Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Destinations » South America » Colombia

The Colorful Streets of Cartagena

Modified: Mar 4, 2020 · Published: Jul 22, 2010 by Dave Lee |

Cartagena's charming colonial architecture helped earn it UNESCO World Heritage status.

The old city is filled with enough character and colorful facades to keep any photographer engaged day after day.

View down a typical street in walled area of Cartagena.
View down a typical street in walled area of Cartagena.
Weathered and worn down buildings await renovation throughout the city.
Weathered and worn down buildings await renovation throughout the city.
Not your average corner drugstore, is it?
Not your average corner drugstore, is it?
Balconies and hanging lamps are common on the building facades in the old city center.
Balconies and hanging lamps are common on the building facades in the old city center.
Juicy watermelon for $0.50 a cup is a refreshing treat in the mid-day heat.
Juicy watermelon for $0.50 a cup is a refreshing treat in the mid-day heat.
I was struck by the vibrance of the matching green doors of this hotel and salsa club as I was walking down Calle de Media Luna.
I was struck by the vibrance of the matching green doors of this hotel and salsa club as I was walking down Calle de Media Luna.
The Plaza de los Coches is centrally located within the walled city. This is the best place to find horse and carriages to hire for a romantic ride through the city.
The Plaza de los Coches is centrally located within the walled city. This is the best place to find horse and carriages to hire for a romantic ride through the city.
The Church of San Roque in Getsemani.
The Church of San Roque in Getsemani.

Related Stories

  • Colorful Cartagena
    10 Best Things To Do in Cartagena, Colombia
  • Carnaval de Barranquilla (photo: Dawin Rizzo).
    Travel Visa Requirements for Colombia
  • View of Providencia
    Providencia Island, Colombia: A Travel Guide
  • Johnny Cay, San Andres
    San Andres Island, Colombia: A Travel Guide
72 shares
  • Share
  • Email

About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Julie Broadbent says

    July 22, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    These are incredible!!! Seriously--my favorite photo essay ever! Thank you for sharing.

  2. Dave says

    July 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks Julie, we'll be publishing another photo essay of Cartagena by T-roy soon.

  3. ilainie says

    July 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Absolutely breathtaking! I can't wait to visit! I love Colonial cities, and Cartagena excites me. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Joya says

    July 23, 2010 at 3:21 am

    Gorgeous pictures! The vibrancy of everything is incredible.

  5. GlobalButterfly says

    July 23, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    These colors are unbelievable!!!!!!!!!! Amazing pics!

  6. RBL says

    July 23, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    1. This post is excellent!
    2. Change box above. You are no longer "lamenting".

  7. Dave says

    July 23, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Thanks Dad, you're right, I'm sitting out on a balcony happy to be back in Colombia!

  8. Dave says

    July 23, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Thanks Dad, you're right, I'm sitting out on a balcony happy to be back in Colombia!

  9. Sonya says

    July 25, 2010 at 2:07 am

    Awesome photo essay of Cartagena!

  10. neha says

    July 25, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Love the colours!

  11. backpackingmatt says

    July 25, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Another great photo essay Dave. Beautiful. The streets and colors remind me of Portugal. Seem to be lots of similarities with the small towns I came across in the Algarve.

  12. IVAN says

    July 28, 2010 at 2:47 am

    We were on the nice VEGGIE RESTAURANT, SOL DE LA INDIA, by only 6 dollars you can eat 12 preparations fron INDIA , so good condiments and veggie meat and vegan, good prices, good people. calle quero 9- 54 old city.

  13. Zara Sproul says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Wow - stunning photos. I am headed there in May this year and this has made me even more excited if thats at all possible! Thanks for the share!

    • Dave says

      November 12, 2013 at 11:49 am

      Thanks Zara. I was just in Cartagena for the third time to celebrate my birthday in September. Let me know if you have any questions!

  14. Bryony Clapperton (travelsandmore) says

    January 13, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Bringing back some great memories for me from your photos, thanks!

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking

72 shares
  • 46