Taste the true flavors of Cartagena at one of Its most celebrated food festivals.

Trouble trouble, they fry and bubble, get me a frito on the double! Cartagena’s favourite food fest is back for another year of lip-smacking goodness, so ditch the diet and make sure you come hungry. The Festival del Frito (Fried Food Festival) takes place in the week before 2 February near the famous San Felipe Fortress.

If you’re familiar with the frito, you’ll know it’s one of Cartagena’s signature street snacks – a crispy, golden-fried pocket of corn flour typically filled with ground beef and other delicious ingredients.

The festival includes a competition between dozens of frito chefs going head-to-head to prove their variations of the popular snack are the best.

With competition so fierce, you’re guaranteed to find something delectable. Festival del Frito takes place in the build-up to Fiestas de la Candelaria, the celebrations surrounding Cartagena’s patron saint, and will also include upbeat cultural presentations, music and dancing.

Any excuse to have a party in Cartagena! Make sure to go with plenty of small notes and coins, as your average frito will cost about USD$1 and you don’t want to waste time fumbling with larger notes and change.

Be sure to keep an eye on our what’s happening section leading up to the event, where we’ll outline exactly what you can expect to do, see and taste at the next Festival del Frito.

Thinking of coming to Cartagena for the Festival del Frito? Send an inquiry to one of our talented travel advisors.