PEARL OF THE CARIBBEAN
Cartagena de Indias! Congratulations on being among the first to discover this enchanting place.
The historic centre, also called the Old Town or Walled City, is visually stunning - seriously, this place makes professional photographers of us all. Take at least a day.. just wandering the streets, camera in-hand, turning the sights into postcard-worthy snaps and beautiful, make-your-friends-jealous memories.
Down every balcony-lined street you'll find fuschia bougainvillea crawling over the balustrades, backdropping perfectly against the bluest of blue skies. The walls of the colonial houses are washed in colours of tropical sunsets and set apart by quirky doorknockers (think iguanas, piranhas, lizards and lions).
Snap a photo of the colourfully-clothed Palenquera women with their fruit laden baskets balanced perfectly on their heads then learn about their village, the history of slavery, and the African traditions they still preserve. Buy a cocada or enyucado sweet and a small plastic cup of Colombian coffee, called tinto and sit down for a Cartagena-style morning tea on a bench in one of the many plazas.
Take a walk along the walls that stand watch over the city; preserving the memories of the different visitors that have sought to capture Cartagena in their own way; from Kings to Pirates to Catholics to Cartels to Merchants to Presidents to Tourists to Lovers to avid Photographers. The walls come sea-side set, with wide seating area, copious cannons and an unbeatable view of one of the best sunsets you'll see in your life, and perhaps even a baseball or football game.
Eat lunch in one of the tiny, hidden, out-of-the-way corrientazo restaurants and encounter warm-your-soul friendliness and satisfying home-style cooking for only a few dollars. You'll be so full, dinner will be optional.
Board a boat and explore the warm sea and the tiny archipelago of islands that are dotted across it. Eat a coconut on the white sands of Playa Blanca, then cool off in the clearest of aquamarine waters.
Stumble into a corner bar that's playing salsa and listen to Joe Arroyo's La Rebellion, being certain to raise your hands when he names the song's setting as "Cartagena". Nod along to Polo Montañez's Colombia; just like the enamored Cuban, you'll be vowing to return too. Accept whoever asks you to dance.
Take a food and/or history tour with our team and ask lots of questions. Book in a salsa and or champeta dance lesson, Spanish classes, kitesurf lessons and a gourmet dinner. Take a bike ride (motorised or not) around the city at sunset, maybe visiting traditional neighbourhoods like Manga, El Cabrero, Pie de La Popa and Bocagrande. See beyond the walls with tours to Mercado Bazurto, La Boquilla, or Tierra Bomba for example.
Explore further afield, spend time at Tayrona National Park, do the Lost City trek, perhaps volunteer on a hillside eco-yoga-farm, or take a boat to the San Blas Islands and Panama, but tell everyone you encounter that you wish you had more time in Cartagena!
To help out further, here on this website, we have compiled some suggested activities/tours to help you create your own perfect itinerary. There's a lot, so we suggest you START HERE.
The historic centre, also called the Old Town or Walled City, is visually stunning - seriously, this place makes professional photographers of us all. Take at least a day.. just wandering the streets, camera in-hand, turning the sights into postcard-worthy snaps and beautiful, make-your-friends-jealous memories.
Down every balcony-lined street you'll find fuschia bougainvillea crawling over the balustrades, backdropping perfectly against the bluest of blue skies. The walls of the colonial houses are washed in colours of tropical sunsets and set apart by quirky doorknockers (think iguanas, piranhas, lizards and lions).
Snap a photo of the colourfully-clothed Palenquera women with their fruit laden baskets balanced perfectly on their heads then learn about their village, the history of slavery, and the African traditions they still preserve. Buy a cocada or enyucado sweet and a small plastic cup of Colombian coffee, called tinto and sit down for a Cartagena-style morning tea on a bench in one of the many plazas.
Take a walk along the walls that stand watch over the city; preserving the memories of the different visitors that have sought to capture Cartagena in their own way; from Kings to Pirates to Catholics to Cartels to Merchants to Presidents to Tourists to Lovers to avid Photographers. The walls come sea-side set, with wide seating area, copious cannons and an unbeatable view of one of the best sunsets you'll see in your life, and perhaps even a baseball or football game.
Eat lunch in one of the tiny, hidden, out-of-the-way corrientazo restaurants and encounter warm-your-soul friendliness and satisfying home-style cooking for only a few dollars. You'll be so full, dinner will be optional.
Board a boat and explore the warm sea and the tiny archipelago of islands that are dotted across it. Eat a coconut on the white sands of Playa Blanca, then cool off in the clearest of aquamarine waters.
Stumble into a corner bar that's playing salsa and listen to Joe Arroyo's La Rebellion, being certain to raise your hands when he names the song's setting as "Cartagena". Nod along to Polo Montañez's Colombia; just like the enamored Cuban, you'll be vowing to return too. Accept whoever asks you to dance.
Take a food and/or history tour with our team and ask lots of questions. Book in a salsa and or champeta dance lesson, Spanish classes, kitesurf lessons and a gourmet dinner. Take a bike ride (motorised or not) around the city at sunset, maybe visiting traditional neighbourhoods like Manga, El Cabrero, Pie de La Popa and Bocagrande. See beyond the walls with tours to Mercado Bazurto, La Boquilla, or Tierra Bomba for example.
Explore further afield, spend time at Tayrona National Park, do the Lost City trek, perhaps volunteer on a hillside eco-yoga-farm, or take a boat to the San Blas Islands and Panama, but tell everyone you encounter that you wish you had more time in Cartagena!
To help out further, here on this website, we have compiled some suggested activities/tours to help you create your own perfect itinerary. There's a lot, so we suggest you START HERE.