Cartagena mangrove tour with fishing and beach lunch
You cast nets and traps the way fishers have for generations, then eat what they catch.
A four-hour tour of Cartagena's mangroves and La Boquilla beach led by bilingual native guides, combining ecological learning with hands-on artisanal fishing and a seafront lunch. You wade through natural mangrove tunnels, participate in traditional crab and fish traps, and finish on the quietest beach in the city with a plate of fried fish, coconut rice and fish soup caught that morning.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Mangrove tour and beach relaxation
- Explore natural mangrove tunnels
- Learn mangrove ecosystem history
- Relax on quiet city beaches
What’s included
- Private transportation.
- bilingual native guide.
- cultural display of drums.
- hands-on artisanal fishing for crabs and fish.
- soda and bottled water.
- entrance to Fisherman's Island.
- and on the lunch option, a plate of fried fish with coconut rice, patacones, salad and fish soup, plus natural lemonade.
Times
- Every day 08:00 10:00 12:00
Before you book
Operated by EXPERIENCES CARTAGENA
Prices and times updated 9 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The mangroves around Cartagena are not a backdrop. They're the reason the coast survives storms and why fish thrive here. Your guide, a native of the area, walks you through the natural tunnels the trees create and explains how this ecosystem works and why it matters. The tour moves at the pace of someone who lives here, not someone passing through, and the bilingual guide narrates in English or Spanish as you go.
After the mangrove section, you move into the water to fish the way locals do. You'll handle nets and traps (the same tools and methods passed down through generations), and actually catch crabs and fish. This is not a demonstration. You're doing the work, learning by doing it, and the guide shows you how to read the water and place the traps where the catch will be. The boats are small and the groups stay intimate, so there's room to ask questions and move at your own rhythm.
Lunch happens on the beach at a restaurant facing the water, and the kitchen cooks the fish you caught that morning. You get fried fish, coconut rice, patacones, salad and fish soup, with natural lemonade. The menu also carries meat, chicken and vegan options if you prefer. La Boquilla's beaches are the quietest in Cartagena: fewer vendors, fewer crowds, the kind of place where you can actually sit still and feel the Caribbean. The tour wraps on the sand, and you stay as long as you want before heading back into the city.
Is this one for you?The private transportation and bilingual guide mean you move at the pace of someone who actually lives here, not a fixed schedule for a larger group. Choose the option with lunch if you want to taste what the morning's catch becomes. Skip it if you'd rather eat elsewhere and focus on the fishing and mangroves.
Compare the 6 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 18 years); Child (6 to 14 years); Infant (under 6): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly do I do during the fishing part of this tour?
You wade into the water and use nets and traps to catch crabs and fish, the same ancestral methods local fishers use every day. The guide shows you how to place the traps and read where the catch will be, and whatever you catch gets cooked for your lunch.
Is the lunch included, or do I pay extra?
One option includes the typical lunch on the beach. The other option does not. You choose at checkout which version suits your day.
How long does the whole tour take?
The tour runs four hours from start to finish, including the mangrove walk, the fishing, lunch on the beach and time to relax before heading back.
What is La Boquilla like compared to the other beaches in Cartagena?
La Boquilla's beaches are the quietest and safest in the city, with fewer vendors and visitors than the main tourist beaches, so you get a genuine sense of the place without the crowds.
Cartagena mangrove tour with fishing and beach lunch
4h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 45 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.