Facing the Caribbean, Cartagena de Indias is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in South America and one of the most photographed places in Colombia. Its walls, built from the 16th century onwards to protect the city from pirate attacks, enclose a historic centre declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Ciudad Amurallada (Walled City)
Within the walls, the Ciudad Amurallada is a maze of cobbled streets, wooden balconies draped in bougainvillea and squares alive with live music. The Getsemaní neighbourhood, once working-class and peripheral, is today one of the liveliest in the city, with murals, nightlife and street life that stays busy well into the night.
Between fortresses and Caribbean islands
The San Felipe de Barajas fortress, the largest Spanish military construction in the Americas, dominates the city from above and tells centuries of colonial history and resistance to sieges. A short distance from the coast, the Rosario archipelago offers turquoise waters and Caribbean beaches perfect for a day at the sea after immersing yourself in the city's colonial history.
Sunset over the city walls, with the sky turning pink above the sea, is one of the most evocative moments of a visit to Cartagena.