| Eventually the city became a major export | | | | charter traffic between the two countries. |
| center as well, for precious metals, spices | | | | These charters are usually extremely small |
| and other South American goods. Today, the | | | | (no more than family of four can comfortably |
| city offers a dizzying array of exotic | | | | be accommodated) sailboats with one crew |
| beaches, public parks, museums, restaurants | | | | member. The trip can take up to five days, |
| and unparalleled nightlife. | | | | depending on weather and stops along the way. |
| | | | Fares vary between US$200-US$500 and include |
| Situated on Colombia's northern coast, | | | | food, usually fresh seafood caught along the |
| Cartagena is the country's most highly | | | | journey. |
| touristed city. High season times include | | | | |
| the December holidays (holy week between | | | | Getting Around Cartagena |
| Christmas and New Year's Day) and the month | | | | |
| of August, which is when most Colombians take | | | | As with most vacation destinations, the best |
| their vacations. | | | | way to get around Cartagena is to walk. This |
| | | | is especially true of the city's ciudad |
| The favorite spot in Cartagena of | | | | amurallada, or walled colonial (inner) city. |
| international tourists is usually the walled | | | | For destinations slightly beyond walking |
| colonial city, known as ciudad amurallada, | | | | distance, such as the San Felipe fort, |
| which is home to high-end guest | | | | visitors can take a public bus or a taxi. |
| accommodations, restaurants and clubs. The | | | | While taxis are usually easy to find in |
| other popular spot among tourists is | | | | Cartagena, they are much less common in the |
| Bocogrande, a mile-long strip along the beach | | | | old city center. Be prepared to walk a few |
| of high-rise hotels and exclusive | | | | blocks to a more trafficked road. |
| accommodations, cafes, bars, restaurants and | | | | |
| discotheques. | | | | Another popular transportation option is to |
| | | | take a horse-drawn chariot. There are |
| Getting to Cartagena | | | | several companies offering this service, with |
| | | | sales booths set up through the old city. |
| Cartagena is located about 1000 km north of | | | | You will usually find at least one waiting |
| Bogota, so most visitors chose to arrive by | | | | chariot at the Plaza Bolivar, or you can ask |
| air. You can either take a direct flight | | | | your guest accommodation to assist with |
| from Miami or you can transfer through the | | | | reservations. |
| Colombian capital of Bogota. The flight from | | | | |
| Miami is about 2.5 hours, and it is an hour | | | | If you are interested in taking a day boat |
| from Bogota. The Cartagena airport is called | | | | trip, Cartagena has several options. The |
| Rafael Nunez and is a fully international | | | | various harbors throughout the city offer day |
| airport. | | | | excursions to the Islas del Rosario and Playa |
| | | | Blanca. Tourists generally find that the |
| A more exotic method of transportation into | | | | ferryboat to Playa Blanca is perfect for a |
| Cartagena is charter boat. If you have been | | | | day at the beach. On Sundays, the city also |
| vacationing in Panama, you can hire a charter | | | | offers a direct bus service. |
| boat to Cartagena, as this city is a port for | | | | |