Cartagena

Cartagena, in Costa Caribe, is a city that about 950,000 people call home.

The national capital Bogota is situated 410 miles (660 kilometers) south of Cartagena, while Medellin lies 290 miles (467 kilometers) to the south.

Cartagena boasts a host of beachside destinations ideal for everything from water sports to more leisurely pursuits. Marbella Beach and La Boquilla Beach are two of the more popular beaches in this coastal location. Other fine beaches worth checking out are Bocagrande Beach and Isla Grande Beach.

Cartagena is well known for its civic spaces, ideal for meeting the locals and experiencing the gentle pulse of the city. Put on your walking shoes and head to Bolivar Square and Santo Domingo Square, two of the best-loved public squares in in the city area. Those with plenty of time should also investigate Coches Square and Aduana Square.

Peel back the layers of the past by exploring the many important heritage sites in Cartagena. Spend a few hours at the Puerta del Reloj, the House of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the Fuerte Pastelillo, just three of the area’s most significant heritage sites around.

Once the private domain of the city’s movers and shakers, today, the doors to Cartagena’s most stately residence are open to visitors from all over the world. Historic Inquisition Palace is a wonderful time capsule, containing the very best architecture and design of its time.

An old place of worship, one of the more popular of the many historic sites here, is the Cartagena Cathedral. Visit the site to learn about its history and then take your time to study its design.

Baru Fish Market is the perfect place to visit if you love shopping and people watching. See what locals buy and then take home a few gifts or treats.

If you and your kids are into seafaring history and old ships, be sure to stop by the Naval Museum Cartagena. Imagine long-ago voyages while enjoying the full range of ship models and salvaged maritime items as you explore the venue’s exhibits.

Sometimes melancholic, sometimes wonderfully romantic, castles and other defense buildings in this country are always good to tour. The historic San Felipe de Barajas Castle, a well-known landmark of this city, shows where noblemen lived in well-guarded quarters and defended their cities from plunderers and thieves.