Land: In bus, Bogota is about 20 hours away and Medellin is just 13. Buses to Barranquilla run every fifteen minutes. You can also get a bus to Mompós and Santa Marta.

Air: Rafael Nunez International Airport is outside of the Old City, about three miles. Taxis, buses, and colectivos (big taxis that take several people) are easy to get from the terminal.
There are direct national flights to and from: Bogota, Cali, Pereira, Medellin, Cucuta, and San Andres.
The major airlines that fly to Cartagena are Avianca and AeroRepublica (Copa). There’s a newer airline Viva Colombia that has exceptionally low fares and a great fleet of airplanes. They charge for luggage and extra carry-ons but are well worth it! Book ahead, online, or directly at the airport for Viva Colombia.

Sea: Sail to Panama (if you’ve got the time, about a week). And you can take boats to the Islas de Rosario and Baru. However, there are no ferries between Cartagena and Panama. Many cruise ships stop in Cartagena, so watch the flood of tourists scramble to shore, take over the city, and recede like the tide when the sun sets.
Beware of people trying to get you on magical Caribbean boat trips. Only go with reliable service operators. Casa Viena has been highly recommended