Monumento a la India Catalina
It's the statue of India Catalina, an Indigenous interpreter from the time of the Spanish conquest, at the entrance to the walled city. It's a quick photo stop and a landmark for buses and chivas (colorful party buses).
- Hours
- Public space, no set hours.
- Price
- Free.
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 0 to 2 hours
- Address
- Avenida Venezuela at Avenida Pedro de Heredia, across from the Centro histórico, Cartagena
Catalina was an Indigenous woman from the region who worked as an interpreter for the Spanish in the 16th century. The bronze statue, by sculptor Eladio Gil, stands on a tall pedestal at the entrance to the old town.
A small version of the same figure is the trophy of the India Catalina awards, which began with the Cartagena International Film Festival.
It's on a roundabout with heavy traffic, so it's a stop of just a few minutes. Buses and chivas leave from there, and you can see the old town's wall.
What to see
- The bronze statue on its pedestal.
- The old town wall across the way.
Getting there
- On foot from the Torre del Reloj: about five minutes.
- Every taxi driver knows it as 'la India Catalina'.
Tips
- Cross at the crosswalks: the roundabout has a lot of traffic.
- It's a good meeting point for a taxi or a tour.
FAQ
Who was India Catalina?
An Indigenous woman who worked as an interpreter for the Spanish in the 16th century.
Where is the statue?
At the entrance to the walled city, near the Torre del Reloj, on Avenida Venezuela.
Why is it the film festival award?
The Cartagena Film Festival uses the figure of India Catalina as its trophy.
On the map
Photos: Jestrada17, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Idaligomezmartinez, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Camilo Rueda López from Madrid, Spain, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
What’s on nearby
21OctConventionCentro de Convenciones Cartagena de IndiasColombian Construction Congress 2026
28OctConferenciaCentro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias+CTG 2026, Latin American creative economy summit
1NovFestivalCentro Histórico and Avenida SantanderCartagena Independence Festivities 2026
4NovConventionCentro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias9th Oil, Gas and Energy Summit
25NovConventionCentro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias23rd National Infrastructure Congress
29NovSportCentro Histórico: finish in front of the Torre del Reloj, transition at Parque de la MarinaIRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena 2026
