The Cartagena Chiva party bus is one of those experience you can’t miss in cartagena because in no other place than here you will enjoy, have fun, meet people, take picture, and mostly HAVE PARTY like here. But before, allow us to tell you 5 things you must know about this before.

1. What are or were the Chivas party buses?

First we have to talk about what the term “chiva” means, which in English refers to “goat” (the animal). What we know today in Colombia as Chiva party buses, at the beginning of the 20th century were the buses that were used for urban and inter-municipal transport (from town to town). These buses were characterized by having a wooden chassis and a ladder that also allowed them to transport merchandise, or groceries, and even people on the roof of the bus, which made these buses very popular and preferred because their passengers could carry whatever was necessary.

In addition, the Chivas were colorful, especially the colors of the Colombian flag (yellow, blue and red) and also noisy, not only because of their engine, but also because of the loud music that the driver used to listen to, and that the passengers also used to enjoy.

2. Why did they change?

In the 21st century, Chivas began to have tourist relevance due to their striking colors and loud music. This made more and more tourists want to experience transportation on the chiva like a local used to. But with the 21st century came also technology, new buses with air conditioning, and regulations that no longer allow passengers, merchandise, or food to be carried on the roof of the buses, which made the chivas leave the streets as public transportation, but their tourist appeal allowed them to stay as the party bus cartagena.

3. What other things changed with the regulations?

With more regulations, the party buses have been relegated outside of Cartagena Bay and the historic center (walled city) due to how loud and large they are, and also, you can’t sell or consume alcoholic beverages inside the buses.

4. So why continue taking the chiva party buses?

Because this is one of the activities in Cartagena Colombia you must do, because all the new regulations were not all bad, now the buses are of better quality, safer and you can still enjoy a nice ride on a party bus in the city of Cartagena with an entertainer, with good music, passing by the outside of the walled city, visiting the streets of the beach and the main avenue of the Bocagrande neighborhood located in the bay, also, visiting places like the letters of Cartagena, the castle of San Felipe where at night you can take some spectacular photos, and ending in a disco with hundreds of other people who will arrive from other chivas which will create a magnificent atmosphere to meet, make friends and who knows if you find your special person on this trip to Cartagena.

5. When can you drink alcohol?

The regulation does not allow alcoholic beverages to be given to passengers inside the party bus, but they can be given in the places where they make the stops, where you will also find vendors of these drinks. But as a tip, we can tell you that although it is prohibited to give alcoholic beverages to passengers on the bus, it is not prohibited for them to bring them and consume them under their own responsibility. It will depend on you what you want to do, and/or what the entertainer or owner of the party bus allows you.