Une of the most beautiful cities of the Americas offers visitors with majestic fortresses, picturesque colonial small streets and magnificent houses with balconies. Also the city casts its spell on the visitor with its tropical rhythms in beaches of unequaled beauty.

GETTING THERE By air: Cartagena has Rafael Núñez Airport, located 10 minutes away from the heart of the city. The airline companies are: Avianca (Phone: 655504) or ACES (Phone: 662372),. The international direct flights arrive mainly from Miami or. But Avianca has scheduled flights all over the world. By sea: The port has a capacity to receive even four cruise ships at the same time. By land: By road Cartagena is connected with the coastal cities of the Caribbean Sea in the border with Venezuela. Heading South, another road links it with Medellín.

USEFUL INFORMATION CURRENCY: The local currency is the peso, divided into 100 cents. The currency exchange can be made in the large hotels or in the Bank of the Republic, being the official change that of US$1.00 per 1.985 Colombian pesos. CREDIT CARDS: The main international credit. ELECTRICITY: It is 110 volts all over the country. DIFFERENCE IN TIME ZONES: 6 hours less in relation to Spain. SCHEDULES: Banks from 9.00 to 15.00 from Monday to Friday. Commercial centers: From 8.00 to 19.00, Mondays to Saturdays. CLIMATE: In Cartagena, the average temperature is 28°C.

NOT-TO-BE MISSED IN CARTAGENA San Felipe de Barajas Castle is the maximum exponent of the Spanish military engineering in the Americas. Open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Puerta del Reloj was the old entrance of the walled site. The Cathedral is an imposing building that dates back to the 16th century exhibiting enormous sea-stone columns and sides made of polychrome marble. Santo Domingo Church, the oldest of Cartagena, with a beautiful baroque altar, is also worthy of being seen. The Museum of Gold, located at Bolívar Square, in a colonial restored house, exhibits Pre-Columbian pieces made of gold of the Caribbean region. The Monument erected to Indian Catalina symbolizes the aboriginal race and her image is used to decorate the first prize of the Cinema Festival of the city. The Laguito and Bocagrande are the main tourism centers of Cartagena with many hotels, commercial centers, restaurants, casinos and discotheques.

WHAT TO BE SEEN IN THE SURROUNDINGS Just 45 km on the southeast of Cartagena Bay is the National Park of Islas del Rosario where visitors can enjoy the coral reefs. Baru Island is an important tourism development area because of its splendid beaches. In addition to these islands found near Cartagena, there is a number of small populations of fishermen which conserve great charm as: La Boquilla is a small village of fishermen where a very pleasant atmosphere can be enjoyed and the typical seafood tasted. San Jacinto is another nearby town of Cartagena where embroidered or stripped hammocks are elaborated. Bocachica, is located near San Fernando Fortress on the Island of Tierra Bomba.

Car Rentals To move around the city and its surroundings, nothing is better than to rent your own car. Information can be given at: Auto Costa. Phone: 6652427. International Car Rental. Phone: 6655399. And the very Tourism Support Organization also offers car rental services. Phone: 6562414.

WHAT TO DO In Cartagena takes place a number of celebrations and festivals of renowned prestige. On November 11 is the commemorative date of the independence of the city from Spain. Other of the traditional festivities is the celebration of Our Lady of Candelaria, the patron saint of the city held in February. Bull fights can also be enjoyed in the month of January as well as other festivals as that of the International Cinema Festival (in March) and that of the Music of the Caribbean that gathers musical groups of the Caribbean islands and of the continent, in an explosion of reggae, calypso, merengue and salsa.

WHERE TO BUY Within the walled site, there are several antique stores and jewelry stores. Most of them are located on the streets of Santo Domingo, Ricaurte and Santa Teresa. Cartagena de Indias Antique Store. Centro Calle de Las Damas 3-111. Pasajes de La Candelaria. Fax (575) 6644320. Vudu Antique Store. Centro Carrera 3. No. 33-101, Plaza de Santo Domingo. Phone: 6646983 – 6646030. Joyería Mora & co. ltda Centro Calle 34 # 5-39. Calle Román. Phone: (575) 6643123 - 6642873 - 6647224 - 6646020 Fax: 6642692. Joyería Casa Paris: Bocagrande Avenida San Martín 4 - 76. Fax: (575) 6659126.

WHERE TO EAT: The typical coastal dishes are exquisite and, by the way, one of the characteristics of Cartagena is the good cuisine. Seafood and fishes are excellently prepared. Among the most representative dishes of the coastal cuisine are rice with chipi-chipi— a small mollusk— and rice with coconut. Among the restaurants which cannot be missed are: Club de Pesca Restaurant: Located at San Sebastián del Pastelillo Fortlet, on Manga Island. Regarded as one of the best in the city. Phone: 604594 - 604601. Capilla del Mar Restaurant: One of the most traditional ones in the city with a branch in the archipelago of Islas del Rosario, though the main one is located in Bocagrande Carrera 5. No 8-59. Phone: (575) 6655608- 6654773- 6655001. Casa de España Restaurant: Centro Carrera A 4 No 36-79 Calle Don Sancho. Phone: (575) 6641471. Portal de los Dulces (Sweet Arcade): Under the arcades of Plaza de los Coches where visitors can taste the most delicious local sweets.

WHERE TO SLEEP Opposite the waters of the Caribbean Sea is the Hotel Caribe, a deluxe and exclusive 5-star hotel. Bocagrande CRA.1 No 2-87. Phone: 6650155-5544. Fax: 6653707-4970. Cartagena Hilton Hotel is the most complete hotel that also works as a convention center of Colombia, located in the known and privileged area of Cartagena Moderna along the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Within the walled city is Santa Teresa Hotel, a place where its colonial and republican style offers a singular contrast. Centro Plaza Santa Teresa Cra. 3A No 31-23. Phone: 6649494. Fax: 664 0989-9447.

NIGHT LIFE Cartagena, with its characteristic joyful atmosphere, is an ideal place for relaxation and recreation. In the walled city are: bars with panoramic views as La Quemada, plus La Vitrola and Baluarte. Out of the Old City, the streets of the center are full of a number of small bars of a romantic ambience. The modern city also offers several choices: La Escollera Disco-Bar, Nautilus Bar-Disco and Portobello Night Club.

TOURISM INFORMATION Empresa Promotora de Turismo y Cultura de Cartagena (Promotion Enterprise of Tourism and Culture). Muelle de los Pegasos. Phone: 651843 - 651391. Fondo Mixto de Promoción Turística de Cartagena (Cartagena’s Joint Fund of Tourism Promotion). Casa del Marqués de Valdehoyos. Calle de la Factoría. Phone: 646567 - 647015. Corporación Nacional de Turismo (National Tourism Corporation). Tel: 6647015 al 19.