Cartagena de Indias has plans for all tastes

Cartagena de Indias has many plans to enjoy at any time of the year, but certainly the holiday season of December and January is one of the best to delight yourself and share as a family.

“La Heroica”, one of the favorite destinations for tourists everywhere, has a privilege location that allows it to offer different unforgettable experiences, as well as absolutely majestic scenarios. Whether you want to walk around its beautiful Historical Center, or enjoy its calm and paradisiacal beaches, Cartagena always offers you the best options. This time we wanted to look for a couple of alternatives that are located away from the tourist area, but that will undoubtedly meet all your expectations. Two places that can be enjoyed by every member of the family and that will promote interesting experiences, not just fun, but also quite enriching.

Whether you make these plans for the first time, or you are looking to repeat one of the best adventures of your life, the visit to the Botanical Garden and the Oceanarium will surely allow you to approach your family in an entertaining way. The perfect places for you to recharge with pure air, spiritual peace, knowledge, and plenty of love and respect by nature and the species that surround us.

Remember that Cartagena is a dreamy destination waiting to make your dreams come true. Take advantage of the most magical time of the year to live experiences that everyone can enjoy and that leave you full of the best memories and teachings.

Do not miss the Botanical Garden and remember visiting the Aquarium

Learning to value the ecological wealth of Colombia, as well as being able to enjoy really close some of the most striking sea creatures on the planet, are some of the privileges that you can experience when visiting Cartagena. In these places learning become a real pleasure.

1. Guillermo Piñeres Botanical Garden

Located just 30 minutes away from Cartagena we find this impressive lung of the planet. With over 300 species of plants from the Colombian Caribbean, and one of the few native virgin forests of the region, we can breathe the purest environment thanks to its 2 kilometers of trails and the water spring that runs the whole year, making of this place, the ideal location to learn about the fauna and flora of this region.

Throughout this fascinating tour, you can see the “monos cotudos” (howling monkeys) howling in chorus, squirrels eating seeds, impressive iguanas mimicking the vegetation, and, sometimes, it is possible to see a “neque” jumping around in the Garden. On the other hand, one of the most striking trees that we can appreciate, is a colossal “Caracolí” with approximately 150 years and almost 2 meters in diameter.

The Garden has also been chosen as the most important bird watching site in the region, according to the specialized website ebird.org. The water spring works as an oasis for local and migratory species, within which you can see the Caribbean “guacharaca”, the “jacamar colirrufo”, the “barranquero ferina”, the “bobo punteado”, the “mirla parda”, the blue jays, the “mielero común”, the “papayeros”, and the “saltarines barbiblancos”. At this time of the year you can also appreciate some of the species that fly from North America to escape the frozen winter. Some of the ones you can observe are the “reinitas”, the “tiránidos migratorios” and the “tángara veranera”. In addition, we can find some spaces that work as buffer zones in which we can see “atrapamoscas”, “siriríes”, “torcazas”, “tortolitas”, “cucaracheros”, “golondrinas”, “pericos”, “horneros patiamarillos”, and “espigueros saltarines”, among other gorgeous birds. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 8;00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission Fee: $17,400 COP.

2. Rosario Islands Oceanarium

It is an excellent choice to take the children to visit. It is in the “Islas Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo” National Natural Park, on the “San Martín de Pajarales” island, where they offer the opportunity to meet, interact, and learn about many marine species, including sharks, dolphins, turtles, among others.

In the Oceanarium we can find more than 100 species and at least 1.000 individuals that can be observed in their natural environment. The most striking exhibitions are the ones with sharks that swim and climb to a special floating platform where they are fed by the guides. But, the stars of the place are the dolphins, which with their amazing acrobatics steal the show and the attention of all spectators.

Remember that for $30.000 COP, apart from the value of the admission ticket, you can enjoy a face to face encounter with a dolphin. In this experience, you will go into the water in a shallow place where you can stand next to a trainer that will guide you and the dolphin. While learning something new about the biology of these cute creatures, you can pet them and swim next to them for a period of 5 minutes.

Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission Fee: Adults: $30.000 COP. Children (under 12 years old) $25.000 COP (the cost of transportation to the island from Cartagena is not included). Definitely Cartagena has fun activities for all members of the family. Schedule yourself with time and make an itinerary that allows you to enjoy as many activities as possible. But remember that you do not have to go far to get amused in this magical city in the company of your family, since you can have one of the best days of your life walking quietly through the charming streets of the Historical Center, biking around the embankments of the city, watching the sunset from the Forts or monuments, eating a delicious “arepa de huevo”, and living the bohemian atmosphere of the parks and squares of “La Heroica”. At any time of the day Cartagena offers you unique experiences for all tastes, full of pleasure and that will remain forever in your collection of best memories.