Cartagena Adventure

Arrive at Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), where a driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel in the Historic District. This drive takes approximately 20 minutes. Depending on your flight schedule, you may check in immediately or set out to enjoy the city before your room is ready.

A guide meets you at the hotel to begin a private walking tour of the Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage site since 1984. You walk through cobblestone streets past colonial buildings draped in bougainvillea and enter the walled city through the iconic Clock Tower. The route takes you to the Getsemaní neighborhood to see its street art and along the ancient city walls for views of the Caribbean Sea. Your guide shares the history of the local architecture and culture throughout this two-hour tour. You may want to bring cash to purchase snacks along the way.

Start the day by walking 5-10 minutes from your hotel to join a group culinary tour at the Bazurto market. Guides lead you through aisles of fresh produce, seafood, and spices before a tasting of over 25 tropical fruits and juices. You then move to a kitchen for a hands-on cooking class with a Chef to create authentic dishes. The experience concludes with a four-course lunch you prepared yourself.

In the early evening, you proceed to a private rum and chocolate tasting, located a 15-20 minute walk from your accommodation. An expert guides you through eight national rums paired with organic chocolate treats during this workshop, sharing insights into the region’s rum culture and production methods. This tasting lasts approximately one hour and 45 minutes.


Note: Transport to the cooking class and rum tasting is not included. Both are a short 5-20 minute walk from your accommodation.

After breakfast, your guide meets you at the hotel for a scenic drive to Palenque de San Basilio. This trip covers 60 km from Cartagena to reach the first "Free Town" for Africans in the Americas. Upon arrival, you receive a warm welcome in the native Palenquera language before beginning a tour of this community founded by 17th-century African Maroons.

You explore the town and learn about Domingo Biohó, the leader whose resistance in the early 1600s led escaped slaves to found towns in the region's swamps. You visit the monument of founder Benkos Biohos and the house of Kombilesa Mi, a musical group dedicated to preserving Palenquera music and autonomous instruments. The tour also visits the house of ancestral and communal justice, where traditional leaders resolve local disputes. You share a traditional fish lunch with your guide before returning to Cartagena, where the remainder of the day is yours to explore or relax.

Your day begins at the Bodeguita dock, where you board a boat for the 30-minute ride to Tierra Bomba Island in the Rosario Islands. Upon arrival at the Blue Apple Beach House, an exclusive private beach club, you settle into a sun lounger to relax by the pool or the turquoise sea.

The visit includes a welcome cocktail and a short massage to help you unwind. You also enjoy a fresh lunch featuring local seafood and ingredients. You have access to the club's amenities before boarding the return boat to Cartagena at either 4:00 PM or 5:30 PM.

Note: Transport to the pier is not included. You may arrange a ride or walk approximately 15 minutes from the historic center. A dock tax is payable in cash upon arrival at the port.

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to Rafael Nuñez airport in time for your departure flight. Travel time is approximately20 minutes to ensure you arrive in time for your flight. If you have a later departure, you may choose to arrange a late check-out or enjoy a final morning in the city before heading to the airport.