Colombia · CHIVA BUS TOURS
Prices, timings and the one caveat each, across 15 chiva bus tours that are worth what they ask. Start with the one most people choose and work down.
Take a four-hour Medellín city tour from El Poblado with a live English or Spanish guide. Ride the Metro and Metrocable, visit Botero Park, Barefoot Park, La Alpujarra, and Pueblito Paisa, and enjoy city views from a themed bus. Guides John and Jon have been praised for clear, friendly explanations.
“It was a good tour! John was an amazing guide”
Join Aeroturex in El Poblado for a four-hour Medellín night out by party bus or Chiva. A guide and live DJ keep the music going as you taste empanadas, arepas, ceviche with chicharrón, and one local beer. The route includes Provenza, the Golden Mile, and the 4 Sur Bridge, ending at an exclusive restaurant.
“Hands down one of the funnest experiences!!! Get ready to dance drink and meet new ppl the guides are super good at getting the party started and going! You’re not gonna regret this tour it was a blast!!!”
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.”
Explore Buga by private chiva with an English or Spanish audio guide, passing the Basilica, Cathedral, theatre, bridge, and Castle. Stops include Cecilia Payán sweets, regional wine at Cava Montoro, Amaretto Café, and a Valluna empanada. Guides such as Carlos, Sebastián, Miguel, and Sandra may accompany the ride.
“This tour is short and sweet! It was the perfect way to spend a Thursday afternoon in Buga. The tour gives you historical details of the sites while the audio explains detals and history of the city and each stop.”
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.”
Join Aeroturex SAS for a three-hour Medellín party bus with unlimited beer, a live DJ, crossover music, colorful lights, and stops near Puente de la 4 Sur, Calle 70, and Milla de Oro. English and Spanish guides, including Eugene, Isa, and Yuda, help keep the energy moving from El Poblado.
“everyone was engaged. it was fun all of us dancing and cheering the whole way. the stops were great as well. no complaints whatsoever.”
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.”
Travel from Medellín to Guatapé aboard a colorful chiva with a bilingual English and Spanish guide. Visit Marinilla, El Peñol, the Guatapé Reservoir, Hacienda La Manuela, Peñol Rock, and the colorful town of Guatapé. A boat ride, animal farm visit, and round-trip transport are included. Extra-cost options include rock climbing, ATVs, jet skis, and paintball.
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.”
See San Andrés by open-sided chiva with a Spanish-speaking guide, music, and stops at the Island House Museum, Morgan’s Cave, West View, Hoyo Soplador, San Luis, and the island sign. The $30 price covers transport and stops, but museum, cave, pool, food, and possible Hoyo Soplador costs are extra.
“It’s a great option to get to know the island by road, specially if you don’t have many days. However, a few things feel like a tourist trap. I do not recommend going to the Cueva de Morgan and the Hoyo Soplador - definitely not worth it, and the two more expensive things in the tour. The Casa Museo is very interesting and I would totally recommend it. La West View is ok, but lacks good infrastructure. In total, be prepare to pay and pay Casa Museo - 10.000 pesos (totally worth it) Cueva de Morgan - 20.000 pesos (do not recommend) West View - 10.000 pesos (ok…) Hoyo soplador…”
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.”
Pick a coast, a city or a coffee farm.
