Cartagena De Indias
Cartagena de Indias, as it is officially called, is steeped in history and one of the most interesting cities in the Western Hemisphere. Located on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena's founding dates to 1533 and is credited to Don Pedro de Heredia. The historic Old City is still surrounded by massive walls. At one time, there were two entrances into the well-protected harbor. One of them, Boca Grande, was blocked by the Spaniards after an attack by the English in 1741. Today, access into the bay is only possible via Boca Chica, which is flanked by two ancient forts.
Caution: Don’t wear valuable jewelry or carry large amounts of cash into the city. Keep an eye on your bags, cameras etc., at all times.
San Andres Island
The San Andres and Providencia archipelago comprises Colombia's Caribbean islands, lying some 290 miles north of the South American coast. Palm-dotted San Andres is only eight miles long and two miles wide. It is noted for beautiful sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and good diving sites. At one time the island belonged to Britain and, according to local lore; it was a favorite hideout for the legendary pirate Henry Morgan. In 1822, San Andres came under the control of Colombia. In recent years the original population has greatly increased due to unrestricted immigration from the mainland. There are also Chinese and Middle Eastern communities. The official language is Spanish but English is widely spoken, especially in shops and hotels.
The island is best seen via the scenic ring road that offers views of coves, beaches and palm groves. In the interior stands a Baptist church dating from 1847, and the attraction at the southern end is the Hoyo Soplador, a geyser-like hole where the sea shoots jets of water intermittently into the air during the right wind and sea conditions.
On the island's northern tip lies the main town and commercial center, known by the same name as the island. San Andres Town is surrounded by beaches, with small hotels lining the waterfront. Being a duty-free zone, the town often gets crowded with Colombian shoppers who come from the mainland looking for foreign-made goods at duty-free prices.
Santa Marta
Santa Marta, Colombia’s oldest city, is situated on the Caribbean coast and boasts a fine natural harbor, beaches and a splendid view. That is only part of the reason the Spaniards chose this as their first settlement. Their choice was also influenced by gold.
Founded by the Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1525, Santa Marta was often sacked by corsairs in the 16th century. During colonial times, the city was important as an outlet for the Magdalena River Valley. It remained royalist during the revolution and was liberated in 1821 and became a refuge for Simon Bolivar, who died at the nearby San Pedro de Alejandrino village.
Santa Marta is known as the gateway to the Ciudad Perdida or “Lost City” of the Tairona Indians, a pre-Columbian community known for their gold and pottery.
Outside the city, attractions include the natural splendors of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the National Park Tairona, one of the prettiest parks in South America and the Caribbean.
