25 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CARTAGENA DE INDIAS

Looking for ideas from things to see and do in Cartagena de Indias? Next we will tell you our experience in this beautiful colonial city.

We left the jackpot for the end of our trip through Colombia: Cartagena of the Indies It is one of the cities that every traveler dreams of discovering sometime in his life. And it is that one is accustomed to reading it in novels such as the trilogy of Martín Ojo de Plata by Matilde Asensi, to study it in history classes (of this a few years ago), and to see it in travel blogs and instagram accounts.

We had a tremendous desire to visit Cartagena, and finally we were able to fulfill another of our traveling dreams. If it is also on your list, we will tell you the best 25 things to see and do in Cartagena de Indias.

Historically, Cartagena was one of the most important ports to control and exploit the new lands conquered by the Spaniards on the other side of the Atlantic. The city was founded by Pedro de Heredia in 1533, although technically this area was already inhabited by the indigenous people of Calamarí. Many colonial buildings and monuments, both civil and military, remain the main reason why Cartagena is, for us, the most beautiful city in Colombia. Later, it reached its independence in 1811, and advanced to become the most visited city in Colombia.

The historic helmet, or the Walled City, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1984 and is a true colonial jewel. This is where the main attractions of Cartagena are located, although our advice is that you walk without paying too much attention to the map. It is the best way to find unknown and charming corners. This is what you can not miss on a trip to Cartagena.

Colonial Architecture in Cartagena

1. In what was once the only gate in the city, today we find the clock tower, one of the symbols of Cartagena. You will have to go through it to start your tour through the heart of the historic center.

2. The space that opens behind the tower is the Cars Square, where the statue of Pedro de Heredia stands out, surrounded by impressive colonial-era palaces. If you are a dessert lover, do not forget to stop by Sweet Portal, a porticoed street on one side of the square with shops specializing in sweets typical of the area. Be careful, if they offer you to try, they may want to charge you later!

3. If you follow the route to the south, you will arrive at another square, the Aduana's Place, one of the largest and most beautiful in the city. The name refers to the Customs House, which occupied the huge building where the town hall is today. The statue of Christopher Columbus will welcome you, along with a woman of indigenous origin.

4. Although you will find them throughout the city, this area is a perfect opportunity to discover the famous levers. These are women who represent the first free slaves from all over America who escaped to the town of San Basilio de Palenque. You will see them adorned in great costumes and selling fruit, although the best thing to do is a photo with them. Of course, keep in mind that you may be asked for a tip. It is best to buy some piece of fruit from which they sell, and they will gladly lend themselves to take a picture. If you are interested in learning more about its history, you can take a day trip to San Basilio de Palenque from Cartagena.

5. One of our favorite corners of Cartagena is the San Pedro Claver Square. Both the square and the adjoining church are dedicated to this Catalan missionary who put all his efforts to protect and help black slaves passing through the port. His enormous altruistic work led him to be beatified in 1850. There is a statue of this admirable figure in the square, and his remains rest on the main altar of the Church. Also do not miss the curious metal sculptures between both places.

Aduana's Place

6. In the historic center of Cartagena you can visit several interesting museums. The most famous are the Naval Museum of the Caribbean, which shows the history of the city and navigation in an imposing building, the gold Museum with objects from the pre-Columbian era or the Cartagena Historical Museum located in the building that was the headquarters of the Inquisition, built in 1770.

7. In front of this last museum is the Bolivar plaza, where formerly those sentenced for the inquisition were executed, but today looks the equestrian statue of the revolutionary Simón Bolívar, liberator of Latin America against the Spanish empire. It is a historical symbol of the city.

8. Another of the symbols is undoubtedly the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, which began to be built in 1577 and is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in all of America. Enter is free.

9. From here you can continue north on the beautiful Don Sancho street, with its beautiful colonial houses of colorful facades and impressive balconies. One of them is the Sir Francis Drake House, where apparently this fearsome pirate lived (fearsome especially for the Spaniards). It seems incredible that the same person can be considered a pirate and hold the title of Sir at the same time ... A clear example that the story is different, tell the storyteller.

10. This street ends at Adolfo Mejía Theater (or Heredia Theater), with more than 100 years old. On the outside it is beautiful, but on the inside it must be a pass, with unique architectural and decorative elements. We talked about boxes with Carrara marble, a staircase built in Italy and transported by boat, ornaments covered with 22-carat gold, or an impressive mural on the ceiling ... almost nothing!

Colonial streets of Cartagena

11. A little further north is the building of The vaults, apparently the last military construction of colonial times in the city. The structure of 47 arches and 24 vaults was aimed at resisting outside attacks and being able to take refuge. Nowadays it hosts a market with typical products and where to buy the odd souvenir.

12. Cartagena was the most important Spanish port in the new world, and therefore the place most attacked by its enemies and by pirates. This fact made enormous efforts to build a defense system that could repel all these assaults. We talked about the walls that surrounded the entire historic center and its bastions. An excellent news is that they have remained in very good condition and are one of the main attractions of the city. There are many stretches of wall where you can walk, we leave the line on the map below.

13. The bulwarks that you cannot miss are theBastion of San Francisco Javier, the San Ignacio Bastion and how not, the Bulwark of Santo Domingo, which you have to climb if or if to see the sunset. And better if you do it sitting on the terrace of the Café del Mar and with a beer in hand. The backpacking option is to buy a beer from one of the many street vendors, and sit on the wall with a wonderful print.

