Cartagena

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San Felipe de Barajas Fort
No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

San Felipe de Barajas Fort

6.1
4.0/5
16 reviews

San Felipe de Barajas Fort stands on San Lázaro Hill, east of the old city of Cartagena, and is a military fortress built during the Spanish colonial period to defend against pirates and foreign enemies. Its prototype dates back to the 16th century, and the grand scale seen today was mainly formed by continuous expansion in the 17th and 18th centuries, built primarily by African slave labor under the supervision of the Spanish. The entire fortress was built along the mountain with layered defenses. The zigzag ramps were designed specifically to disrupt the pace of attackers, the walls are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, and the various cannon emplacements cover each other. Don't miss the crisscrossing tunnels when visiting: the main passage extends along the perimeter of the fortress, winding and deep, with footsteps echoing clearly against the stone walls. Back then, the defenders used the tunnels to quietly mobilize troops and ambush the enemy, and some dark chambers were even designed as detonatable traps to block enemies climbing over the walls. In front of the entrance stands a statue of the one-eyed, one-armed, and one-legged Spanish Admiral Blas de Lezo—in 1741, he defended Cartagena by relying on this fortress with far fewer men than the British fleet. Climb the ramp to the top battery for a wide-open view, where you can take in the colorful rooftops of the old city, the Getsemaní neighborhood, and the Caribbean Sea in the distance. The soft light in the evening is especially suitable for taking photos.

Cartagena · 1.2km from downtown

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Experiences you can't miss in Cartagena

Featured Culture & history in Cartagena

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Top Cartagena: Private guided tour with your mobile
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Duration: 10 mins
English
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FromPHP 351.47
Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour
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4.9/5
· 1.5k reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
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49 consecutive positive reviews
FromPHP 904.68
Cartagena Audio Tour: Zeitreise zwischen Römern und Meer
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Duration: 2 hrs
English
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20% off
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FromPHP 364.96PHP 456.21
Cartagena self-guided audio walking tour (9 stops, approx. 2 hrs)
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Duration: 2 hrs
English
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Cartagena Audio Tour: An Architectural Odyssey
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena
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5.0/5
· 8 reviews
Duration: 2–3 hrs
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Cartagena City Tour with Popa Hill (PM)
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5.0/5
· 8 reviews
Duration: 4 hrs
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FromPHP 3,152.74
Cartagena: San Felipe de Barajas Castle Shared Walking Tour
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
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FromPHP 907.50

Featured Food & drink in Cartagena

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Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience)
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5.0/5
· 387 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
English
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100 consecutive positive reviews
FromPHP 3,720.24
Cartagena: Traditional cooking class in a restaurant in the historic center
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5.0/5
· 18 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
English
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FromPHP 2,503.87
Small-Group Cooking Class in Cartagena with Local Chef
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4.9/5
· 51 reviews
Duration: 3–5 hrs
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96.1% of travelers recommend
FromPHP 5,026.71
Cartagena Street Food Tour: 10 Tastings in the Walled City
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4.9/5
· 577 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
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100 consecutive positive reviews
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Cartagena Street Food Tour: 10 Local Tastings in the Walled City
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4.9/5
· 398 reviews
Duration: 150 mins
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98.5% of travelers recommend
FromPHP 3,278.85
COMPLETE TOUR WITH LUNCH at ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S FAVORITE SPOT
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4.9/5
· 65 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
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Cartagena: The Legendary Colombian Rum and Chocolate Tasting
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Duration: 2 hrs
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Cartagena Rum & Chocolate Experience (1 Hour, Small Group)
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 1 hr
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FromPHP 2,834.95

Featured Outdoor & sports in Cartagena

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ATV Half-Day Tour in Cartagena
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4.9/5
· 321 reviews
Duration: 150 mins
English
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51 consecutive positive reviews
FromPHP 7,251.30
UTV Thrills & Horseback Ride at Wildlife Paradise Near Cartagena
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Duration: 6 hrs
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Extreme ATV Adventure in Cartagena
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5.0/5
· 6 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
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Full day in Playa blanca from Cartagena
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4.3/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 8 hrs
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Nena Beach
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Duration: 7 hrs
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Playa Amare Beach Club at Tierra Bomba Island - Full-Day Tour
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Duration: 24 hrs
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Wala Beach Club - Ticket with Optional Transfer
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Duration: 24 hrs
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Wala Sunset - Bech Club Ticket with Optional Transfer
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Duration: 24 hrs
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Cartagena Cruises

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Cartagena Today's weatherPartly clear 26-32℃
Cartagena weather for the next 2 days11/7: 25-31℃, 11/8: 27-32℃

Free things to do in Cartagena

What travellers say about Cartagena

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青岛老韩8 October 2026
4.0
There wasn't anything particularly memorable, except for the dungeon. The dungeon was low, gloomy, damp, and oppressive, allowing one to empathize with the helplessness and terror of the slaves locked inside.

San Felipe de Barajas Fort

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くろすけくん22 February 2023
5.0
The Rosario Islands are about an hour away from Cartagena by small boat. The boat runs at high speed so I was worried about getting seasick, but it was no problem at all 🙆‍♀️ Unlike the area around Cartagena, the beaches are as beautiful as you would expect from the Caribbean Sea! At the aquarium, the sharks have gotten used to it and are performing tricks?! You can also experience SUP, kayaking, diving, and more. Be careful of the salt water in the showers and pools! ️ There are also banana boats, jet skis, and other activities to enjoy.

Rosario Islands

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还不曾去过倒悬山!2 April 2025
4.0
Colombians are generally the best in appearance and temperament among the Westerners I have ever met. This is due to their special mixed race and the country's superior natural and social environment. Therefore, many of the winners of Miss World and Miss Universe are Colombians, and Colombia has also been labeled as a country of beauties. In fact, if you stay in Medellin for a long time, you don't have to worry about having nothing to do. The simplest and most pleasant way to travel is to find a large shopping mall or park and sit there for a day, just looking at the beauties passing by.

Walls of Cartagena

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sculptor28 June 2020
4.0
The city of Cartagena de Indias is a major port founded in 1533 and is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean coast region. Next to the old town of Cartagena there is a sculpture monument with a statue of India Catalina, an indigenous woman who was translated by Spanish and was the daughter of a local chief. She played a role in the Spanish conquest of Colombia.

Monumento India Catalina

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Cartagena?

Don't miss these attractions in Cartagena: San Felipe de Barajas Fort, Rosario Islands, and Walls of Cartagena. If you like Culture & history, try Top Cartagena: Private guided tour with your mobile. If you enjoy Food & drink, try Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience).

You can give Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience) and Cartagena: Traditional cooking class in a restaurant in the historic center a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

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