Caribbean Coast attractions

Nestled among the bougainvillea-clad balconies of Cartagena’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, the neighborhood of San Diego developed as a wealthy area during the peak days of the gold and sugar trade. Home to brightly colored buildings and street vendors, the small square is a popular place to sit, order a drink or something to eat, and watch the world go by.

The final resting place of South American liberator Simón Bolívar, the 17th-century Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is now a historical landmark, museum, gallery, and botanical garden containing over 200 works of contemporary South American art. See where Bolívar took his last breath, marvel over antique artefacts, wander the expansive gardens, and admire artworks from the countries that Bolívar liberated.

Opened in 1982, Cartagena's Gold Museum (Museo de Oro Zenu is dedicated to Colombia's indigenous Zenu people. The collection, displayed in a colonial mansion in Plaza de Bolivar, includes more than 530 gold pieces (including a pre-Hispanic golden jaguar, as well as bone carvings and textiles from Colombia’s indigenous peoples.

Part of Tayrona National Park, Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal is a white-sand haven that provides ideal conditions for swimming and snorkeling. Marine life off Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal includes sea turtles, dolphins, and several species of fish. Even without spotting one of these creatures, the coral and sponges of the reef provide colorful underwater scenes.

A striking reminder of Cartagena’s colonial heritage, Cartagena Cathedral is one of the city’s most notable landmarks and one of Colombia’s most famous cathedrals. Dating to 1577 and taking over 84 years to complete, the historic church is well preserved, with recent renovations helping to restore its original features.

Occupying a prime position at the main entrance of the UNESCO-listed Old Town Cartagena, La India Catalina Monument is a bronze rendering of the daughter of a local chief, who was abducted at age 14 from her home in Galerazamba. Once she’d learned Spanish, she had to accompany the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia as an interpreter and pacifying presence in interactions between the Spanish and Indigenous groups.

Backed by luxury high-rise hotels and popular among Colombian travelers, El Rodadero is a lively, local alternative to the internationally popular Playa Blanca.

Built in 1911 to commemorate a century of Colombian independence, Cartagena’s Teatro Adolfo Mejia (Teatro Heredia is based on the Italian-Caribbean design of Havana’s Tacon Theater. The creme-and-yellow theatre reigns over the Plaza de la Merced and is famous for its frescoes and marble staircase imported from Italy.

Housed in the restored 16th-century former Customs House—itself one of the oldest buildings in the Americas—the Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Tairona) offers an insight into the region’s history. Admire a vast collection of pre-Columbian gold and pottery, while learning about the indigenous Tairona people.

Boasting a prime location on Bolivar Square (Plaza Bolivar), the Palace of Inquisition (Museo Histórico de Cartagena de Indias) museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion that was once the headquarters of the Spanish inquisition. Not for the feint of heart, the museum exhibits diverse artifacts that range from torture devices and paintings to pre-Colombian statues and ceramics.

Opened in 1992, on the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas, Cartagena's Naval Museum of the Caribbean (Museo Naval del Caribe) traces the history of the city and its surroundings, and reveals why Panama became a separate country. It’s housed in what was once a Jesuit college, and occupies a prime position overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Sandwiched between picturesque beaches and lush mountains, Santa Marta is both the oldest surviving city in Colombia and a gateway to Tayrona National Park. Explore the UNESCO-recognized historic center on foot, making time to visit highlights such as the 18th century cathedral, Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo de Oro Tairona), and Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.

A national monument, the Rafael Nuñez House Museum (Casa Museo Rafael Núñez) in Cartagena was once home to the famous politician, poet, and lawyer, Rafael Núñez. As someone who served as the country’s president on four occasions, Núñez is an extremely important figure in Colombian history—not only did he write the country’s 1886 constitution, but he also wrote the words to the Colombian national anthem.

A small Colombian fishing village-turned-beach hangout, laidback Taganga is a hub for party-loving backpackers and scuba divers alike. Use Taganga as an affordable jumping-off point for exploration of Tayrona National Park, Ciudad Perdida, or mountainous Minca, before returning to admire the sunset from one of Taganga’s many beach bars.

