It is perhaps the most important tourist destination in Colombia. Cartagena is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and its colonial center houses streets full of history, color and charm that not only open the doors to all foreign tourists who travel to Colombia, but also constitute the gateway to Latin America to the world.
Cartagena was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1984. Thanks to its well-preserved colonial architecture and especially its long kilometres of walls that protected it from English and Spanish pirates, it is a unique place in the world.
Through its cobbled streets, some of which can be traveled in old-fashioned horse-drawn carriages, tourists can travel back in time and imagine the life of its inhabitants during the Spanish viceroyalty. Its historic center is full of color and is home to the Clock Tower, one of the best preserved and most beautiful in the world. The Castillo de San Felipe is another emblematic monument, considered one of the 7 wonders of Colombia for its impressive infrastructure preserved over time.
In its insular waters there are island complexes that provide an enviable natural wealth, dazzling beaches, coral reefs and exotic landscapes. The Rosario Islands are a must-see for tourists, as there you will find an archipelago with abundant marine life and beaches of exotic beauty.
Cartagena is visited every year by thousands of tourists from all over the world eager to enjoy its extensive beaches and variety of restaurants that offer menus of international or typical Caribbean food, including mote de queso, fish stew, pork tenderloin bathed in tamarind sauce and corozo juice. Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande and Los Morros are the most modern sectors that include residential areas with luxury apartments and exclusive hotels, facing popular beaches, which some tourists call the Colombian Miami due to their architecture.
Cartagena is also known for hosting international festivals such as the Hay Festival literature festival, the Cartagena International Music Festival that offers conservatories, dialogues and concerts focused mainly on classical music and the International Film Festival that brings together the best of the seventh art every year.
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