Cartagena de Indias is a city founded on June 1, 1533, by Don Pedro de Heredia. Characterized by having 3 locations, which in turn are subdivided into a total of 205 neighborhoods and comprise a population of 1 million inhabitants.
This metropolis of large buildings has the Rafael Núñez International Airport to the north of the city in case you want to travel by plane, a bus terminal located to the east if you want get to Cartagena by bus, a transportation system called Transcaribe, and 13 kilometers of bike paths to ride a bike around the city
Cartagena is a city to live in Colombia because, in addition to offering essential places to go, see and visit, it is recognized for being an old city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia full of history, with beautiful beaches and a historic center almost intact. As well as traditions such as the Fiestas de la Virgen de La Candelaria and the festival of San Ginés de la Jara in August. But especially, for its welcoming climate, since the climate in Cartagena de Indias during most of the year is semi-arid, hot, and dry with an average temperature between 24 ºC and 33 degrees Celsius.
Now as for the beautiful places in Cartagena, they are identified as having many facets since you can do different types of tourism. For example, something very attractive in historical tourism is visiting beautiful places in Cartagena where you can take a photo without any problem, some of the main ones are the Walled City of Cartagena de Indias, the San Felipe de Barajas Castle, Las Bóvedas and the Torre Monument. of the Clock.
Another of the good plans in Cartagena to do in one day is to walk through landscapes or parks such as the Rosario Islands, the Ciénaga de la Virgen, the Guillermo Piñeres Botanical Garden, the Totumo in Galerazamba and the Los Colorados Sanctuary. Most of these tourist sites in Cartagena require little money to get to know them.
Other attractions in Cartagena that you should visit to spend the day are the museums, some of the most important are the Naval Museum of the Caribbean, the Rafael Núñez House Museum, and the Museum of Cartagena de Indias.
Also, if you are more plans to do in Cartagena at night and you like to travel alone or go out as a couple, you should know some emblematic places in Cartagena to go at night. Some recommended ones are Plaza Santo Domingo, Barrio Getsemani, Cafe Havana, and Calle de Bocagrande. But if you are one of those who prefer to travel with the family, among the beautiful places in Cartagena for children is the Malecón de Crespo Linear Park, the Bocagrande beaches, the walls, white beach, the pink Caribbean Sea and the Totumo Volcano.< /p>
Before traveling to this wonderful city and live experiences in some tourist places in Cartagena, we recommend you to know some important recommendations such as:
- Don't accept anything for free from a street vendor because they will charge you for it later
- Taking a picture with a Palenquera is not free
- Always ask street vendors for a discount
- Always ask the price before buying anything
- In places like the beach or the historic center prices tend to rise if you are a tourist
- Order the taxi through an app or ask the price before getting into the taxi
- Use repellent when you go to the beach
Cartagena, being one of the important cities in Colombia, is a trade center for gastronomy, so one of many essential things to do is eat in areas like the center of the Walled City and the second race in Bocagrande They are the favorites of foodies. You will find the best restaurants and bars for all tastes, budgets and perfect to try some of the local specialties such as the coastal bandeja, coconut rice, carimañolas, fish stew, cheese fingers, posta negra, arepa egg, and cooked; recommended restaurants are the Marea By Rausch Restaurant, the Chef Julián Restaurant, the Internal Restaurant, the El Santísimo Restaurant, the International Arab Restaurant, the Don Juan Restaurant, and the Candé restaurant.
As for accommodation, if you want to stay in one of the most exclusive and safe areas of Cartagena we recommend Bocagrande, Getsemaní, La Matuna, and El Laguito, that's where the most recommended famous hotels in Cartagena such as the Hotel Capilla del Mar, the Sonesta Hotel Cartagena, the GHL San Lázaro Art Hotel and the hermitage hotel.
Cartagena is without a doubt a Colombian city with a wide range of beautiful and picturesque places both inside and around it; since the department of Bolívar also houses a lot of nature, history, gastronomy, and buildings worth visiting.
So if you are looking for what to do in Cartagena today or if you want to stay more days to get to know the culture and enjoy this beautiful destination, we bring you a list with more things to see and do in Cartagena:
Mud bathing in the Totumo Volcano
It is a small volcanic cone full of mud that you can easily submerge to take an exfoliating and relaxing bath. Once you've taken a mud bath at the Volcano of Totumo, you must enter the waters of the Ciénaga del Totumo to complete the experience.
