Cartagena Destination Guide

A vibrant, charming and historic city, Cartagena is a place from where it is hard to part. Located facing the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia, Cartagena's sunny weather, beaches and sands are an obvious draw. And when you are done basking in the sun, there are numerous opportunities for water sports, boating and undersea exploration. Steeped in history and legends, this 500 year old port city showcases some of the best Spanish colonial architecture - both military and civilian. The Old Walled City and the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas are prime examples. The latter is an impressive 17th century fortress built to defend the city from persistent attacks by pirates and enemy forces.

A stroll through the charming old city is one of the highlights of a Cartagena holiday and an experience few will forget.

Use our Cartagena Destination Guide below to choose what you wish to see and do during your stay in Cartagena You should also take a look at our Cartagena tours, which offer insight into the impressive history of the city, as well as providing some more adventurous exploration options. If you would like general information for your holiday in Colombia, visit our Colombia Country Guide.

Things to See & Do in Cartagena

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Cartagena:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old walled city is Cartagena's prime attraction. Wonderfully preserved, it takes visitors back in time with its network of cobbled streets and delightful colonial architecture.

An ideal way to experience the place is to take leisurely strolls enjoying the sights and sounds of this still vibrant city. Apart from remarkable old churches, plazas, mansions and monasteries, there are elegant restaurants, hotels and clubs within the walled area. Leafy courtyards and overhanging wooden balconies with colourful flowers add to the charm of the place.

A good part of the wall surrounding the city, built to protect it against pirates and invaders, is well preserved and intact.

The beaches of Cartagena are obviously a big attraction and several of the visitors spend time sunbathing or lazing on the sands, sipping drinks and enjoying the cool breeze. The main beaches in the city are Bocagrande, Castillogrande, El Laguito, Marbella and La Boquilla.

However, the best beach around is Playa Blanca, a short distance from Cartagena. Accessible by land or by boat, the beach is tranquil with crystal clear waters and sparkling white sands from which it got its name.

The modern face of Cartagena - Bocagrande and El Laguito - is situated on a long strip of land facing the Caribbean. Packed with swanky five star hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs and casinos, this is the place to be if you are looking to splurge in Cartagena. Avenida San Martin is the most happening place with great nightlife.

Rosario Islands is an archipelago of 27 coral islands about one hour by boat from Cartagena. A national park, these islands offer great beaches, crystal clear waters and amazing coral reefs with multihued marine life. It is an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkelling. Accommodation is available on many islands. The aquarium on the Isla San Martin de Pajarales with myriad marine animals and dolphin shows is really enjoyable and not to be missed.

This is an impressive fortress that helped ward off many attacks on the city during colonial days. The structure with its complex system of underground passages, battlements and other features is a fine example of Spanish prowess in military architecture. Construction of the fortress was started in 1639 but took 150 years to complete. It is located a short bus ride away from the old city.

The Palace of Inquisition
The Palacio de la Inquisition, a fine example of colonial architecture, was the place where heretics were denounced and sentenced to death for crimes like blasphemy, witchcraft and magic. It is now a museum exhibiting instruments of torture used by inquisitors, historical artefacts, maps and other objects. It is located on the Plaza de Bolivar which has many other attractions including the Cathedral.

Gold Museum
Located opposite the Palace of Inquisition, the museum features treasures and artefacts from the pre-colonial period particularly of Sinu Indians who had great collections of gold.

Naval Museum
The Museo Naval del Caribe is a great place to learn about the maritime history of the Caribbean, especially Cartagena. The area was a haven of pirates at one time. Collections include models of ships, fossils, guns and swords.

Convento de la Popa
Set on top of the La Popa hill which is the highest part of the city, the 17th century monastery has a beautiful courtyard and a fine image of the patroness of the city, the Virgin of La Candelaria. The view from here of the city, nearby islands and the Caribbean is amazing. It is located about 1.5 km from the San Felipe fortress.

Convento de San Pedro Claver
The convent is named in honour of the priest Pedro Claver, the first saint of the New World, who was called Apostle of the blacks for his work with the slaves brought from Africa. A part of the three storey structure acts as a museum exhibiting religious art and ancient ceramics.

Cartagena and the islands nearby offer ideal locations for scuba diving, snorkelling and canoeing. Kitesurfing is another popular sport because of the windy conditions especially during November to February. Boats can be chartered for cruises to San Blas in Panama and other nearby destinations.

These are open, colourful wood buses that tour the city packed with tourists. It is a lot of fun, with drinking, music and general boisterousness. A chiva ride is a must do for every visitor and can be arranged with your hotel.

Cartagena really comes alive at night. Nightclubs, discos, bars and casinos dot the city and stay open well into the night. The music, both Caribbean and western, is excellent and you can catch live performances at many places.