I spent a week in Cartagena in October of 2003. I found the city to be quite safe and tranquil. I walked the streets and encountered no problems. There were a lot of security forces in place. The city is divided between 2 sections, the colonial section and the modern section. The colonial section is older than Plymouth, Mass. It is a walled city with an impressive fort that overlooks the city. The people are friendly and the prices are cheap. For just a few bucks you can take a horse and buggy trip all around the city. Also there is ... (more)