Cartagena de Indias

The Port of Cartagena de Indias lies about 4 km from the old city and provides 6 berths within an industrial setting. Its immediate surroundings are not especially inviting.

Typical music and landscaped gardens welcome visitors to the Cruise Ship Terminal. Facilities include a duty- and tax-free shop, cafeteria, Juan Valdez coffee shop and shopping area, where goods range from handicrafts, emerald gemstones and jewellery to pre-Columbian pieces, souvenirs, leather products and cigars.

A complimentary shuttle runs from the ship's pier to the cruise terminal, where taxis leave for the Old City. Its many sights are easily explored on foot; walking from one end to the other takes about 30 minutes, with the scenes and people encountered along the route adding to the experience.

Posted taxi rates inside the port are $20 each way for up to 4 passengers. Beyond the port, the usual fare to Old Town is about $10 for the 10-minute ride.

Of all the cruise ports in Colombia, Cartagena de Indias is by far the most visited.

Take a printable map with you.

Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is regarded by many as one of the world's most beautiful, captivating and magical cities. Spanish conquerors founded it as a principal port, bringing Europeans and their goods into South America while sending gold, silver, plants, animals, minerals and handicrafts from across the continent through the Caribbean to the Old World.

The old city is Cartagena's main attraction, especially the inner walled town formed by the historic El Centro and San Diego districts. Colonial churches, monasteries, squares, palaces and mansions with overhanging balconies and shaded courtyards make it an architectural gem. In the Old Town, many homeless people may approach visitors and urgently ask for money.

Restored homes now sit among Cartagena's striking, lively plazas, waterfronts and public spaces, and the city attracts intellectuals. It is a welcoming place for travellers seeking rest, Caribbean and Colombian magical realism, tropical atmosphere or natural wonders. Many conventions take place here, but the two likely to interest Europeans and Americans most are the classical Music Festival during the first two weeks of January and South America's version of the (UK) Hay Literary Festival towards the end of January. Both are particularly imaginative and of world-class calibre...

Walking is the best way to discover the old town in particular.

Hop-on, hop-off tours include a 90 minute guided walk.

The cruise terminal supplies maps featuring walking routes.

Visit the Santa Clara Hotel for its impressive central courtyard. The former convent occupying the site has become a splendid place to stay; roaming the surrounding streets reveals more of this charming city.

Taxis are normally easy to locate. Within the old town, however, you may need to walk several blocks from the centre towards the broader road near the wall.

A cab from the pier to the clock tower entrance should cost about 10.00 USD.

Expect to pay about 60 USD for a half-hour horse-drawn carriage tour, or 200 USD for two hours.

Around 35km south-west of Cartagena, Islas del Rosario comprises 27 small coral islands, including islets barely large enough for one house. Coral reefs surround the archipelago, where the sea shifts in colour from turquoise to purple. The entire area is designated as Parque Nacional Natural (PNN) Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo.

Trips operate throughout the year from Cartagena's Muelle Turístico de la Bodeguita. Boats depart daily between 8am and 9am, returning at roughly 4pm to 6pm.

Colombia's textile trade has a strong reputation across South America and Europe, with clothing and lingerie especially valued for quality and affordability. Cartagena offers many craft and souvenir shops, where products are generally of a high standard, and most stores trade 7 days a week.

Bocagrande and El Laguito both provide good shopping, while Centro Comercial Pierino Gallo is the city's largest mall. Las Bovedas, formerly a prison, now serves as a covered market for artwork and souvenirs.

Tap water is drinkable in most major cities, although bottled supplies may be needed in the countryside. Agua Manantial bottled water, drawn from a natural spring near Bogotá, is recommended. Avoid ice and drinks that might contain non-distilled water, and ask whether a beverage uses tap water or bottled/boiled water.

Colombia's currency is the peso, with 3065 Peso = 1 USD. Its value is highly volatile, and because the peso also carries the $ sign, take care when reading prices.

Never exchange dollars for Colombian pesos with anyone offering the service on Cartagena's streets; under no circumstances should you accept, as you will be robbed.

The language spoken is Spanish.

WiFi at the cruise port terminal lets you connect a laptop or phone to the internet. Access costs $3 an hour, with tickets sold at the cash registers.

Cartagena's cyber cafés are concentrated in Centro, the Old Town district; access is inexpensive, though speeds can be slow.

Reinado Nacional de Belleza (Nov), the national beauty pageant, marks Cartagena's independence day. Miss Colombia is chosen on November 11, the event's climax. Street dancing, music and fancy-dress parades begin several days beforehand, when celebrations take over the city. Also called Carnaval de Cartagena or Fiestas del 11 de Noviembre, it is Cartagena's most important annual celebration.