Overview

“Because you’re in Colombia, you have to visit Cartagena, it is the most beautiful colonial citiy in the country.” A quote from Nidia there, our local ambassador for Colombia. And a few minutes into your time strolling its beautifully preserved, cobbled streets you’ll be thankful you added it to your itinerary.

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena’s allure trumps most cities, with it’s powdery beaches, coral reefs, impressive mangroves, complementing the city’s traditional charm. And it’s not just a pretty face, Cartagena has over 2,500 years of history. Each street corner, plaza and square of the city offers travellers monumental examples of its splendorous historical past.

Nicknamed “the Magic City,” a title most places would be proud to have, it’s not uncommon for Cartagena to become bustling with travellers all trying to experience its colonial lovely-ness. Not to fear though, Cartagena has plenty of opportunities to escape outside the thriving centre of the city and get a taste for the quieter local life, as Nidia explains:

“There’s an area called La Boquilla in Cartagena, here you see the real Colombia. It is around 30 mins driving outside the centre. La Boquilla is a fishing village and if you want to you can spend time with a local family. The people you spend time with there teach you how to fish the traditional, authentic way and you have lunch in one of their houses.”