry in the middle of the crowd and keep your group close. Use Malokal's safe map by neighborhood to orient yourself between local and foreigner areas.
• After the event: the celebration continues in the neighborhood kitchens. Look for fried food stalls, empanadas and sancocho; if you want a verified reference for popular food, Restaurante El Buen Sabor (Carrera 83 # 22) serves Colombian fried food such as chicken and beef empanadas, papa rellena and charcoal-grilled meats, in a range of $15,000–$35,000 COP. Another verified fritanga option is La Esquina del Sabor, in the Barrio El Recreo, Calle 5, in front of the Colegio Integral del Norte, with prices of $10,000–$25,000 COP and orders