Sitting in the Plaza Santo Domingo
It is the busiest square in the Historic Center of Cartagena and is the site of the nightlife of the walled city. The Santo Domingo Square is a splendid place surrounded by colonial architecture, impressive balconies, and all kinds of commercial establishments. You can order at any of the restaurants or cafeterias and the waiters bring the order to your table in the square.
Buy handicrafts in the Plaza de Las Bóvedas
It is an emblematic square with a lot of history since it was the old military barracks that housed the Spanish troops. If you currently visit the The Bovedas Square you will find a nice craft market where souvenirs from the city are sold. Its structure consists of 47 arches, 23 vaults, and a triangular pediment in which the coat of arms of Spain is carved.
Explore the Palace of the Inquisition
It is a museum with a baroque and colonial style where you can see replicas of the instruments with which torture was carried out at the time of the Inquisition. To get to the Palace of the Inquisition is easy since it is located within the Walled City of Cartagena. Access to the museum is not free but it is worth visiting the prisons and torture chambers that are still intact. The entrance does not include a guide but since everything is very well-detailed, this service can be omitted.
Learn to sail at the Caribbean Naval Museum
It is a museum that staged the history of Cartagena de Indias, the history of navigation, and the current situation of the Colombian navy. The Caribbean Naval Museum is located within the Walled City, so it is easy to get to from the Clock Tower, it has video guides in different languages, special tours for children, and a cultural agenda specializing in naval history.
Attend the Museum of Modern Art
It is a museum that houses some of the most relevant works of the best Latin American painters of the 20th century. When touring the Museum of Modern Art you find support activities in the halls of the two buildings, individual and collective exhibitions, and a continuous program.
Visit the pink Caribbean Sea
It is a landscape of salt flats since they give the waters an intense pink color in some months of the year. The Caribbean Pink Sea is located one hour north of Cartagena, in the town of Galerazamba, and the best time to visit it is in February, March, August, and September.
Escape to the Rosario Islands
There are 27 islands with beautiful beaches, calm waters, coral formations around them, and an extensive ecosystem of mangroves. To get to the Rosario Islands you can only do it by sea, in some there are hotels and in others, you can buy a pass to stay all day until 3:00 pm. If you want to spend the night on one of the islands we recommend the Laguna Encantada island because you can snorkel at night and see the plankton glow.
Walking through the streets of the Walled City
It is a place with numerous streets surrounded by a colonial wall, it is also the historic center of Cartagena and a World Heritage Site. Inside the Walled city you find cobbled streets to walk around, restaurants, cafeterias, sculptures, and tourist sites such as the San Pedro Claver Church, the Santo Domingo Bastion, the Bolívar Park, the Plaza de Los Coches, the Naval Museum, the Heredia Theater and the Christopher Columbus monument among many others.
Climb up to Cerro de la Popa
It is the highest point in Cartagena and from its top, you can see the entire city, the Caribbean Sea, and the island of Tierrabomba. Upon arrival at Hill of the Popa you find the Convento de la Popa which you can visit in 30 minutes. What we recommend is to visit the hill after visiting the Castillo de San Felipe due to its proximity.
Tour the San Felipe de Barajas Castle
It is a historical fortification in which the Spanish colony kept a large part of their jewels and treasures, to protect themselves from pirates who arrived on the island to steal the gold stolen from the native Indians; that is why its real name is Fort San Felipe de Barajas. The castle is located northeast of the Historic Center of Cartagena on the hill of San Lázaro and you can visit it in one morning with a guided tour.
Upon entering the San Felipe de Barajas Castle you find colonial architecture made up of a network of tunnels under the walls, cannons typical of San Felipe, and a panoramic view of the city and the sea from the top of the hill.
Getting Around Bocagrande
It is the hotel zone of Cartagena de Indias as it has the busiest beaches in Cartagena de Indias. Bocagrande is also characterized as a commercial area where you can visit national brand clothing stores, renowned designers, and international brands. On the opposite side of the beach is Avenida San Martin where there are a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and boutiques.
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