I’ve been meaning to upload this post of my trip a few years at Cartagena, and here it is! Cartagena, a city in the country of Colombia that was founded in the 16th century, is located on the Caribbean coast and is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It is known for its cobble streets and brightly colored colonial architecture buildings. 

Although it is considered one of the safest cities in Colombia, it is not completely free of being safe, and you should exercise a high degree of caution. However, the Walled City area of Cartagena, also known as Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, may be one of the safer areas for tourists, and I will be mentioning more places around there. Walled City was built to defend the Caribbean port from pirates, and the name fits perfectly because you can see the massive 11 kilometers-long coral stone walls all around.

Here are 6 things I recommend you do in Cartagena for your first time visiting:

1. Visit the plazas and markets (for merchandise and food)

Around Walled City of Cartagena, you will find a lot of markets indoors and on the streets adjacent to each other, and I recommend seeing these in Portal de los Dulces. I also recommend checking these two plazas. These two plazas are Plaza de los Coches and Plaza de la Aduana (by the famous landmark of a clock tower called Torre del Reloj).

When you find food to try or eat at restaurants or from the street vendors, you can refer to this list of food that one of my friends gave me based on her recommendations:

• Bandeja de Pescado Frito (fried fish tray)
• Cazuela de Mariscos (seafood casserole)
• Camarones al Ajillo (garlic shrimp)
• Sancocho (soup with potatoes, cassava, plantains, and typically fish sancocho)
• Arepa de Huevo (egg arepa)
• Patacón con Todo (Patacón with everything) or Patacón Pisao
• Arroz de Mariscos (seafood fried rice)
• Ceviche (different versions from the Mexican ceviche) 
• Plátanos Asados con Bocadillo y Queso
• Roasted Plantains with Guava paste and cheese
• Any fruit, like mangoes and papaya
• Arroz de coco

2. Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas fortress

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is a fortress located on the hill of San Lazaro that was built in 1639; this is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is an impressive fortress that was built on massive blocks of limestone quarried from local coral reefs. There will be some uphill walks around here, and you will be exposed a lot to the sun, so make sure to have sunscreen on. I recommend doing a guided tour here so you can learn about the history and what you will be looking at around the fortress.

3. Visit Port Oasis Ecopark

If you’re coming from a cruise, this will be a popular area for cruisers. It is free to enter and explore. Port Oasis Ecopark is a bird sanctuary and wildlife attraction in Cartagena. You will see free-roaming parrots, peacocks, flamingoes, sloths, monkeys, etc. at this tropical setting, right by the sea. So many species live here, so you will be embraced by the sounds of each of them in every corner! You could also feed the birds. There’s a cafe, a gift shop, and shaded areas to hang out in.

4. Visit Palace of the Inquisition

Palace of the Inquisition is a museum in a Baroque architecture that also features balconies, courtyards, and it was a former spot for being a place for inquisition proceedings, or in other words, it was used to judge, punish, and persecute offenses against the Catholic faith. The dark history within this place and the curiosity to learn about it could be one reason to see this.

5. Visit Iglesia de San Pedro Claver

Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, also known as Church of Saint Peter Claver, is a set of religious buildings that was built from 1580 and 1654. Saint Peter Claver, who is the Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary that these buildings were dedicated to, has his remains inside here and can be found in the main altar. 

6. Take an Old City, Cartagena, tour

We went with the company Avia Caribbean to take us on a guided drive tour around the Old City. You will drive around it and be able to see areas you do not need to go out to walk around in, and it could take you to pretty much all of these spots I listed. At the time, we paid $70 each, but it could have changed too based on this economy; it’s always best to contact them for the actual price!