Cartagena Hotels

The top of your to-do list should be doing nothing! Nothing, that is, except marvelling at the stunning ocean views of the Murcia coast along the Sea Wall, hearing your footsteps echo on the marble floor at the remains of Augusteum,and dining alfresco at Café del Mar amongst locals infinitely better dressed than you are.

Cartagena’s Top 10

Cartagena History

• Castillo de San Felipe – Fortress designed and built in 1657 by the Spanish to protect against pirates.
• La Popa – A hill overlooking Cartagena and home to the Santa Cruz monastery from the 1600s.
• Cartagena’s Historic Old Town – One of the city’s main attractions surrounded by the city wall.
• Iglesia de San Pedro Claver – Found in the historic centre and in honour of the first saint of the new world and his work with the slaves.
• India Catalina – A sculpture of an indigenous woman from the Colombian coast who accompanied Pedro de Heredia and acted as an interpreter.

Cartagena Art & Culture

• Palace of Inquisition – Located in Cartagena where the Spanish Inquisition judged and convicted those accused of crimes against religion.
• Cartagena Gold Museum – A miniature version of the one in Bogota, with a fascinating collection of pottery and gold from the Zenu people.
• Museum of Modern Art – Housed in a house from the 1600s and offering changing exhibits.
• Naval Museum – Opened on the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World.
• Teatro Heredia – A stunning theatre with an ornate interior and offers presentations by the local ballet company.

Cartagena Shopping

• Upalema – Visit this place for a unique experience and find specialized and top-quality handicrafts.
• Abaco – Place with a great selection of books about the city of Cartagena and lots of English reading.
• Plaza de Santo Domingo – Artisans set up each afternoon to sell a wide selection of local handicrafts.
• Totto – Local chain store with great bags, purses, suitcases and more.
• Las Bovadas de Santa Clara – Famous place in Cartagena to find local handicrafts and beautiful things.

Gay & Lesbian Cartagena

• Ibiza Club Cartagena – Pleasant dance club sleekly decorated in white.
• Cafe del Mar – Cafe set atop some of the local fortress walls attracts a mixed crowd.
• Studio 54 – Great dance and electronic pop music fills the air of this lively place.
• Vamos Colombia Tour – Offers fun and lively tours, excursions and activities.
• Via Libre – Small, cozy bar located in the historic area of Cartagena.

Cartagena Events

Muster up your best royal attire for The Three Kings Festival in January.

Feel the rhythm of Cartagena pumping through your feet at Carnival Cartagena, an annual bonanza taking place in February.

Magnificent floral decorations and majestic religious statues are the highlights of the Semana Santa de Cartagena, heldduring Easter week.

Salsa your way into melodic bliss at July’s Le Mar de Musicas.

For your own action-packed Roman conquest, make sure you are in Cartagena in September for the Fiestas de Carthagineses y Romanos.

When To Go

For summer heat and plenty of sun, August is the best time to head to Cartagena.

January is the coldest month in Cartagena, but that’s all relative as the average temperature is still 12°C (54°F)

Getting Around

The bus network in Cartagena is a convenient, inexpensive way to see the sights.

The best way to explore the coastline is to take a stroll, and the same goes for getting around the cobblestone alleys.

Cartagena also has an excellent railway system for getting around and out of the city.

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