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Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments

Cartagena · Colombia

Background

World Heritage since
1984
Type of site
Cultural
City founded
1533

Situated in a bay on the Caribbean, Cartagena has the most extensive fortifications in South America. UNESCO describes a city divided into three neighbourhoods: San Pedro, with the cathedral and many Andalusian-style palaces; San Diego, where merchants and the middle class lived; and Gethsemani, the popular quarter.

Founded on 1 June 1533, Cartagena de Indias was a key port for silver going to Spain and for enslaved Africans brought in under the asiento system, defended against pirates and besieged by the British in 1741. Wikivoyage says the 500-year-old coral-stone forts and walls are admirably intact, that the walled city holds the fancy restaurants and hotels while Bocagrande is the beach strip, and that the dry season runs from December to April.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 4000 BCThe first settlements around Cartagena Bay
  2. 1533The Spanish found Cartagena de Indias on 1 June
  3. Early 1540sA main port between Spain and its empire
  4. 1741The Battle of Cartagena de Indias against the British
  5. 1984Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Walled City
    Balconied streets and plazas, entered by the Clock Tower; the GoGo guide walks it early.
  2. 2
    Castillo San Felipe
    The great Spanish fortress and its tunnels.
  3. 3
    Getsemaní
    Street art, Plaza Trinidad, the oldest part of town, and salsa at night.
  4. 4
    San Pedro Claver
    The church of the saint who worked with enslaved people.
  5. 5
    Palace of the Inquisition and Gold Museum
    Colonial history and Zenú gold.
  6. 6
    La Popa
    The hilltop monastery with the city view.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Mornings and Evenings
The GoGo guide warns that midday is fierce; walk the old town early and come back for sunset drinks on the walls.
Stay in the Old Town at Night
Wikivoyage: the touristed centre is as safe as a first-world city, but the periphery carries a real risk of robbery, especially at night.
Airport 3 km Away
Rafael Núñez airport is 3 km north-east of the old city, with flights from Miami, New York, Madrid and Panama.
Dry Season
December to April is dry; the December holidays and Holy Week are extremely crowded.

Walls, Fort and Getsemaní

From the GoGo Cartagena guide · Open the Cartagena Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Walk the Walled City2 hrs
    Balconied streets and plazas.
  2. 11:15
    Palace of the Inquisition1 hr
    Colonial history.
  3. 15:00
    Getsemaní Street Art2 hrs
    The old artisans' quarter.
  4. 17:30
    Sunset Drinks on the City Walls90 min
    Drinks on the ramparts.
  5. 22:00
    Salsa at Café Havana2 hrs
    Live bands in Getsemaní.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Dec–Apr. Rainy season May, Jul–Nov.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Oct (242 mm), driest Jan (2 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Santa Cruz de Mompox, the other colonial town of the region, is 179 km inland; the Rosario Islands are a boat trip out.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 285 · Wikipedia: Cartagena, Colombia · Wikivoyage: Cartagena (Colombia) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Cartagena guide · UNESCO listing