Cartagena

Welcome to Cartagena

Cartagena de Indias is South America's most romantic city—a walled colonial masterpiece where bougainvillea cascades from wooden balconies, horse-drawn carriages clatter over cobblestones, and Caribbean sunsets paint the sky in impossible colors. Founded in 1533, the city grew wealthy from gold and emeralds, then withstood countless pirate attacks and siege attempts. Today, the UNESCO-protected old town mixes backpacker hostels with boutique hotels, street vendors with acclaimed restaurants, and salsa bars with rooftop cocktail lounges. Beyond the walls, beach islands and the colorful Getsemaní neighborhood offer different flavors of Caribbean magic. Gabriel García Márquez set his greatest love story here—and it's easy to understand why.