South America: Cartagena, Columbia

Cartagena is by far one of the most beautifully vibrant, weirdest towns I've ever visited.

Firstly old town Cartagena is a colonial maze of the most incredible breathtaking terrace houses with the biggest wooden doors you've ever seen, then there's the newer side of town - malls, skyscrapers, the most amazing coffee houses, colourful clubs, the lot. You can get lost anywhere in cartegena and never feel like you need to find your way back home.

While aboard the Galitano we recruited a few extra travellers and while exploring our first Colombian destination we decided to set up camp at Casa Luna! For a few dollars a night, hot showers, comfortable beds and good food came as an absolute luxury. 

After a few days of relaxation and getting use to having our feet panted firmly on solid ground we decided to take a trip to Volcano De Totumo to get nice and dirty in the mud pits. This is probably the weirdest thing you will ever experience, the pit is roughly 2000m deep, however you can stand completely upright and not sink, the mud is thick and gooey and for a split moment you will feel like a kid again. After you're finished in the pits the guides take you to the river to get bathed by Colombian ladies, and believe me you will never feel so clean.

To finish off our few days in Cartagena, we explored the town, climbed some castles and had a quick reunion with the Galitano del Mar crew before heading off to Santa Marta to continue our Colombian adventure.