Cartagena de Indias is Colombia's most fascinating and beautiful city. Cartagena is an old fortified Spanish colonial port city. Inside the walled old town are numerous churches, monasteries, plazas, palaces and mansions. Some of the most interesting sights in the old town are the Palacio de la Inquisición and the Casa del Marqués de Valdehoyos, as well as the old port of Cartagena on the Bahía de las Ánimas. Cartagena's old town is very nice to just wander around in.

Cartagena's outer walled town is known as Getsemaní. It has also several nice areas, but it is not as well preserved as the old town. Not far from Getsemaní are several Spanish forts, of which one is the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas that was built in the 17th century and is the greatest and strongest fortress the Spanish ever constructed in their colonies.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Cartagena. The resorts of Bocagrande and El Laguito, which are situated in the peninsula south of Cartagena's old town, are quite expensive, but cheaper accommodation is available in Getsemaní and in the old town itself. The city is 665 km north of Bogotá.

About 30 km (20 miles) offshore southwest of Cartagena are the magnificent Corales del Rosario.