Cartagena: The Legendary Colombian Rum and Chocolate Tasting

Cartagena’s first dedicated rum and chocolate tasting puts eight Colombian rums on the table, paired with chocolates that vary by age, cocoa percentage, and origin. You’ll also get three savory local bites, so the experience is more than a series of sweet sips.

I like the range: one drink may remind you of gin, another of brandy, whiskey, or even ouzo. I also like the private format, which lets your group of two to 40 people set its own pace with an English or Spanish guide such as Alejandra or Coco.

The main consideration is the price, $109 per person. That is a serious spend for 1 hour and 45 minutes of tasting, though the eight rums, food, chocolate, and private setting make the value stronger for a small group than for one or two people booking mainly for a quick drink.

Key points to know before you book

• Eight rums show Colombia’s full range: You are not getting eight near-identical pours. The tasting moves from familiar local drinking styles to aged and more unusual spirits.
• Montes de Maria cocoa adds a sense of place: The chocolate comes from Bolívar’s Montes de Maria region and is matched to different rums by cocoa percentage, age, and origin.
• Three savory bites break up the sweetness: Local snacks give your palate a useful reset and connect the tasting to Cartagena’s food culture.
• The experience is fully private: No outside participants are added to your group, with capacity for two to 40 people.
• The guides bring more than a script: Alejandra is warm and lively, while Coco brings broad knowledge of spirits and cocktails, including a cinnamon-flavored mixed drink.
• You meet at El Arsenal: The Rum Box: Look for the two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside, near the start of Arsenal Street and across from the convention center.

Starting at the pink building on Arsenal Street

You begin at El Arsenal: The Rum Box, in a useful central spot near the start of Arsenal Street. The building is two stories, painted pink, and marked by wooden barrels outside. The barrels promote free hugs, so the meeting point is not hard to identify once you are in the area.

When you arrive, your host takes you to the exact room or area used for the tasting. That matters because the meeting point is also the name of the venue, and you do not need to search Cartagena for a second location.

I like that the experience starts and ends in the same place. You do not spend part of your booking waiting for a vehicle or moving between bars. The tradeoff is that the activity is centered in one venue, so you should book it for the drinks, food, and storytelling rather than for sightseeing between stops.

The tasting itself lasts about 105 minutes, while the booking is described as a two-hour activity. I would allow the full two hours in your schedule, especially if your group enjoys asking questions or lingering over the final pour.

Eight Colombian rums, from everyday pours to unusual spirits

The centerpiece is a flight of eight premium Colombian rums, each aged differently. The point is not simply to find your favorite brand. You get to compare how aging, production style, and serving method can change what you taste in the glass.

One useful surprise is the variety. A rum can be sweet and familiar, but another may bring notes that remind you of gin, brandy, whiskey, or ouzo. That makes this a good choice if you think you already know what rum tastes like and want to test that assumption.

The tasting includes both everyday local drinking styles and more artisanal rums. This gives you a better picture of how Colombians use rum, from a casual party drink to a spirit suited to slow tasting.

The order of the pours is not listed in detail, so you should expect the guide to shape the progression. That is a good reason to ask questions as you go. If one rum seems sharper, sweeter, or more herbal than expected, the guide can explain how to compare it with the next pour.

The rum is not served in isolation. Each sample has a matching chocolate or savory bite, which helps you notice how food changes the flavor. A rum that seems strong on its own may become rounder with chocolate, while a savory snack can make a sweeter pour feel less heavy.

Chocolate from Montes de Maria meets Colombian rum

The chocolate comes from the Montes de Maria region, an area of Bolívar connected directly to the local setting of the tasting. You sample chocolates with different cocoa percentages, ages, and origins, so each piece has a separate role in the pairing.

Higher cocoa percentages usually bring a darker, more bitter profile, while lower percentages may taste softer and sweeter. The exact selections can vary, but the format encourages you to compare the chocolate before and after the rum.

I like this part because it gives the tasting a clear learning curve without turning it into a formal class. You can notice whether a rum makes the chocolate taste fruitier, drier, warmer, or more intense. You do not need a trained palate. Pay attention to what changes after each sip.

The chocolate also gives the experience a stronger Colombian identity than a standard rum flight. You are not just sampling an imported bar beside a drink. The cocoa is tied to a nearby region, and the pairings connect two Colombian products in one sitting.

If you prefer dry spirits and do not enjoy sweet food, the chocolate portion may feel like the less exciting half. The three savory bites help balance that, but this is still a tasting built around both rum and chocolate. It is best for people who want the pairing, not just the alcohol.

Three savory bites bring Cartagena into the tasting

Alongside the chocolate, you receive three bites from local gastronomy. The available information does not specify the exact dishes, so you should not book this expecting a particular menu item.

What matters is the role these bites play. They keep the experience from becoming eight pours followed by a sugar rush, and they let you see how local food works with different rum styles.

A savory snack can make an everyday rum feel more like a social drink, while an aged pour may work better with the deeper flavors of chocolate. The contrasts help you understand the pairings instead of treating the food as decoration.

The bites are small, so I would not count this as lunch or dinner. Eat beforehand if you need a full meal, particularly since the tasting runs close to two hours. Water is included, which is useful between pours and helps you take the tasting at a comfortable pace.

