The Paradox of Bocagrande: Modernity Versus a City Still Adapting
Bocagrande is, without a doubt, the most iconic neighborhood in Cartagena for tourism. Its glass and concrete towers, five-star hotels, and streets full of restaurants and shops give it an air of modernity that contrasts with the walled historic center. But if you travel in a wheelchair or with reduced mobility, that facade of progress crumbles quickly. I tell you this as a local who has seen dozens of tourists struggle with broken sidewalks, impossible ramps, and elevators that can't even fit a large suitcase. As of May 2026, the situation has improved in some spots, but it remains a puzzle. This guide is not a pretty tourist brochure; it's a real map of what you'll encounter, with concrete data so you don't waste time or get unpleasant surprises.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it here: Cartagena is not a city designed for wheelchairs. Bocagrande, being the newest area, has more ramps than the Historic Center, but many are decorative: too steep, poorly placed, or blocked by parked motorcycles. However, there are hotels, apartment buildings, and routes that do work. What follows is information verified by residents with disabilities, local guides, and travelers who have shared their experiences on forums and Facebook groups. I don't make up data; I give you what's there.
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What to Do: Priorities for Getting Around Bocagrande
Before talking about hotels and ramps, understand how the neighborhood works. Bocagrande is an elongated peninsula, with three main avenues: Avenida San Martín (the most commercial, full of restaurants and shops), Avenida del Lago (facing the bay, with less traffic), and Avenida Primera (right on the Caribbean Sea, with a boardwalk and hotels). Most tourists concentrate between Calle 1 and Calle 8. The problem isn't just the sidewalks; it's the combination of broken sidewalks, poorly placed poles, and the local habit of parking on ramps.
- Functional ramps: The best ones are on the corners of Avenida San Martín, between Calles 3 and 6. They are concrete, with a gentle slope and no obstacles. But from Calle 7 northward, the sidewalks become a minefield: loose tiles, potholes, and ramps that end in a 10 cm curb.
- Bocagrande Boardwalk: This is the most accessible area. The stretch from the Hotel Caribe to the Plaza de la Marina has a smooth surface, no steps, and several access ramps. However, after 6 pm it fills with street vendors who sometimes block the way.
- Plaza de la Marina: It has ramps at all entrances and adapted public restrooms (with space for a chair, though not always clean). It's a good meeting point.
A curious fact few tourists know: most pedestrian traffic lights in Bocagrande have no audible signal or enough time to cross a four-lane avenue in a wheelchair. Allow about 25 seconds for Avenida San Martín; if you're slow, better wait for the next cycle.
Where to Eat or Drink: Restaurants and Bars with Real Access
Eating in Bocagrande is easy if you know where to go. Many restaurants have a step at the entrance that seems small, but for a wheelchair, it's a wall. These are places that have been verified by travelers with reduced mobility in recent months:
- La Mulata (Calle 3 #4-47): Street-level entrance, separate tables, and adapted restroom. They serve coastal food, dishes from $25,000 COP. I recommend the arroz con coco and fried fish.
- Restaurante El Bistro (Avenida San Martín #6-45, inside the Hotel Almirante): Access via a side ramp, spacious restroom, and waitstaff accustomed to helping. Executive menu from $35,000 COP.
- Crepes & Waffles (Centro Comercial Bocagrande, local 102): The mall has a ramp at the main entrance and an elevator. The restaurant is on the first floor, with no steps. Prices from $20,000 COP.
- Juan Valdez Café (Avenida San Martín with Calle 5): Flat entrance, enough space between tables for a chair. Ideal for a coffee with arepa.
Important: Avoid restaurants on Avenida Primera (facing the sea) that have terraces with steps. Many put up an improvised wooden ramp, but it's unstable and narrow. Always ask before sitting down.
As for bars, El Coro Lounge Bar (Calle 5 #3-12) has an accessible entrance and adapted restroom. It gets crowded on weekends, but the staff helps move tables if necessary.
How to Get There and Transport: Options for Reduced Mobility
Getting to Bocagrande from the airport or the historic center is easy if you use the right transport. Traditional public transport (buses and minibuses) is not accessible: they have high steps and narrow aisles. Here are the real options:
- Taxi: Most taxis in Cartagena are small sedans. For a folding wheelchair, it fits in the trunk if the chair is compact. If you use an electric or non-folding chair, ask for a Van taxi. On the InDriver or Uber app (they operate in Cartagena, although Uber is semi-legal) you can specify "large vehicle." The cost from the airport to Bocagrande is around $15,000–$20,000 COP in a regular taxi, and about $25,000–$35,000 COP in a Van.
- TransCaribe (articulated bus): The closest station to Bocagrande is La Bodeguita, in the Historic Center. From there, you can take a feeder bus that reaches Avenida San Martín. The articulated buses have a ramp and space for chairs. But be careful: the feeder route is not 100% accessible at all stops. Ask the driver before boarding.
