The people of Cartagena want the world to know that their city is not like the rest of Colombia. Perched atop South America on the southern rim of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena feels a million miles from anything having to do with guerrillas, paramilitaries, narcotics or kidnappings.
Forum: Travel in the News
This former hub of the Spanish empire — a major shipping port for New World riches, and a slave market and Inquisition center — is surrounded by massive stone walls, within which sit hundreds of gorgeous colonial homes, churches, plazas and parks. The Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site, is filled with friendly people and harmless, if persistent, souvenir hawkers — all conducting their lives, business and romances outdoors.
In fact, Cartagena, crime-wise, compares well with other Caribbean destinations. Though the State Department continues to warn of the dangers of travel to Colombia, it says that "violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas," including Cartagena. A department spokeswoman said its officials in Colombia were "not aware of any kidnappings of Americans in or around Cartagena in recent years."
The rare American visitor will find a vibrant contemporary city with an intriguing history, within easy reach of Caribbean islands. There's even a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, though it's geared mainly toward Spanish speakers. But if you bring a Spanish phrase book along with an appetite for Latin and Afro-Caribbean food and culture, you won't be disappointed.
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