Best tours of Cartagena

Cartagena de Indias, known as the Walled City, stands out for its historic centre, its fortifications and its 11 km colonial wall, which are considered part of the World Heritage. There are many tours you can take to enrich your experience in the city, from taking traditional cooking classes to learning to dance and play Caribbean rhythms on the beaches.

Of course, Cartagena is the ideal place to explore the surrounding islands and paradisiacal beaches, sail on sunset cruises and practice water activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling to discover the marine flora and fauna. In this article I tell you in detail about the best things to see and do in Cartagena de Indias, so that you can fully enjoy your stay in the city.

One way of getting to know every corner of the city of Cartagena de Indias is to join theguided citytours, as they usually organise a tour of the main attractions of the city.

This way you can get to know the Walled City, the historic centre of the city; stop at its representative squares, such as the San Diego and Santo Domingo squares; stroll along its beaches and most popular neighbourhoods, such as Getsemaní, or visit historic buildings such as the 17th century San Felipe de Barajas Castle; the Plaza de las Bóvedas, where today there is a handicrafts market; and the 18th century San Sebastián del Pastelillo Fort.

There are many ways to take these guided tours, which can be on foot, by minibus, car, tourist bus and even by more alternative means such as quad bikes. Below I'll tell you a little more about each of them, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

Join a bike ride

Bike rides are ideal for people who enjoy outdoor activities and contact with nature, as the routes generally focus on green or open spaces, where cycling is more pleasant. They also include a tour of the historic city centre, which is one of Cartagena's main attractions.

These tours usually take place in small groups, with guides who, in addition to telling you interesting details about the local culture and history, provide you with all the necessary information and directions. Children can also go on these tours, although not all companies have bicycles available for them, and they may also set an age limit to participate.

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• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours.
• Price: from €45 per person.
• Means of transport: by bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to discover the main attractions of the city of Cartagena in a fun way. Includes all the necessary elements for the ride.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must be in average physical condition to enjoy this experience. There may be age restrictions to participate.

Tour Cartagena on a quad bike

If you're looking for a more exciting tour of Cartagena de Indias, you can sign up for a quad bike tour, which is an all-terrain four-wheel drive vehicle, along the Caribbean coastline. There is sure to be plenty of fun on the beach and you will have the opportunity to explore the mangroves in the area.

Usually, in this type of tours a professional guide will teach you how to drive the quad, so it is not a requirement that you know how to drive them. They also include a helmet and all the safety equipment you need. Without a doubt, this is one of the most fun ways to get to know Cartagena and its beaches.

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• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours.
• Price: from 120 € per person.
• Means of transport: quad.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore the Caribbean coast of Cartagena aboard an all-terrain vehicle, for a more adrenaline-fuelled experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must be in average physical condition to enjoy this experience. It is not suitable for people with back problems or pregnant women.

Join a private city tour

If you prefer a more personalised experience, you can join a private tour and explore the best of Cartagena de Indias on your own or with your travel companions. These tours have more flexibility in schedules and, although their itinerary includes the main attractions of the city, they can also make some changes based on your interests.

You are usually accompanied by a local guide who provides you with a lot of information about the history and significance of the attractions you visit, and you can ask him all the questions you want. They also usually include a transfer to and from your hotel.

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• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Price: from €120 per person. The price per person varies according to the number of people taking part, so group discounts apply.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned car.
• Advantages of this option: you can make suggestions regarding the itinerary and the timetables are more flexible.
• Disadvantages of this option: as it is a private tour, the cost is higher.

A good way to get to know the Colombian city and its culture is to take a gastronomic tour to taste its typical food, from street food to the most gourmet dishes. These tours also take you to the main restaurants in Cartagena and the neighbourhoods renowned for their gastronomy, such as the Getsemaní neighbourhood and the Walled City.

Many of these tours are usually led by an expert guide who tells you many interesting things about each food you try. Most of these excursions tend to take place in small groups of people, and are an opportunity to meet other travellers.

Must-try dishes, whether you go on your own or with a tour, include seafood casserole, ceviche in coconut milk and fried fish, which you'll see being cooked in street ovens. Cartagena is also known for its squeezed fruit drinks, especially those made with citrus fruits.

