Ta'if, known as the 'City of Roses', has a long tradition of rose cultivation, and visitors can explore this heritage by visiting local rose processing facilities. The delicate roses from Ta'if are used to create perfumes, aromatic rose water, and other products.

A feat of Spanish colonial military architecture, the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is one of Cartagena's most prized attractions. The fortress, whose construction finished in the late 18th century, was never seized — and not for a lack of attempted forays. Part of its sophisticated system of underground tunnels is open to the public. A guided tour (audio guides available) is highly recommended.

The Universal Studios Japan is the Hollywood equivalent theme park with attraction from your favourite movies. This is a great place for a whole day of family fun with numerous restaurants, rides and shows.

Once the first free settlement in the Americas, founded by those who escaped slavery during the colonial period, the town of San Basilio de Palenque still stands today, and with it the unique culture of its inhabitants. A portion of the population still speaks palenquero, a creole tongue that emerged from a mix of several European and African languages, now used almost exclusively in San Basilio de Palenque. Music and dance occupy a place of paramount importance in residents' lives, with the Drums and Cultural Expressions Festival held annually in October. The palenque cuisine deserves a separate mention — a culinary tradition upheld by inhabitants of a small Colombian village has garnered international acclaim, with a cookbook written in the town receiving the highest prize at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2014. If your schedule happens to be too tight for a dedicated day trip (which earns our highest recommendation), try some of the tropical fruit sold by palenqueras in downtown Cartagena. The village was named Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.