Museo del Oro Zenú is Cartagena's response to the famous gold museum in Bogotá. Here you'll learn about the culture of the Zenú people through the artefacts of their tribe: over 600 gold, silver and ceramic pieces are on display. Other highlights include displays on body painting and textiles, and an exhibit focusing on the engineering prowess of the Zenú — learn how they built a vast network of canals over 2,500 years ago.

Brunswick Heads is a beautiful coastal village on the mouth of the Brunswick River. About 15 minutes' drive from Byron Bay, this charming town is on the doorstep of many white sandy beaches such as Brunswick Heads beach, a popular spot for swimmers and anglers. With excellent boating and fishing, inviting pubs and cafés, and delicious fish and chips, the town is a delightful destination year-round.

Visible from almost everywhere in Cartagena, the Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa all the way up the 150-metre hill known as Mount Popa. The hill got its name for resembling a poop deck of a ship. After four centuries of varied history, the convent itself is now open as a religious museum. From the top Mount Popa you’ll get the best panoramic views of Cartagena and its beaches. The fastest and least stressful way up the hill is with a taxi (be sure to haggle on the price). Important tip: if you take a taxi or a car service to this location, pay them a few pesos to wait for you to drive you back. The taxis on top are all already "reserved" and Uber drivers are not eager to drive all the way to the top to pick you up.

The Sponge Docks are a nod to the once-thriving sponge industry that helped make Tarpon Springs famous. Today, this area is home to many family-owned Greek restaurants, bakeries and markets, but also offers visitors live entertainment, sightseeing cruises, shops, an aquarium, as well as lots of local Greek touches, such as hand-rolled cigars.