A must on your tour is a visit to the Bazurto market, where you can try Colombian food made with fresh ingredients and made on sight. In this market you can also buy local products such as fruits, vegetables, seafood and fish, and even clothes and handicrafts.

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• Duration: between 2.5 and 3 hours approximately.
• Price: from €40 per person.
• Means of transport: by vehicle and on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to taste the typical food of Cartagena while you learn about the history of its traditional dishes.
• Disadvantages of this option: some tours do not include tastings, so you have to pay for them separately.

One of the best experiences to have in Cartagena de Indias is to sail along its shores and watch the sunset over the Caribbean Sea. It is a way to see many of Cartagena's main attractions from the waters and admire how they light up at sunset.

You can take these cruises with your partner, family or group of friends, as there are options for all tastes, from private cruises with live music to cruises with dancing and drinks, ideal if you are travelling to Cartagena de Indias with your group of friends.

Most of these tours include tastings of Caribbean delicacies and/or natural juices. Without a doubt, enjoying the breeze of the sea wind while tasting the flavours of the most exquisite Colombian dishes promises to be a more than memorable experience, not to be missed during your visit to Cartagena.

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• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Price: from €25 per person.
• Means of transport: cruise.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to watch the sunset over the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea and see the city from a different and memorable perspective.
• Disadvantages of this option: not all cruises include drinks and/or tastings, so they must be paid for separately.

The city of Cartagena de Indias has its own particular way of preparing food, as well as culinary secrets and unique recipes that reflect the history and culture of the country. That is why taking express cooking classes is an opportunity for you to get into this world and taste the most exquisite dishes of Cartagena.

Cooking classes are usually taught by professional chefs and are aimed at everyone, whether you are a lover of cooking, a beginner cook or if you are just curious to learn their recipes. Some of the dishes they teach you are coconut sauce, coconut rice and seafood stews or fried fish.

In addition to cooking classes, they also take you to the main gastronomic centres of the city, such as the Bazurto Market, where fresh produce, fruit, fish and seafood are on offer. There you can watch how the most delicious dishes are made using traditional techniques, chat with the locals and, of course, taste those exquisite dishes.

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• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Price: around €90 per person.
• Means of transport: by vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn how to cook typical Colombian food with an expert in gastronomy and you will get to know Bazurto, the city's main public market.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is an experience more suitable for people who like to cook.

One of the best ways to get to know the bay of Cartagena is by kayaking, especially if you are looking for a deeper and more direct connection with nature. This type of tour will allow you to see many of the city's main attractions from the water, such as the Pegasus Pier and the Clock Tower, among others. You don't need to know how to kayak to join these tours, as you will learn during the tour.

These tours are usually run in small groups with a professional guide who will give you all the instructions you need and provide you with the appropriate equipment. The guides can also tell you about the history of the emblematic buildings and constructions you see from the water, such as the Fort of San Sebastian del Pastelillo.

Most of these tours take you to Isla de los Pajaros, a place where you can see numerous species of tropical birds, such as herons, gulls, turtledoves, swallows and hornbills. Without a doubt, kayaking around Cartagena is a fun and interesting way to get to know the city.

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• Duration: between 1 and 2 hours.
• Price: from €60 per person.
• Means of transport: kayak.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to sail around the bay of the city of Cartagena and see many historical sites from the waters.
• Disadvantages of this option: most tours do not include lunch.

One of the most emblematic and bohemian neighbourhoods of Cartagena de Indias is the Getsemaní neighbourhood, which stands out for its great display of street art. The murals and graffiti that decorate the walls of the neighbourhood have turned it into a real open-air museum, complemented by art galleries and cafés.

Each of these artistic expressions is related to a very interesting history of Colombian culture, which is why it is a good idea to go on these tours with expert guides. They will be able to provide you with information about this art and show you the most outstanding works of Getsemaní.

If you are a photography lover, you will love this tour, as you will want to remember every corner of this artistic neighbourhood. In addition, in Getsemaní you will be able to taste traditional dishes, as the neighbourhood is also known for having some of the best restaurants in the city.

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• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Price: from €60 per person.
• Means of transport: by car and on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the street art of one of the most bohemian neighbourhoods of Cartagena de Indias.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tours do not include entry to historic buildings.

