11 Street Foods to Eat on a Tour of Cartagena

I flew into Barranquilla, Colombia. But, my real final destination was Cartagena, a fiery city on the the northern coast of Colombia. Cartagena has a unique feel to it because its a convergence of so many influences. it’s got Caribbean soul, mixed with Spanish customs, combined with an African flair.

The city, is also know as “La Heroica” because it was the first city to liberate itself from Spain. It is where people from all over the country come to live to the good life. Sunny days, cumbia music pouring out onto the street, beautiful colonial Spanish architecture… I see why my fave Gabriel García Márquez came here to people watch, ponder and write love letters.

While I was in the city I met up with Cynthia from the Cartagena Concierge. She was taking me on a tour to learn all about Cartagena cuisine — street food style. We spent the entire day exploring, even though it was hot as hades, we ate our way through the city like champs.

Our first stop was on the corner right outside my hostel in the Old Town. It was a little cart on the side of the road that had a crowd of people gathered around, and a mountain of green plantains beside it. I could see a crackling vat of oil on the cart. My first thought was I don’t know how this man is standing over hot oil in this heat, but God bless him.