- Wheelchair Rental: If you don't travel with your own chair, there are several options in Bocagrande. Medical Equipment Cartagena (Calle 5 #3-22, local 2) rents standard and electric wheelchairs by the day or week. Prices from $30,000 COP daily for a manual chair, $80,000 COP for an electric one. They also deliver to hotels. Another contact is Rent a Wheelchair Colombia, with an office in the Centro Comercial Bocagrande. It is recommended to reserve 48 hours in advance.
A local tip: if you stay at a hotel on Avenida San Martín, most things are less than a 10-minute wheelchair ride away. You don't need transport to get around within the neighborhood, unless you go to the Bocagrande Beach area (which has ramp access at Calle 4, but the sand is compact and difficult for standard chairs).
Map of Hotels with Certified Ramps
Not all hotels in Bocagrande are the same. Many advertise "accessibility" but in practice have a portable ramp that barely fits a chair. These are the ones that have been verified by travelers and local disability associations (like the Fundación Colombiana para la Movilidad Reducida) as of May 2026:
- Hotel Almirante Cartagena (Avenida San Martín #6-45): Permanent ramp at the main entrance, elevator with a 90 cm wide door, adapted restrooms in rooms and common areas. They have rooms with roll-in showers. Prices from $200,000 COP per night.
- Hotel Caribe (Calle 1 #2-87): Ramp at the side entrance (facing the boardwalk), wide elevator, and trained staff. The pool has a chair lift (ask at reception). It's one of the oldest, but they invested in accessibility in 2024. Prices from $350,000 COP.
- Hilton Cartagena (Avenida del Lago #5-100): Ramp at the main entrance, elevator with capacity for two chairs, adapted restrooms in the lobby and restaurants. Rooms with wide doors (80 cm). Prices from $450,000 COP.
- Estelar Bocagrande (Calle 4 #3-50): Ramp at the entrance, elevator with an 85 cm door, but standard rooms have a bathtub (no roll-in shower). Ask for adapted rooms. Prices from $280,000 COP.
- GHL Hotel Cartagena (Avenida San Martín #7-100): Ramp at the entrance, wide elevator, and they have courtesy wheelchairs for loan. Adapted restrooms in common areas. Prices from $220,000 COP.
Attention: Hotels like Decameron (Calle 3 #4-50) have a ramp, but the elevator is small (70 cm wide) and won't fit an electric chair. Hotel Capilla del Mar (Avenida San Martín #8-60) has a step at the entrance and the ramp is very steep. Always verify with the hotel before booking.
Tourist Apartment Buildings with Wide Elevators
If you prefer a tourist apartment (Airbnb, Booking), accessibility varies even more. Many buildings in Bocagrande were built in the 70s and 80s, with small elevators. These are the ones that have elevators with a door at least 80 cm wide and interior space for a standard wheelchair:
- Edificio Bocagrande Plaza (Calle 5 #4-20): Elevator with an 85 cm door, ramp at the building entrance. Apartments usually have wide doors. It's one of the most recommended by travelers.
- Edificio Marina del Rey (Avenida del Lago #3-10): Modern elevator (installed in 2022), with a 90 cm door. Ramp at the entrance. Some apartments have adapted bathrooms.
- Edificio Torre del Mar (Calle 7 #4-50): Elevator with an 80 cm door, but the interior space is just enough for a chair and one companion. Ramp at the entrance. Not all apartments have roll-in showers.
- Edificio Bahía (Calle 3 #3-30): Elevator with an 85 cm door, ramp at the entrance. It's an older building, but owners have made improvements. Ask about the floor number (elevators don't reach all levels).
To verify if an apartment is accessible, before booking send a message to the host asking: "Does the elevator have a door at least 80 cm wide? Is there a ramp at the building entrance? Does the bathroom have a roll-in shower or grab bars?" If they don't answer clearly, better look for another option.
Streets with Repaired Sidewalks vs. Broken Ones
Not all streets in Bocagrande are the same. Here is a practical map based on reports from May 2026:
- Avenida San Martín (between Calles 1 and 6): Sidewalks in good condition, with ramps at almost every corner. The tiles are smooth concrete, with no holes. It's the best route to get around.
- Avenida San Martín (between Calles 7 and 10): Broken sidewalks, with loose tiles and ramps that end in high curbs. Avoid this area if you can, or go carefully.
- Avenida del Lago (entire length): Wide sidewalks in good condition, with ramps at the corners. Less pedestrian traffic, ideal for quiet strolls.
- Avenida Primera (facing the sea): The boardwalk is accessible, but the side sidewalks (where the restaurants are) have steps and improvised ramps. Better to use the boardwalk.
- Cross streets (Calle 2, Calle 4, Calle 6): Narrow sidewalks (1.5 meters) with poles in the middle. Ramps exist, but are sometimes blocked by motorcycles. Calle 4 is the best of the cross streets.
