15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

Cartagena is colorful.  Cartagena is vibrant.  And you may just want to add it to your bucket list after checking out these “15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!”  I’ll take you all over the city ~ from the colorful streets of Old Town Cartagena, to the high rises & beaches of Bocagrande.  Then we’ll venture out to gorgeous islands in the sun….Islas del Rosario, where you can sun, swim, & snorkel to your heart’s content. 

Cartagena is a magical spot….so let’s get on our way!

Brightly colored buildings overflowing with flowers & foliage….this is CARTAGENA!!

15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

For our first few photos, we’ll stay right in the heart of Old Town Cartagena, where most of the cruise ships dock ~ & where you’ll find the most colorful doors, buildings, & flowers in town!  There are countless restaurants, hotels, boutiques, & coffee shops here….set amidst winding, cobble-stoned streets.  Get lost & enjoy wandering in Old Town!

All over Cartagena, you’ll see women wearing beautifully colored dresses, & stacks of fruit on top of their heads!

You’ll get glimpses of Cartagena’s famous yellow cathedral from all over the city…

One of my favorite pictures EVER!! I bought the dress in a cute little shop in Old Town Cartagena, changed in a bathroom…& VOILA!!

Wear a pretty dress & get a photo in front of one of Cartagena’s bright doors….

15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

If you want your accommodations to be a little more modern, with rooftop pools & killer ocean views ~ book a room in the upscale Bocagrande district.  Just a mile from Old Town, Bocagrande has a more local’s feel to it & you’ll see less tourists….plus there are tons of great restaurants & more beachfront: where you can tan, jet ski, or even get a massage on the beach! 

Imagine sipping your morning Juan Valdez coffee with this view of Bocagrande…

Rooftop pools & ocean views await you in the Bocagrande neighborhood of Cartagena…

The Bocagrande skyline.

15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

The Islas del Rosario (Rosario Islands) are like those magical islands you dream about while typing away at your desk ~ with their thatched palapa roofs, crystalline turquoise waters, fresh seafood, & plentiful sunshine.  From Cartagena, you can catch all kinds of tours to these islands, which will take about one hour to reach by boat.  (Note: On the way back to Cartagena, the ocean was SUPER choppy & it was a REALLY rough ride!  If this isn’t for you, stick to the beaches in Bocagrande).   

Welcome to Islas del Rosario, a chain of islands located about 100 kilometers off the coast of Cartagena.

It took us about an hour to get to this little island, where you could swim, snorkel, tan, & eat fresh crabs!

Heading back on the boats to Cartagena…

Aerial image of the stunning Rosario Islands, near Cartagena in Colombia.

15 Photos to Inspire Your Cartagena Trip!

And we’re back to the heart of the city, in Old Town Cartagena, to finish up this photo tour.  Though this city can be touristy (particularly in Old Town), I didn’t find that to detract from its overall charm, authenticity, & vibrance.  Cartagena is one of my favorite cities in Colombia, & it’s an easy place to spend some time….as long as you can handle humidity, which typically hovers around 80%!

You will get some of the best sunset shots of your LIFE in Cartagena! (Because there are rooftops & courtyards galore, with amazing views like this one…)

Rooftop pool at the Movich Hotel, in Cartagena. Click on photo for rates!

My favorite sunset-watching bar in all of Cartagena: Cafe del Mar, set right on the city’s ramparts with literally HUNDREDS of tables. See & be seen here!

In Cartagena, I became “Noelia.” Via the sensuality & passion of the city, I discovered an entirely different side of myself.