Discover Colombia’s Caribbean Jewel: Cartagena
Cartagena. Colombia’s northern coastline embraces its mix of Latin and Caribbean roots and the result is Cartagena: a city marching to the beat of its own drum.
Situated on the coastline, Cartagena provides a laid back Caribbean lifestyle with fresh seafood and plenty of beaches to swim at. It also buzzes alongside its Latin influences with men playing guitar in the streets and salsa dancing burning up dance floors nightly.
Putting decades of political unrest behind her, Colombia has emerged as a must visit travel destination in Latin America.
Cartagena as a city offers an alluring blend of history, architecture, beaches and Latin passion for those seeking an adventure.
The old Town
Unlike other cities along Colombia’s coastline, Cartagena boasts a preserved old town thanks to the thick and imposing stone walls that have stopped centuries of siege attempts from taking the city.
As a result the 16th century old town of Cartagena is now a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site, meaning that the city and its architecture has been preserved for your exploring pleasure.
The stunning old town is part of Cartagena’s charm, and once you enter under the imposing stone walls, you feel as though you have entered into another world. Even if you are not an architecture enthusiast, you will fall for the winding alleys and colonial buildings, boasting memories of long ago.
These old buildings are painted in bright colors of red, blue, green and yellow and whilst some are well preserved others are in crumbling states of disrepair, all are still beautiful in their own right.
Throw away the map and spend a day or more getting lost within the safety of the old town walls and stopping to shop, browse from local street sellers or buy an ice cream to enjoy in the heat.
Try and find the Las Pelenquera, or the fruit basket ladies, who wear brightly colored dresses and carry baskets of fruit around on their heads through the city. Make sure to sample the Mora and LuLu fruits that are only found in Colombia and are commonly turned into fruit juice.
The old town is stifling hot during the middle of the day, yet come 4 p.m., the sea breeze mysteriously infiltrates through the walls and starts whipping though.
Head up onto the top of the old town walls and sit in an alcove to watch the sun set.
Alternatively bars and restaurants are scattered along the wall and you can sit back and relax with a view over the ocean and the city lights in the distance.
Rosario Islands
Cartagena is always hot, so make sure to cool off by hitting the coast.
The best way to do so is to head out to the Rosario Islands for a day trip on one of the many ferries that leave from Cartagena as the beaches around the city itself are not the best.
The Rosario archipelago is one the 46 national parks in Colombia, aiming to protect the fragile coral reefs along the country’s coastline.
After an hours boat ride you can snorkel along the coral reefs, enjoy fresh seafood and swim at the beaches at Playa Blanca.
For the more adventurous you can even stay overnight at Playa Blanca on Baru Island.
Scattered along the beach are a range of accommodation options ranging from hammocks to small thatched huts. Be warned though that come night fall the rum comes out and a quiet nights sleep is not guaranteed.
Although with the rise of the next morning’s sun you can dive straight into the warm ocean for a swim and a buy a fresh coconut to drink before getting a return ferry ride back to the mainland.
The Culture
Not known for their shyness, Cartagenan’s will reach out to engage with passers by, as their love for their city shines through and they are quick to recommend things to see.
The Spanish have definitely left their mark and there are numerous historical sites that can be visited.
With the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the old Spanish fortress built in the 1500’s, still in good condition you can view the legacy of the colonial era. You do have to pay a fee to enter the grounds, but if you don’t want to pay, you can be quite content with gazing at the impressive stone fortress from the outside.
The food in northern Colombia takes on a distinct Caribbean flavor with the typical meal of fried fish, coconut rice and fried banana on the side sold in almost every restaurant.
Street sellers sell a variety of fresh fruits and juices for only a few dollars each, sugary cakes and the Colombian favorite "arepa," a fried corn bread spread liberally with butter and sometimes served with cheese.
Yet with the blend of Caribbean and Latin, you will pass by musicians on every street corner playing rhythmic salsa tunes as Reggaeton music blasts from shops and passing car windows.
Salsa dancing is the currency in Cartagena and no visit would be complete without experiencing a salsa club. Brave the dance floor and embrace your two left feet dancing into the night, or sit back and marvel as the locals expertly step their way around each other in a very confined space.
Explore further along the coast
If you want to explore further along the coast line, Cartagena is the perfect place to use as a base.
From Cartagena, it is only a 45-minute ride to reach the El Totumo or Mud Volcano where you can soak in a mud bath inside the small volcano’s crater.
If you are a fan of getting amongst nature, then a few days' side trip to Tayrona National Park is well advised. Getting there can be a tad tricky, and will include a four-hour drive from Cartagena, including a hike through the jungle and along the coastline, but your hard work will be well rewarded.
Clear, warm, turquoise waters greet you along pristine beaches backed by jungles and coconut trees.
Spend a day in the national park or take a few days and relax in the ocean, hike to ancient ruins or simply laze the day away in a hammock.
Cartagena is a city of opposing themes that all fit together. Historic architecture and the old traditions are maintained alongside a blend of modern high-rises and outside influences.
A visit to Colombia is not complete without stopping in Cartagena to soak up the perfect blend of Caribbean and Latin lifestyles. With so much to offer in and around Cartagena, it is impossible to not be intoxicated by her charm.
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