Cartagena Private City Tour: La Popa, San Felipe & Old Town

A Local Stops You on the Street & Points Out What You'd Miss Alone

You visit La Popa Convent at the city's highest point, walk through San Felipe de Barajas fortress with your guide explaining the tunnels and bastions, then spend the afternoon in the walled old town (Santo Domingo Church, Bolivar Square, Las Bóvedas market) before seeing the modern neighborhoods of Bocagrande and Castillogrande. Hotel pickup and drop-off, private vehicle, and a professional guide who knows which stories matter are included, so you don't spend time figuring out logistics or which square to visit next.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. San Felipe de Barajas Castle1h · entry included
2. La Popa Convent30m · entry included
3. Cartagena Old Town1h · entry included
4. Las Bóvedas15m
5. Bolivar Square5m
6. Santo Domingo Church5m

Explore Cartagena's historic and modern sites

• Visit La Popa Convent
• Tour San Felipe de Barajas Fortress
• Stop shopping at Las Bóvedas
• Walk through Getsemaní neighborhood
• Walking tour of city squares
• Admire old colonial houses
• Tour modern Cartagena neighborhoods

The experience

You're standing in Bolivar Square on your second morning in Cartagena, trying to figure out which direction leads to the fortress, when someone who actually lives here, your guide, walks up and starts talking about the buildings around you like they're family. That's the difference between wandering the old city on your own and doing this private tour. You get picked up from your hotel, climb into an air-conditioned vehicle, and spend the day moving through Cartagena with someone who knows which squares matter, why the walls are still standing, and what the colonial houses are actually hiding behind those pastel facades.

The tour starts at La Popa Convent, the highest point in the city, where a 17th-century monastery sits overlooking everything: the Caribbean, the neighborhoods spreading out below, the whole geography of where Cartagena came from. Then you head to San Felipe de Barajas, the fortress that was the biggest military fortification in South America, and your guide walks you through the tunnels and bastions explaining how it was built to keep pirates out. After that comes the walled old city itself, the part that's been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984. You stop at Las Bóvedas, the last fortification built, now a market where locals sell crafts and tourists browse without much pressure. Then the walking part: Santo Domingo Church, Bolivar Square, the Clock Tower, Los Coches Square, St Pedro Square. Each one has a story, and your guide tells them while you're actually standing there, not reading them off your phone later.

Getsemaní is the neighborhood that feels like the real Cartagena: narrow streets, bright Caribbean colors on the walls, people sitting outside their doors. It's bohemian without trying, and your guide knows which corners to turn down. After the old city, the tour swings through the modern side: Bocagrande, Laguito, Castillogrande, where the high-rises and malls and casinos sit like a different country altogether. It's the contrast that makes sense of Cartagena. You see both the colonial past and the contemporary city in one day, and you understand how they're both real.

The whole thing runs on your schedule. You can adjust the departure time when you book, and if you're coming off a cruise ship, the driver times the return so you make it back to the port. Bottled water is included, the vehicle has air conditioning, and you're not managing a group or waiting for other people to finish their photos. It's just you, your guide, and Cartagena.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or port pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned vehicle transport, a professional guide, and bottled water.
• You'll visit La Popa Convent, San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, the walled old city with its colonial squares and churches, Las Bóvedas market, the bohemian Getsemaní neighborhood, and the modern areas of Bocagrande, Laguito, and Castillogrande.
• You can customize your departure time when booking.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day21 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Youth (5 to 10 years) · Child (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sion Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Cartagena's main landmarks (the fortress, the convent, the old city squares, and the modern neighborhoods) without arranging transport or timing yourself between stops. The private vehicle and guide mean you move at your own pace and skip the logistics.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 10 years); Child (under 5).

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.

Is hotel pickup included in the Cartagena private tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included. If you're arriving by cruise ship, port pickup and drop-off are also available.

What's included in the private city tour?

The tour includes hotel or port pickup and drop-off, transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, and bottled water.

Can I customize the departure time?

Yes, you can customize your departure time when you book the tour.

Does the tour visit the old walled city?

Yes, the tour includes a walking tour of Cartagena's UNESCO-listed old town, with stops at Santo Domingo Church, Bolivar Square, Las Bóvedas, and other colonial squares.

Is the tour suitable for cruise ship passengers?

Yes, the tour accommodates cruise passengers. You'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time at booking so the driver can time your return.

What if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller. However, it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the walking and climbing involved.

Is the guide multilingual?

The tour may be operated by a multilingual guide, depending on availability.