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Colombia

Colombia Travel Destinations

It’s obvious why this Caribbean, Colombian city is called “Jewel of the Indies.”
Built by the Spanish from 16th-18th centuries, this walled city and is well-preserved.  Its colorful Old Town and castle especially takes you back in time on the turquoise Caribbean shores.   Furthermore, the stunning layout is picturesque with sites, such as, colonial architecture, plazas, cobblestone roads and beautiful bougainvillea.  Overall, one of the best things about Cartagena is that the Old Town is very compact and makes for a wonderful walking tour.  Also, it’s where many of the hotels and restaurants are located.
Colombia Old Town Highlights and Tips
First, the grand entrance is through Puerta del Reloj, the bright yellow clock tower.  It leads into the Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza.  Taking the free Walking Tour from Plaza Santa Teresa helps with guidance, so you can enjoy the setting and history.  The bilingual guides are conspicuous with their vibrant, yellow umbrellas.

Plaza de la Aduana – Colombia Travel Destinations

This is the largest and oldest square in the Old Town.  It features a statue in honor of Christopher Columbus.  Also, it exhibits more of the colorful colonial homes, red brick roofs and colorful wooden balconies with flowers.  Under Spanish rule, most of the buildings around this square were administrative and governmental.

    Columbia's Boquilla Mangrove Tour
    CaribbeanColombia

    Colombia’s Magnificent Boquilla Mangrove Tour

    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 13, 2025
    written by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac

    Colombia’s Boquilla Mangrove Tour takes you on a canoe through the beautiful mangrove forests.  Near Cartagena, Colombia this is a must-see attraction for anyone travelling in this region.  I enjoyed the Mangrove Tour and fishing village, so read on to learn about why to visit this site. 

    IMG_3175
    La Boquilla Music and Dance

    La Boquilla Mangrove Forest and Fishing Village

    Just a half-hour drive from Cartagena, La Boquilla Mangrove Tour offers the best of Colombian biodiversity and culture.  Because the Cartagena area was once a place for freed slaves, its culture maintained a strong African influence.  This is especially true in La Boquilla.  The culture is a mix of Afro-Caribbean customs, such as, foods, clothing and music.  Also, the residents rely on fishing for their livelihoods.  Thus, La Boquilla remains a unique and authentic fishing village.  Plus, visitors arrive early in the morning and witness the traditional nets and crab boxes for fishing. 

    IMG_3106

    Mangrove Forests spread in estuaries along coastal areas.  They are an important ecosystem due to their biodiversity and protection of land from tsunamis and the like.  A mangrove is a small tree that grows in coastal brackish water.  These salt-tolerant trees adapt to harsh coastal conditions.  Their roots systems are very complex above water, designed to tolerate salt and waves.  Also, they adapt to low oxygen conditions of waterlogged mud. 

    Colombia’s Boquilla Mangrove Tour

    IMG_3084

    The three-hour tour is a wonderful blend of nature and culture.  We set off on canoes with about 4 passengers and a guide into the “La Cienaga de La Vergin” or mangrove tunnels. The guide stood at the back of the canoe with a long pole dredging and steering us through the tunnels of mangroves.  At times one of the guides literally jumped in the water and pulled the canoe in the right direction. 

    It was both intriguing and mysterious, lurking through the convoluted mangrove roots, unaware of what was around each corner.  I saw several regal White Herons or egrets, with their white shadows reflecting on the lime green waters.  Also, local children stood in the water up to their necks selling seashells and souvenirs, as we floated by.

    IMG_3113
    White Heron

    After the canoe ride, we walked in the village.  This was the best time to interact with the colorful locals.  They played their upbeat music and danced to their Afro-Caribbean genre.  Plus, the children were so friendly and happily playing near us.  The wonderful locals here left just as much of an impression on me as the beautiful mangroves. 

    IMG_3168
    Bon Voyage La Boquilla Children!!

    Overall…

    This is a must-see destination for anyone traveling to Cartagena, Colombia.   Even more, it is a wonderful blend of culture and nature for all to discover and enjoy!


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  • CaribbeanColombia

    Cartagena Old Town Walking Tour – The Jewel of the Caribbean

    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 10, 2025
    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 10, 2025

    A Cartagena getaway unveils this “Jewel of the Caribbean.” The walled Spanish city takes you back in time, surrounded by colonial architecture, a castle and the sparkling ocean.  As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea, I …

    1 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
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Hello, Hola, Namaste, Ni hao, Ciao and Bonjour! My name is Trudy and I have been traveling like everyday is my last, over the last 10 years. I've visited 105 countries and still counting! As an Acupuncturist and traveler, I love sharing my experiences and tips on travel and wellness. Feel free to join below my community for coupons and latest travel guides.

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On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans and second largest in the world. Saint Sava is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church. The church’s construction lasted from 1935 to 1989. It became delayed by WW II and the Yugoslavian communism, that didn’t allow for building churches. 

Shaped like a Greek Cross, the facade consists of white marble and granite in a Neo-Byzantine style. Its dome is one of the largest in the world. The mosaics are spectacular, with the central mosaic in the dome depicting the Ascension of Jesus.

To learn more about Belgrade, check out my blog:
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The white building reflects on the turquoise river. Inside you’ll find a small mosque, guest rooms and mausoleums. Dervishes of the Sufi orders stayed here for spiritual retreats over the centuries. Today, it is open for tourist of all faiths to learn about this sacred site and the Sufi tradition. 

We explored the riverside and view of Blagaj from across the river. Also, with our shoes off, we enjoyed an indoor tour of the monastery. 

To learn more about Mostar, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/mostar-tour-highlights/

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The iconic Stari Most is the symbol of Mostar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in Balkan Islamic architecture in the 16th century, its height is 24 m (78 ft 9 in). The bridge connects the two sides of the city divided by the Neretva River. During the Balkan War, the bridge was destroyed. However, it became rebuilt in 2004 with the stones from the original bridge. The bridge is steep and slippery with crowds often on it. So, wear good shoes and be aware when taking in its incredible views of the city and river.

The main attraction in Mostar is watching the tradition of locals jumping off the Stari Most into the river. This began in 1664 as a rite-of-passage for 16-year-old boys. Today, young men from the Mostar Diving Club take the plunge. Leading up to the plunge, assistants gather donations from the crowds.

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Sarajevo Rose Memorial (Where more than 3 people died in Siege)
Eternal Flame Monument - Honoring WW II victims
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Sacred Heart Cathedral
Old Bazaar

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Check out my blog/video:
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