Finally we’ve made it to Cartagena on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. This will be the longest place we’ve stayed since leaving Australia almost two months ago.
Our plans have somewhat changed as a couple of stops back we were stranded in Lima Peru and had to make some decisions on where we would have to cancel and where we would have to extend to meet with pre-paid airline tickets.
It’s a decision that’s paid off as Cartagena is not a city that heavily favoured by tourists. The tourists that do come here are hauled in by the cruise ships that ply these waters. The beach is not what you’d expect when someone mentions the Caribbean. There’s no white sand and palm trees, but there is something that’s magnetic about this once haven for pirates. It’s a city divided, old and new, holiday beach hotels mixed with historic heritage centres, Cartagena caters for all.
We’ve decided that we’re going to spend a little time in both camps and firstly stay in the older historic centre and then switch up the pace and splash out in a hotel in the newer high rise part of town.
When staying in Cartagena “close to the beach” is everywhere, it’s hard not to notice. If hanging out at the beach is not your scene then grabbing the city tour bus is the easiest way to get your bearings in Cartagena. The really great thing about this bus tour is that the ticket is valid for 3 days. It’s a hop on hop off bus with all the historic, cultural and shopping centres all marked out at designated stops and to top it off they include walking tour of the historical old town.
The walled city is really why the cruise ships pull in here, it’s vibrant mix of colourful heritage buildings dating back to the sixteenth century to a time of Pirates and the Spanish Inquisition. The guide tells stories of a darker times A time of canons, garrisons, and tall ships. It’s from this very city that the inspired Pirates of the Caribbean was bought to the big screen.
You do need to be careful in the old city as the prices for food here is a cut throat and an old pirates scabbard and you’ll pay a pretty penny for you’re fare. Even the clothing is on the high side. It’s not surprising as the real estate within the walled city is now reaching a whopping $6000USD per square metre! This is the most expensive place to buy property in all of Colombia.
The Casa (house) we’re staying at is nestled against the backdrop of Plaza Trinidad, the oldest Square in all of Cartagena .Casa Marta is an original family home and let’s out only 2 rooms, so most times it’s just you and the owners family, which gives you a true local Colombian experience.Moving to the peninsula and the high rise end of the city gives you a real American flavour. As one lady sitting on the tour bus said to a friend “it’s a lot like Miami” and with the frenzied pace of the building scene here it won’t be long before the tourist start to recognise that Cartagena, like most of Colombia is shaking off its shady past and fast becoming a tourist destination that families can afford.
The fast food giants have moved in and the shopping malls are already here, so our advice get to Cartagena before it get too discovered.
