Our first visit in Colombia was Cartagena. We came for a wedding, and left learning with great memories and a ton of knowledge.
Cartagena was the main trading port between Spain and their overseas empire. We recommend staying in traditional Cartagena, which is within their walls. One night was spent outside of these walls – while it was a change, we recommend staying in the original city.
We stayed at the Casa Claver within the walled city. The host was fantastic and spoke excellent English. The rooms were spacious and air conditioned. The best part though, was the rooftop pool and hot tub. There are fantastic views of the city, and a great place to relax after touring the city all day.
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Cartagena Events We Recommend
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Since Cartagena was the main focal point of trade in the Spanish Empire, making it an attractive target of Caribbean pirates. It was the most looted port in the New World until Spain built this fort.
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We recommend giving yourselves at least 90 minutes to tour the fort. Aside from the amazing views, they give recordings that tell you about the fort’s history. You’ll learn about all the battles that took place, from pirates to opposing countries, and realize that even in the 1600s, the world was incredibly connected.
Island Hopping
Cartagena has several beautiful islands just outside of the city. We took a speedboat out to see the islands and take a quick swim.
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It’s amazing to take a step back and realize that people live and work in these islands. Several times, boats would come up to us selling lobsters that they caught.
KGB
KGB is ridiculous. It’s Communist-themed, which reminds you the level of influence Communism has in Latin America. The televisions play Russians marching for Putin, and the walls are painted with other Communist propaganda.
Cartagena Restaurants We Recommend
La Cevicheria – The best ceviche we ever had, we went here three times, and it still didn’t feel like enough. They have several different varieties of ceviche, and all of it tastes incredible. Make sure to try them all.
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Sinko Bar – great ambiance and excellent service. We recommend getting the salmon, chicken, and spring rolls.
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