NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Cartagena is a large seaport on the northern coast of Colombia, 410 miles (660 km) northwest of the capital, Bogotá
WHEN The four-day festival takes place over last weekend in January
VISITORS PER YEAR
Around 28,000
DAYTIME TEMPERATURE
70°F (21°C) in January
An offshoot of the famous literary event held in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, the colorful Hay Festival Cartagena takes place in a colonial walled city in Colombia overlooking the Caribbean. Poets, authors, journalists, and screenwriters from all over the world meet with stars of Hispanic- American literature in this UNESCO-protected city to take part in talks and give readings. Venues range from theaters to bars and street corners. Don’t miss the excellent creative-writing workshops or the daily official festival newspaper. A side festival, Hay Festivalito, is aimed at children and teenagers.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around All major Colombian carriers fly to Rafael Núñez Airport, 2 miles (3 km) from the city center. A bus, taxi, or colectivo (shared taxi) will take you into and around Cartagena, which is best explored on foot.