14. But the real bastion to defend the city from the enemies was the San Felipe de Barajas Castle. It is located on a hill on the outskirts of the walled city and represents the largest construction built by the Spaniards in the centuries that its occupation of the colonies lasted. It has a schedule from 08:00 to 18:00 (Monday to Sunday) and the ticket price is $ 25,000. Although the entrance is not cheap, we believe it is worth your visit (there is a part of tunnels that is not suitable for those who suffer claustrophobia). Also the views from there are very cool.

15. The Santo Domingo Square It is one of the points you should visit at any time of the day, thanks especially to its hustle and bustle. If you have not had the opportunity to see any statue of Botero on your trip through Colombia, you are in luck, because here is planted the Fat Gertrudris, with its unmistakable curves. Touch your most worn parts (it will not be hard for you to recognize them) to have good luck.

Sunset over Café del Mar

16. Nearby you can admire one of the most well-kept colonial houses in Cartagena: the House of Count Pestagua, which was owned by this important president. Today it has become a luxury hotel and spa. If you want to hit a super whim, you can book one of its 11 suites. And another of the most important mansions of the colonial period is the House of the Marquis de Valdehoyos, now publicly owned and now intended to accommodate illustrious guests visiting Cartagena.

17. Cross the Pegasus Pier and the Camellon of the Martyrs, a walk with the statues of the heroes who fought and left their lives to achieve independence, to go to our favorite area of ​​Cartagena ...

18. The neighborhood of Gethsemane He is the one we chose to stay and he won our little heart from the first moment. It is a small tangle of streets, with more modest buildings than those found in the historic center, but with a very particular character and atmosphere. Stroll in search of street art, Cartagena is an explosion of color and creativity, and don't forget to stop by:

• The Holy Trinity Square: the heart of the neighborhood, always lively, especially when night falls and is filled with street food stands, artists and good vibes.
• The Plazuela del Pozo: a small corner with a lot of charm to rest having a coffee.
• San Juan Street Y Narrow Alley: to feel the true local atmosphere of Cartagena.
• Race 10: a street with lots of backpackers, cheap restaurants, travel agencies ...

19. To the south of the historic center the most modern and dynamic area of ​​Cartagena has been developed: Big Mouth. If you have several days, a good plan is to go to the cinema of the Plaza Bocagrande shopping center and on the way back, walk along the boardwalk at dusk. It is the best way to go down all the empanadillas, paisas trays, arepas and Colombian delicacies that you have eaten, in addition the views are beautiful.

20. To get the best views, go up to Cerro de la Popa. The panoramic view of the city from here removes the hiccups and you can also visit the beautiful Convent of La Popa on top. As we understand it, the only way to get there is by taxi.

Details of Gethsemane

21. You can take advantage of this area to visit the Bazurto Market, where you find the true Cartagena. There are stalls of all kinds, from clothes to fruit, vegetables, meats ... Of course, if you are not used to the hustle and bustle, smells and chaos, it may not be your ideal place. You can also take a free tour of the market.

22. Do you feel like partying? One of the funniest ways to get to know the city is by going up to the chiva rumbera, a kind of partying tourist bus where there is guide, music, drink and typical frying. We did not do it because we are old, but we saw it several times and it seemed that they were not having a bad time. Price: $ 20,000 / $ 40,000. There are many vendors to hire right there, although you can also book online here.

23. The Colombian gastronomy It's delicious, and guess: in Cartagena you can do a foodie tour It will teach you a lot about the subject and includes tastings. Although at the moment it is only available in English, but think that you will kill three birds with one stone: you will know Cartagena, you will approach its gastronomy and practice English. It's free, but obviously you will have to leave a good tip. You can book it here.

24. If you have the possibility, come to greet the monument of india Catalina, the one that was interpreter and trustworthy woman of Pedro de Heredia. It is a tribute to the first settlers of this area and therefore their ancestors. Here you can read more about its history.

25. For those who have a few days, these are the recommended excursions from Cartagena:

• Spend a day in White beach, on Barú Island. Of course: do not be fooled by the idyllic photos of the internet ... the reality is that this beach is quite crowded, and if you do not like crowds you may be overwhelmed a little (not to mention the vendors). But if you have a Caribbean monkey and you have not included a visit to San Andres or Providencia, it is an interesting option. And an extra reason to go to Isla Barú: it is one of the few places in the world to see the bioluminescence show. More info and reservation.
• However, if you have a few days to disconnect, you can go to the Rosario Islands, an archipelago of more than 40 islands, each one more beautiful than the previous one. More info and reservations.
• Take a day tour to get to know the San Bernardo archipelago. If you want to stay for several days, consider staying at Casa en el Agua, a beautiful eco-hostel, located on a tiny islet surrounded by crystal clear waters.
• An original excursion is to Volcano of totumo where you can take a rejuvenating bath in the mud and the Laguna Rosa. More info and reservation.

Eco-hostel House on the Water

Here you have an interactive map with the location of all the things to see and do:

As you can see, we don't exaggerate when we said that Cartagena de Indias is the most beautiful city in Colombia, and it should definitely be on your itinerary. These are for us the best 25 things to see and do in Cartagena de Indias. We hope they help you plan your trip for free.

Video: Explore Cartagena Colombia. We're in love (April 2024).