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Cartagena is famous for its walled ‘Old Town’ with its cobblestone streets, as well as its tropical climate and popular beaches. (Isla de Baru – a white sandy beach / Islas Del Rosario with its coral reefs).
The city is a mix of the very old and the super new. Here you will find beautiful architecture and if you love the look of pretty towns with colorfully painted houses, you will love exploring Cartagena. The city has a lot to offer and tourists can really enjoy visiting all the beautiful spots that are super Instagram-friendly photo spots. In fact, Cartagena is a photographers’ dream.
You might ask: Is it safe to walk around in Cartagena?
In general, the city is considered safe to visit, and like everywhere else in the world you just have to be vigilant. However here are a few things you should watch out for:
Address: Cra. 7 ##36-88, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
They offer beautiful accommodation in an unusual fun style. Sunset cocktails and tapas on the rooftop are open to all, not only hotel guests.
Address: Centro de Convenciones, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
This stylish restaurant offers an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy ‘haute cuisine in a bohemian atmosphere next to the beautiful Bahia de las Ánimas’.
Address: Centro, Portal de los Dulces / Hotel Torre del Reloj, Floor 2 – Floor 4, Cartagena de Indias – Colombia
This is a beautiful venue for dinner and cocktails, especially with the impressive view of the clock tower at night from their outdoor terrace.
Something that you might like is the ‘Palenqueras”: women dressed in brightly colored traditional dresses, walking around with fruit bowls on their heads.
Now some tourists might find them annoying as they can be very persistent. But please keep in mind that they are just trying to make a living. Know that when you ask them to pose for photos, you have to pay them. (It is their way to ‘survive’.)
In my opinion, they just make any photo look 10 times better. So if you’re looking for a stunning photo opportunity, they are awesome: As long as you ask them upfront how much it will cost you.
You will find some tables where they also sell fresh fruit salad on the street corners, which is very refreshing when you’ve been sightseeing all day.
There is a lot of sightseeing to be done in and around Cartagena and a 3 to 5-day stay, would be more than enough to see the best. In my opinion, you have to add the following to your itinerary:
(The Puerta del Reloj, Torre del Reloj or Boca del Puente) is the main entrance to the historic center. This is a beautiful photo spot at the beginning of your walking adventure exploring the Old town. At night you might also find musical performers in front of the Clock Tower.
With its pretty shops and colorful buildings, it is a beautiful place to explore.
Another Instagram photo hotspot (and very popular with everyone) is the sunset views from Café del Mar. As it is situated on the “city wall” right next to the ocean, it offers spectacular views of the city skyscrapers and sea. You simply cannot get a better sunset venue in Cartagena. Enjoy traditional live entertainment and good food with spectacular views.
We found the cutest little book/coffee shop that you might easily walk past without stopping: Abaco Books and Coffee. This quaint little book/coffee shop (Abacus books and coffee) is stacked with books from floor to ceiling. Anyone who loves the combination of books and coffee: This is the perfect stop for you.
This fortress you cannot miss. The castle is located on the Hill of San Lázaro towering over the city.
Also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, is located in the historic center.
There are horse drawn carriages that offer tours of the city, but most of them do not speak English. So going with a trusted tour operator, is actually a much better option.
They do have Uber in Cartagena, should you urgently need transport. You can book car hire here on our page online and you’ll have to book your flights to and from the Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG)
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