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  • Writer's pictureJacqlyne Mba-Jonas
    • May 17, 2022
    • 6 min read

Cartagena Itinerary - Tours and Activities

Updated: Mar 13

Located along the Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena is a popular beach destination. It is home to an old walled town filled with colorful colonial buildings. With it's close proximity to many Caribbean islands, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in South America. Below is my extensive list of what you can do while visiting.


Disclaimer

Part of the job of a travel agent is to save clients time and money. I looked through hundreds of tours and picked out the best tours to book in various categories that are both the best in quality and price.


Prices listed below are subject to change. Rates are typically discounted for larger groups and children, so use the links provided to see the exact cost for your specific scenario and book what is of interest to you.

Guided City Tour w/ La Popa and San Felipe Castle

Visit the Cartagena essentials on this half-day, small-group city tour. Hop on an air-conditioned van to discover the main sites such as La Popa, The San Felipe Castle, the history within the Walled City, and the Old Shoes Monument.


Duration

4 hours

Availability

Everyday at 2pm

Price

$35 per person

Alternative


Freedom Tour of Palenque

If you want to dig beneath the tourist sites and really learn about the culture and history of Colombia, this 'Freedom Tour' of San Basilio de Palenque is ideal. With a knowledgeable local tour guide you'll visit a variety of places that demonstrate how the distinct African culture has been maintained for centuries. Learn about traditional music and dance, folk medicine, and Palenque's unique language.


Duration

5 - 6 hours

Availability

Everyday at 8am

Price

$96 per person


Cartagena's Vibrant Nightlife Walking Tour

You will enjoy the Cartagena-style nightlife, with a bar tour through the most particular, local and popular places in the Getsemaní neighborhood, enjoying typical Colombian cocktails and drinks. This will be a night full of fun, with drinking games, quests and the opportunity to show your best steps in our salsa or champeta classes. You will also be accompanied by a local guide who will make sure you have the best night!


Duration

6 hours

Availability

Fridays at 9pm

Price

$16 per person

Alternative

Full-Day Mud Volcano and Galerazamba Town

Be amazed by nature's unpredictability on this Totumo Volcano and Galerazamba day trip. The impressive Galerazamba salt flats give a pink hue to the nearby sea between December and April. Enjoy magnificent views of the pink sea from a lookout point and learn more about the local area at the Ethnoindustrial Museum.


Duration

5 hours

Availability

Everyday at 8am

Price

$32 per person

Alternative


Sunset Cruise with Open Bar

Enjoy this 90-minute trip on a yacht to see the sunset on the bay. Grab a drink from the open bar of rum and coke, rum punch and soft drinks while enjoying good music, good company, and a lovely crew.


Duration

1.5 hours

Availability

Wednesday - Monday at 5pm

Price

$30 per person

Alternative


Tierra Bomba Beach Club, Lunch & Walking tour of Fort San Fernando

Enjoy Tierra Bomba Island where you will find the charming beach of San Fernando and discover the history of one of the oldest military forts in Cartagena. Talk a walk accompanied by a native guide to the Fort of San Fernando located next to the beach club and enjoy its warm and quiet beaches. It is the only beach in the city that has the perfect combination between a military fort and the tranquility that our visitors look for.


Duration

6 - 7 hours

Availability

Everyday at 8am

Price

$35 per person for standard admission

Alternative

Jet Ski Rental

Explore Cartagena beyond its historic center with a jet ski rental. Zip around Cartagena Bay and take in the views of Laguito, Tierra Bomba Island, and the Castillo Grande beaches. Get tips on where to go from an instructor and about other watersports including windsurfing and paddleboarding. After your ride, relax with a drink at the beach bar.



Duration

30 mins

Availability

Everyday from 11am - 4pm

Price

$53 per pair

Alternative


Canoe Trip in the La Boquilla Mangrove Forest

Get away from the crowds and explore an area rich with wildlife and tradition on this tour to the Cienaga de la Virgen mangrove forest. Paddle through winding mangrove channels on a canoe along with your guide, stopping to admire the scenery and learn about wildlife along the way. As you go, you also learn about the traditional fishing villages and people who call La Boquilla home.


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Everyday at 6am, 9am and 3pm

Price

  • $58 per person for a Canoe Ride

  • $123 per person for a Fishing Experience

Alternative

Full-day Magic Tour in Isla de Barú – $90 per person


Beach Horse Ride and Colombian Horse Culture

Go off the beaten track to enjoy an amazing experience riding horses on the beach of Cartagena. Benefit from hotel pickup and drop-off, free time at the beach, and lunch. Learn about and watch an exhibition of the Colombian Paso Fino horse breed.


Duration

4 hours

Availability

Monday - Saturday at 8:30am and 2:30pm

Price

$140 per person (2 people minimum required to reserve)

Alternative

Horse Riding in Cartagena – $80 per person

Emerald Jewelry Making Class

Make your own emerald jewelry at a 3-hour class at Cartagena’s Caribe Jewelry and Emerald Museum. You’ll work with Colombian emeralds and sterling silver wire, making four projects: a ring, earrings, a pendent, and a bracelet. At the end of the class, choose one piece to take home, with the option to purchase your other projects at the cost of materials. This 3-hour Cartagena jewelry-making class includes pickup and drop-off in the city, with both morning and afternoon classes available.


Duration

2 - 3 hours

Availability

Monday - Friday between 9am-3:pm

Price

$90 per person

Alternative

Emerald Museum and Factory Tour – $10 per person


Taste Cartagena Food Tour

Walk with us through Cartagena's downtown while eating and tasting real local finger food. We meet right in front of Cartagena University (look out of Juan Valdez Cafe) to live an amazing experience where you will taste more than 7 typical Colombian street food, You will discover not only the amazing history of each food but also understand our cultural uses for all of them, You'll be immersed in this sea of flavors and nice people, our experience will take you beyond of just stopping on the spots, you will interact with the traditional families who have owned these stands for years and who will be really happy to see you taste our delicious Colombian street food.


Duration

2.5 hours

Availability

Everyday between 9am - 3:30pm

Price

$30 per person

Alternative


Specialty Coffee Workshop

In Colombia, coffee is an artform. From the mountain terraces where the beans are grown and picked to the rich aroma as you take a sip, every step in the process is carefully considered. This morning tour of some of Cartagena’s best cafés will take you on a journey of discovery, learning all there is to know about Colombia’s rich coffee culture and sampling some of its finest brews along the way.


Duration

3 hours

Availability

Thursdays at 9am

Price

$35 per person


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