Colombia · CHIVA BUS TOURS IN CARTAGENA
Prices, timings and the one caveat each, across 9 chiva bus tours in Cartagena that are worth what they ask. Start with the one most people choose and work down.
Join a two-hour Cartagena party bus with music, dancing, city views, and a host to keep the energy up. You pass the Clock Tower, San Felipe Castle, and La India Catalina, then stop at the Cartagena sign for photos. Bring cash for vendors, expect an open-air bus, and confirm your pickup point in advance.
“The tour operator was nice and accommodating. We had a blast on the tour! They picked us up on time, played some good music and took us around town in style.”
Spend about four hours seeing Cartagena by open-sided chiva, with a certified guide, private transport, and admission to San Felipe de Barajas included. You’ll visit the bay, Old Shoes monument, Cartagena letters, India Catalina, Clock Tower, and Walled City. Guides such as Martín, César, Herman, and Freddie have been praised for clear explanations, including English help when available.
“La visita al Fuerte de San Felipe y la visita a la Ciudad Antigua. Los tiempos estuvieron bien y cumplieron con el tiempo de recogida y regreso al punto de partida.”
You’ll ride Cartagena’s traditional chiva party bus for three hours with a Spanish-speaking entertainer, music, dancing, city photo stops, a typical food tasting, and free nightclub entry in Getsemaní. Pickup is available at selected hotels and meeting points. Drinks are allowed only at route stops, not on the bus.
“El tour de por si vale mucho la pena, pero estaba demasiado lleno, fue agotador, no nos podiamos casi mover y varias personas se bajaron en la primera parada.”
Spend four hours seeing Cartagena from a colorful open-air chiva, with photo stops at Cartagena Letters, Castillogrande Bay, Las Botas Viejas, and San Felipe Castle. A bilingual guide, including a guide known as PAPI on some departures, leads the tour in Spanish and English. Expect music, city views, walking, heat, and no air conditioning.
“Excellente guía. Mejoraría la escalera y bueno miro del calor pero eso ya sabemos que no se cambia”
Join a Spanish-speaking host on a colorful Chiva Rumbera through Cartagena for two hours of crossover music, dancing, and lively animation. You’ll stop at the Old Boots monument, San Felipe Castle, and the Cartagena letters for photos, then receive nightclub entry. Hotel pickup is available in Bocagrande and Laguito, but bring your own drinks.
“Esse foi, sem dúvida, um dos passeios mais animados que fizemos em Cartagena! Subir numa chiva rumbera e transformar um simples ônibus em pista de dança foi uma experiência única e contagiante. Com música alta, luzes coloridas e um clima de festa, dançamos, rimos e curtimos cada momento. Durante o tour, fizemos três paradas rápidas: - O Monumento das Botas Velhas - O imponente Castelo San Felipe - E o Letreiro de Cartagena Este último, porém, impossível tirar uma foto sozinho no horário noturno. Um ponto de atenção: realmente pode ser difícil localizar o ônibus certo entre tantas chivas no mesmo local de encontro. Isso poderia ser mais organizado pela…”
See Cartagena by traditional chiva bus and on foot in four hours. You’ll pass Bocagrande, India Catalina, the Old Boots, San Felipe Castle, and the Cartagena letters before walking through the walled city. English and Spanish guides, including Rocky and Fredy on some departures, lead the tour. Castle entry costs extra.
“Rocky was fenomenal on communicating and guiding. He likes history and giving all details. No music on the bus and after a rainy day there was water everywhere at the beginning but once the sun came out it all dried up and it was hot as crazy. Nice organized way to take pictures in each stop and the company is great at confirming and communicating. Whatsap is a must. Also watch out for the vendors. Bring water, umbrella, hat and walking shoes. Also a bag in case you buy stuff.”
Ride Cartagena after dark in a traditional chiva rumbera with a Spanish-speaking entertainer, crossover music, dancing, and photo stops at the Cartagena letters, Old Shoes Monument, and San Felipe Castle. The $25, two-hour outing includes nightclub entry in Getsemaní or return to the meeting point, but drinks, food, and hotel pickup cost extra.
“1h de retard .. aucune communication au client .. j’ai du courir derrière tous les bus pour savoir si c’était mon bus où non. J’ai du rentrer chez moi tellement c’était désespérant d’attendre… les bus dans la rue sont à 30-40min pesos… deux fois moins chère.”
You’ll ride Chiva Rumbera la Palenquera for two hours with Spanish or English commentary, crossover music, onboard animation, and stops at Las Botas Viejas and Cartagena’s giant letters. The route includes a panoramic look at San Felipe Castle, authorized pickup points, return transport, and optional entry to Taboo nightclub.
“The pick up point was very confusing,. I waited for almost an hour before they actually showed up. I had to get Wi-Fi since I’m American and re-contact them to make sure they were still coming to get me. It was unprofessional and the bus was overcrowded. I barely had any room to sit down and people constantly bumping into me. I did not feel comfortable, and the music was boring.”
Ride Cartagena by party bus for two hours, with music, colorful lights, a guide in English or Spanish, and photo stops near the Clock Tower, Bocagrande, San Felipe Fort, and Las Botas Viejas. Bring your own drinks, and confirm what is included before boarding since alcohol details are not consistent.
“No pasaron por nosotros al hotel. Tuve que llamar y preguntar porque no venían ni nos contactaban. No nos dieron la cerveza que decía que venía incluida, no se pararon en la licoreria. No nos dejaron en el hotel.”
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