The 9 Guided Tours in Cartagena to Clear a Day For

1.Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49Our pick

Meet your English or Spanish-speaking guide beneath the orange umbrellas at Plaza Cervantes for 150 minutes of Colombian street food. Expect nine generous tastings, from ceviche, arepas, patacones, sweets, beer, and coffee to local drinks, plus stories about Cartagena’s food and history. Guides include Alvaro, Robert, Liz, Mercedes, and Nando.

“Legacy was an amazing guide. He was knowledgeable and kind. He qas the highlight of my trip!legac”

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2.Guided Tour, with La Popa Convent, and San Felipe

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 599 reviews · 4 hours · from $45

See Cartagena’s major sights in four hours with a bilingual guide such as Rafael, Álvaro, or Carlos. Visit La Popa Convent, San Felipe Fortress, the Old Shoes Monument, and the Walled City, with air-conditioned transport and admissions included. Hotel pickup is available from Zona Norte, Bocagrande, and Laguito.

“our tour guide was great, I highly recommend asking for Fernando if you need an English speaking tour guide.”

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3.Totumo Mud Volcano with Bilingual Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 101 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $17Best value

Ride an air-conditioned bus from Cartagena to Totumo Volcano, float in warm mineral mud for 10 to 15 minutes, then enjoy a typical lunch, beach time, pools, and hammocks at Arena Beach Hotel. English and Spanish guidance is available, with pickup from central Cartagena areas.

“Had an awesome time. Guides were very friendly and spoke English as well as Spanish so they translated everything said. Enjoyed ourselves at volcano and was able to relax at pool afterwards. Lunch provided was delicious. Highly recommend.”

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4.Cartagena Luxury Classic Car Tour + Bilingual Historian Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.)

Ride through Cartagena in a private classic car with a driver and, if you select the correct option, a bilingual historian guide. The roughly 75-minute route covers the walled city, Clock Tower, Las Bóvedas, Getsemaní, San Felipe Castle, and several plazas. Expect photo stops, tight lanes, warm air, and plenty of attention from passersby.

“Highly recommended! We had an amazing time exploring Cartagena in this charming car, which truly transported us back to ancient times while we discovered the city's most remarkable historical sites. The car itself is both beautiful and comfortable. Our driver was incredibly friendly and punctual as well :) Thank you very much!”

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5.Barranquilla & Santa Marta Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 46 reviews · 15 hours · from $90

You’ll leave Cartagena before sunrise for Barranquilla’s riverfront monuments, then walk Santa Marta’s colonial center before lunch and free time at Rodadero Beach. A bilingual guide, bus transport, and five-choice lunch are included. Expect a long day, limited time at some stops, and possible Spanish-heavy guiding.

“las playas de Sta.Marta, en la zona del Rodadero, es muy lindo, sus hoteles, restaurantes, muy vibrante y la gente muy gentil, incluyendo los vendedores ambulantes dispuestos a detenerse y tener una breve charla con el turista e invitando a qué vuelva. Se disfrutó el almuerzo y uso libre de la piscina del hotel y cruzar a la playa, hermosa el agua. Barranquilla, más sencilla. La estatua de Shakira en un parque muy bonito y familiar junto al río Magdalena, también la llamada ventana al mundo y un árbol de navidad de laisma altura, son muy atractivos.”

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6.Private Tour with Certified Guide of San Basilio De Palenque

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $130Top rated

Travel from Cartagena in a private air-conditioned car to San Basilio de Palenque with a local guide such as Sofia or Vincent. Visit the Benkos Bioho monument, hear live drums, make coconut sweets, cook a traditional lunch, see an herbal medicine garden, and try a beginner boxing class. Plan for 4 to 6 hours.

“My husband and I loved EVERYTHING about this tour! Tour guide was awesome and the package is unbeatable. It will not disappoint!”

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7.Private Sail in the mangrove GUIDE in ENGLISH

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 32 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $25

Take a 90-minute to two-hour private canoe trip from La Boquilla through three mangrove tunnels in the Pantano de la Virgen. An English-speaking guide explains the area, while you watch for herons, pelicans, flamingos, crabs, fish, reptiles, and mangrove plants. Hotel pickup is optional, but the meeting point and return transport need careful confirmation.

“The attraction itself was worth seeing, there were lots of different birds and crabs, the mangrove park looks like a wild jungle and is beautiful. The organization on the other hand was below expectations - the day before I was called very late at night and I was told that we have to choose a different hour or date because the english guide has to do sth else at that time. Then I was called even later, actually after I had gone to bed, that the tour is going to take place at the original hour. There was no information what kind of car is going to get us so…”

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8.San Basilio de Palenque Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 11 reviews · 6 hours · from $92

Travel from Cartagena to San Basilio de Palenque in a small group of up to 15 people. Local guides such as Moises, Abraham, or Thierry introduce you to Palenque language, music, dance, food, medicinal traditions, and boxing, with hotel pickup, lunch, water, and a raspado included.

“Malheureusement le guide ne nous a pas expliqué l’histoire de la libération, ni relaté les faits de Bihio, à peine a-t-il effleuré le sujet. Bref, rien de bien intéressant.”

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9.Private Walking Tour with German or Italian Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours

Meet Andy or Andrea at Cartagena’s Clock Tower for a three-hour private walk through the Walled City. You’ll visit major squares, churches, the gold museum, and a favorite local coffee shop while learning about conquest, pirates, African and Indigenous influence, and Cartagena’s modern life in German or Italian.

“Andrea , la nostra guida , è’ stato bravissimo e molto gentile , abbiamo passato delle bellissime ore con lui e ci ha fatto capire tanto di Cartagena . Lo consigliamo vivamente a tutti ! Sicuramente senza di lui la visita non sarebbe stata così bella e interessante !”

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