Cartagena de Indias is one of the largest cities in Colombia. Its architecture and landmarks have turned it into one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.
Location and How to Get to This Specific Site
The city is situated at Colombia’s northern region. You can get there using buses or taxis. The city faces the Caribbean Sea on the west side. The Cartagena Bay is to its south and to the north Bocagrande.
What to See There
The city is filled with diverse landmarks. Chief among them is the Palace of the Inquisition Las Bovedas. Other sites worth visiting are the Steps of La Popa mount, Playa Blanca, Baru and the Cartagena Gold Museum.
The Walled city of Cartagena is also popular among tourists, as is the India Catalina and Islas del Rosario. Cartagena de Indias is also the center of modern construction. Since 2007, numerous skyscrapers have been built.
History
The first community to settle in the area was the Puerto Hormiga Culture. The culture settled in around 7000 BC close to the Scure and Bolivar departments. Evidence for this are the Ceramic objects c. 4,000 BC that have been unearthed at these sites.
One theory why the area was chosen is for the proliferation of animals they could hunt. Archeologists have unearthed ancient dwelling places around the village of Mahates, Viso and Maria La Baja.
According to archeologists, the Puerto Hormiga culture declined around 3000 BC. They were replaced by the more advanced Monsu culture. They lived in what are now the Cienaga Honda and Pasacaballos.
Cost
A budget traveler will have to spend 30 USD daily for the food, tourism, transport and accommodation. A couple will probably have to spend at least 50 USD. For a bit of luxury, the daily cost will be 100 USD for a couple.
Other Info
The city has several private and public libraries. These include the Universidad de Cartagena José Fernandez Madrid Library, Bartolome Calvo Library and the Technological University of Bolívar Library. There are several concert halls and theaters such as Heredia Theatre and Universidad de Cartagena.
The climate is generally tropical wet and dry. The humidity is 90%. Unlike other Caribbean countries, hurricanes rarely come to the Cartagena de Indias.
