Beautiful Cartagena and Islands!

Welcome to Cartagena! We will organise a private transfer from the airport to make your arrival as smooth as possible — your driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. You will head to your Cartagena hotel where you can leave your luggage and start enjoying your first day in the beautiful city of Cartagena. A private bilingual guide (one of the best local guides in the city!) will pick you up for a four-hour tour. This tour will cover all of the main highlights of the city and you will also learn about the history of Cartagena through local stories shared by your guide. We love trying local food along the way, so we’ll make sure your tour has a few stops at the best coffee houses and food stalls in the city. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes, water, hats, and sunscreen. Start with La Popa Monastery, where you can appreciate the best views of Cartagena de Indias. This is a top spot for pictures. From there, you’ll head to the fort of San Felipe de Barajas, an architectural wonder that shows the strength and power the Spanish had in Latin America. Your next stop will be the Walled City, where you will see the Bóvedas, another example of military architecture and fascinating history. At Las Bovedas, you can buy local art and crafts by local artisans. This is also a great place to find souvenirs to take back home. You will continue by walking through the old city and discovering the magical streets of Cartagena. There you will see beautiful houses, squares, and churches. You will also visit the San Pedro Claver church, the patron saint of slaves in Colombia and African Americans. After four hours, you’ll definitely have a better understanding of the city. Plus, you’ll have lots of fun along the way! In the evening, we will take care of all your restaurant reservations so you can enjoy the best restaurants that Cartagena has to offer! We will also send you suggestions for the best spots to watch the sunset and enjoy some drinks!

Get excited because today you will visit the islands of Cartagena! This is your chance to relax and enjoy a day at the beach. A private driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Port Muelle de la Bodeguita. From there, you’ll take a boat to the islands. What are the islands? The Archipelago of the National and Natural Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Park are known as the Rosario Islands. This is where you’ll find the San Pedro de Majagua Hotel, about 45 kilometers southwest of the city of Cartagena de Indias on the northern coast of Colombia. These islands are really an archipelago formed by coral reefs. Their crystal waters and small coralline beaches are great for recreation and relaxation — perfect if you’re traveling with a family or group since there’s something for everyone. You can snorkel or dive, go swimming, enjoy the sea and the waves, tan under the Caribbean sun, practice kayaking, relax and enjoy nature, or take a local tour to see more of the island by bike or on foot. If you have time and want to, you can even get a massage at the spa. In the early afternoon, you will take a boat back to Cartagena where a driver will be waiting to pick you up at Port Muelle de la Bodeguita. Welcome back to Cartagena! Get settled into your hotel and then head out to explore the evening.

Buenos Dias! Today you will have a great day in Cartagena trying amazing local Caribbean flavors, learning about Colombian cuisine, and tasting some of the best coffees in the world! In the morning and early afternoon you will enjoy a gourmet cooking class at one of the best restaurants in Cartagena, and learn to cook Colombian food with one of Latin America’s best chefs. You’ll prepare exotic drinks as well and be welcomed with a refreshing Caribbean cocktail. We highly recommend this unique cooking class for groups with foodies. You’ll have the chance to interact with the chefs and learn about the aromas, recipes, ingredients, and local flavors that create delicious Colombian dishes. Afterward, you’ll sit down to enjoy a three-course lunch and drinks prepared by you and your group. This is a private, personalised experience, so we will make sure that the menu is customised to meet any food requirements or preferences. This is a must in Colombia, and an experience you’ll never forget. In the afternoon, you will get to taste Colombian coffee at its source. This short Colombian coffee experience awakens the senses with one of the best coffee shops in the country. You will learn to appreciate the particular attributes of specialty coffee through a delicious sensory exploration. Learn about coffee production in Colombia, and enjoy the different flavors and aromas of some of the best Colombian coffees. We also recommend adding a rum pairing or a local honey pairing, and combining the flavors of coffee with other aromas and flavors. In the evening, we will make a reservation for you at a great restaurant with live Caribbean music and amazing food!

Lace up your dancing shoes for an exclusive private dance lesson for you and your group, taught by some of the country’s best instructors. Practice your moves and learn different local rhythms such as salsa, merengue, reggaeton, and bachata. Dance to the rhythm of Colombians and experience the vibrant culture of Cartagena with this fun dance class! We love this activity so much that we often schedule two or even three dancing classes during our visits to Cartagena. You will fall in love with Latin music, and learn from some of the best dance instructors. Go back home having learned how to move your hips and dance like a Colombian! In the afternoon, you will have an experiential Rum and Chocolate Tasting, which is a must in Cartagena! Colombia produces some of the best rums and, in this activity, you’ll learn that firsthand. Taste some of the best Colombian and Caribbean rums paired with Colombian chocolate and small food platters. Each grade of rum and chocolate are carefully selected and paired to give you a unique sensory experience. The spectrum of rum and chocolate spans the coastal and mountainous regions of Colombia, from the smallest artisanal houses to the largest producers. We recommend scheduling this activity in the afternoon, and buying some Latin American rum to take back home at the end of the experience. It’s time to enjoy dinner with a view of Cartagena. Watch the sunset, and enjoy drinks and food from one of the best viewpoints in the city. We’ll make reservations for you here so you get a table with the best view. Get ready to take some of the best pictures of your trip and enjoy local drinks like a piña colada or an aguardiente shot, a clear anise-flavored alcohol Colombians love.

In the morning today you will start with a local Mangrove Tour. This is a fantastic way to spend the morning and connect with nature. Head to the old village of La Boquilla where you’ll make your way by canoe into the ancient, foliage-covered tunnels of the mangrove forest. In fact, you’ll be heading down the route taken by the Spanish in the 17th century. Let yourself be amazed by the hundreds of species of birds who make their homes in Cartagena’s mangroves. There’s a lot of wildlife here to admire. This experience lets you learn how locals live and truly immerse yourself in Colombian culture. In the afternoon, your driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a 45-minute drive to Baru Island, where the National Colombian Aviary is located. This is one of the best Bird Sanctuaries in the region, with hundreds of bird species that you will only see in Colombia. It is definitely a place we recommend going and a great experience for both adults and children! In the evening, discover Cartagena's thriving culinary scene, choosing from casual cafes frequented by locals to upscale restaurants by some of Latin America's most famous chefs.

Today you say goodbye to Cartagena and Colombia, and start your journey back home. Thank you for visiting our country and we hope you come back to experience other destinations such as the unique Tayrona natural Park, Bogota, Medellin, the magical Amazon rainforest or the magnificent Coffee Region! Airport Transfer Included. A private driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport on time for your international flight back home. We hope you enjoyed Cartagena and hope you come back to Colombia soon!