Panama Canal Transit – Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the ports on the cruise that I would like to return to visit, especially as we only had a few hours in port and I chose the wrong tour to do, sail around the Bay of Cartagena on a Spanish Galleon. Whilst the bay is very interesting, if I was to do a similar tour in the future I would try to hire a boat and explore the bay that way.

From the ship and the galleon the city itself looked to be an interesting mix of modern and colonial buildings, also everything I have read about the place indicates that is great place to explore. Will have to get back there!

CTG-004   BAY CRUISE ON A SPANISH GALLEON

Journey back in time to the days of the Spanish Main during this cruise on the Bay of Cartagena aboard a replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon.

After receiving your safety instructions from your guide, you will depart the pier aboard a beautiful replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon for a 2-hour cruise on the Bay of Cartagena.  Throughout the cruise, your guide will point out sites of interest and inform you about Cartagena’s history.

As you glide along the bay, you will have an opportunity to observe the area from the perspective of the pirates and seafarers that plied these waters long ago.  You will see the massive ramparts originally built to protect Cartagena, the beautiful clock tower marking the entrance to the Walled City and Cartagena’s dramatic skyline, which is dominated by the domes of the Church of San Pedro Claver.  Next, you will pass by Fort Manzanillo, which guards the eastern entrance to the inner bay, then make a loop between Tierrabomba Island and the Castillogrande Peninsula.  Weather permitting, your boat will continue past the beaches of Bocagrande.

Your cruise will include a folkloric dance and drumming show, along with complimentary beer, soft drinks and bottled water served on board.  Guests are encouraged to bring cameras, as there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Following your cruise, you will be returned to the pier

                

      

  Whilst sailing around the bay I spotted some strange looking submersibles and semi-submersibles. The Colombian and US anti drug smuggling agencies caught the smugglers associated with these vessels and have put them on show with a new paint job to show off their successes.

 

Cartagena is Navy town as well and is home to a number of the Columbian Navy’s ships and submarines.

 

After the cruise on the Galleon I still had an hour or so before I had to return to the ship before our early afternoon departure so I decided to checkout the bird sanctuary and I am glad that I did.

  This Macaw was not camera shy!