Cartagena

Cartagena de Indias lies on the coast of the Colombian Caribbean, in a bay protected by islands and peninsulas. Founded in 1533, it was one of the main ports of the Spanish empire in the Americas: silver and gold from the continent left through it, and goods and enslaved people brought from Africa arrived. To defend against pirates and enemy fleets, the city was surrounded by walls and forts over two centuries. The port, the fortifications and the colonial ensemble are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

The historic center, inside the walls, is the part you visit on foot: squares such as Santo Domingo, Bolívar and San Diego, churches and convents, two‑story manor houses painted yellow, orange and blue, with wooden balconies covered in bougainvillea. The main entrance is the Torre del Reloj. Outside the walls, Getsemaní, a former artisans' neighborhood, has murals, small plazas and nightlife; and on the San Lázaro hill stands the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the fortress that defended the city by land.

The modern city grows to the south, along the Bocagrande peninsula, with tall buildings and urban beaches. For clear water, head out by boat to the archipelago of Islas del Rosario, a national park area with coral reefs, or go by road to Playa Blanca on the island of Barú. From the top of the Cerro de la Popa, the 17th‑century convent overlooks the whole bay.

The climate is warm and humid year‑round, with a sea breeze in the late afternoon.

This destination brings together 1 city: Cartagena.