A few months ago, I wrote about my trip to Cartagena de Indias immediately after I returned to the US. Now that I’ve had ample time to reflect on that excursion, I’d like to suggest a few general things to do while visiting the gorgeous coastal city:
VISIT LA CIUDAD AMURALLADA
Putting it plainly, The Walled City is the tourist centerpiece of Cartagena for culture. Although there are vendors trying to sell you things left and right, if you are able to successfully navigate that minor annoyance, you will find great old-world architecture, several museums, and great boutique stores. I personally could not leave the city without purchasing a few Cuban cigars, so I patronized La Cava del Puro.
HIT THE BEACH
If you’re in a South American coastal city on the Caribbean Sea, there’s no way you should leave without soaking up some sun on one of the many beaches. It’s a way of life in Cartagena. You can even purchase a day bed on the beach if you’re planning to stay for an extended time. As I stayed in the Bocagrande section, the beach was pretty much right at my doorstep!
EAT, EAT, EAT!
One of the great things about Colombia is the favorable exchange rate of the dollar to the peso resulting in cheaper-than-expected everything, including dining experiences. I mention this in my write up about room service at Hotel Intercontinental, but this goes for restaurants as well. looking at a $40,000 Peso meal at M Cocina Arabe isn’t as daunting when you realize it’s actually $13 USD.