A must-do during your visit to Cartagena is a tour of its historic centre, known as the Walled City. There you can see colonial buildings, old churches and the 11 km of walls that are still preserved. They also usually include visits to other historical monuments outside the walls and to some of its most emblematic neighbourhoods.

This type of tour is usually done in small groups and accompanied by a professional guide, who knows the history of each place you visit. Most tours include a visit to the Convento de la Popa, where the city's main viewpoint is located; to the church of San Pedro Claver, the first canonised American; and to the Torre del Reloj, one of Cartagena's most recognisable postcards, among others.

Many of these tours also include tastings of traditional Colombian food, and even lunch with dessert and snacks, so you can recharge your batteries while you get to know every corner of the city.

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• Duration: around 5 to 6 hours.
• Price: from 75 € per person.
• Means of transport: by bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will see the most emblematic buildings of Cartagena de Indias, such as the Walled City, the main neighbourhoods and other ancient constructions, such as the Castle of San Pedro.
• Disadvantages of this option: some tours do not include the entrance to the historical buildings, so you must pay for them separately. Not all of them include lunch and/or drinks.

If you want to experience Colombian culture, one of the best things to do in Cartagena de Indias is to take salsa lessons and learn to play Caribbean rhythms on the drum, which will certainly make you connect in a deeper and more fun way with the joyful spirit of the Colombian Caribbean.

Fun, music and colours fill the beaches of Cartagena and the locals love to share their culture and traditional dances with visitors. This type of activity is very complete, as dance classes with experts are often held on the beaches, which further enriches the experience. One of the most popular places to take these classes is the village of La Boquilla, which is about 15 km from Cartagena.

It is common for dance classes to be combined with percussion classes on traditional Caribbean instruments. As well as taking classes, you can't miss the live percussion dance shows put on by the locals, which are often held on the beaches and in the main squares of the city, as well as in bars and discotheques.

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• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Price: from €190 per person.
• Means of transport: by vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn to dance to traditional Caribbean rhythms such as salsa and/or play these rhythms on the drums while learning more about the local culture.
• Disadvantages of this option: You may not learn to dance and/or play percussion in one day, but it is certainly a fun way to learn about the local culture.

If you prefer to tour the city at your own pace and take a more personalised tour, a good idea is to buy a free pass on the Cartagena tourist bus for one or two days, or as long as your stay in the city lasts. These Hop On Hop Off buses have stops at the city' s main attractions, and you can get on and off the bus as many times as you like during the time you have contracted.

Tourist buses are a very comfortable way to get around the city and a very economical option. They often include other benefits such as tastings, entrance to historic buildings and even guided tours.

Some of the attractions that are usually part of these Hop On Hop Off tours are the Walled City, which is the historic centre of Cartagena; the Castle of San Felipe, a fortification from the colonial era; the Fort of San Sebastián del Pastelillo, located on the island of Manga and the Emerald Museum, one of the most interesting museums in Cartagena.

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• Duration: can be booked for several days.
• Price: from €16 per person.
• Means of transport: tourist bus.
• Advantages of this option: you can see Cartagena's main attractions comfortably, economically and at your own pace.
• Disadvantages of this option: at some stops you may have to wait a few minutes to get back on the bus.

On your visit to Cartagena, you can't miss a visit to the Mangrove Cave, which is located on Baru Island, about 50 km from Cartagena. Without a doubt, it is an opportunity for you to get to know the tropical fauna and flora of these ecosystems, and also to do aquatic activities such as snorkelling and diving in its crystal clear waters.

To visit the Mangrove Cave, you should set aside a whole day, as it will take you time to explore the island, which has beautiful beaches such as Playa Blanca. There you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers, and use the showers and camping sites. There are many accommodation options on the island, as well as bars and restaurants, should you wish to extend your stay.

Most of the tours from Cartagena that take you to the Caves have expert guides to ensure you have a safe experience at all times. You'll quickly learn how to use the snorkelling or scuba diving equipment, even if you're a beginner. Note that you can reach the island both by sea and by land, as Baru is actually a peninsula.

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• Duration: about 8-9 hours.
• Price: from €60 per person.
• Means of transport: by vehicle and boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the mangrove cave on Baru Island where you can do water sports.
• Disadvantages of this option: to get to know Baru Island better, it is advisable to spend the night in its hotels or camp.