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