Cartagena was always a desired place for pirates and enemies of the Spanish Crown, for this reason for its inhabitants the defence of the city against these threats was a priority issue since the first decades of the city's existence.
Once the primitive nucleus of Cartagena and the suburb of Getsemane had been fortified, it was considered necessary to place a structure on the hill of San Lázaro that would prevent an enemy attack from its summit, since it dominated the walls and the only entrance to the city, the Puerta de la Media Luna in Gethsemane.
In addition, this hill was the intermediate point between the city and the nearby Cerro de la Popa, where batteries were built between 1769 and 1780 to cross fires with the castle and hinder an enemy attack from the Playa Grande del Pie de la Popa.
Modern Cartagena is the capital of the Bolívar Department, and had a population of 876,885 according to the 2018 census, making it the second-largest city in the Caribbean region, after Barranquilla, and the fifth-largest city in Colombia. The metropolitan area of Cartagena is the sixth-largest urban area in the country, after metropolitan area of Bucaramanga. Economic activities include the maritime and petrochemical industries, as well as tourism.
Video: How to spend a day in Cartagena.
Key - locations visited - activities:
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias took place during the 1739 to 1748 War of Jenkins' Ear between Spain and Great Britain. The result of long-standing commercial tensions, the war was primarily fought in the Caribbean; the British tried to capture key Spanish ports in the region, including Porto Bello and Chagres in Panama, Havana, and Cartagena de Indias in present-day Colombia.
- Walls of Cartagena
Among the most iconic fortifications of "La Heroíca", the Walls of Cartagena are the most recognized. It was a project that lasted nearly two centuries and ended in 1796, constructed with the aim of defending the city from the continuous pirate attacks that it suffered.
- Bazurto market
The market is a whirlwind of labyrinthine lanes crammed tight with vendors selling everything from exotic fruits to electronics, clothing, party supplies, and even herbs to cure that head cold. Rapid-fire Spanish fills the potent and stagnant air around you, while shopping carts miraculously weave their way through the narrow alleyways.
In short, visiting the Bazurto Market is an assault on the senses, one that leaves you with an undeniable feeling of “This is Cartagena.”
- El Totumo Mud Volcano
This is an ACTIVE mud volcano located near sea level in northern Colombia in the municipality of Santa Catalina.
The Totumo Volcano is full of mud, which natives consider “curative mud“, due to its therapeutic qualities characterized by the ingredients it contains such as water, silica, aluminium, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron and more minerals. Video: Mud Volcano
- The National Aviary of Colombia
I love hummingbirds … actually any kind of birds! So during my recent trip in to Cartagena, I took the opportunity to visit the National Aviary of Colombia, Aviario Nacional Colombia.
With over 1,900 avian species, more than any other country in the world, Colombia is a birder’s paradise waiting to be discovered! Colombia has over 150 hummingbird species recorded, about 50% of all the world species, more than any other country.
The Aviary is situated on seven hectares of wilderness that allow visitors to observe a unique and wonderful collection of birds from Colombia and all of Latin America. The birds are exhibited in a representation of their natural habitat, in environments very similar to those from which they originate. Three ecosystems are presented: tropical rainforest, coastal zone and desert.
Through various ecological walking trails visitors can enjoy 22 exhibits divided into large immersion aviaries, radial aviaries, swamps and lakes. There are different landscapes, plant and water environments that allow visitors to appreciate a great diversity of bird species.
In the National Aviary (video) there are 190 species, and a total population of about 2,000 birds.
- Bora Bora Beach Club on Islas Del Rosario
Just 50 minutes boat ride from Cartagena you will find this wonderful Beach Club in the middle of the beautiful Rosario Islands.
