Caviar takes a trip to Cartagena "La Fantastica"

Colombia, a country filled with colorful and rich culture. It is Caviar’s favorite destination. Last week I visited the homeland and would like to share with you my go-to’s and things to do in Cartagena, a city declared a World Heritage by the Unesco.

How to get there:

​Delta, American, United, Jet Blue and Avianca. Do not fly with Copa Airlines or Spirit Airlines. You will regret it.

Sight seeing:

The San Felipe de Barajas Castle 
San Pedro de Claver Church
The Popa Convent
Visit the Gold Museum, Clock Tower and El Portal de Los Dulces (great place to try local sweets)
Walk around the walled city, plazas and the fortresses

​Where to stay:

 I have always stayed at the Santa Teresa Hotel, a five star hotel that used to be a monastery. The hotel is located in the walled city, right next to the fortress. What I like the most about the Santa Teresa Hotel is the rooftop pool, lavish breakfast in the courtyard, service, coconut lemonades and the arepas de huevo every morning. 

Other hotels I recommend:
Santa Clara Hotel and the Bastión Luxury Hotel.

Where to dine:

1. La Vitrola Restaurant: Cuban inspired restaurant, they play live music in the evening. You must try the octopus, fish a la Diabla and langostinos.
2. Club de Pesca: A seafood restaurant located on the waterfront. They also have live music and a great selection of wines. My parent’s favorite restaurant in Cartagena. It is an institution.
3. Alma: Authentic Colombian cuisine. 

You MUST make reservations in advance. The hotel concierge will help you with this. 

Pregame at Alquimico, Cafe del Mar, the patio at the Santa Teresa Hotel, Aqua at the Silvia Tcherassi Hotel, The Harry Sasson bar at the Santa Teresa Hotel.

Where to fiesta:

My favorite nightclubs in Cartagena are La Movida, La Jugada, Babar, Havana and Tu Candela.
Usually Colombians order bottles, I would recommend Aguardiente Antioqueño (tapa azul, because it has less sugar). 


Barú and Islas del Rosario

You must visit the islands! This would be a day trip. On this occasion I used Boats4U. They have all sized boats. There is a total of 27 islands, mostly privately owned. In the Cholón Island, I enjoyed multiple Piña coladas, lobster, oysters and my favorite, green mango with salt and lime. Make sure to take cash with you because they charge a 20% fee on credit cards (Colombians make business out of anything). This is known as the party island, all types of yachts come here from the mainland. If you don’t feel like being around a loud and wild environment, then I would recommend to skip the Cholón Island and go to Sport Barú Resort located in the Barú Island. 
I highly recommend to take a trip to these islands, it is a magical experience. You get to see the natives, unique sea species and eat the freshest fish.
Tip: There will be people trying to sell you absolutely anything and offer you all types of services. Be smart and don’t get hustled.

Major tips for Cartagena:

-Do not drink water from the sink
-Stay in the walled city
-Carry cash with you but not too much
-If you are buying emeralds, be careful and don’t get scammed. I have a connection of a high quality emerald dealer if you pass by Bogotá
-Keep your passport in the hotel’s safe
-Try to not drink till you black out, having a hangover under the sun is not fun. But if you do have a Michelada (Colombian beer concoction) or go to the pharmacy, they will sell you anything without a prescription


On this occasion, Chicharron couldn't join but Caviar made sure to eat chicharron every day. So he was definitely present at all time.