One more time, Cartagena receives international praise. On this occasion, it has been honored for its tourist offer with regard to culture, which makes it worthy of the “Best Cultural City Award” in the Travelbook Award 2023.
Travelbook is the most popular specialized tourism magazine in Germany, and every year it distinguishes the best destinations, highlighting their tourist offer as the main attraction for visitors, both from Germany and from around the world.
Cartagena, and what the judges described as its “wow moment”, where visitors are always amazed and excited by its diversity, hospitality, sustainability and value for money, allowed the historic capital of the Caribbean will surpass destinations such as Thessaloniki Island in Greece, the city of Oaxaca in Mexico and the city of Luang Prabang in Laos.
(Also read: Colombia one of the 3 most beautiful countries in the world according to Forbes)
Torsten Johannknecht, one of the Travelbook writers, says he visited Cartagena a few years ago and was enchanted. According to his experience, the people of Cartagena are “always in a good mood, optimistic and relaxed.”
He also stated that he always found a radiant greeting with expressions like “Good morning, my love” and that the people's pride in their homeland makes a visit to Cartagena so special. “For them, it is 'the most beautiful city in South America,' and they do a lot to make these words a reality,” said Johannknecht.
For its part, Natalia Bohorquez, executive president of Body tourism, comments:
“Cartagena, the historic capital of the Caribbean, receives new recognition. This time, as the best cultural city in the Travelbook Award 2023. The juries selected by this magazine specialized in tourism, the most popular in Germany, chose it as their “surprise moment”, for attributes such as hospitality, sustainability and cultural expression, including through language. We celebrate with the people of Cartagena and with all of Colombia this recognition that commits us to maintaining the traditions and details that grant a new award to Cartagena."
This recognition is added to others 16 awards that Cartagena and its tourist offer has obtained, below is a list of other recognitions that Cartagena the Heroic has obtained:
- Leading honeymoon destination in South America at the World Travel Awards, for the fifth consecutive year.
- Cartagena de Indias, third most desirable destination in the world in the Wanderlust Travel Awards, surpassing cities like Singapore and Rio de Janeiro.
- Cartagena de Indias, one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world, in Travel + Leisure.
- The Port of Cartagena, in the World Travel Awards as the leading cruise port in South America.
- First place in the ranking of the most spectacular walled cities in the world, according to Wanderlust Travel magazine.
- Third place at the national level, in the tourism competitiveness index, awarded by the Colombian Tourism Thinking Center (Cotelco and Cafam University).
- The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara hotel, in the World Travel Awards as the leading hotel in South America and in the Condé Nast Traveler as the second best hotel in the world.
- The Sofitel Barú Calablanca hotel, in the World Travel Awards as the new leading hotel in South America.
- Blue Apple Beach, one of the best hotel establishments in South America, by Fodor's Travel.
- Alchemical, among the 10 best bars in the world in the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
- Celele, among the 20 best restaurants in Latin America in the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
- El Barón, among the 100 best bars in the world in the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
- Leo Espinosa, best female chef in the world in the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
- Foodies, as best Innovation project, by Procolombia.
- Isla del Encanto, winners of the 2022 National Tourism Awards in the “present and future” category, by Procolombia.
