Cartagena de Indias and Ángeles Somos: a tradition that honors the culture, childhood and soul of the city

Cartagena de Indias is a city that not only dazzles for its landscapes, architecture and history, but also for the living traditions that are celebrated with the heart. Every corner of its historic center and its communities holds a memory that is passed down from generation to generation, as is the case with “Ángeles Somos”, one of the most endearing and significant cultural manifestations of the city.

A tradition with a Cartagena soul

Every November 1st, boys and girls walk the streets to the sound of traditional songs, with painted faces and colorful costumes, joyfully pronouncing the now emblematic:

“Angels we are, from heaven we come, begging alms, for ourselves…”

This celebration revives a call for solidarity and community joy. As the hours go by, the harvest becomes a great shared sancocho: a traditional dish that, in addition to nourishing, symbolizes union and cultural roots. In Cartagena, this celebration has not lost its essence. On the contrary, it has been strengthened as an act of cultural and community resistance.

Intangible cultural heritage of the Nation

Thanks to its symbolic, social and cultural value, “Ángeles Somos” was included by the Ministry of Culture in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This recognition exalts Cartagena as the only place where this tradition is preserved with the practices that give it meaning: without commercial purposes, born from community desire, focused on childhood and around a gastronomic ritual that honors our roots.

Culture, childhood and future

At a time when many customs tend to be diluted, Angels We Are becomes an act of commitment to the new generations. It is not only celebrated: it is taught. It is lived. It is instilled. This is an opportunity to remember that culture is not inherited by decree, but by example. Cartagena continues to be, thanks to its people, a city that believes in the power of legacy.

Commitment to the community

At Mustique, we feel deeply connected to the living traditions of Cartagena and Barú. As active players within the social fabric of the city, we collaborate with associations such as Somos Barú, a non-profit organization that works hand in hand with the community to strengthen its identity and celebrate festivals like this one. Ángeles Somos is also celebrated in Barú, and we are proud to accompany this process.

Our commitment to social responsibility is manifested through our support of cultural, environmental, educational and welfare initiatives. We believe that tourism should add to the development of the territories, not only as an economic boost but also as a platform for preservation and respect.

Long live Cartagena, long live its soul

Visiting Cartagena de Indias is much more than getting to know its architecture or its beaches. It is to understand that in every corner there is a story, that the children’s songs in November have centuries of meaning, and that the city is not just a destination: it is memory, it is culture, it is community.

We invite you to discover Cartagena with an open soul, and to stay in any of our Mustique hotels, where the heart of the city is lived with authenticity, service and respect for its essence.

Because Cartagena is history, but it is also present. And in traditions like “Angeles Somos”, we discover the beauty of its future.