178 CARTAGENA
for your visit to Cartagena. This fortress took over 140 years to build and was
strategically situated on a hill to dominate the land around it and to have direct
position over the Bay of Cartagena. The fort has a striking entrance that includes
a walk up a short hill. You will very quickly notice the engineering that made this
castle impregnable once it was completed. There are corridors and mazes of
tunnels you can walk through. At the highest point of the castle, the view of
Cartagena is breathtaking. A very large flag of Colombia blows in the wind in a
majestic manner. The photo of this flag is one of the most popular Colombian
flag images in the country. The castle is considered one of the most elaborately
well-built examples of colonial Spanish military architecture. It is highly
recommended to walk the fifteen minutes to the castle from the Old City. A
taxi can be taken for around 5,000 COP. You can also take a bus from Parque del
Centenario. The castle is off the map, but not hard to find, as it's a major tourist
attraction.
Convento De La Popa (035-666-2331, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, 9,000 adults, 6,000
children). There is a convent on top of a 150 meter hill that is a popular tourist
attraction. The Convento de la Popa was founded in 1607 by Augustinian fathers
and was used as a convent as well as military barracks in later years. Taking a taxi
from either the Old Town or at the base of the hill is the most recommended
manner of transportation. The taxi fare from the city will be about 40,000 COP
as the driver will wait while you tour the convent.
Fuerte de San Fernando. A short boat ride from the Muelle Turistico de La
Bodeguita, takes you to the Isla de Tierrabomba where sits a nicely built fort.
This fort, along with Bateria de San Jose, protected the Bay of Cartagena with a
long iron chain. It's an impressive site and well worth the visit if you like forts. If
you can snap a picture of the fort head-on with the flag blowing, you will have
one amazing image. The cost of the boat ride is upwards of 20,000 COP with all
the taxes. Locals pay only 5,000 COP to get to the village of Bocachica which is
nearby, but you most likely don't qualify. The fort entry is 7,000 COP. There are
tour packages that include lunch. Be mindful of the day and time you go here,