Convento de la Popa

Convento de la Popa tickets: which one to buy

The Convent of La Popa sits on top of the Cerro de la Popa, the highest hill in Cartagena, Colombia, about a hundred and fifty metres above the city, and a small admission fee is charged. The views over the walled old town, the Bocagrande peninsula and the bay are the main attraction, and they are the best in Cartagena. The hill is not a place to walk up on foot, since the roads on its slopes pass through neighbourhoods that are not safe for visitors;

go by taxi or on a tour. City tours of Cartagena usually combine the convent with the San Felipe castle at the foot of the hill and the old town, in a morning or afternoon by air-conditioned bus. The convent is small, and the visit takes less than an hour. Dress modestly, since it is a place of worship, and bring sun protection for the terraces. There is a small cafe near the entrance, though opening is irregular.

Visiting Convento de la Popa: what to see

The Augustinian friars founded the convent in the early seventeenth century on the hill above Cartagena, which Spanish sailors called La Popa, the stern, because of its shape seen from the sea. According to local tradition, a friar had a vision telling him to build a shrine there and to put an end to the worship of a pagan idol on the hilltop. The convent was fortified during the colonial wars, and it served as a military position during sieges of the city.

The buildings are white, arranged around a beautiful cloister planted with bougainvillea and flowers, with a well at its centre. The chapel holds the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, patroness of Cartagena, above a gilded altar. A small museum displays religious art and objects. The terraces around the convent give panoramic views of the city, the fortifications and the sea. A statue of Pedro Claver, the Jesuit who ministered to enslaved Africans in Cartagena, stands near the cloister.

Convento de la Popa opening hours and the best time to go

Cartagena is hot and humid all year, and the dry season from December to April is the most comfortable time to visit. Mornings and late afternoons are the best times to go up the hill, when the light is softer and the heat less intense; the views at sunset are especially beautiful. The feast of the Virgin of Candelaria on the second of February is the most important date for the convent, with a procession and celebrations that draw many local pilgrims.

Weekends and holidays bring Colombian tourists. The convent keeps daytime hours only. Allow about forty-five minutes, and combine the visit with the San Felipe castle below and a late walk on the walls of the old town. Taxi drivers usually wait at the top while you visit, and the fare should be agreed in advance.