Does anyone have any recent information of guides who could help a newbie out in Cartagena? Some one who now the ends and outs? ;-)

Travellight, you don't need a guide for Ctg, not a lot has changed over the last 7 years there, casa, LDV, street girl, beach girl wise. Some casas will have closed others will have opened, you will soon find that information out by asking the local expats & tourists.

Just folow the information on the chat boards, stay in a tourist area and ask the people you meet there.

Best place to stay to pick up the information of the local expats living there, is Laguito.

Generally guides in Ctg are not to be trusted, they will increase your costs, for their own benefit.

Hunter

Hunter's always got great advice. You can conceivably find enough action in Laguito and the beaches to keep you busy.

CTG is one city where a "guide" is not needed and will likely steer you to places for commissions. Hire a good taxi driver for 10/15k pesos per hour and insist on being taken to the places YOU want to go and that's reported on this site. Taxi driver may or may not get commissions but not as bad as a "guide".