is a gorgeous historic city whose splendid past has been preserved.  The city was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia.  During the Spanish conquest the city was Spain’s leading port.  Phillip II ordered the walls of the city (still standing) be built to protect the city from attacks by British pirates who laid siege to it repeatedly in an effort to carry off the great treasure inside, most of it beautiful pieces of indigenous gold work, as well as gold lingots and emeralds.

Nowadays, Cartagena is home to 600 thousand inhabitants and a world-class cultural and tourist center.  The United Nations granted the city World Heritage status because of its well-preserved 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th-centry buildings of great historical and architectural value including the Santo Domingo Convent and the San Felipe Castle, as well as beautiful Republican-era mansions and picturesque Caribbean-style neighborhoods.  This “Stone Corral”, as the ancient walled city is known, is one of the most beautiful examples of 17th-century Spanish architecture in the world.

27 °C (80.6 °F) year round. Annual rainfall is scant given its location in the tropics and along an ocean shore.

Inside the walled city are places of interest such as the Palace of the Inquisition, the San Pedro Church and Monastery, the Vaults, the Heredia Theater, the Santo Domingo Church and Plaza, the Museum of Modern Art and many others.

Outside the walls are the San Felipe de Barajas Castle and the Candelaria Convent located on the Cerro de la Popa.

Located near Cartagena are the Rosario Islands and the Guillermo Piñeres Botanic Gardens.

Ver mapa más grande

Office of tourism
Muelle Turístico La Bodeguita Piso 2
Tels/ Phone: 57+5+6550211- 6550277 – 6550640 – 6550746
Fax: 6550709
info@turismocartagenadeindias.com

Tourist information point:
57+5+6601583
puntodeinformacion@turismocartagenadeindias.com