Az-Zahr Restaurant by El Arabe in Cartagena Colombia The Az-Zahr Restaurant is one of the newest establishments on the block. It features a wide array of Middle Eastern (specifically Lebanese) fair cooked to perfection. The unassuming décor and simplistic design (bare brick walls and bright but refined furnishings) belay the fact that you’ll find some of the best eats in town here…
Drink a Cocktail, Relax, and Soak up the Caribbean life Cartagena is home to any number of lovely little spots to sit with a cocktail, relax, and soak up the Caribbean life that infuses the city. But the Baluarte San Francisco Javier is a little different. This chic outside bar and lounge sits directly atop the fortified wall that surrounds the historic…
El Pescador de Colores Sea Lounge & Restaurant Isla Barú Cartagena For a relaxing recreation and dining experience unlike any other in Cartagena you have to go – well -- just outside Cartagena. El Pescador de Colores Sea Lounge & Restaurant is just a few minutes away by boat on the beautiful tropical oasis that is Baru Island. This island is renowned…
Plaza de los Coches in Cartagena This central plaza has held many names over the centuries: the Plaza de Juez, the Plaza del Esclavo, Plaza de Mercaderes, and lastly the Plaza de Yerba. But the Plaza de los Coches, as it is known now, has remained an integral part of Cartagena since the city was founded in 1533. And even as the…
Boating in Islas del Rosario (Rosario Islands) Undoubtedly, one of the jewels in Colombia’s crown, the Rosario Islands can only be described as a slice of tropical heaven and an amazing place to go boating. Turquoise blue waters gently lap white sandy beaches, bordered by lush forests of natural vegetation. Home to some of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches, gin-clear waters teem with…
Restaurante Don Juan When you stay in Colombia you’d be remiss if you didn’t sample at least some of the local cuisine. While there are any number of fine restaurants in Cartagena featuring alternatives (Peruvian, Asian, even Mediterranean cuisines) the true sole food of Cartagena is a mix of Colombian favorites and Caribbean flair all featuring local ingredients fresh from the sea…
Luxury Shopping Destinations in Cartagena Colombia Cartagena, Colombia is becoming a beacon for high-end luxury fashion shops specializing in fashion and accessories. Local South American talents as well as world-class European fashion houses have recognized the potential for growth in the region and have opened dozens of new stores (both mono brand boutiques and multi-brand outlets) within the recent past and it…
Pedro de Heredia Founder of Cartagena Pedro de Heredia, the founding father of Cartagena, Colombia, was a controversial historical character with a colorful background and a tendency to rub his contemporaries the wrong way and was not one for etiquette and decorum. Pedro de Heredia served as a soldier in the New World and became a commanding officer to over 2,000 men…
La Perla Restaurant in Cartagena If you’re looking for an excellent place to have a first-class meal in Cartagena’s Old City La Perla Restaurant is one modern eatery you should definitely seek out. Just one block off the Plaza De Santa Domingo, this cozy little space is filled with warmth, charm, and simply amazing food. On the face of it, La Perla…
Modern Cultural References to Historic Cartagena Cartagena was once one of the most important cities in the Spanish Empire. A rich port city in The New World, Spain spent billions of dollars building, growing, protecting, it. It’s no wonder then that its cultural heritage should extend to modern times as well. Cartagena has been featured in multiple movies, books, televisions shows, and…
11th of November Independence Celebrations in Cartagena On the 11th of November the city of Cartagena erupts into a day-long festival celebrating its independence from the Spanish Empire. People from all walks of life turn out to showcase their Colombian pride. The party-like atmosphere features street festivals, food, music, dancing and parades. These annual independence celebrations spill out into the streets long…
Colombia’s National Beauty Pageant Every year during the second week of November Cartagena fills with the most beautiful women in all of Colombia. The National Beauty Pageant brings women from every corner of the country to compete for the Queen’s Crown and the right to represent Colombia in the Miss Universe Pageant. They bring with them A-List stars from all over the…
Las Bóvedas (The Vaults) in Cartagena Las Bóvedas (or the Vaults) is really a single complex of 23 individual storerooms (or dungeons depending on your point of view) built between 1792 and 1796. The 47 arches and 23 domes were dreamt up by Antonia de Arevalo, an engineer who was charged with completing the extensive fortifications of the city of Cartagena after…
