Las Cruces

Las Cruces is a seaside resort with aristocrat origins that depicts the splendor of the beginnings of the XX century. It’s located between two hills that enclose a small bay and Blanca beach, today the center of all the activities. Las Cruces has a population of 2,781. Las Cruces is located at 4.3 miles to the south of El Tabo and at 4.9 miles to the north of Cartagena.

In 1911 there was a railroad pulled by horses going around the beach between Cartagena and Las Cruces. The Las Cruces resort had big houses on its two hills. By 1925, the neighborhoods started to be called Vaticano, the one on the North, and Quirinal, the one on the South. In the Vaticano there were many chapels. The day started very early and people would swim at Los Pescadores or in Las Salinas beaches. In the afternoons they would go on joyous trips or organize gatherings, which ended at the hour of the rosary, finishing with that their activities.

Instead, in the Quirinal neighborhood life began later with the bath at Blanca Beach; and in the afternoons they walked around and danced until dinner time. Today you can appreciate some old constructions which are still standing. In Las Cruces stand out the mansion built by the architect Josué Smith; the house of the painter Arturo Pacheco Altamirano, with a motorboat made of stone with the name of Angelmó engraved; the Black Castle (Castillo Negro), built with English style by the architect Héctor Hernández and, on the top, the parochial church, projected by fray Pedro Subercaseaux in 1945.

Today, Las Cruces has an intensive summer activity, concentrated on Blanca, Grande, Los Pescadores and Las Salinas beaches, where there are areas for picnic. Parking fee is $1,000. At sunset, the must do trip is to El Lacho point (punta El Lacho [by car on Osvaldo Marín street, on foot through the trail that comes out Blanca beach]). This is one of the best viewpoints in the coast, with a view from Punta de Tralca until Santo Domingo.

San Sebastián is an extensive locality south of Las Cruces, between the coastal route and the beach. It has many streets going down to the shore and, among them, summer houses. San Sebastián is the institutional summer center where industries, associations and clubs have facilities for their members to spend their summer. The beach in San Sebastián is long and much visited. Parking fee is $400 per hour or $2,000 from 8 am to 2 pm and $2,000 from 2 pm to 9 pm. The commercial activity and the social life in San Sebastián are centered by the oceanside road at sunset, along with the stores and restaurants.

** Information related to Hours, Rates and Dates might change without any previous notice **