Cartagena's walled old town, built by the Spanish to defend against pirate raids, has survived largely intact, bougainvillea spilling over balconies, plazas shaded by enormous ceiba trees, and a distinctly Caribbean rhythm that sets it apart from Colombia's Andean cities.
The Walled City
Walk the old city walls at sunset for views over the rooftops to the Caribbean, then head into the Getsemaní neighbourhood, once a working-class district, now the city's most vibrant area for street art, live music, and casual dining.
The Palace of the Inquisition, a colonial building with a genuinely dark history of torture and trials, sits just off the main plaza and provides sobering historical counterpoint to the old town's otherwise cheerful colour palette.
The Rosario Islands
The Islas del Rosario, an archipelago of small islands a boat ride from Cartagena, offer clear water and coral reef snorkelling as a beach day escape from the old town's heat and crowds.
Book a smaller boat tour rather than the largest party catamarans if you want a calmer day, some islands also offer overnight stays for a quieter, more secluded experience than a rushed day trip allows.
Recommended Stay · Cartagena · Walled City
Casa San Agustin
Three colonial mansions joined around courtyards with a Roman-aqueduct-fed plunge pool, inside the walled city, a short walk to the main plazas and Getsemaní's nightlife.
