One of the world’s most attractive cities.
It’s colourful, fun and exciting with wonderfully friendly people all overlooking the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Just strolling along the fortress walls, that harks back to a time when pirates routinely attacked the bay, is enough to understand why Cartagena is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The real joy of Cartagena is exploring its narrow cobbled streets on foot, an experience that awakens the senses with rhythms of cumbia and mapale and the breeze of the Caribbean Sea. A cultural hub, Cartagena has its fair share of museums, galleries and churches to wander around.
At night, head out to eat in some of the many fine seafood restaurants or listen to live music at one of the cosy venues dotted around the city.
We have found some lovely small boutique hotels in Cartagena, many housed in old colonial mansions in the heart of the old city.
For complete seclusion head out by boat to the coral reef Rosario islands. Explore the coastal lagoons, mangroves and tropical forest as well as dive and snorkel in the marine rich coral reef.
An absolute must
When to go: All year round