Culture & City Tours

Why take a private culture tour in Cartagena

Cartagena's history is best understood with someone who grew up with it. On a private tour the guide is only for your group, so you can ask everything, stop where you want and set the pace, whether you travel with kids, grandparents or a group of friends.

• Private City Tour: the walled city on foot, San Felipe Castle and the La Popa convent with the best view over Cartagena. A good first day in the city.
• San Basilio de Palenque: a day in the first free town of the Americas, a UNESCO-recognized culture with its own language, music and food.
• Bazurto Market: the real Cartagena kitchen, with a local guide who knows where to eat and what to taste.

Every tour includes private transport with pickup at your hotel, vacation rental or the cruise terminal, and the price per person drops as your group grows. Want to read before you go? See our guide to the Cartagena walled city and our guide to San Basilio de Palenque.

How to choose your culture tour

First time in Cartagena? Start with the private city tour, which gives you the history and the layout of the walled city on day one. If you want to understand the Afro-Colombian heritage that shaped the coast, the San Basilio de Palenque tour is the most meaningful day trip from the city. Food lovers should not miss the Bazurto Market food tour, the most authentic way to taste everyday Cartagena.

Frequently asked questions

How long do the culture tours last?

The city tour and the Bazurto Market tour take about half a day. The Palenque tour is a full day, including the drive of about an hour and a half each way.

Can cruise passengers join these tours?

Yes. We pick you up at the cruise terminal and plan the day around your ship's schedule.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

No. Every tour includes a bilingual guide, so you can ask questions in English the whole day.