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Sunset over Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena Adventure

Example 5 Day Tour
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Explore the diverse and colorful heritage of Cartagena on a captivating trip. Begin with a rum and chocolate tasting masterclass, exploring Colombia's finest liquors and sweets. Dive into the culinary scene with a market tour and hands-on cooking class, preparing a four-course meal from fresh, local ingredients. Stroll through Cartagena’s historic old town, a UNESCO Heritage site, with an expert guide, discovering its rich history and vibrant culture. Visit San Basilio de Palenque, and experience its unique traditions and music. Relax at the exclusive Blue Apple Beach House on Tierra Bomba Island. The tour includes a variety of cultural insights, and breathtaking views, making it a unique and memorable experience.
The colorful streets of CartagenaSunset over CartagenaSan Pedro Claver Plaza, CartagenaArchitecture of CartagenaArriving a perfect untouched wild caribbean beach, San andres. Colombia.Sunset over Cartagena, Colombia
Highlights
  • Discover Cartagena's rich culture and well-preserved colonial architecture
  • Prepare a four-course meal with a local chef
  • Taste Colombia’s best liquor with an extra special masterclass
  • Visit the Bazurto market and taste the traditional products
  • Experience swim in crystal-clear waters of Tierra Bomba Island
  • Learn about Palenque de San Basilio, the first "free town" for Africans
Activity Level: Easy Active
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Cartagena | Rum & Chocolate Tasting

Upon arrival at Rafael Nuñez  Airport, a private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel in the city.

Rum & Chocolate Tasting

Explore Colombia's diverse regions with a tipsy tour through the country. Delight in the rich, golden flavors of Colombia's finest liquor during a special masterclass perfectly timed for your early evening plans. This workshop takes you from your bar stool to Colombia's coast and mountains, featuring a selection of national rums and chocolates. Dive into the rum culture of the Caribbean, exploring both historical and contemporary insights into the unique culinary traditions of Cartagena and the Caribbean.

In this engaging experience, you will taste the differences between Colombia's top rums and savor the country's organic chocolate treats while learning about the origins and production processes of each rum.

Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes

Day 2: Cartagena Bazurto Market & Cooking Class | Walking tour

Dive into a unique culinary adventure and explore the vibrant flavors of Cartagena's rich gastronomic heritage. This immersive tour invites you to savor local delicacies and get hands-on in creating them, guided by a seasoned chef. Enjoy a four-course lunch prepared by you at the end of the tour. You will begin with a captivating stroll through the bustling Bazurto market. Led by knowledgeable guides, navigate the vibrant aisles filled with fresh produce, meats, seafood, and spices. With a guide-to-guest ratio of two to ten, you'll experience the market's exotic fruits and smallest stalls in rich detail.

Next, indulge in a fruit and juice tasting session at the purpose-built facility. Sample over 25 tropical delights sourced directly from the market, each introduced with a brief narration of its origin, cultivation, and culinary uses. Watch an expert demonstrate the art of crafting refreshing juices and other delectable treats, revealing the secrets of Cartagena's culinary traditions.

The highlight of your culinary journey is a hands-on cooking class in the state-of-the-art kitchen. Under the guidance of a skilled chef, learn to prepare authentic dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Master traditional techniques and unlock the flavors of Cartagena's signature spices in this interactive session, awakening your inner chef and leaving you with lasting culinary skills. Whether you're a seasoned food enthusiast or a curious novice, this group culinary tour invites you to experience the essence of Cartagena through its diverse flavors and rich cultural heritage. Join for an epicurean adventure that will ignite your senses and leave you craving more.

Cartagena Walking Tour

Declared a UNESCO Heritage site in 1984, Cartagena is renowned for its colorful diversity and well-preserved architecture. Join a walking tour through Cartagena's beautiful old town with an expert English-speaking guide. Visit key sites and learn about the city's rich history and vibrant present. The guide will highlight architecture, art, music, food, and culture.

This 2-hour tour includes various street food tastings, so come with an appetite!

*Start/finish times may vary.

Day 3: San Basilio De Palenque

Meet your guide and travel to Palenque de San Basilio, 60 km from Cartagena. This community, founded by descendants of 17th-century African Maroons, was led by the fierce Domingo Biohó. Since 1603, escaped slaves from Cartagena and nearby areas unsettled authorities by founding towns in the region's inaccessible swamps.

Receive a warm welcome in the Palenquera language. Begin with a historical tour of this community, recognized as an intangible oral heritage of humanity.
Stroll among the African-descended populace with your guide. Visit the monument of Benkos Bioho, the town's founder, and the house of Kombilesa Mi, a musical group dedicated to preserving Palenquera music and instruments. Learn about the House of Ancestral and communal justice, a traditional system for resolving local issues overseen by community leaders.

Enjoy a traditional fish lunch, savoring local flavors, before returning to Cartagena.

Day 4: Blue Apple Beach

What’s a Caribbean visit without a beach day? Start your morning with a 30-minute boat ride to Tierra Bomba Island in the Rosario Islands. Relax in a beach chair with turquoise waters at Blue Apple Beach House, an exclusive private beach club. Enjoy fresh, local seafood at the excellent restaurant.

Lounge by the pool, unwind in a hammock, sip cocktails at the bar, or indulge in a beachside massage. Swim in the blue Caribbean waters at your leisure.

Return by boat around 4:00 or 5:30 pm, soaking up the relaxed atmosphere as the sun sets.

Day 5: Return Home

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to Rafael Nuñez airport in time for your departure flight. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes.

Accommodations

Bantu Boutique Hotel

Hotel Entrance
Hotel Reception Area
Hotel Colonial Architecture

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$1,758 2-3 travelers

Notes

Select a Date
Included
  • 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 1 Dinner
  • 4 Nights Accommodations
  • 3 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Carbon Offset Fee 
  • Professional local English speaking guides throughout your tour
  • Street food tastings
  • Return transportation to Bazurto Market
  • Fruit tasting at the kitchen in the old city
  • 4 course cooking class & lunch
  • Drinking water throughout the activities on Day 2
  • One fruit juice with your lunch on Day 2
  • Rum expert
  • The chance to savor 8 rums paired with some sweet and savory treats
  • Local Fish Lunch in Palenque de San Basilio
  • Community Contribution in Palenque de San Basilio
  • Return private transport to San Basilio de Palenque
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Entrance Fee to Cartagena Old Town

Map

When to Go

Jan
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Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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