3 Days On The Caribbean Coast
Colombia Travel Itinerary & Guide
Guest Post From:
3 Days in Cartagena, Colombia
Despite not having a lot of time, Cartagena was a must see and very easy to get around!
Day 1:
We arrived at around 1 pm Saturday. We headed to Hostel Mamallena on recommendation from some other travellers. They let us check in our room early which is such a convenience. Sweating it out in a common room is not idea.
First we headed towards to the entrance to the old city. Behind its walls are narrow streets filled with vendors and shops with vendors and shops, buildings with Colonial Spanish influence, and a variety of parks to sit and people watch out of the sun. They are filled with squirrels, small monkeys and even iguanas.
We had worked up an appetite, so we went to a ceviche place we heard was off the beaten path, but unbelievable. Wind your way through an indoor market and you pop out at La Laguna Azul. Some of the best ceviche I’ve had yet, worth the trip!
Later on we hung out with people from all over the globe in our common area, sharing drinks, laughs and all our favorite music.
Around midnight we headed into the old city to have drinks at a few restuarant and bars. There are so many so it’s easy to stop in for a few beers then keep going. Also grabbing a cold Aguila 1 liter at a cornerstore then chilling in a park is good because the heat doesn’t not go away at night
Day 2:
Day 2 we started out late after a late night of socializing. We did some more walking around the old city. We bartered with the vendors on paintings, watches, sunglasses and more. They are very skilled at dealing, but we just had fun going back and forth and finally settling on very cheap souvenirs. 
After lunch we went to the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, which is an old fortress built in 1536 with additions in the 1600s. Breathtaking views of the city when the sun is going down. Be there for 5 til sunset. There are corridors, small rooms, holes in the early for gunfire out, and cannons all over. You can look at the damage on the walls and almost hear the shots and burning gunpowder.
For dinner we tried an upscale Asian fusion restuarant, Moshi. It was on the more expensive side, but was one of the best meals I’ve had in awhile. The service was 5 star and the chef came out and gave us two small dishes of some of their special on the house. I had the Asian beef on noodles with a coconut curry. Would recommend. The crab taco appetizer was also very delicious
Day 3:
Our third day was bittersweet. We were on our way to Santa Marta at 1 pm, so we went wanted to get in as much of the city before we left. We had a nice French breakfast at a cafe called Brioche. We both had eggs Benedict and a latte which I think is the perfect start to any day. After some more strolls through the city, we needed to go get our shuttle. My time here was short but left a lasting impression on me for its beauty and people. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later Cartagena!
Tips and Tricks:
Don’t engage with the vendors if you aren’t interested because they are very persistent. Also there are a lot of people trying to push drugs on you, just say no and keep going.