2024 Best Sights Around Cartagena Colombia
Conrad Hotel - Cartagena, Colombia
Intro
When I choose where to travel, I think of where I haven’t been, where I want to go (everywhere), my budget, the most cost friendly travel destination, and so on. I do take into account opinions of people I have known who have done to my ideal location, but take advice with a grain of salt. Not that I don’t appreciate people’s opinion, but we all have different experiences and interests, so someone can’t completely make the perfect decision for me and I am glad I feel that way. If I didn’t, I would have missed out on visiting the beautiful country of Colombia, Thailand, and many other magical places.
Today’s blog post will focus on my magical journey through Cartagena, the places I visited, and the people I met.
Atlantic Ocean - Cartagena, Colombia
Downtown Cartagena, Colombia
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Isla Baru
El Laguito
Playa Libre
Isla Grande
Santa Marta
Playa Blanca
Bendita Beach
Rosario Islands
Isla del Encanto
La Boquilla Beach
Manzanillo Del Mar
Tierra Bomba Island
Cartagena de Indias
Playa de Bocagrande
Castillogrande Beach
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I am so used to being on the move when traveling. I like to see as much as I can and optimize my time. When I got into the Conrad hotel in Cartagena via a car through the hotel from the airport, I thought about going right back out to explore the city but decided to just hangout. It was a good reminder to me that relaxing can also be a part of the trip. When I got into my hotel room, I hopped in the shower. As I was getting ready I heard a knock at the door. I was pleasantly surprised to find to employees bringing me a welcome snack, which was such a treat. I hung around the hotel and had my meals at the restaurants in the lobby (one Italian themed and the other local cuisine), it was a big enough hotel that they had several options. I eventually went down to the beach to watch the sunset and to walk along the long stretch of beach. I find one of the best spots to watch a sunset is on the water. This was the first time I was okay with being on vacation and not doing anything for a day, other than enjoying where I was.
I thought about going to the Island of Tierra Bomba or Baru Island, San Bernardo Archipelago, Islas del Rosario and/or one of the many different islands off the coast of Cartagena with warm waters and amazing views. Because I was so sun burned from Panama and I stayed at the hotel in Cartagena the first day instead of going to explore the city when I got there, I decided to skip the all day beach excursion in Colombia. With that said, the city of Cartagena is on the water and has some nice beaches but I wouldn't say the beaches in the city are the best Cartagena beaches. Sometimes the best things to do on vacation are to deviate from your plans.
My full day in Cartagena I hopped on a walking tour and saw the Plaza de Bolivar, Parque de la Marina, and just wandered around the city. The architecture was beautiful, and the cuisine was so delish. Made sure to have some ceviche and paella. Even stopped at a little gelato place. The owner of the joint was an Irish woman who moved there years earlier as her husband was from the area. Very interesting woman and story. We spoke about my travels, her journey to moving to Colombia from Europe. People are willing to talk, if you are willing to listen.
My trip and first experiences in Central and South America was coming to a close. The following day I boarded a plane back to Panama for a night. I did not do much upon my arrival back to the city, but I knew I would tour a little bit the next day before heading back to the US. The next morning, I hiked up Ancon Hill and wandered around Mi Pueblito. I ended my trip overloading on ceviche and a little self-care after all of the exercise and sun damage.
Plaza de Bolivar - Cartagena
San Diego Plaza – Cartagena
Parque de la Marina - Cartagena
Parque del Centenario – Cartagena
Downtown Cartagena, Colombia
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Inkanto - Peruvian
Lunatico - Seafood
La Mulata - Caribbean
Carmen Cartagena - Latin
Mistura Cartagena - Sushi
El Burlado Gastrobar - Pub
ALMA Restaurant - Colombian
La Cocina de Pepina - Colombian
Restaurante Celele - Contemporary
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If you’re anything like me, you love food and love trying diverse cuisines the locals would go to versus tourist traps. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you might just want a burger from a chain. But why travel if not to immerse yourself in the culture. Sometimes when I go abroad, I try to incorporate some of the restaurants Anthony Bourdain featured in one of his shows. He has a culinary background and has traveled the world, so usually picks gems.
Below are a few restaurants Anthony went to in Cartagena.
La Cevicheria - Cevhice
Bazurto Market - Food Court
Bomba Beach Club - Seafood
Downtown Cartagena, Colombia
Conclusion
The colorful architecture of Cartagena was breathtaking. I spent 4 days soaking up the Colombian sun and beauty. No matter which section of Colombia you decide to visit, whether Cartagena, Cali, Bogota, or Medellin, you will see a city steeped in rich history, culture, and beauty.
Quote
“Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” Roy M. Goodman
Next on the Blog…
If you are interested in exploring Central and South America more, check out my post on Panama City Panama.