Spirit Park of the Mangrove

Natives, tourists and other visitors of Cartagena, can enjoy the magnificent reconstruction of the Spirit of the Mangrove Park. Its new attraction of the city that shelters with a variety of games and recreational instruments, family and friends who come to contemplate and relax in this beautiful destination.

As a request from the Bolívar Government, the Mayor of Cartagena, gave the land to the Iderbol administration. This space has been a success regarding environmental recovery and citizen integration.

Efigenio García, environmental guard of Colombia, was the instructor to give information about the park during the small tour.

Division of the park

Currently, the park is currently in its first stage of development and is divided into six different zones. Each zone consists of attractions, monuments and various recreational spaces for children, youth and adults.

1st Zone: Entrance

Upon entering the park, you can see in the foreground the mangroves rooted among bushes, which continue below the first bridge that divides the area. An essential part of the place, the early monuments or sculptures of some historical figures made from carbon resin remain in the entrance. Among them are Candelario Obeso and Luis Felipe Jaspe, known for having created some parks already established in the rest of the city.

2nd Zone: Sports area

When crossing the bridge that divides the entrance into the second zone, there is the sports area. This area contains an open gym, a space for aerobics, and finally, a closed gym, the latter has air conditioning and static bicycles for spinning. Among the monuments, you can see Ñato Ramírez, Cheo Romero, Rocío Valdés and Jercy Puello.

3rd Zone: Outdoor theater

Finishing the path of the previous zone, you enter the 3rd Zone. The 3rd Zone is perfect to sit and meditate while the breeze blows since the site has benches next to the viewpoints that are close to the mangrove. Here there are some spaces for events and outdoor cultural activities with a stage that includes stands and a closed reading room with an adaptation of air conditioning and books. Some monuments that are around him are Diógenes Arrieta, Alejandro Obregón, Teresa Pizarro de Angulo, Toño Fernández and Miche Sarmiento.

4th Zone: Island of the social gathering

The public toilets are located at one end of zone 4. Zone 4 is located after crossing the bridge that divides the area. In front of zone 4 is a perfect space to observe the mangrove and the panorama of Cartagena. Some characters that are distinguished in this space are Darío Morales, Enrique Grau, and Gabriel García Márquez. The relatives of the latter donated the Macondo tree that is in the same space. The tree was an indispensable plant for Márquez.

5th Area: Central attraction - children's island

Passing the next bridge, you will find the famous mangrove boat, the main attraction of the park and the children. With a pirate style and the time, parents and children are immersed in it to contemplate and enjoy its unique toys; you can see the view of the city from the tip of the boat where the rudder is located. The monumental characters that are nearby are Lucho Bermúdez and Daniel Lemaitre.

6th Zone: Environmental viewpoint

The environmental guard of Colombia persists in this small sheltered park. It is a closed auditorium and up the stairs is the roof suitable for the public, you can see an incredible view of Cartagena de Indias, primarily the Historic Center.

Under Development

• Completion of park regulations.
• Installation of the cafeteria.
• Development and recovery of other stages of the mangrove.

Instructions for entry and conservation of the park

• Do not litter
• Treat with care the informational and recreational elements (gym, library, monuments, benches, etc.)
• Do not tear leaves from the plants

Monuments:

The park has 20 character monuments in total, sculpted and designed by Oscar Norway. Following the path will lead you down the “Identify Route.”

Fauna

In this space full of nature, tranquility, and wildlife, live some animals that make the place a wonder. Among them are:

• Parrots
• Iguanas
• Turtles
• Sloth
• Fish that inhabit the mangrove

Classes of mangroves and their importance

Four species of mangroves inhabit the place: Blanco, Rojo, Negro, and Zaragoza. So that these aquatic plants remain alive and reproduce, the water must be a combination of sweet and salty. Needless to clarify that the stability of it, must be maintained and protected by citizens, who must avoid environmental pollution in these mangroves.