Though it takes many hours to reach Mompox by bus, it's well worth the effort. The small, peaceful and typically Colombian colonial town seems somehow frozen in the past, and I thoroughly enjoyed each day I spent here. There are not really that many tourist sites to see or visit in Mompox, but it's the perfect place to come to if you are looking for somewhere where you can slow things down a little and take the time to meet the local people and fully immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.
Visit the semblance of a botanical garden here and meet Don Ernesto (a veritable walking encyclopaedia of knowledge); chat with the locals as they sit in their rocking chairs enjoying their siesta; rest and relax while watching the cats and the children playing; visit the local jewellers (veritable weavers of silver), and take a tour of the mangroves, where you'll get to observe wild birds, iguanas and local fishermen – all things I recommend doing when visiting the town. Mompox is definitely one of the towns to visit and explore when in Colombia.
Situated to the north of Colombia, at about 250km from Cartagena in the Bolívar province, Santa Cruz de Mompox is an architectural dream. It was one of my favourite discoveries during my holiday in Colombia.
This charming Caribbean town has a population of 40,000 and was founded in the 16th Century by Spanish colonists, before later housing the Spanish royal mint. The Hispanic influence can still be seen in the town's architecture. Most of the town's buildings are churches and Catholicism remains ingrained in the local population.
Its historic centre is exceptional and its architectural heritage led to it being classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among its numerous monuments, make sure you see: the Santa Barbara Church, the Inmaculada Concepcion Church (my personal favourite), the San Francisco Church, Santo Domingo Square and the San Carlos de Borromeo Palace. If you're not a fan of religious buildings, rosaries, stained glass windows and crucifixes then give this place a miss!