Located at the very top of Colombia on the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is a steaming hot tourist city. If you are planning a visit (which I thoroughly recommend) here are my top 4 must see places in and around Cartagena:
1. Cartagena Old Town
Old Town in Cartagena is filled with beautiful architecture at every turn.
Cartagena city itself is actually very large, but the place most tourists visit and stay is the Walled City. As well as a few interesting neighbourhoods the Walled City contains the Old Town. Here is where the history of Cartagena can be found. A nice area filled with clothing stores, restaurants, hotels and parks or squares, the Old Town is lovely to walk through.
Take the free walking tour through Old Town. Free Tour Cartagena runs tours everyday in both Espanol and English and gives a good explanation of the history of the Spanish, pirates and why the wall was built. I would personally recommend taking the morning tour as Cartagena is very hot and can be almost unbearable in the afternoons.
2. Getsemani
The streets of Getsemani are gritty and interesting, with painted wall murals everywhere.
The Getsemani barrio of Cartagena is a neighbourhood that has become very popular with the backpacker crowd. With many hostels located on Media Luna, a main street that runs straight through the neighbourhood, Getsemani is the place to go for great street food, mojitos, salsa dancing and a little bit of craziness.
During the day the Getsemani are beautiful to walk. Street vendors, cute hole-in-the-wall empanada and juice stores and nice cafes line the streets. The neighbourhood has a gritty feel to it and at night comes alive. Wednesday and Saturday nights the music blasts from Media Luna until 4am and the salsa clubs are packed with fun loving Colombians and tourists alike.
Plaza de la Trinidad is the place to people watch. At night the plaza fills with street vendors selling all kinds of interesting and delicious food.
I thoroughly suggest staying in Getsemani over the Old Town. Food is cheap, fun is plentiful and there are so many hostels you can’t go wrong.
3. Playa Blanca
No question Playa Blanca is the best beach around Cartagena. An hour drive by air-conditioned shuttle bus or 45 minutes by boat, Playa Blanca is the place to relax and swim in the bright blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Visit for the day or stay the night, but definitely go and relax in Playa Blanca.
4. Santa Marta
Photo credit: ccarlstead
Santa Marta is a 4 – 5 hour drive North East of Cartagena and is used by many as a base to explore the surrounding area. The city of Santa Marta itself is a bustling area with shops and restaurants and you could fill a day or two exploring. But the places in and around Santa Marta are why people visit. Tayrona National Park has hammocks on the beach to sleep in if you are interested in walking 3 hours through the jungle to get there. Palomino is a beach area 2 hours from Santa Marta that offers both beach and rivers to swim in. The area of Minca is up in the mountains, with the Lost City Trek the main tourist attraction. A grueling 4 day hike through the jungle is justified once you reach the ruins.
The most well known place to stay in Santa Marta among backpackers is The Dreamer Hostel. With a second location in Palomino The Dreamer provides a pool, hammocks, beer and fun for all its guests as well as arranging excursions in and around Santa Marta.
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