Join UsColorful Cartagena Barrios – A Photo Collection
Cartagena, Colombia
We arrived in Cartagena fearing the rain (the weather forecast predicted thunderstorm for every single day of our say). We quickly felt silly because every day we would be greeted with a blazing sun, cloudless sky, and temperatures in the high 80′s.
Cartagena is a town made for wandering around and except for a half a day visit to El Vulcan del Totumo, that’s pretty much what we did. But only after 4 pm – before that we were too busy hiding from the sun sipping fruit juices on our hostel’s terrace.
We knew that the old city of Cartagena is divided into three* districts: Getsemani, El Centro, and San Diego, but did not realize how different in characteristics they are.
*Note: Actually four. But Matuna is so small and modern it is of little interests to regular visitors.
Getsemani – gritty, young and fun
Getsemani was filled with backpackers due to the concentration of budget hostels in the area – especially since we stayed there during Semana Santa, a holiday week for many of the locals. We stayed in cozy and friendly Hostel Marlin on the main street of Getsemani that faces the busiest street in this part of town, Calle de La Media Luna.
Colorful Getsemani
Hotel Marlin, Getsemani, Colombia
A church in Getsemani, Cartagena
The street was very active at night and a mix of sound of people, traffic, and music quickly became part of our daily evening work time on the hostel’s terrace.
I must admit that Getsemani is a little rough around the edges and we were often on the cautious side of things at times, but I found it charming in its own way. We have taken many walks around and gotten to know some of the residents.
Compared to the beauty and the richness that the El Centro offers, Getsemani feels gritty and real.
Not to mention this is also where the cheapest food can be found inside the old city. We called this area home during our stay here in Cartagena. We talked about moving to a different neighborhood, but we never did.
The place just grew on you.
El Centro – old, pretty, and touristy
Snacks sold by the Clock Tower, Cartagena
The Cathedral on Plaza Bolivar
El Centro is where all the tourist attractions are: Plaza de Bolivar, the museums, and the most charming and colorful buildings. But it’s also where most of the tour companies take their tourists to – busloads of them – and with the tourists come the aggressive street vendors selling antyhing from paintings to emeralds to watches to anything in between.
It’s not without its charms though – some of the most photogenic buildings in Cartagena can be found in this area.
A Botero statue in Cartagena
Plaza de La Aduana, Cartagena
Iglesia de San Pedro
A fruit seller in El Centro wearing traditional Caribbean dress - don't take pictures of them without buying or tipping.
San Diego – dreamy and magical
Through meandering around we found ourselves in Fernandez Plaza in San Diego part of the old town.
And we were instantly charmed.
A Colombian lady we met described the area as ‘magico’ – it IS magical.
Ironically, this is the area where we took the least number of pictures. We were too busy wandering around enjoying the atmosphere of the place.
One of the many colorful buildings around Parque Fernandez Madrid
Around Parque Fernandez Madrid
Around Plaza Fernandez de Madrid
The magic is hard to describe.
There are small, leafy plazas surrounded by outdoor cafes and bars. People were playing chess on the plazas. Neighbors were gossipping on the front steps of the houses.
The roads were not as busy and the parks were filled with young families with kids and couples. It felt like a neighborhood should be – a place where neighbors can hang out and get to know each other.
It felt lived in.
During our many days of wandering around the old city of Cartagena, we were inevitably drawn to this neighborhood and found ourselves at the end of the day sitting in one of the many plazas with a cold drink.
Without a doubt San Diego is our favorite neighborhood in Cartagena.
But ssssh, don’t tell anyone. We don’t want the busloads of visitors to swarm this area and turn it into El Centro, do we?
Other posts from Cartagena:
- The Restaurant With An Identity Crisis
- Into the Mouth of A Volcano in Colombia
Great photos!
waw…
-Sharon
Hostel Marlin
Colorful places have so much more character and you guys did a great job capturing some of best these barrios have to offer. I especially love your photo with the fruit seller in El Centro wearing the traditional Caribbean dress. *Thanks for the advice – Must remember to tip or buy before taking a photo. Will come in handy for me, for sure.
Wow! Such a colorful and vibrant city. I haven’t been to Columbia, but now I must really go someday. I’ll be hitting you up for suggestions and advice.
— Michelle
my. recently posted..JOSHUA TREE- CALIFORNIA — DESERT WILDFLOWERS MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
Feel free, Michelle. Would love to be of help whenever we can.
Love the photos. I had to change my plans and skip Cartagena when I came through Colombia. Posts like this make me want to go back and explore more!
