"Carribbean's most precious" Cartagena by Assenczo

Cartagena Travel Guide: 524 reviews and 1,472 photos

At its ecclesiastical best - Cartagena
At its ecclesiastical best
On the Wall - Cartagena

On the Wall

Cartagena was a legend and many people including the notorious Sir Francis Drake craved to have a piece of it. Nowadays the city still has its charms carefully looked after by the new Colombia and its dawning emphasis on luring more tourists. Most of the old city is propped up, painted and decorated. Many gorgeous colonial houses have been turned into hotels and the walls still surround most of its upmarket areas. There is the poorer side of town where the investor’s money has not reached for whatever reasons but this is rather an advantage for the foreigner who could have a very visual example of how it used to be in the olden days. What makes Cartagena even more desirable is the fact that despite its tourist inclinations it does not feel overrun by the trade. Some odd cruise ship would dump the regular batch of couch potatoes from time to time but their numbers are so insignificant that they are diluted immediately in the torrent of everyday hustle and bustle. Most of the visitors are Colombian and this gives the whole atmosphere very local dimension. So, pack up your bags and investigate before the masses have flooded the gates.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Spanish colonial heritage preserved and cared for
  • Cons:Touts wanting to be part of the tourism industry
  • In a nutshell:Running neck and neck with Havana for the #1 spot in the Carribbean
  • Last visit to Cartagena: Dec 2010
  • Intro Updated Jan 23, 2011
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (9)

2010 - the year Marquez passed away - Cartagena Before or after reading Marquez Things to Do (5)

Probably many people consider visiting Colombia due to their impression of Garcia Marquez’s writings. Or on the other... more travel advice

Carribbean panorama - Cartagena See it all Things to Do (5)

Convento de la Popa in perched on the highest hill in the vicinity of Cartagena which makes it the best view point ever.... more travel advice

Overwhelming - Cartagena Taste of Botero Things to Do (5)

The “tourist plaza” gives a chance to come across a Botero production which is a blessing both ways - whether one is... more travel advice

Overview - Cartagena San Felipe fortress Things to Do (5)

San Felipe fortress is a formidable structure installed on a hill overlooking the bay of Cartagena. It is an easy taxi... more travel advice

Comments (2)

  • Reply
    xaver's Profile Photo
    Feb 9, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    great page and tips, particulary appreciated the Botero and Marquez ones

  • Reply
    hunterV's Profile Photo
    Feb 4, 2012 at 8:08 AM

    Thanks for your tips, especially about the fishy urgency....

Assenczo's Related Pages

Cartagena Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Assenczo's Profile Photo

Assenczo

“Myths Annihilated”

Online Now

Male

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 9 5 0

Badges & Stats in Cartagena

  • 9 Reviews
  • 17 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 2 Comments
  • 208PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (10)

Have you been to Cartagena?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Cartagena

Photos in Cartagena

See All Photos (17)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (362)

Friends

See All Friends (7)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Latest Cartagena hotel reviews

Hilton Cartagena
152 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
SOFITEL SANTA CLARA
274 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
Hotel Las Americas Global Resort
2 Reviews & Opinions
Decameron Cartagena
83 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 15, 2013
Hotel Da Pietro Cartagena
32 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 25, 2013
Caribe Hotel
99 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 22, 2013
Capilla Del Mar Hotel
76 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Monterrey Hotel
26 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 22, 2013
El Dorado Hotel
20 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Hotel Casa La Fe
266 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Charleston Cartagena Hotel
104 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 11, 2013
Club Hotel Cartagena Plaza
48 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 17, 2013
Hotel Almirante Cartagena Estelar
24 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 22, 2013
Costa Del Sol
26 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2013