Day 204: April 20, 2025 – Cartagena, Colombia

Every port we stop in has its own flavor. In some, we land in the middle of hundreds of commercial cargo containers. At others, we are routed through a touristy duty-free section, like in airports. Still others require a 10-minute bus ride into town.

At the Cartagena port, we stepped from the gangway and into an aviary. Our welcoming committee consisted of freely roaming peacocks, macaws, and parrots, as well as a giant anteater, bunnies, turtles and sloths. It was a magnificent way to be greeted in a new country. As you can imagine, I was in my happy place.

The Port Oasis Eco Park is a conservation center which serves as a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary for birds and other animals. Many of the birds roam the garden freely–and are not shy about hopping onto humans! A few are housed in enclosed aviaries.

Note the person in the background, who seemingly coordinated her dress with the macaws!