Another side of Cartagena

Welcome to the most beautiful colonial citiy in America: Cartagena de Indias, Colombia!

Spending a day, playing tourist and wondering the streets of the poor section of town, proved to be amazing. Fort San Felipe, located near the old part of Cartagena, gives you a perspective of how massive and strong this fort was to defend off English pirates and marauders. As I wondered my way through the small coridours, I imaged the dismale life if you were a prisoner shakeled to the walls.




The Islas Rosarios Archipelago is located just 40 minutes by speedboat from Cartagena: 32 islands, turquoise water, white beaches, coral reefs. A small paradise, not yet discovered by mass tourism.

Activities are plentiful in Cartagena. You might want to take a daytrips to the Volcano del Totumo or to the nearby fishing village La Boquilla - where you can windsurf in the winter months or take a City Tour in an traditional wooden"Chiva" bus or get wild on the Chiva party bus which takes you to Cartagena's finest nightlife locations.

Getsemaní neighborhood
This is one of the most representative neighborhoods in Cartagena. African people brought as slaves used to live in this neighborhood, the most prominent place of which is Parque Centenario (Centenary Park), built in 1911 to commemorate a century of independence. Inside are found some interesting monuments, including one dedicated to the military. Parque Centenario also serves as a local police station and a mid-afternoon pulpit for aspiring evangelists. Over the years the park has acquired, through various means, a sloth, two gila monsters and a few monkeys. Cartagena's Convention Center, Third Order Church and San Francisco Cloister are all located in the area. The Old City has the same architectural styles as the area surrounded by The Walls.