Cartagena Long Weekends 2027 from the US: When to Go, Nonstop Flights and Staffed Houses
Updated: October 4, 2026 · Written by Marta Fernández, founder of CABÚ Viajes, a local operator in Cartagena de Indias (RNT 215668).
In short:
For a US group, the best Cartagena windows in 2027 are the long weekends that fall in the dry season, December to April: MLK weekend (January 16-18), Presidents' Day weekend (February 13-15) and spring break, which for many schools lands in March, right around Holy Week (March 21-28). From December 17, 2026 United adds nonstops from Houston and Washington Dulles, joining Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and New York. The house is what sells out first: for high season, lock it 60 to 90 days ahead.
The 2026-2027 long weekends, and how Cartagena is on each
| Long weekend | Dates | Cartagena that weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving 2026 | Thursday November 26 to Sunday November 29, 2026 | End of the rainy season: afternoon showers and a sea that can be choppy, so the boat day needs a spare day. Quieter and better value than December. |
| Christmas and New Year | from Friday December 25, 2026 to Sunday January 3, 2027 | The most requested and most expensive two weeks of the year. See Christmas and New Year in Cartagena. |
| MLK weekend | Saturday January 16 to Monday January 18, 2027 | Dry season, after the New Year rush. The northeast trade winds blow steadily from January to March, so the boat ride back from the islands can be bumpy: a larger boat makes the difference. |
| Presidents' Day weekend | Saturday February 13 to Monday February 15, 2027 | Peak dry season and usually the windiest month, so book the bigger boat. Add Thursday and Friday and it becomes a proper five-day trip. |
| Spring break and Holy Week | most of March 2027; Holy Week in Cartagena is March 21-28 | Still dry, and the city fills for Holy Week processions. See the Holy Week 2027 guide. |
| Memorial Day | Saturday May 29 to Monday May 31, 2027 | Shoulder season: good value on houses, warmer and more humid. |
| Juneteenth | Friday June 18 to Sunday June 20, 2027 (observed on the Friday) | Shoulder season. |
| Fourth of July | Saturday July 3 to Monday July 5, 2027 (observed on the Monday) | Mid-year high season: large houses get booked months ahead. |
| Labor Day | Saturday September 4 to Monday September 6, 2027 | Low season and warm sea; the cheapest of the year's long weekends. |
| Thanksgiving 2027 | Thursday November 25 to Sunday November 28, 2027 | Same as 2026: end of the rains, quieter city. |
Christmas Day 2027 falls on a Saturday, so the federal holiday is observed on Friday December 24.
Nonstop flights, and why they set the dates
- Year-round: Fort Lauderdale (JetBlue, daily) and Miami (American, about five a week), as verified in September 2026.
- Winter season: New York JFK (JetBlue from October, Avianca from December). Atlanta (Delta) was down to one flight a week in September 2026.
- New from December 17, 2026: United from Houston (IAH) and Washington Dulles (IAD), four flights a week each (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), year-round. Frontier adds a weekly Orlando flight from December 19, 2026.
With one airline per route and limited weekly flights, the flight day decides the trip, not the other way round: check the flight first, then the house. Full detail, schedules and entry requirements in nonstop flights to Cartagena from the US.
What the high-end version looks like
- A whole colonial house inside the walls, staffed and with a chef, instead of hotel rooms: the group eats together and nobody fights for a restaurant table. See staffed villa rental.
- A private boat for the islands, on the first full day, so a rough sea on the last one doesn't cost you the trip. See yacht charter.
- A local host who handles reservations, transfers and timing while the group relaxes. See concierge service.
- By occasion: a wedding weekend, or a bachelor or bachelorette party.
What it costs
Everything is charged per unit, not per person, with no agency fee:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Staffed colonial house inside the walls, up to 16 people | from 600 USD a night |
| Private boat, full day | 850-3,800 USD depending on size |
| Local host | 200-300 USD a day |
A three-night long weekend for twelve with the house from 600 USD, a full day on a 36-40 ft boat and a host for three days comes to 3,250-4,200 USD, or about 270-350 USD per person, before flights, meals, chef service and the park fee paid at the dock.
600 USD a night is where the market starts, not where it ends. Top-of-market houses in Cartagena are listed at 2,300-8,000 USD a night in high season; we quote those by name, for a specific date. Holidays price above the base ranges.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best long weekend to visit Cartagena from the US in 2027?
MLK weekend (January 16-18) and Presidents' Day weekend (February 13-15), because they fall in the dry season after the New Year rush. Spring break in March is also dry but busier, since it overlaps with Holy Week (March 21-28, 2027).
Is Thanksgiving a good time to go to Cartagena?
It works and is quieter than December, but late November is the end of the rainy season: expect afternoon showers and plan the boat day with a spare day in case the sea is rough.
Which US cities have nonstop flights to Cartagena?
Fort Lauderdale and Miami year-round; New York JFK mostly in winter, and Atlanta with a reduced schedule; and from December 17, 2026, Houston and Washington Dulles with United, four flights a week each. Frontier adds a weekly Orlando flight from December 19, 2026.
How far ahead should we book?
For December, January, Holy Week and July, 60 to 90 days ahead, starting with the house. For shoulder-season long weekends, three to four weeks is usually enough.
How much does a staffed house in Cartagena cost?
A staffed colonial house inside the walls for up to 16 people starts at about 600 USD a night. Top-of-market houses run 2,300-8,000 USD a night in high season and are quoted by name. CABÚ charges the house per night, not per person, with no agency fee.
How do we pay?
A deposit and balance against a company invoice, by international bank transfer or a card payment link (credit or debit). Never 100 percent upfront and never to a personal account, and each member of the group can pay their own share.
Sources: US federal holiday calendar for 2026 and 2027 (U.S. Office of Personnel Management); nonstop routes as verified on our nonstop flights page (United and Frontier press releases, September 2026); CABÚ prices at prices per unit.
Which month? Rain, wind and sea for island days, month by month from IDEAM data: best time to visit Cartagena.
Write to us now, and what happens next
Message us on WhatsApp → +1 754 201 9833 · answered at any hour, 24/7. Prefer email or a form? Ask for your quote here.
Send these five things and nothing else is needed: the dates or the month, how many nights, how many people, what is non-negotiable for this group, and the city everyone is flying from.
- Within 24 hours on a working day you get two or three houses or boats that actually fit those dates, with what we checked on each one, and an itemised quote: each line priced separately, what is included and what is not, and the payment calendar. No agency fee.
- You choose. Nothing is held or booked until you confirm in writing. If nothing fits, we say so instead of pushing a substitute.
- Deposit against a company invoice — never 100% upfront, never to a personal account — and each traveller can pay her own share and receive her own receipt.
- One named contact on WhatsApp before, during and after the trip, who answers at eleven at night on the 31st. RNT 215668, verifiable in the public Colombian registry.
December and the first week of January are quoted on the actual house, in writing, because those two weeks sell out first.
Last updated: October 4, 2026.
Written by Marta Fernández, founder of CABÚ Viajes, a local tour operator in Cartagena de Indias registered in Colombia's National Tourism Registry under RNT 215668. CABÚ contracts houses, boats, chefs and hosts directly, with no middlemen and no agency fee.
