The dazzling Caribbean coast of Colombia

The Caribbean coast of Colombia is a jewel of South America. Perfect for tourists fond of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, the region also appeals to adventurers who want to hike in the jungle, lovers of colonial architecture, coffee addicts and travelers looking for tranquility in a bungalow perched in the mountains. Short guided tour of a crossing between Cartagena and Minca.

Samuel Larochelle
special cooperation

Let’s say it straight away: visiting Colombia without spending a few days in Cartagena is unthinkable. Touching in beauty, vibrant in color, dizzying in refinement, the city whose architecture recalls that of many European capitals is embellished with street vendors, islands of greenery and traditional dance performances that warm the heart… even if the latter was already served by the 42 degrees felt thanks to the oppressive humidity.

The Bocagrande and Manga neighborhoods have modern charms that attract a few onlookers, but the need to spend as much time as possible in the historic center and Getsemani, the street art headquarters, cannot be overstated. While just strolling through the streets populated by pink, yellow, blue, green, red and purple houses is a pleasure in itself, there are also many pleasant stops.

Near plaza Santo Domingo, you will find the oldest church in Cartagena and a sculpture created by Fernando Botero, a famous painter and sculptor known for his plump figures. If you want to come across iguanas, sloths and small monkeys in the wild, make a detour to Centenario Park. Then, take a moment to admire the Torre del Reloj, one of the strongest symbols of the city – incidentally one of the most “instagrammable”.

The unavoidable

To admire the sunset, everyone will suggest you have a drink at Cafe del Mar. Although the view will take your breath away, note that everything there is overpriced and that the service sometimes leaves something to be desired.

Why not admire the celestial colors live from the terrace of the Movich Hotel? If it’s full when you arrive, don’t hesitate to check with neighboring hotels who will let you have a drink with your feet in the inground pool.

A little later in the evening, go to the Plaza de la Trinidad, a sort of crossroads for travelers and residents who gather around music, dancing and countless small restaurants.

You are also encouraged to discover the Castillo San Felipe de Bajaras to be catapulted back to 1741, at a time when the colonists repelled the English armada, thus blocking their route to the rest of the continent.

Among the little gems of the city, we advise you to have a coffee at the Abaco Libros y Café, a bookstore made of brick walls reminiscent of the sets of Harry Potter, as well as at the Café del Mural, whose terrace is encamped in an alley laden with works of art.

Change of scenery

A little over four hours by bus from Cartagena (unless you suffer the effects of the elastic temporality of the country) is Santa Marta. With the exception of its pretty beaches and its historic center overflowing with restaurants, bars and creameries, the city has little to offer, except to be the base camp for your next discoveries.

Indeed, only a few kilometers separate you from Tayrona National Park, where you are told to arrive before 8 am. Don’t be put off by the poor organization at the entrance. Once you have your ticket in your pocket, you will enter the jungle along extremely well marked paths, without breaking the natural charm of the place.

From hour to hour, you will admire nature as exotic as it is lush, monkeys, ant highways, several absolutely magnificent beaches — including one well hidden for naturist enthusiasts — and dozens of travelers making the same journey with their luggage on their backs, in order to stay one or more nights in a space where dozens of tents are strung together.

If you have not rented a car for your travels, you will have to accept the place you are given on a bus that stops at the exit of Tayrona. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to walk for an hour standing in the middle of the corridor, despite the fatigue that overwhelms your body. It’s often like that in Colombia.

A haven of calm

In order to rest and take a break from the overwhelming heat, we enthusiastically invite you to stay at the Sol de Minca Eco Lodge, a few minutes walk from Minca. As soon as we arrived at this place, we made the decision not to leave it again for 24 hours.

We are talking here about a space with several small bungalows of one or two floors built here and there on the mountain, with a view of the valley and Santa Marta in the distance, with a freshness that restores your faith in humanity, vegan meals made from home-grown ingredients (probably ate the best lasagna here) and employees whose English is strong enough to have real discussions about the family, the region and the Colombian culture .

Despite the superior quality of their food and the refinement of their constructions in kind, the owners remain faithful to their convictions: they remain small, they keep the prices very affordable, they maintain an ultra-warm climate and all their gestures are made in adequacy. with nature and several methods taught by the indigenous peoples, with whom they have a rich relationship, uttering to the place a soul that soothes from the first seconds.