7-night Wonders Of Colombia With 2-nights In Cartagena Pre Cruise Cruise/Land Package

Cartagena is full of history and charm. At La Popa Monastery, you will have a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Enjoy the artisan center of Las Bovedas (The Dungeons), Plaza Bolivar, the Palace of Inquisition and the Church of San Pedro Claver, and shop for Colombian emeralds - the finest in the world.

Destination Guide

Cartagena is full of history and charm. At La Popa Monastery, you will have a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Enjoy the artisan center of Las Bovedas (The Dungeons), Plaza Bolivar, the Palace of Inquisition and the Church of San Pedro Claver, and shop for Colombian emeralds - the finest in the world.

Destination Guide

Cartagena is full of history and charm. At La Popa Monastery, you will have a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Enjoy the artisan center of Las Bovedas (The Dungeons), Plaza Bolivar, the Palace of Inquisition and the Church of San Pedro Claver, and shop for Colombian emeralds - the finest in the world.

Destination Guide

On the outskirts of Palenque, located near the Mexico-Guatemala border approximately 300 mi/485 km southwest of Merida, lie some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in the country. Climb the tall Temple of the Inscriptions and then descend to the site of the impressive, restored crypt of the Mayan king Pakal. The crypt itself is closed off to visitors, but there's a replica at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Investigate other ruins to look at carvings and bas-reliefs.

We consider Palenque well worth a visit, but it is extremely hot and humid in the summer. To avoid the worst of it, get an early-morning start.

If you leave the park following the Otulum River down the hill, you will discover several excavated temples and get to many pretty waterfalls cascading into natural bathing pools, a great place to cool off after wandering around the ruins. Some pleasant hotels are found in the village, if you wish to overnight in the area.

If you have time, travel 60 mi/100 km south to the Agua Azul waterfalls. These turquoise cascades are some of Mexico's natural wonders (just try to ignore the tacky food huts dotting the lower end of the falls). You can swim there, but do so with care—several people have drowned.

Destination Guide

Founded in 1537 on a bank of the Magdalena River, the old center of Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. During colonial times, Mompox (also spelled Mompos), located 317 mi/511 km from Bogota, served as the primary port on the Magdalena River, Colombia's main fluvial artery. Today, its perfectly preserved colonial architecture invites visitors to journey into the past. The time-warp town is virtually landlocked and is surrounded by the swamps of the Caribbean lowlands.

There are six churches in this small and charming city, the oldest of which was constructed in 1541, the "newest" in 1819. Characterized by a deeply rooted Catholic faith, Mompox celebrates many religious festivities throughout the year. The colorful celebration of Holy Week is by far the largest and most popular, drawing hundreds of visitors from around the country.

Mompox is known for its gold and silver jewelry. The art of filigree—the elaboration of delicate gold and silver fabrics incorporated into beautiful jewels—is a signature of the city. Tourists might enjoy seeing the traditional little gold fish that were Col. Aureliano Buendia's obsession in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. These remarkable gems, immortalized through literature, are now an iconic image of the city and the country. In 1987, the movie Chronicle of a Death Foretold, whose story is taken from another Garcia Marquez novel, was filmed on locations in Mompox, which instills a surreal sensation of stepping into the pages of one of Garcia Marquez's magic realist novels.

The town is way off the beaten track, but can be reached by bus from the east or a combination of bus and ferry from Cartagena or Bucaramanga.

Destination Guide

Founded in 1537 on a bank of the Magdalena River, the old center of Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. During colonial times, Mompox (also spelled Mompos), located 317 mi/511 km from Bogota, served as the primary port on the Magdalena River, Colombia's main fluvial artery. Today, its perfectly preserved colonial architecture invites visitors to journey into the past. The time-warp town is virtually landlocked and is surrounded by the swamps of the Caribbean lowlands.

There are six churches in this small and charming city, the oldest of which was constructed in 1541, the "newest" in 1819. Characterized by a deeply rooted Catholic faith, Mompox celebrates many religious festivities throughout the year. The colorful celebration of Holy Week is by far the largest and most popular, drawing hundreds of visitors from around the country.

Mompox is known for its gold and silver jewelry. The art of filigree—the elaboration of delicate gold and silver fabrics incorporated into beautiful jewels—is a signature of the city. Tourists might enjoy seeing the traditional little gold fish that were Col. Aureliano Buendia's obsession in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. These remarkable gems, immortalized through literature, are now an iconic image of the city and the country. In 1987, the movie Chronicle of a Death Foretold, whose story is taken from another Garcia Marquez novel, was filmed on locations in Mompox, which instills a surreal sensation of stepping into the pages of one of Garcia Marquez's magic realist novels.

The town is way off the beaten track, but can be reached by bus from the east or a combination of bus and ferry from Cartagena or Bucaramanga.

Destination Guide

Founded in 1537 on a bank of the Magdalena River, the old center of Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. During colonial times, Mompox (also spelled Mompos), located 317 mi/511 km from Bogota, served as the primary port on the Magdalena River, Colombia's main fluvial artery. Today, its perfectly preserved colonial architecture invites visitors to journey into the past. The time-warp town is virtually landlocked and is surrounded by the swamps of the Caribbean lowlands.

There are six churches in this small and charming city, the oldest of which was constructed in 1541, the "newest" in 1819. Characterized by a deeply rooted Catholic faith, Mompox celebrates many religious festivities throughout the year. The colorful celebration of Holy Week is by far the largest and most popular, drawing hundreds of visitors from around the country.

Mompox is known for its gold and silver jewelry. The art of filigree—the elaboration of delicate gold and silver fabrics incorporated into beautiful jewels—is a signature of the city. Tourists might enjoy seeing the traditional little gold fish that were Col. Aureliano Buendia's obsession in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. These remarkable gems, immortalized through literature, are now an iconic image of the city and the country. In 1987, the movie Chronicle of a Death Foretold, whose story is taken from another Garcia Marquez novel, was filmed on locations in Mompox, which instills a surreal sensation of stepping into the pages of one of Garcia Marquez's magic realist novels.

The town is way off the beaten track, but can be reached by bus from the east or a combination of bus and ferry from Cartagena or Bucaramanga.

Destination Guide

Founded in 1629, Barranquilla was a sleepy tropical town until the mid-19th century, when steamboats began navigating the river and railroads connecting it with other cities in the region were built. The port was enlarged in the 1920s, and the city gradually surpassed its old rival, Cartagena. Barranquilla’s carnivals attract many tourists. It has an international airport and many universities.

Destination Guide

Founded in 1629, Barranquilla was a sleepy tropical town until the mid-19th century, when steamboats began navigating the river and railroads connecting it with other cities in the region were built. The port was enlarged in the 1920s, and the city gradually surpassed its old rival, Cartagena. Barranquilla’s carnivals attract many tourists. It has an international airport and many universities.

Destination Guide