With more than 200 species on display, Santa Marta’s Marine World Aquarium (Mundo Marino Acuario) is a must for nature lovers of all ages. Discover sharks, turtles, starfish, octopuses, seabirds, and more, while learning about conservation efforts in the region.

Backed by verdant mountains and lined with swaying palms, Playa Blanca is a tropical paradise situated just outside of Santa Marta. Go for a swim in the calm waters, enjoy a fresh seafood lunch, and relax under a thatched roof palapa for a quieter alternative to El Rodadero Beach.

Renowned for his soccer skills and outgoing personality, former Colombian football player Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama is immortalized by the 22-foot (7-meter) bronze statue of him in his hometown of Santa Marta, outside the Estadio Eduardo Santos. Nicknamed “El Pibe” (or “the Kid”) for his curly blond head of hair, he was one of the most recognizable figures in football worldwide, and one of the few Colombian players to ever join Major League Soccer in the United States.

Every year, Barranquilla hosts the Barranquilla Carnival, a celebration so fabulously flamboyant that it’s UNESCO–listed, so it’s no surprise that the Colombian city has an entire museum dedicated to the history and traditions of the revelry. Even if you’re not in Barranquilla for the celebrations, Museo del Carnaval lets you experience carnival year-round.

Situated on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Cartagena Cruise Port welcomes 30 different cruise ship lines and features several attractions that reference the country’s natural resources—before exiting, pass through a replica emerald mine and an aviary with birds such as flamingoes, peacocks, and parrots.

Perched on the banks of the Magdalena River in Barranquilla, the Gran Malecón del Rio is the top spot to soak up the Caribbean charm of the city. It boasts bars, restaurants, sports fields, and a giant golden statue of Shakira (the singer was born and raised in Barranquilla), and overlooks Salamanca Island Nature Reserve, where mangrove forests shelter almost 200 bird species.

Located in the heart of Cartagena, Plaza Bocagrande is a one-stop shop for all your retail and entertainment needs. Once a fishing village, this sleek and sophisticated neighborhood is now home to the vast Plaza Bocagrande Centro Comercial shopping mall, perched on a peninsula that juts out into the Caribbean Sea.

Designed by Barranquilla-born architect Diana Escorcia, the Monumento Ventana al Mundo (Window to the World) towers over the Colombian city on the Caribbean coast. At 147 feet (45 meters) high, this avant-garde architectural landmark is made from aluminium, steel, and glass, and serves as a symbol of Barranquilla’s progression and modernity.

Cartagena has its own beach, but venture farther afield to the Rosario Islands (Corales Islas del Rosario) for some snorkeling, scuba diving—or complete relaxation. Isla del Encanto provides a tranquil escape from modern life. The private island is home to a resort hotel where visitors can spend the day by the pool or on a beach lapped by the Caribbean.

At the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Nabusimake—the spiritual home of the Arhuaco people—is a secluded indigenous village which few outsiders get to experience. Known for virgin landscapes and wattle-and-daub homes, this sacred settlement is mostly closed off to the outside world.

Presided over by the candy-colored St. Nicholas Church, Plaza de San Nicolas is the beating heart of Barranquilla on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. As well as the neo-Gothic church, the square is home to neo-classical and colonial architecture and is frequented by street food vendors and performers.

Connecting the cities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta, Parque Isla Salamanca features mangrove swamps, forests, and beaches on the estuary of the Magdalena River. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, thanks to the wealth of wildlife that calls it home: numerous bird species, leatherback and painted turtles, the crab-eating raccoon, and Mexican anteaters.

Zoológico de Barranquilla represents the diversity of Colombia’s wildlife through a wide range of animal enclosures. Along with seeing animals from other continents, such as tigers, elephants, and lions, you’ll encounter native Amazonian species such as tapirs, jaguars, and monkeys. The zoo is also dedicated to rehabilitation at its veterinary center.