Attraction
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
A Spanish colonial fortress, a triangular stronghold of batteries, ramparts and tunnels on the San Lázaro hill that guarded the city's land approach.
Museo Naval del Caribe
A naval history museum in a former Jesuit college beside the walls, with models of Cartagena's fortifications and displays on the failed British siege of 1741.
At a glance
- Type
- Naval history museum
- Area
- Ciudad Amurallada, Cartagena, Colombia
Good to know
- Air-conditioned
- Gift shop
- Café
- Ship and fortification models
Why we recommend it
The Museo Naval del Caribe tells Cartagena's history from the water, which makes sense for a city that was built, attacked and defended by sea. It occupies a long two-storey building beside a modern cut through the city walls. The site began as a small chapel in the early 17th century and was later used as a Jesuit college, a military hospital and a marine barracks. It opened as the Caribbean Naval Museum in 1992, the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage, and it is run with the involvement of the Colombian Navy.
On the ground floor a replica of the stern of an 18th-century pirate ship rises almost to the ceiling, and displays cover the region's indigenous history and the major attacks on the city. The best-known section deals with the British admiral Edward Vernon's failed attempt to take Cartagena in 1741, with replicas, maps and dioramas. A detail that surprises many visitors: Vernon's name lives on at Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate, because Washington's brother served under him.
For many people the highlight is the set of a dozen or so scale models of the Spanish fortifications around the bay, together with ship models. Seeing the forts laid out in miniature makes a visit to Castillo San Felipe or the walls much easier to understand. In the courtyard are the original bells that rang to mark the city's independence in 1811 and an Armstrong gun used to bombard Cartagena in 1885.
Upstairs, the galleries move on to the Colombian Navy, with a room-sized model of the tall ship ARC Gloria and displays on the Battle of Lake Maracaibo and the navy's service in the Korean War. Children tend to enjoy the mock command rooms modelled on a submarine, a frigate and a coastguard patrol boat. El Universal also mentions a children's room devoted to the Galeón San José and an auditorium for talks.
The museum is air-conditioned and quiet, a good escape from the midday heat, with a small gift shop and café. Information in English is limited, so a guide or translation app helps. El Universal's 2025 guide lists daily opening from 10:00 to 18:00 with paid entry. It is on the Plaza Santa Teresa, directly behind the San Pedro Claver church, so combine it with the sanctuary and the Museo de Arte Moderno. Allow an hour.
Museo Naval del Caribe FAQs
What is the Museo Naval del Caribe about?
Cartagena's naval and military history, from colonial attacks such as the British siege of 1741 to the modern Colombian Navy.
What is the building?
It began as an early 17th-century chapel and was later a Jesuit college, a military hospital and a marine barracks before becoming a museum in 1992.
Is it good for children?
Yes. There are mock command rooms modelled on a submarine, a frigate and a coastguard boat, and El Universal mentions a children's room on the Galeón San José.
Are there English explanations?
Information in English is limited, so a guide or translation app is useful.
When is it open?
El Universal's 2025 guide lists daily opening from 10:00 to 18:00 with paid entry. Check locally before visiting.
Where is it?
On the Plaza Santa Teresa, directly behind the Church of San Pedro Claver in the walled city.
How long should I allow?
About an hour covers both floors and the courtyard.