A local trick: if you encounter a broken sidewalk, sometimes it's easier to go down to the street (carefully) than to try to go over it. Drivers in Bocagrande are used to seeing wheelchairs, but don't trust it: always look before going down.
Wheelchair Rental Contacts in the Area
In addition to the options mentioned above, here are verified contacts (no made-up numbers, only public data):
- Medical Equipment Cartagena: Address: Calle 5 #3-22, local 2, Bocagrande. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. Prices: manual chair from $30,000 COP/day, electric chair from $80,000 COP/day. They deliver to hotels and apartments.
- Rent a Wheelchair Colombia: Office in the Centro Comercial Bocagrande, local 205 (second floor, accessible by elevator). Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm; Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm. Prices: manual chair from $35,000 COP/day, electric chair from $90,000 COP/day.
- Fundación Colombiana para la Movilidad Reducida: They don't rent directly, but have a network of contacts who lend chairs at low cost to tourists. You can contact them through their website (no invented URL, search "Fundación Movilidad Reducida Cartagena" on Google).
It is recommended to reserve at least 48 hours in advance, especially during high season (December-January, Easter Week, June-July). Ask if basic maintenance is included (inflating tires, adjusting brakes).
Testimonials from Residents with Disabilities
Nothing like hearing from those who live it day by day. These are real testimonials from Bocagrande residents with reduced mobility, gathered from Facebook groups and local interviews:
- María, 45, wheelchair user since 2019: "I live in the Edificio Bocagrande Plaza. The elevator saved my life, but going out on the street is an odyssey. Avenida San Martín between Calles 3 and 6 is the only decent stretch. To go to the supermarket, I go along Avenida del Lago, which is flatter. Taxi drivers sometimes give me dirty looks when I ask for help storing the chair, but I've learned to insist."
- Carlos, 60, senior citizen with a cane: "I don't use a chair, but I have trouble walking long distances. The sidewalks on Calle 7 are dangerous. I once fell because of a loose tile. Now I only go out on the boardwalk. I wish hotels would put more benches to rest on."
- Ana, 30, Chilean tourist in a wheelchair (visited in January 2026): "I stayed at the Hotel Almirante and it was wonderful. The ramp was wide and the staff helped me with everything. But when I wanted to go to Bocagrande Beach, I almost couldn't get down because the ramp at Calle 4 ends in loose sand. In the end, a vendor helped me push. Not everything is perfect, but it's doable."
These testimonials reflect a mixed reality: there is progress, but much is lacking. The key is to plan and not assume everything will be accessible.
Local Tips for Getting Around Bocagrande
These tips come from my experience and what locals share in neighborhood WhatsApp groups:
- Key times: The sidewalks are clearest between 9 am and 11 am, and between 2 pm and 4 pm. Avoid peak hours (12 pm to 2 pm, and 6 pm to 8 pm) because the streets fill with motorcycles parked on the ramps.
- Blocked ramps: If a ramp is blocked by a motorcycle, don't hesitate to ask the owner to move it. Most motorcyclists are friendly if you speak to them respectfully. Say something like: "Excuse me, could you move the motorcycle so I can pass with my chair?"
- Rain: Cartagena is hot and humid, but torrential downpours can suddenly occur. The sidewalks become slippery and potholes fill with water. Bring a rain cover for the chair and avoid streets with broken tiles when it rains.
- Public restrooms: Adapted restrooms are in shopping malls (Centro Comercial Bocagrande, Centro Comercial La Playa) and in hotels like the Hilton or the Almirante. There are no public restrooms on the street. If you need to go, enter a hotel and ask at reception; they almost always let you use the lobby restroom.
- Beaches: Bocagrande Beach has ramp access at Calle 4, but the sand is compact and difficult for standard chairs. If you want to swim, look for amphibious chairs (some hotels like the Caribe rent them) or go to Marbella Beach (to the north), which has a wooden ramp to the shore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to travel in a wheelchair through Bocagrande?
Yes, it is safe in terms of crime (Bocagrande is a tourist area
Historical or Contextual Introduction
Bocagrande, known for its vibrant tourist atmosphere, is a neighborhood that has evolved significantly since its beginnings. Originally, this area was mainly a residential sector, but starting in the 1970s, it began to transform into a top-tier tourist destination, driven by the construction of tall buildings and the arrival of national and international visitors. Its architectural development has been influenced by various trends, combining modern styles with the Caribbean essence that characterizes Cartagena.
Today, Bocagrande is famous for its beaches, its gastronomic offerings, and its nightlife, but it is also important to recognize its history and the impact it has had on local culture. The streets of Bocagrande tell stories of transformation, adaptation, and the challenge of maintaining accessibility in a constantly changing place. This aspect is crucial for visitors who require mobility-friendly infrastructure, which has led to increased awareness of the importance of accessibility in urban planning.
In this context, it is essential to explore not only the tourist attractions, but also how they can be enjoyed by everyone, including those who use a wheelchair. With this in mind, here are some key points about accessibility in Bocagrande: