Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in Aracataca and lived in Cartagena most of his life. But his heroes (and the whole story of the chronicle of a death foretold) were set in Mompox.
Five hours by bus , traveling south of Cartagena, then loaded on a (barely floating above the water) river taxi and finally a rented taxi.

Central square, Mompox

Arriving by sea is to first see the city in the way it was meant to be seen. Cumbia echoing through invisible loudspeakers , out in the port – first glimpse of a huge modern metropolis – with its gem, Ciudad Vieja – the old city.