Nearly 500 years old, Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in all of South America. Sitting on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast, it is steeped in colonial history and exudes an exotic magnetism only heightened by its inhabitants, the costeños, who are typically more animated and light-hearted than those of the country’s highlands. Filled with the sound of music and the sweet smell of fruit vendors’ carts, Cartagena attracts interest no longer from pirates trying to loot the city but from tourists eager to soak up its history, sights, weather and nightlife. It has justifiably earned the status of UNESCO World Heritage, its old walled city a delightful maze of narrow streets, shaded courtyards and balconies spilling out bright flowers. All this without even mentioning the warm Caribbean waters lapping at its shores, attracting colourful bird and sea life as well as locals and visitors keen to lay down their beach towels.
