Written by: Luis Duque
Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in Colombia. Its extensive beaches, getaway islands, ancient history, and genuinely friendly people make it a paradise for every kind of tourist. Cartagena has the best of both worlds – the modern and sophisticated city life and the old and charming history. In this city, a long lasting battle between Spain, England, France, and other first-world conquesting countries was fought due to its strategic location for conquering the new world. One can see the remnants of years of history in the old walled-in part of the city, castles, and fortresses around the city. Here we give 5 reasons why Cartagena is the ultimate paradise in Colombia.
1. The History
Cartagena was one of the most strategic locations during the early years of the new world colonization. As you walk and drive through the city, the number of monuments, old houses, and stone-based fortresses on every corner will catch your eye. The beauty of the city lies in the preservation of such rich history in contrast with the new and modern structures. Some of the must see places are the “Walled City” (or “Old City”), San Felipe Castle, the convent at the top of “La Popa” hill, among others. The Walled City is one of the most well known of these, and we advise setting aside more than one day if you want to visit all the unique and historical places within its walls.
You can expect plenty of tourists inside the Walled City as you walk through the well-preserved, narrow streets. Stop by the Santo Domingo Plaza, many churches, and plentiful museums to learn more about the history behind the city. Also, don’t forget to try the variety of seafood Cartagena has to offer, especially by grabbing some ceviche in a plaza, or the delicious ‘arepa de huevo’ (egg-filled arepa). At the end of the day make your way to Cafe del Mar for the best location inside the walled city to see the sunset, and we recommend trying a delicious ‘limonada de coco’ (coconut lemonade) while you are there.
After you have explored every corner of the Walled City, visit the San Felipe Castle for a flashback in history. Here is where all the history about the colonization period is truly preserved. The guided, and affordable, tours (available in Spanish and English) will explain and take you to every corner of the castle, both inside and out, while telling the story of how the Spaniards used it strategically to fight against the enemies.
2. The Beaches
Some of the most wonderful and clear water beaches are in this city. If you want to spend the day at a wonderful beach, you should take a boat out to Playa Blanca in Baru, a nearby island that is about an hour boat ride away from the coast. Although the island is closer to another part of the coastline, we recommend taking the boats from ‘muelle de los pegasos’ as it is more enjoyable! Enjoy the clear water, drinks, seafood, and wonderful people while you cruise to and tour around the island. Pro tip – make sure you always ask how much everything costs before you buy anything, and remember that nothing is free here! The people, although incredibly friendly, are very poor and trying to make any money off of you that they can – do not be afraid to say no or give their products back! Although there are plenty of beaches around and within Cartagena, Playa Blanca is our absolute favorite. The water is crystal clear, the sand very soft, and the people really friendly – it really is a piece of heaven. Also, going earlier in the morning helps you avoid crowds and the harsh heat of the day (the picture you see above is from a morning in December… it really never is anything but HOT here) – you can find a gorgeous tent on the beach to enjoy a piña colada inside of a coconut!
3. The Activities
There are so many fun activities to do while in Cartagena. A few that we did chose included: a horse-drawn carriage ride around the old city, a visit to the aquarium, snorkeling, and more. Our favorite activity of the ones mentioned had to be snorkeling at one of the Rosary Islands. Side note, you must take a boat tour to the Rosary Islands – they are so pretty and cool to visit, and most tours include snorkeling, an aquarium visit, time on Baru Island, and other tours. We went snorkeling at one of the reefs around the Rosary Islands and had an absolute blast. We saw a lot of different types of reefs and fish that our guide explained as we went, and it was incredible and breathtaking. Another activity we recommend you add to your list is a visit to the aquarium – they have a dolphin show and so a multitude of cool sea animals for your viewing. The horse-drawn carriage tour of the old city is exciting, too, and it sets the tone for a nice romantic night for you and your significant other. Otherwise, it is an enjoyable and relaxing ride around the old city where you get to see all the architecture, plazas, and other points of interest.
4. The Food and Drinks
The food… mmmmm! We loved the food when we visited the last December. The wide variety of seafood options, new and unique flavors, and colorful drinks is insane. Some of our favorite foods and drinks were ceviche, arepa de huevo, coconut rice, piña colada inside coconuts (yum!), and obviously fish at the beach. The food will always taste better at the beach – it is almost always fresh from the ocean and the views complement the flavors wonderfully. Besides the beachside restaurants, the Walled City restaurants are awesome, as well, and no matter where you go the food will be great. We loved eating in the Plaza Santo Domingo, Cafe del Mar, and at every beach that we visited. Remember to always ask how much it costs before you buy anything, especially if you are not buying food at a restaurant with a specific price (this is typical on tours where the locals will make you food themselves).
5. The Best of the Old and the New
Lastly, Cartagena is not only old and historic but also modern and developed as its neighborhood of “Bocagrande” will make you feel like if you were in another city. As you walk down the San Martin Avenue, the well-known stores you find in cities like New York or Miami are on every corner. Fancy restaurants, tall skyscrapers, and shoppings malls are also available here for those of you who love the city life. Cartagena has a very diverse cuisine in this neighborhood so you can expect food from different South American, European, and Middle Eastern countries, as well.
Well, we hope you guys found this information useful, and please feel free to leave us a comment if you have enjoyed it. If you plan to travel to Colombia shoot us an email – we are more than happy to help you have an awesome experience there!
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