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My first step toward learning about the African roots of Cartagena was visiting Palenque village (you may see different spellings of the name). I chose to take a guided tour in order to learn about the village’s history from a reliable and knowledgeable source.

Cartagena is an excellent vacation spot for solo female travelers. The food scene is incredible, the weather is hot and sunny with virtually no mosquitoes (in the dry season), and there are plenty of cultural activities to enjoy, from historic monuments and museums to dance classes and live music. However, when it comes to beaches, Cartagena itself is not the best destination.

My solo trip to Cartagena was absolutely incredible. Honestly, I don’t have a single negative thing to say about it. When I told people I was traveling there alone, many thought I was crazy because of Colombia’s reputation. I would give Cartagena a solid 10 out of 10… except for one thing. Keep reading to find out what it is.

There is one place I really wanted to visit in Praia was Tarrafal. It’s a nice little quiet city 1h30 minutes away from Praia (by car). I took the little taxi van to go there from Praia, and the drive was scenic. You go up and down the hill, it’s really beautiful! You can see the ocean when you are on top of the hill, this view is unmatched.