CARTAGENA DE INDIAS
Located on Colombia's Caribbean Coast in the Bolivar District, Cartagena is Colombia's 5th largest city, and one of its most popular travel destinations. Cartagena is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. By the sea you can find the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colourful colonial buildings. With a tropical climate, the city is also a popular beach destination. Reachable by boat are the amazing Isla de Barú, with white-sand beaches and palm trees, and the Islas del Rosario, known for their coral reefs. So, if you visit Cartagena, you will get the chance to meet the most famous neighbourhoods and streets of the world, to learn more about the colonial history, experience different water activities and of course, to live Cartagena ’s nightlife!

What can I do?

• You can explore the Historic Colonial Walled City. Walking around Cartagena’s historic walled city, often times referred to as Old Town, Centro Histórico or the Historic City Center, or just Centro, is a must during your visit to Cartagena. The New York Times once compared the Walled City to a Moroccan Medina. Things that are highly recommended to you to do are:

o Old City Walking Tour
o Walk the fort wall at sunset
o Eat at La Cevicheria
o Shop til you drop. Art, traditions and culture.
o Enjoy Colombian Street food and also food tours.
o Visit the Gold Museum and the Naval Museum.
o Have a good Colombian coffee. The most awarded coffee in Colombia.
o Explore Castillo de San Felip.

• You should explore Colombia’s Coolest Neighbourhood, Getsemaní. Located just outside the Walled City, Getsemaní is the second oldest part of Cartagena. During the colonial era, it was home to the free black and mulatto artisan working class. For that reason, it is often considered the cradle of Cartagena’s culture. Exploring this unique neighbourhood is another required stop amongst the top things to in Cartagena. Walking, you’ll find even more tiny streets with colourful art and neat architecture. The most famous is the Callejón Angosto, the first street to start the trend of hanging colourful umbrellas.

• You must visit Rosario Islands. The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Corales Islas del Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres from Cartagena. It is one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia. The Rosario Islands encompass the the two most important islands in Cartagena de Indias; Isla Barú and Isla Grande. In the Rosario islands, you can do luminescent plankton tours in the mangroves, snorkel tours, diving, party on Isla Cholón, or some beach clubs. You will have more choices on Isla Grande than on Isla Barú. So, make sure to pack a good camera for underwater photography. Of course, do not forget to taste the best sea food that you will ever taste, the islands offer a good variety of seafood restaurants that you could experience during your visit.