Canadian World traveller Winter 2017-18 Issue

Madrid—and making your way from one to
the other. Walking these charming streets
(and even getting lost on occasion) is a
pleasure.
Getsemaní
The neighborhood of Getsemaní lies to the
southeast of the Centro. The architecture
here is much more modest than in the
Centro. The epicenter of the neighborhood
today is the Plaza de la Trinidad, in front of
Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad, where
backpackers, street performers, and longtime
residents congregate in the evenings.
Bocagrande
South of the Old City is flashy Bocagrande,
a skinny peninsula with many high-rise
hotels, malls, and residential buildings. The
main attractions here are the beaches,
which get packed on weekends with
Colombian families, vendors, and
masseuses. These gray-sand beaches are
just a 10-minute cab ride from the Old City
and offer water that’s good for swimming
and splashing around—but don’t expect
the turquoise colors often associated with
the Caribbean. For postcard-perfect whitesand
beaches and palm trees, book a day
tour or multiday excursion to Barú or the
Islas del Rosario.
Sightseeing Tours of Cartagena
Bursting with insider tips on the city and its
environs, This Is Cartagena (www.ticartagena.com)
offers unconventional tours of the
city. In addition to a top-notch walking tour
of the Old City, the company also offers a
tour devoted to the art scene, a bizarrefoods
tour, a day of luxurious island-hopping
on a yacht, and a drinking tour.
A fund-raising project for the nonprofit FEM
(www.femcolombia.org), Cartagena Insider
(www.insider.com.co) takes visitors beyond
the boutique hotels and fancy restaurants
of the Old City to experience the “real”
Cartagena and its people. Tour options
include a night of salsa, a day trip to La
Boquilla fishing community, a walking tour
of the Mercado de Bazurto, and a tour
focusing on the Champeta music culture
unique to Cartagena. Proceeds go directly
to the nonprofit’s social programs in and
around the city. Tours can also be arranged
to communities such as Tuchín, Córdoba,
Leticia (a town on Barú), Palmerito, and
San Bacile de Palenque.
Side note: If you take an organized walking
tour, you will likely be hounded by hawkers
selling Colombian souvenirs. Saying “No,
gracias,” may or may not help ward off
these nuisances. Don’t allow them to get
under your skin.
With an extensive array of interesting tours,
Alternative Travel Cartagena (www.alternativetravelcartagena.com)
aims to take visitors
to lesser-known areas in and around
Cartagena for a unique experience. They
are based in the fishing village of La
Boquilla and offer horseback rides on the
beach, cooking classes, and canoe rides
through mangroves.
Photographer Joaquin Saramiento offers
various tours of the city with Fototour
(www.cartagenaconnections.com), during
which amateur photographers can hone
their skills, learn about Cartagena’s history
and culture, and explore the city.
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Photo: Gary Tognoni
Adapted from Moon Colombia by Andrew
Dier. Copyright © 2017. Available from
Avalon Travel, an imprint of Perseus Books,
LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group,
Inc.
Canadian World Traveller Winter 2017-18