Scenes of Cartagena with Less Shopping
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Port
Cartagena, Colombia
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$64.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
This tour departs directly from the pier and explores the magnificent city of Cartagena -- one of the most important ports in colonial times for transporting gold and other precious cargo to Spain.
Drive through the residential area of Manga and admire the late-19th-century, Republican-style mansions.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas Fort was Latin America's most important military structure and was built in the 17th and 18th centuries to defend the city.
One of Cartagena's more gruesome spectacles is Las Bovedas (the dungeons) in the Old City. Now, local artisans display their colorful and interesting arts and handicrafts here.
Visit San Pedro Claver Church, built in the 17th century. Inside, you'll see some exquisite statues and Old-World furnishings honoring the Patron Saint of Slaves.
Stop at Inquisition Palace, which served as a tribunal court and tried anyone the Church viewed as a heretic. The palace contains instruments of torture, along with documents, paintings and explanations about the Inquisition. Sentences handed down by the tribunal were generally not good news.
Notes:
Guests wishing to stay in town to shop or explore independently are welcome to do so but must make their own way back to the ship. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water. The Old Town streets are cobblestone and are uneven in places.