Nikole & Bradley
Things To Do
Pink Ocean and Mud Volcano
Just 45 minutes from Cartagena, there is Galerazamba, a magical town with a pink ocean and an active volcano in which you can take a swim—that is, in a bath of naturally-heated mud that cleans, nurtures and heals your entire being. The adventure only concludes, however, after (precariously) sliding down the exit stairwell into an idyllic lagoon to wash off. There, local village women will quite literally snatch off your bathing suit and use it to scrub the mud and dead skin clean off your baby-soft epidermis.
Rosario Islands
As part of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, the Rosario Islands are an integral part of one of Colombia’s most important national parks, and the only park in the country that is primarily underwater. As such, the islands and surrounding waters are remarkably well preserved and protected, meaning that you can enjoy their wonders as nature intended. At approximately 100 kilometres from Cartagena, it’s also really easy to pay the islands a visit from the ‘Jewel of the Indies’, meaning that anyone can enjoy a trip to the islands. Most of the islands can be reached in an hour or less from Cartagena’s docks, so even if your trip to Colombia is short, you don’t need to worry about missing out on the Rosario Islands.
Biggest Aviary in the continent of America
Located in the Rosario Islands / Baru, Aviario Nacional in Cartagena, Colombia, is conservation organization that seeks, through a modern and representative exhibition of avifauna in natural environments, to promote knowledge about Colombian biodiversity, its sustainable use and responsible management. During the tour you will find three ecosystems: Tropical rainforest, Coastal zone, Desert. All of these fun, relaxation and beauty in the same trip!
San Felipe Castle
Cartagena was always a desirable conquest for pirates and enemies of the Spanish Crown; and for this reason, the defense of the city from these threats was a question of priority for its inhabitants from the first decades of the existence of the city. Once the primitive nucleus of Cartagena and the outlying district of Getsemaní were fortified, there was a need to erect a structure on San Lázaro Hill that would prevent an enemy attack from its peak, since the hill dominated the walls and the only entrance to the city, the Media Luna Entrance in Getsemaní. In addition, this hill was the intermediate point between the city and the nearby Popa Peak, where some heavy guns and canons were installed between 1769 and 1780 to cross fire with the castle and make an enemy attack more difficult from the large beach of Playón Grande in Pie de la Popa.
DINING: Here's a list of a few of our favorite places
CELELE If there's one restaurant that I would recommend to every visitor to Cartagena, Innovative and creative chefs, passionate about showcasing the best produce and techniques of the Colombian Caribbean region delivering world-class cuisine where attention has been paid to absolutely every detail. JUAN DEL MAR RESTAURANTE Make sure you go the restaurant, not the pizzeria. This is a special place for us. Highly recommend the seafood fideua, its a paella but with noodles instead of rice. They always have live music and a great ambience. Reservation recommended. MISTURA Peruvian fusion restaurant. They definitely have a variety of things on the menu as well. Nikkei ceviche is out of this world. Great mixologists and live music. Reservation recommended. LA CEVICHERIA It was actually featured in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, which makes sense since La Cevicheria is everything that Tony looks for in a restaurant - amazing food, interesting local dishes, laid back decor.
DRINKS
ALQUIMICO Incredible 3 level space makes it a pleasure to drink cocktails. Rooftop bar gets rowdy on weekends. Cool barkeep, great music, buzzing atmosphere. For me, the best overall bar in Cartagena. Monday industry nights often end up being the biggest party of the week. EL BARÓN The best cocktail bar in Cartagena. This is New York standards, real-deal, attention-to-detail, world-class, drink-snob satisfying goodness with a side of tasty eats. You'll be impressed. *Edit: same team has recently opened French-inspired Colette Bar right next door and it's equally amazing. If you like this, you'll also like El Coro at the Sofitel Santa Clara, Carmen MOVICH HOTEL ROOFTOP Not the best drinks, not the best service, but what a view! Having at least one sunset drink here and taking your next profile photo with the Cartagena bay in the background is a must. CAFE DEL MAR One of our favorite spots to watch the sunset with live music.