Colombian tourism is booming. After decades of bad press — much of it well deserved — Colombia is once again welcoming the world to her shores.

A large proportion of the current visitors are backpackers, those intrepid travelers who are always looking for a bargain, and for the next big thing. Colombia offers these pioneers an incredible range of opportunities, from uninhabited Caribbean islands fringed with cerulean waters, to 18,000-foot high mountain peaks, to the vast Amazonian wilderness.

When they return home, these first visitors are spreading the word: Colombia is safe, inexpensive and breathtakingly beautiful.

For most visitors to this ancient land, a trip to Colombia wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cartagena.

Cartagena has always been the center of the nation’s tourist industry, and with good reason: it’s a tropical paradise. Its walled city has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the city has more than eleven miles of beaches!

Life is languid through the heat of the day, but when the sun goes down Caribbean rhythms ring out. The streets throb with the native sounds of cumbia, son, tambores and salsa!

El Corralito de Piedra is Cartagena’s colonial quarter, enclosed by towering walls that were built to protect the city’s original inhabitants. (Remember the final scene in “Romancing the Stone?”) Some sections of the wall date to 1556 — just 64 years after Christopher Columbus first set eyes on what was soon called The New World. Cartagena’s walled city is an ideal spot for romance, with many of the old stone residences still standing proudly, some now renovated into cozy restaurants and bars.

These days most visitors also make it to the neighborhood of El Lagunita. To meet the demand of locals and the international visitors looking for late night boogying, Lagunita is stuffed with discos and casinos.

Pie de la Popa, another historic neighborhood, offers the visitor an opportunity to shop till dropping. The Caribe Plaza is one of the biggest shopping areas in the Caribbean, covering nearly 20 acres!

While Cartagena is lined with beaches, the most beautiful lie just beyond the city’s borders, including those on Baru Island, with its brilliant white sand. The Rosario Islands are an archipelago of Caribbean beauties, some so small they barely hold one house. Others, like Bocachica, are more developed. Though “little mouth” lacks hotel rooms, it’s a must see for a day trip. The island’s small town retains large sections of the 17th Century fortifications that were built by the Spanish to protect Cartagena’s harbor from pirates and other illicit opportunity seekers. While on Bocachica, try an ice-cold Aguila beer and escargot simmered in coconut milk, a local specialty.

Cartagena is a great city for aimless walking while the Caribbean vibes wash over you. But there are a few places you don’t want to miss:

Museo de Oro y Arqueloguia: Located on Plaza Bolivar, this museum has a fine collection of gold and pottery from the pre-Colombian Sinu culture, as well as pieces from the colonial era.

Palacio de la Inquisicion: The collection is less charming, but is just as important as that found in the Museo de Oro. Within this fine old colonial building is an impressive collection of the devices used to inflict torture during the Spanish inquisition.

Cartagena’s Cathedral was begun in 1575. It was partially destroyed during a siege laid in by Sir Francis Drake, but was rebuilt and completed in 1602.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo: The oldest church in the city. Like the cathedral, it was constructed to serve as a house of worship and as a fortification.

Las Bovedas: What a cool idea! These old military dungeons now feature shops stuffed with local crafts.

Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas: This “castle” is the largest of the forts built to protect the city from pirates. Be sure to take a tour of the tunnel system, which was built to move people and supplies safely into and out of the fort.

The Convento de la Popa: Located above the Castillo, this old convent now has flower-bedecked patios and great sunset views of the city. While there, check out the museum of the Virgen de la Candelaria, Cartagena’s patron saint.