Cartagena, Colombia’s very own Caribbean beauty, has a way of ​captivating with its ageless charm. The city was born when the forsaken, ancient village of Calamarí was reestablished by the Spanish as a coastal stronghold in the 16th century. Ever since, Cartagena has held on to her colonial heritage, hidden behind a mediaeval stone wall that keeps the Caribbean at bay. The painstakingly preserved Old Town at this UNESCO World Heritage site, is dotted with colonial buildings and old churches, a famous fortress, monastery and convent. While in Cartagena, wake up to bright hues and vividly painted houses set alongside winding alleyways and cobbled streets. Pretty local artifacts, jewelry, masks, and local food carts line every street corner.