Information
Landmark: Plaza de los CochesCity: Cartagena
Country: Colombia
Continent: South America
Plaza de los Coches, Cartagena, Colombia, South America
Overview
Plaza de los Coches, in the heart of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, stands as one of the city’s most storied and striking squares, where pastel facades glow warmly in the late-afternoon sun.Right at the main gates of the Walled City, the plaza opens into Cartagena’s blend of colonial charm and lively, modern streets, where the air smells faintly of sea salt.Colorful colonial buildings rise on every side, with shady old arcades and vendors calling out over the scent of fresh bread, making it one of the city’s busiest spots.Plaza de los Coches has changed many times over the years, each makeover capturing a distinct chapter in Cartagena’s story-like the worn cobblestones that still whisper of colonial days.During the early colonial era, the square-then known as Plaza del Esclavo, or Slave Square-was a bustling hub where Spanish colonizers brought enslaved people from Africa to be sold, their voices and footsteps echoing across the stone pavement.Cartagena stood among the busiest slave ports in the Americas, and this plaza once echoed with the cries and footsteps of that grim trade.Renaming & Carriage Square (19th–20th Century) Over time, the slave trade ended, and the square turned into a busy transport hub, with the clatter of horse-drawn carriages echoing across its cobblestones.They renamed it Plaza de los Coches (Square of the Carriages) because it turned into the main spot where carriages lined up, wheels creaking on the cobblestones.Present Day – A Cultural Landmark
Today, the plaza buzzes with visitors, its stone archways framing views of the Walled City, the air sweet with the scent of fresh cocadas from the traditional market.Top sights to see in Plaza de los Coches, starting with the first.The Torre del Reloj, or Clock Tower, rises above the main gate into Cartagena’s walled city, its yellow façade catching the midday sun as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.Once part of Cartagena’s stone fortifications, this gate served as the city’s main entry during colonial days, where the creak of heavy wooden doors greeted every arrival.The tower went up in the 17th century, but its clock didn’t appear until 1888, when fresh brass gleamed in the afternoon sun.This spot also marks the divide between Plaza de los Coches and Plaza de la Paz, a lively square where you might hear the ring of a street performer’s guitar.Step through the tower’s gate and you’ll find yourself on Calle de la Inquisición, a street steeped in history where worn stones still echo with the past.Two.Along one side of the plaza, the Portal de los Dulces stretches in a colorful arcade, its stalls piled high with coconut candies, guava paste, and other beloved Colombian treats-a sweet slice of Cartagena’s tradition.The arcades sit within colonial-era buildings, once bustling with shopfronts and the smell of fresh spices drifting from open doorways.Stalls here offer cocadas-chewy coconut sweets-creamy arequipe like caramel, tangy tamarind candies, and a mix of other local delights.If you want a true taste of the Caribbean in Cartagena, this spot delivers-rich spices, fresh fish, and all.Number three.In the middle of the plaza, a bronze statue of Pedro de Heredia catches the sunlight, honoring the Spanish conquistador who founded Cartagena in 1533.Heredia helped turn Cartagena into one of Spain’s key port cities, its docks busy with ships heavy with goods and salt on the air.They built the statue to honor his legacy, though his conquests forced Indigenous families from their lands.Number four stood alone, a small black mark in the corner of the page.Colonial Balconies & Architecture – A Picture-Perfect Scene
Around Plaza de los Coches, bright facades glow in the sun, wooden balconies jut out over the street, and wide stone archways frame the view.Many of these buildings rose in the 17th and 18th centuries, their weathered stone walls quietly telling the city’s long, storied past.Photographers and visitors alike love the balconies, often draped in cascades of bright bougainvillea spilling over the railings.Top activities to try in Plaza de los Coches-start with browsing the bright market stalls.Hop into a horse-drawn carriage and clip-clop across the plaza, once the bustling meeting point for carriages and still one of the best places to start a tour of Cartagena’s Walled City.These tours let you wander the old streets in a way that feels both romantic and steeped in the past, like hearing soft music drift from an open window.You can take a carriage ride during the day or after dark, but at night the city glows-lamplight flickers on the cobblestones, and the whole scene feels enchanted.Number two sat in the list like a small, plain coin, nothing fancy but impossible to miss.If you love sweets, stroll through the Portal de los Dulces and sample chewy coconut candies and other street snacks-it’s the perfect stop for a true taste of Colombia.You’ve got to try cocadas-chewy coconut bites-along with tangy tamarind balls and soft, golden enyucados made from cassava.The vendors greet you with a smile and sometimes hand out little bites to try, like a slice of fresh peach.Number three stood there on the page, small and neat like a single pebble on a white path.With its colonial arches, bursts of bright yellows and blues, and timeworn monuments, Plaza de los Coches practically begs you to lift your camera.Photography shines during the golden hour-early morning or late afternoon-when sunlight spills over the buildings in soft, honey-colored light.The Torre del Reloj and the Pedro de Heredia statue draw the eye, anchoring photos like a bright clock face against the square’s warm stone.Number four.When the sun goes down, the plaza bursts to life with glowing bar signs, sizzling food from open-air kitchens, and music drifting from street performers.The bars and clubs nearby pump out salsa, vallenato, and reggaeton, the beat thumping loud enough to feel in your chest.You’ll come across lively street performers playing for spare change and elegant venues with velvet seats, so there’s something for everyone.Why not wander over to Plaza de los Coches and soak in the sight of its bright yellow arches?Plaza de los Coches isn’t just a square-it’s where Cartagena’s history lingers in the old stone arches, flavors spill from street food stalls, and music drifts through the evening air.You can dive into the city’s history, savor a bite of warm sugared pastry, snap a photo that catches the golden light, or stay out late soaking up the nightlife-this plaza has it all.Plaza de los Coches, alive with centuries-old arches, sunlit stones, and a lively hum of voices, is a spot you can’t miss when exploring Cartagena.
