• Event: Mechanical Engineering Education (MEEd) Colombia Leadership Symposium
• Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
• City: Cartagena, Colombia
• Venue: Claustro de la Merced, Universidad de Cartagena
• Room: Eréndira Hall and Fermina Daza Corridor
• Address: Cra. 4 #38-40, El Centro (Plaza de La Merced), Cartagena de Indias

About the Venue

Claustro de La Merced sits inside Cartagena's walled city, on Plaza de La Merced next to the Teatro Adolfo Mejía and a short walk from the sea wall. It is a 17th-century building owned by the Universidad de Cartagena. The Spanish Crown approved it in 1617 as a convent for Mercedarian friars. Since then it has been an army barracks, a prison during the Spanish reconquest of 1815, a courthouse, and a university building. Today it holds university offices and the Espacio Cultural Claustro de La Merced, which is open to the public.

The building is two stories high, with arched galleries around a central courtyard that opens toward the sea. The courtyard is named after Gabriel García Márquez. The ashes of the Nobel Prize–winning writer and his wife, Mercedes Barcha, rest there beneath a bronze bust. They were placed there in May 2016, about 100 meters from the house the couple owned in the old city.

Inside, guests can see:

• A memorial room with Gabo's personal belongings, books and interview footage.
• The "Corredor de las Begonias," a hallway with a timeline of his life.
• Remedios la Bella, a bookstore run by Fondo de Cultura Económica.
• Tienda Melquíades, a shop selling handmade goods.
• Gallery and exhibition spaces.

Hotel Information

• ASME has not arranged a hotel room block for this event.
• Attendees should make reservations directly with the hotel or booking provider of their choice.
• ASME has not authorized a third-party housing bureau to make reservations for this event.

Parking and Arrival

• Street parking is banned in Centro, San Diego, La Matuna and Getsemaní. Drivers may receive fines, and their cars could be towed or wheel-clamped.
  • Nearest free parking bays: Plaza de La Merced itself, beside the Teatro Adolfo Mejía (closest to the venue), Carrera 2, diagonal to Hotel Santa Teresa, Playa de la Artillería, Bahía de Las Bóvedas, in San Diego
  • Paid lots (from about COP 5,000/hour): Parque La Marina, Easy Park Ganem, Muralla Parqueadero, the Centro de Convenciones, Indigo–Matuna (City Parking) and Getsemaní Parking.

Travel

• Airport: Rafael Núñez International Airport
• Airport code: CTG
• Distance to venue: 10 km
• Typical travel time: 10 minutes, or 20–30+ minutes at rush hour
• Airport website

Transportation

• Airport taxi: Official taxi stands at the airport exits charge fixed rates by zone, paid in cash. A ride to the old city costs about COP 20,200–24,300, plus COP 1,100 at night, and takes about 10–30 minutes depending on traffic.
• App-based ride: Uber, DiDi and inDrive all work in Cartagena and show the price up front. At the airport, pickup is outside the terminal.
• Local taxi: Taxis have no meters, so agree on the price before you get in. The minimum fare is COP 12,250 (2026), a night surcharge applies, and it helps to carry small bills.
• Public transportation: Transcaribe is the city's bus system. You pay with a rechargeable card, and a ride costs about COP 3,900. Route T102 connects the airport area with the city center, and it works best for daytime trips with light luggage.

Explore Cartagena

Attendees may wish to explore Cartagena's historic and cultural attractions before or after the symposium. Here are a few must-see places to visit during your stay in Cartagena.

• Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada): The UNESCO-listed old town is a maze of colorful colonial streets, flower-filled balconies and lively plazas, and it's best explored on foot.


• Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj): This landmark gate in yellow stone was once the main entrance to the walled city, and it's still the classic starting point for a walk through the old town.


• Plaza de Santo Domingo: One of the liveliest squares in the old city, it has outdoor cafés, street performers and Fernando Botero's famous reclining bronze woman, Gertrudis.


• Castillo San Felipe de Barajas: This huge Spanish fortress sits on a hill above the city, with tunnels to explore and wide views over Cartagena.


• The city walls and their many bastions (Las Murallas y baluartes): The centuries-old walls are lined with many baluartes (bastions). Walking along them at sunset gives you sea breezes and golden views of the Caribbean.


• La Serrezuela: This old wooden bullring, built in the late 1800s in a Moorish-inspired style, has been restored as a shopping, food and cultural center that keeps its original round shape.


• Getsemaní: Next to the old city, this neighborhood is full of street art, and Plaza de la Trinidad fills with music, food and locals in the evenings.

Explore More in Cartagena