Cartagena Old City: Walking tour with street food & guide

Summary

Wander Cartagena’s colorful streets, taste local flavors, and share stories with your guide

You’ll walk Cartagena’s old city with a local guide, tasting eight different street foods like arepas and patacones as you explore lively plazas and hear stories behind every corner. Expect laughter over language mix-ups, sticky fingers from fresh fruit candies, and moments where history feels close enough to touch — memories you’ll carry home long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember the first bite of arepa I had on this Cartagena walking tour — warm, a little smoky from the grill, and somehow both crunchy and soft. We’d just squeezed past a group of schoolkids near Camellón de los Mártires when our guide, Andrés, handed it to me with a grin. He told us his grandmother made them the same way. The air smelled like fried plantains and sea breeze, which sounds poetic but honestly just made me hungry.

We zigzagged through plazas that felt alive — Plaza de los Coches was packed with vendors calling out about their fruit candies (I tried to say “bocadillo” right; Andrés laughed at my accent). There’s so much history here you can almost feel it under your feet. At Plaza de San Pedro Claver, we paused by the iron sculptures — people playing music or carrying baskets — and Andrés explained how they show daily life in Cartagena. I liked that he didn’t rush us; he let us linger if something caught our eye or nose (like the shrimp cocktail stand... I’m still thinking about that tangy sauce).

The day wasn’t too hot but the sun bounced off the yellow walls around Bolivar Square. We ducked into the shade near the cathedral while Andrés pointed out where the Palace of the Inquisition stood — heavy stuff, but he kept it real without making it a lecture. By Plaza Santo Domingo there were musicians warming up for the night; one old man winked at us as we passed Botero’s Gertrudis sculpture. My hands got sticky from orange juice and yucca bread crumbs stuck to my shirt — not glamorous but honestly part of the fun.

I didn’t expect to feel so connected to Cartagena just by walking and eating with someone who grew up here. The stories stick with you longer than any photo could.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cartagena Old City Walking Tour

• Visit Camellón de los Mártires monument
• Explore main city square with statue and sweets
• See Customs Plaza and Rafael Núñez statue
• Walk Plaza de San Pedro Claver and view statue
• Discover Bolivar Square and historic buildings
• Enjoy Plaza de Santo Domingo and Botero sculpture
• Watch sunset at El baluarte de Santo Domingo

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included in this Cartagena walking tour?

Yes, pickup transportation is included for this tour.

How many types of street food will I try on this tour?

You’ll try eight different recipes including arepas, patacones, yucca bread, cheese bread, shrimp cocktail, fruits, candies, local orange juice, beer and more.

Are guides bilingual on this Cartagena old city tour?

Yes, your local guide speaks both Spanish and English fluently.

Is this walking tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout the route.

What main attractions are visited during this day trip?

You’ll visit Camellón de los Mártires, Plaza de los Coches, Plaza de San Pedro Claver, Bolivar Square (Plaza Bolivar), Plaza Santo Domingo (Iglesia de Santo Domingo), and more.

Are masks required during the tour?

Yes, mask use is mandatory for all travelers on this experience.

Is lunch included or just tastings?

The tour includes generous tastings of eight different street foods but not a formal sit-down lunch.

Can I join if I have dietary restrictions?

The tour features a variety of foods but specific dietary needs aren’t guaranteed; check ahead if concerned.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup transportation from your hotel or meeting point in Cartagena’s old city area, bottled water throughout the walk to keep you cool under the Caribbean sun, all eight street food tastings (from arepas to shrimp cocktail), plus a friendly bilingual local guide who shares stories along every stop before dropping you back at your starting point.