Cartagena · With kids

Ramps, ramparts and a network of echoing tunnels children can walk through. Go early — there is almost no shade by ten. Ages 6+.

Fast boats reach the archipelago in about an hour; day passes at the beach clubs include lunch and shade. Choppy on windy mornings. Ages 5+.

A small open-water aquarium on Isla San Martín with reef tanks and rescued turtles, usually combined with an island day trip. Ages 4+.

A mud crater an hour north where you float in warm grey mud and get hosed off in the lagoon. Messy and memorable. Ages 7+.

Plan the old city for early morning and a pool for the afternoon. Kerbs are high, cobbles uneven, and hawkers persistent — a carrier is easier.