The Travel Chica recently posted..How to Live Like a Porteño
Your photos are amazing, really amazing. I was debating on a South American country for a Fall visit but you just made up my mind, Columbia is it.
megan
megan riley recently posted..The Cat that Got the Canary Island- Tenerife Holidays
Pretty pictures! How beautiful are the colours?!
Rebecca recently posted..Walking with giants- A day with elephants in Chiang Mai
So many great color, especially love the one from Getsemani.
Tijmen recently posted..Lonely Planet Guidebook Giveaway
I love, love, love the color in your pictures. Amazing!
Sabrina recently posted..So You Wanna Be a Cowboy Check Out the Dixie Dude Ranch in Bandera- Texas
@Sabrina @Tijmen – Thanks, guys. It was a very colorful city.
Lovely post and pictures! I really got a sense of Cartegena and the neighborhoods. Definitely bookmarking this article.
Cartagena is always on my list of must-go places!! When I was dreaming / planning my Cartagena trip (not yet realized), I did discover that Getsemani had the cheapest hotel rates.
Jen Laceda recently posted..A Latin-Inspired Night of Food
Definitely – and so many options too. There are some nicer ones as well. The ones off Calle de La Media Luna are quieter.
I miss Colombia every day and browsing these beautiful photos of Cartagena transported me back to its warmth and color. It looks like you are having an incredible time — thank you for sharing this part of the adventure with us!
Roxanne recently posted..Mama- youve been on my mind
oh wow – what great colors! I love it. Columbia must be so captivating in real life.
Gorgeous colors! You captured these barrios beautifully.
I absolutely love colorful cities and you have captured these neighborhoods so well! Love it!
Annie recently posted..What happens when you know too much
Wow! I have wanted to go to Cartagena ever since watching Romancing the Stone way back in the 80′s. I’ll never forget Kathleen Turner asking Michael Douglas to come with her to Cartagena, It sounded so romantic. Looking at your photos makes me believe that it is romantic still, even the grittiness of Getsemani. Each district looks awesome.
Deb recently posted..Dead Sea Fun in Jordan
That’s funny you mentioned that movie. I saw it for the first time 2 weeks before we left and love it so much. Such a brilliant movie and can’t believe I’d never seen it before. And yes, cartagena is definitely still a romantic city.
Beautiful photos! Maybe I should move to San Diego in S. America so I can say I’ve lived in two different San Diegos.
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted..Photo of the Week- Sadhu in Kathmandu 6
I am in love with all the buildings that have colours, and are not just white! Nice shots
crazy sexy fun traveler recently posted..BEACH CONEJOS – THE BEACH OF RABBITS- PLAYBOY OR SOMETHING ELSE
Awww it looks so pretty and colourful! Love the pictures… I want to live in the pink house!
Lauren recently posted..A Private Tour of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
This is amazing! We were just wandering Old San Juan and discussing how amazing the colors are here, but I think Cartegena has SJ beat. Simply gorgeous!
Kit Whelan recently posted..A Nerd’s Review of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico
I love towns that use such brightly coloured paint like that – reminds me a bit of some places in India though they tend to go with just the one colour
megan recently posted..How to get to Mongolia by train
Great photos. I especially love the large wooden doors on the buildings. Dalene and I always laugh when the locals say “Es magico” as they always put so much emphasis into saying it. We say it all the time now they way they do…
Pete Heck recently posted..Delicious Catch-up – April
Well done guys, you guys really captured the essence of Cartagena. I reckon it’s totally under-rated.
Roy | cruisesurfingz recently posted..My Greatest Weakness- My Greatest Strength
Such a lovely city! I love places that embrace the use of color…like San Francisco!
Camels & Chocolate recently posted..City Dog- Vol VII
Loved these photos, brought back good memories from there. I had to laugh about the fruit lady, i got a picture of her to… but i was a little sneaky and shot it from afar (so i didn’t pay). Dave from GoBackpacking.com and I did a 2-part photo-essay on Cartagena. You can my fruit lady photo here: http://www.gobackpacking.com/Blog/2010/07/29/photo-essay-colorful-streets-cartagena-part-2/ I actually want to go back and see if I can’t get more shots of her and I promise I will pay this time
T-roy recently posted..Photo-Essay- Getting Mobed by Kids In Hampi- India
San Diego was our favourite area too. We stayed there and loved wandering about the colourful streets.
Erin recently posted..April Update- Horses and Disney World
It ALL looks fabulous and utterly charming. Glad you’re finding such great places.
And btw… “…wearing traditional Caribbean dress – don’t take pictures of them without buying or tipping.”
Seriously. I mean, just THINK of how she has to IRON that blouse ruffle each morning. Surely that alone deserves a tip, yes?
Dyanne@TravelnLass recently posted..MOO MiniCards – Perfect for the Trail