Cartagena: San Felipe Fortress & Walled City Private Shore Tour

Four centuries of colonial stone, seen in one morning from the water

You're driven to five key stops (fortress, monastery, market, church, and the walled old town) with a private guide who handles the entry fees and timing. The route is built around cruise schedules, so you don't have to calculate whether you'll make it back. You get transport, a guide, water, and entry to the two churches, which saves you from arranging any of it yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. San Felipe de Barajas Castlepassing by
2. Las Bóvedas20m
3. La Popa Convent30m · entry included
4. Cartagena Old Town15m
5. San Pedro Claver Cathedral20m · entry included

Cartagena highlights private tour

• Drive around Manga neighborhood
• Photo stop at San Felipe Fortress
• Guided visit to Popa Hill monastery
• Shopping at Las Bovedas handicraft mall
• Visit Saint Peter Claver Church
• Walking tour in the walled city

The experience

The cruise port sits close enough that you can walk back to your ship, but the real Cartagena spreads inland: up the hill to La Popa Monastery, through the fortress tunnels that once held Spanish gold, into the narrow streets where the walled city still stands exactly as it did when pirates were the reason those walls went up. This private shore excursion covers it all in one trip, which means you don't spend your port day figuring out taxis or timing yourself against the ship's departure.

Your guide picks you up at the port and drives through Manga first (about 20 minutes to get your bearings), then stops at San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the fortress built in the 17th century to protect the city from land attacks when Cartagena held Spain's gold, silver and emeralds. You get time to walk the ramparts and photograph it from the outside, which is where the light hits best. After that, the drive climbs to Popa Hill, where the Monastery of La Candelaria sits at the highest point in the city. The view back down over Cartagena's rooftops and the Caribbean beyond is the reason people make the climb. A guided visit inside shows you the architecture and the history, and then you come back down.

Las Bóvedas comes next: a colonial barracks converted into a handicraft market where you get 20 minutes to browse emeralds, jewelry and local work without pressure. Then a guided visit to San Pedro Claver Church, which stands out for its inner balconies and the story of the priest who called himself the slave of slaves and converted over 300,000 African slaves to Catholicism. The tour finishes with a walking hour through the walled city itself, the old streets where the stone walls still ring the perimeter and the rhythm slows down enough that you notice the details.

Transport back to the port is included, and your guide speaks English or Spanish depending on what you need. The whole thing runs long enough to feel complete but short enough that you're back aboard with time to spare before departure. Bottled water comes with you, and the route is wheelchair accessible if that matters for your group.

What’s included

Your tour includes private vehicle transport from the port and back, a professional guide in English or Spanish, bottled water, and entry fees to the Monastery of La Candelaria and San Pedro Claver Church. The route covers San Felipe Fortress with a photo stop, Popa Hill with a guided monastery visit, Las Bóvedas market with 20 minutes to browse, a guided church visit, and a one-hour walking tour of the walled city's old streets.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Youth (11 to 13 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Guianza Express S.A.S

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docked in Cartagena and want the main colonial sites without arranging your own transport or timing yourself against the ship. The guide handles the schedule so you can focus on the stops instead of the clock.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 13 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

Does it include entry fees?

Yes, entry to the Monastery of La Candelaria and San Pedro Claver Church are included. Las Bóvedas is a market, so shopping there is optional.

Is it really private, or a group tour?

It's described as a private shore excursion, meaning your own guide and vehicle, not a shared bus.

What if I'm in a wheelchair?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. Let the operator know at booking so they can plan the route and stops accordingly.

Do I need to tell them my ship details?

Yes, at booking, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time so the guide can time the return to the port.

Is there time for shopping?

You get 20 minutes at Las Bóvedas, the main handicraft market. The walled city also has shops, but the walking tour there is guided and timed.

What's included in the price?

Private vehicle transport, a professional guide, entry to both churches, bottled water, and port pickup and return.