Cartagena de indias Colombia

The ciudad amurallada is the historic center of the city of Cartagena de Indias of beautiful streets in colonial style, full of colors, flowers and charm. In them you can find innumerable pieces of art and crafts of intense colors, representing very well Colombian art, which can be bought to take a great memory.

Walking through the Amurallada City we can find the Palacio de la Inquisición, the Museo del Oro Zenú and the Museo de Arte Moderno.Also the Plaza de los Coches that presents a tour of the colonial houses and the statue of Pedro de Heredia, the Church and or Convent of San Pedro de Claver, among other perfectly preserved historical buildings of Cartagena de Indias.

Bocagrande Beach is one of Cartagena's most famous urban beaches. It is located in front of the Bocagrande neighborhood, the most glamorous in Colombia with skyscrapers and luxury hotels with a beautiful beach with soft white sand.

We went to this beach on a Tuesday afternoon and there weren't many people, it was perfect for enjoying the sunset, because on the weekend it is always full.

The castle of San Felipe is a huge military fortification built in the 17th century to defend Cartagena, from the continuous attacks that the city suffered from England and France. The castle is located on the hill of San Lázaro, outside the walls of Cartagena, but at a very short distance from them.

It is necessary to pay an entry that has an affordable price and thus be able to know its architecture as its sets of walls, the labyrinthine system of underground tunnels, its squares and its guardhouses.

Getsemaní is a historical neighborhood where slaves lived in colonial times, it is located near the center and close to the walled city, it is a colorful neighborhood, with narrow streets and flowery houses.

Today it is a more relaxed neighborhood, an art scene with colorful graffiti painted on its walls, many hostels, restaurants and bars. It is a place very frequented by backpackers because it has cheaper accommodation and places to eat.

Plaza de Trinidad is a very interesting place for night entertainment as natives and tourists meet to talk, enjoy the sale of fast food, participate in aerobics and zumba training, or to appreciate the talent of artists who appear in the square .

Barú Island is 45 minutes by boat from the city, there is also the option of going by bus, mototaxi or taxi but it takes approximately two hours to get there. Playa Blanca is impressive because of the mixture between white sand and the turquoise water of the Sea. This beautiful contrast extends along this long beach full of hostels, cabins, restaurants, bars and small kiosks.

There is a bridge that connects the island directly with Cartagena. We went by bicycle, it took us four hours to get there and we decided to stay a few days to rest and get to know the place.  Some people had said that we should buy water in a town before that beach, then buying in the kiosks there is very expensive.

When we got to the beach we found a very cheap campsite where we spent three days and there weren't many tourists.  They were quiet days, we had walking along the beach and enjoying the warm water of the sea and appreciating the sunset.

At night, just when the sun goes down, we enter the sea to visualize the phosphorescent plankton that accumulates in the bay, when we stirred the water it shone, it was an impressive color, it was an unforgettable moment. Barú is ideal for practicing nautical sports. Due to its calm waters, there are several companies that offer these services.