Visit Bornos in September to experience a local festival — La Feria Real. The remote origin of the fair, like most Andalusian fairs, is found in the 12th and 13th centuries and is tied to the economic and agricultural cycles of the region. The first part of the festival takes place in April and June and the celebrations are picked up again in August and September, during the heaviest harvest season and right after its end. Enjoy the traditional atmosphere, excellent food, refreshing wine from the Jerez area, dancing, singing and even equestrian events.

Enclosed within a protective wall reaching up to 20 m in width, the Ciudad Amurallada (or "Walled City") is Cartagena's old beating heart. Packed with well-preserved colonial buildings, it's a pleasure to stroll through; its streets of colourful low-rise merchant homes marked by iconic balconies are now mostly walked by either tourists or students who attend classes at the University of Cartagena during the day and linger for meals and nightlife after school is out. Cafes in Plaza Aduana and Plaza Santo Domingo teem with patrons, forging an incredibly jovial atmosphere; the districts of San Diego and El Centro are two not to be missed. There is plenty of food and shopping to be had, with a mixed bag of world-class restaurants and street food hawkers and the incredibly photogenic palenqueras — women dressed in vibrantly coloured clothing selling fruit in the streets — images of whom have become emblematic of Colombia as a travel destination.

A green area that spans nearly 20 hectares, the Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete provide a pleasant retreat from the summer heat. The territory is overgrown by multiple species of herbs, flowers, medicinal plants and fruit trees. The parks are also home to colorful peacocks and other animals.