Guides, stories, and the private format

The guide is an important part of this activity. Alejandra led one session with a warm, welcoming manner and plenty of energy. Coco brought a broad understanding of spirits and cocktails, explaining not only rum and chocolate but also how different drinks are made and enjoyed.

The experience includes laughter and pirate tales, adding a playful Cartagena touch. The stories are part of the appeal, but you still get practical information about the spirits. This is not a silent flight where someone places eight glasses in front of you and walks away.

Because the group is private, you can ask questions without worrying about slowing down a larger mixed tour. A group of two can make the tasting intimate, while a larger group of friends can turn it into a social evening.

The capacity reaches 40 people, but the feel will change depending on your number. A couple or small group is likely to get more direct conversation with the guide. A large private group may bring more noise and laughter, but less one-on-one attention.

The activity is best enjoyed by at least two people. That is a practical point, not just a social one. The tasting is designed around shared reactions, food comparisons, and conversation, so it is less appealing if you are looking for a solitary drink.

What the 105-minute itinerary feels like

You arrive at El Arsenal: The Rum Box and meet the host outside or near the marked entrance. After being shown to the tasting area, you settle in for the guided session.

The first part introduces the rum selection and the idea behind the pairings. You then work through eight Colombian rums, with chocolate and savory food appearing alongside the different styles.

One of the rums may be mixed into a cinnamon-flavored cocktail. That gives you a useful change from neat tasting and shows how a Colombian spirit can work in a prepared drink. The cocktail is not a separate bar visit, but it adds variety to the flight.

The guide also provides stories and context as you taste. The pirate tales give the session a lighter tone, while the comparison of rum styles gives it substance.

At the end, you return to the same venue where you began. No transport is required, and there is no second attraction folded into the schedule. You can continue elsewhere in Cartagena afterward without having to cross the city.

Is $109 per person a fair price?

At $109 per person, this is not a casual budget activity. You are paying for eight premium rum samples, several chocolates, three local bites, water, a guide, and a private booking rather than a shared bar tasting.

The private format is the key factor. For a group celebrating a birthday, planning a couples outing, or arranging a small private event, the price may make sense because you are not sharing the guide with strangers. For one person or a pair focused only on trying rum, the cost requires more thought.

The quantity is strong for a 105-minute activity. Eight rums give you enough comparison to identify differences, and the food prevents the session from feeling like a quick sample flight. The value improves if you are interested in learning how spirits pair with chocolate rather than simply drinking.

You also get access to a very large Colombian rum collection at the venue, with more than 80 varieties available in total. You do not taste all of them, of course, but the size of the collection supports the idea that the hosts are focused on rum rather than offering it as an afterthought.

I would compare the cost with what you want from your Cartagena evening. If you want a guided food-and-drink activity with a private group and a clear Colombian focus, it is a reasonable splurge. If you want a cheap introduction to local alcohol, you can likely find a less structured option, but it will not offer the same number of pairings or the private guide.

Who should book this Cartagena tasting?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy tasting menus, spirits, chocolate, and lively conversation. It works especially well for couples, friend groups, and private celebrations where everyone wants to try the same things and compare notes.

It is also a good fit if you have already done Cartagena’s main sights and want an evening activity tied to Colombian food and drink. The English and Spanish guide options make it accessible to a wider range of visitors.

You should skip it if you are pregnant or under 18, since the activity is not suitable for either group. I would also skip it if you dislike chocolate, prefer a full meal, or want a walking tour with several city stops.

Bring a curious attitude rather than a fixed idea of rum. The best part is the range, including spirits with flavors that may surprise you. Ask about the aging, the cocoa percentage, and the cinnamon cocktail, and you will get more from the session than if you simply wait for the next glass.

Booking details that matter

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging your Cartagena schedule.

Starting times vary, so check availability before booking. The activity is offered in English and Spanish, and the group remains private, with no unrelated participants added.

The venue is in Bolívar, at El Arsenal: The Rum Box. Look for the pink two-story building with wooden barrels outside, near Arsenal Street and across from the convention center.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want a focused Colombian food-and-drink session rather than a general city tour. The eight-rum comparison, Montes de Maria chocolate, three savory bites, and private guide create a well-defined evening, with enough variety to keep the tasting interesting.

I would be more cautious if $109 feels high for a short activity or if you mainly want one good rum cocktail. This is a structured tasting, not a night at a bar. For a small group that values privacy, local products, and a guide who can make spirits approachable, it is a strong choice. For everyone else, make sure the chocolate and educational side appeal as much as the rum itself.

FAQ

Where does the rum and chocolate tasting begin?

It begins at El Arsenal: The Rum Box, near the start of Arsenal Street in Cartagena. The venue is a two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside, across from the convention center.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes, while the activity is described as lasting about two hours overall.

How many rums will I taste?

You will sample eight Colombian premium rums with different aging styles.

Is the experience private?

Yes. It is a private group experience, and no one outside your party is added.

How many people can join a private group?

The experience is designed for groups of two to 40 people.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The guide can lead the experience in English or Spanish.

What food is included?

You receive artisanal chocolates with different cocoa percentages, ages, and origins, along with three bites of local gastronomy.

Is water provided?

Yes. Water is included.

Is the activity suitable for children?

No. Children under 18 are not permitted, and the activity is also not suitable for pregnant women.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.