Founded in 1533, Cartagena is undoubtedly one of Latin America’s most beautiful cities lost somewhere in time between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, with the Caribbean sea as a sparkling backdrop. Sir Francis Drake laid siege to the city but the fortress walls and cannons remain, making the area within the old walled city a living museum.
Many of the city’s colonial mansions have been carefully restored and the houses display the best of Spanish colonial architecture, painted in a feast of Caribbean colours and covered in bougainvillea. Latin music fills the streets and the city has a relaxed, cosmopolitan vibe. Take an evening stroll like a local along the narrow streets or enjoy a ride in a horse drawn carriage along the sea-front.
Cartagena really is delightful and we and we haven’t even mentioned the stunning beaches and nearby islands. We thoroughly recommend that you take a tour to Cartagena for at least a couple of days.