Cartagena de Indias
Cartagena is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. By the sea is the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings. The city boasts a rich afro-carribbean culture, a scandalous history, and a mystical air and tropical climate that seemingly transport you to another world.
Weather
The average temperature in Cartagena in December for a typical day ranges from a high of 87°F (31°C) to a low of 79°F (26°C). Some would describe it as very warm with a gentle breeze. The end of the month comes with only a 4% chance of rain and 11.5 hours of daylight. There is moderate humidity generally sitting around 77% and the air could be described as muggy. In general, Cartagena can be described as very warm with a gentle breeze.
Food
The food in Cartagena can vary from from what you'll find in the rest of the country. Being a coastal city you can expect lighter fare and some of the freshest seafood in the world. The rich history of the city means you'll encounter dishes with strong Spanish, Arabic, African, Latin, and Creole influences. However, you'll also be able to find some American favorites like pizza and fried chicken too. Check out this blog to read more about food in Cartagena.
People
The locals in Cartagena are warm and friendly. You might be surprised by the number of people of color you see there, and they might be surprised by you. They often offer hellos and signs of kinship purely based off of seeing your skin color in the same family of hues as theirs. Cartagena also attracts a lot of tourists, with international tourism exploding in the past few years. You will see many European visitors and American visitors as well, and may even encounter someone from your home state. In general Cartagena is pretty safe, but leave the expensive accessories and clothing at home and opt for items you won't be afraid to lose just in case.
Culture
Cartagena is vibrant and colorful mixing Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences. The people like to party and you can dance into the wee hours of the morning. The eclectic city gives you a taste of the colonial era, the island life, and the graffiti filled centers of political equality movements that have occurred in the city. With cobblestone streets, city parks and palaces you'll never get bored. Salsa is a popular form of music in the city but you can find bars and clubs that play American music as well.
Things to Do
Take a walking tour and go back in time with a stroll down the corridors of a colonial street. Admire art from local artists in Getsemani or even buy some to bring back home. Jump on the back of an ATV and explore, or take a boat to a local island to relax for the day and visit a beach club. Enjoy world class cuisine or authentic street food and taste Cartagena as the locals do. Take a dance class, bar hop, visit a palenque where escaped africans established their own free cities. The option are abundant. You will not get bored.