1. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Jump to content [s] Jump to site navigation [0] Jump to search [4] Terms and conditions [8] Sign in Register Mobile version Text largersmaller www.raffaello -network.com Feedback - Ads by Google Search guardian.co.uk guardian.co.uk Search News Sport Comment Culture Business Money Life & style Travel Environment Blogs Video Community Jobs Travel Colombia Buzz up! Cartagena, Colombia Digg it Sarah Miller, of Condé Nast Traveller, discovers another side of Colombiafile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

2. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Say "Im going to Colombia" and people will probably look at you in amazement and tell you about the drugs, bombings and kidnappings. But the civil war never reached the pretty former colonial town of Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, and the home of Gabriel García Márquez. Its walls, built from coral, brick and limestone by the Spanish in the 16th century, have protected the city for hundreds of years, and its why Colombias movers and shakers have bought up many of the crumbling mansions and monasteries and turned them into glorious places to stay. The old Santa Clara convent was turned into a beautiful luxury hotel long before the current wave of investment and renovation; breakfast in its cloistered garden with the sound of parrots in the trees. The Agua is a mansion that has been converted into a boutique hotel with sea views from its top-floor terrace. But the swimming pool on the roof of the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa is one of the worlds hidden gems - it affords the most fantastic view of the city and its magnificent cathedral. Night time is when the streets come alive with the sound of café society and samba music. Its the experience of being in this vibrant and yet relaxed city that invites comparison with Florence at half the price. • Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa (www.hotelcharlestonsantateresa.com), Sofitel Santa Clara (www.hotelsantaclara.com), Atel (www.hotelagua.com.co). There are no direct flights from the UK but you can fly from London to Madrid via Bogotá (www.avianca.co.uk) larger | smaller Travel Colombia · South America · Hotels Observer More on this story The worlds best-kept holiday secrets Twenty travel experts name their top hard-to- find escapes. Author Geoff Dyer kicks off our travel special in Varanasis Ganges View guesthouse Tenby, Wales Bonavista, Newfoundlandfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

3. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Verana, Mexico Naranjo de Bulnes, Spain Freetown, Sierra Leone Durness, Scotland Rocky Point, Namibia Thazi, Burma Principe Island, São Tomé Las Vegas, Alta Badia, Italy Limpopo, Mozambique Jety-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan Westray, Orkney Tholing and Tsaparang, Tibet Dali, China Fordlandia, Brazil Harar, Ethiopia Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us Article history Ads by Google GM Colombia Encuentra Respuesta a Dudas del Presente y Futuro de GM en Colombia www.Chevrolet.com.cofile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

4. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Casa Morales Colonial En Cartagena Corralito de Piedra Confort - Elegancia - Privacidad www.casaestancodelaguardiente.com Cartagena Hotel Fastest & Easiest Way To Compare Cheapest Hotels Online! Hurry Today www.CheapEurope.com www.raffaello -network.com Ads by Google www.raffaello -network.com Ads by Google Latest news on guardian.co.uk Last updated one minute ago News Britain demands releasefile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

5. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer of Iran embassy staff Sport Wimbledon: day six in pictures Travel The wedding crasher Hotel recommendations Reader reviews Guardian readers share their top hotel tips for destinations across the world The worlds best boutique hostels Hostels are going upmarket, and weve handpicked a selection of the best Most viewed on guardian.co.uk 24 hours 7 days Most talked about 1. 1. Is it time to return the Parthenon Marbles? | Arts diary poll 2. 2. Police focus on doctor who was with Michael Jackson as he died 3. 3. Like Orpheus, Michael Jackson was destroyed by his fans 4. 4. British and Irish Lions v South Africa – second Test as it happened 5. 5. Michael Jackson nanny says star had stomach pumped many times 6. More top storiesfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

6. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Book a trip today Book flights Compare the best flight deals to Colombia Book hotels Compare the best hotel deals in Colombia Guardian holiday offers Cuba holiday - 10 nights from £1,329pp California & the Golden West holiday - 14 nights from £1299 Free holiday brochures Travel services Travel insurance Book your annual multi-trip holiday insurance from £39 and single trip travel insurance from £2.50 Guardian home exchange Guardian home exchange allows you to swap homes and like a local all over the world. Travel Classifieds Free P&P at the Guardian bookshopfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

7. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer Spooning with Rosie £18.99 with free UK delivery Reflections on the Revolution in Europe £14.99 with free UK delivery Browse more travel books Buy books from the Guardian Bookshop Sponsored features UK USA Search all jobs Go Browse all jobs Reception Manager Office Concierge. As A Reception Manager, Theres Nothing Like The F…. Up to £25k. Reception Team Leader Office Concierge. Do You Gain Satisfaction And Motivation From Deliv…. £23-24k + uniform. Corporate Hospitality Officer Jesus House Trust. Main Duty Will Require Candidate To Be In Charge O…. £22,000 - £25,000. Related information Travel 10 Jan 2009 Colombia · South America · Hotelsfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

8. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observer 73-year-old Simon Observer Gandolfi rides through South America Where to celebrate That condor moment Mardi Gras around 12 Oct 2008 the world 14 Sep 2008: 21 Jan 2009: Mike Power: Tourism Matt Carroll treks the beats aid Colca Canyon of Peru in Get your costumes ready search of one of the and join the party at one worlds most elusive and 31 Aug 2008 of these carnival parades majestic birds More galleries From cocaine to kayaking Video produced by Media Ark 20 Mar 2008 More video Claire Armitstead on how Colombia is using books and films to woo tourists Readers’ tips License/buy our content | Privacy policy | Terms & conditions | Advertising guide | Cartagena: Casa Sofia - Colonial house in the Accessibility | Walled City A-Z index | Inside guardian.co.uk blog | Had a lovely time with my family. Kids loved it. Mother- About guardian.co.uk | in-law loved it. Lovely house with all of the amenities Join our dating site today we needed and the privacy of our own place. guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Posted by Veronicaflowers 24 May 2009 Media Limited 2009 Go to: guardian.co.uk home guardian.co.uk home Providencia: Providencia Island Go A beautiful Caribbean island a short plane ride from San Andres. Very undeveloped and with some beautiful, empty palm fringed sandy beaches - picture Posted by DavidG76 15 May 2009 Cartagena: Perfect for a romantic getaway I cannot recommend the Caribbean city of Cartagena, on the north coast of Colombia, enough. I went for two weeks with my girlfriend and we never wanted… Posted by HWhite 23 Oct 2008 Santa Marta: Camping Tayrona in the Tayrona National Natural Park A campsite/hostel for nature lovers. Perfect place to start nature walks all over the Tayrona park and its surroundings. Posted by annesol 15 Apr 2008 Show all 51 readers tips | Send us a tipfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]

9. Sarah Miller visits Cartagena, Colombia | Travel | The Observerfile:///E|/Designs%20etc/Website/Media/cartagena-colombia%20Guardian.htm[28/06/2009 01:51:28 p.m.]