Cartagena: Street Food Tour with Local Tastings & History

Cartagena flavors from street stalls to sweet markets in old town

You’ll taste your way through Cartagena’s historic neighborhoods with a local guide, from egg-filled arepas at Donde Magola to tropical fruits in La Matuna and sweet treats at Portal de los Dulces. Expect laughter over Costeñita beer, hands sticky from coconut candies, and stories behind every bite. Come hungry. You’ll leave full of flavor and small moments you’ll remember later.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cartagena's local street foods

• Visit Restaurante Donde Magola for arepas de huevo
• Enjoy Cerveza Costeñita and chorizo at La Orquidea Tienda
• Sample arepas de queso on Calle de la Moneda
• Taste fresh fruits and shrimp cocktails in La Matuna
• Try patacones with cheese
• Explore Portal de los Dulces for traditional sweets
• Eat pandebono at La Esquina del Pandebono

The experience

I’ll admit it. I signed up for this Cartagena street food tour mostly out of curiosity (and maybe because I can’t resist anything fried). Right away, our guide Juan grinned and handed me an arepa de huevo at Donde Magola. The outside was hot and crisp, but inside? Somehow still fluffy, with that egg yolk just barely set. I got some on my chin. No one seemed to care. Everyone was too busy eating or laughing about the first bite surprise.

We wandered through San Diego, stopping at La Orquidea Tienda where Juan insisted we try Cerveza Costeñita (“it’s not just a beer, it’s the coast in a bottle!”). He wasn’t wrong. There was this faint salty breeze coming off the street, mixing with the smell of chorizo sizzling somewhere nearby. At Calle de la Moneda, the arepas de queso were softer than I expected, almost melting into my hand while I tried to juggle my camera and not drop anything. Honestly, I failed at that part.

La Matuna felt like a different city: louder somehow, all these fruit vendors calling out names I couldn’t pronounce (lulo? guanábana?). Juan picked out slices for us to try. The mango was so sharp it made my jaw tingle. We shared a shrimp cocktail from a plastic cup. Cold shrimp with tomato sauce and cilantro. It tasted like the sea and summer together. At Portal de los Dulces, the candy sellers waved us over with trays of coconut sweets and something sticky that glued my teeth together for a minute.

I thought I’d be full by then but we ended at La Esquina del Pandebono with warm bread rolls that smelled like cheese and comfort. The whole time, Juan told stories about his childhood snacks or how his grandmother made patacones (I still can’t get them as crispy as he described). By the end, I felt more connected to Cartagena than any museum could’ve managed: maybe it was all the food or just sharing tables with strangers who didn’t stay strangers long.

What’s included

Your experience includes guided tastings of classic Cartagena street foods across several neighborhoods: think egg-filled arepas at Donde Magola, sips of local Costeñita beer in San Diego, fresh fruit samples in La Matuna’s market scene, shrimp cocktail straight from local vendors, traditional sweets at Portal de los Dulces, plus warm pandebono rolls before you finish up. All led by an expert guide who shares stories behind every flavor along the way.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cartagena Street Food ExcursionGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeIncludes pickup

Pickup from your hotelGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeLasts 3 hours; food and drinks are included in this street food excursion, and pickup is included

Pickup from the cruise terminalGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeLasts 3 hours; private vehicle, street food excursion, and pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 36 years) · Senior (40 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Infant (3 to 6 years): free · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Green tours

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (7 to 10 years); Infant (3 to 6 years): free. Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

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 foods do you try on the Cartagena street food tour?

You sample arepas de huevo, arepas de queso, chorizo, Costeñita beer, tropical fruits like mango and guanábana, shrimp cocktail, patacones with cheese, Colombian sweets at Portal de los Dulces, and pandebono bread rolls.

Is there a guide on this Cartagena street food tour?

Yes, an expert local guide leads the group through each stop and shares stories about the dishes and neighborhoods along the way.

Are drinks included in the Cartagena food tour?

You’ll have tastings of regional drinks like Cerveza Costeñita during some stops. Other beverages may be available for purchase.