Date: 1/10/2024 Day 5 Port:
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
Description: Take a scenic drive through the
residential area of Manga, and admire the beautiful mansions built in
Republican-style architecture at the end of the 19th century. Explore the
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a fort that was once the most important military
structure built in Latin America. Enjoy a boat ride to the Islas del Rosario,
26 coral islands located off the coast of Isla Barú, and continue to the island
of San Martín de Pajarales to visit the aquarium. Enjoy a spectacular dolphin
and shark show and other marine attractions there. Board the beautiful Spanish
Galleon, a replica of a 17th-century sailing ship, for a cruise of the inner
bay of Cartagena.
Planned
Excursion: CARTAGENA
& NAVY MUSEUM
4.0 Hours Moderate Activity #CTG-002:Free
Visit
a centuries-old monastery atop the highest point in Cartagena and a museum with
a collection of remarkable pre-Columbian gold artifacts. From a distance, the
hill that La Popa monastery perches on resembles the stern of a galleon. Upon
closer inspection, you will find that monks still live in the 17th-century
monastery, which is rather modest other than its ornate gold-foil altar. You
will pause atop another hill for photos of San Felipe Castle, the largest
Spanish fortress in the New World, before descending into the Old City.
Highlights here include viewing the encased remains of Saint Peter Claver in
his namesake church and stopping in leafy Bolivar Plaza. A regal statue of
Simon Bolivar on horseback overlooks the plaza and the Gold Museum, where you
will browse exhibits of pre-Columbian gold jewelry and distinctive ceramics.
You may also discover how the ancient Zenú people build a sophisticated system
of channels to control flooding and irrigate crops.
Videos - Check back often - I have many videos to process and post over the next couple of day
Daily Notes: We had a enjoyable day exploring the old city. It was a very warm and humid day. It was a short stay arriving at 7 AM and departed at 2 PM. This is to get in line for our Panama Canal Transit crossing tomorrow.
What a great itinerary! Best wishes on your adventures!
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