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Top Things to Do in Cartagena
We compared all 81 experiences in Cartagena so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.
4.7 81 experiences
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Cartagena: Totumo Mud Volcano Tour & Local Snack Pickup★ 4.62 (1,677) · 4h
Top ratedCartagena: ATV Beach Ride & Private Swim with Lunch★ 4.94 (1,354) · from US$ 115
Best valueRosario Islands: 5-Stop Day Trip with Beach Clubs & Snorkeling★ 4.76 (1,315) · from US$ 85Recommended (7)
Cartagena Walled City: Group Tour with Wireless Audio★ 4.84 (1,179) · 2h 40mUS$ 10View ›
Cartagena: Rosario Islands Party Boat Tour & Cholon Lunch★ 4.82 (901) · 7hUS$ 70View ›
Cartagena: Old City & Getsemani Walking Tour with Local Tastings★ 4.86 (846) · 3hUS$ 10View ›
Cartagena: Historic Center & Getsemaní Walking Tour Stories★ 4.91 (766) · 2h–3hUS$ 13View ›
Cartagena Sunset Cruise: 2-Hour Bay Tour & Drinks★ 4.53 (622) · 2hUS$ 42View ›
Rosario Islands: 3 Private Islands Day Trip with Snorkeling★ 4.83 (562) · 6hUS$ 110View ›
Cartagena Airport Transfer: Private Vehicle, Door-to-Door★ 4.66 (547)US$ 30View ›Top rated (10)
Cartagena: Gabriel García Márquez Literary Walking TourYou walk the neighborhoods and landmarks that inspired Gabriel García Márquez's novels, with a guide who knows both the literature and the city's history. The tour includes Plaza Santo Domingo, the García Márquez mausoleum, San Diego's colonial streets, and his former home. You'll understand how real people and actual places became the magical realism he's famous for. Lunch recommendations are provided, and the whole thing takes 2–3 hours on foot.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand where García Márquez's novels came from and you're comfortable walking for 2–3 hours through colonial streets — the guide's knowledge of both the literature and the city is what makes the connection between real Cartagena and magical realism actually visible.
Cartagena: Fishing & Crabbing Tour with Lagoon Canoe & Beach LunchYou’ll paddle through Cartagena’s lush mangroves by canoe with a local guide, learn hands-on fishing and crabbing tricks, spot wildlife up close, then unwind over a fresh beachfront lunch with your catch or veggie options. Expect laughter, new skills, and moments of quiet beauty you’ll remember long after you leave.
Cartagena: Walled City & Getsemani Walking Tour FreeYou walk the walled city's main squares and colonial streets with a local guide, then move into Getsemani to see street art and meet locals in their neighborhood. The tour includes Colombian beer and sweets, and you're back by early afternoon with a real sense of how Cartagena actually works. Tips are collected in advance, so there's no awkward moment at the end.Is it for me?Right for travelers arriving in Cartagena without a plan and wanting to understand the city's layout and history before exploring on their own. The couple of hours means you're not locked into a full day, and you'll actually know where things are afterward.
Cartagena: Rosario Islands Boat Rental with Captain & IceYou’ll spend your day cruising from Cartagena along turquoise waters with your own captain and guide. Swim near Rosario Islands or join the lively scene at Cholon—your route is up to you. Enjoy music on premium speakers, relax on leather seats or sunbeds, and cool off with fresh water showers and plenty of ice for drinks. There’s a warmth here you’ll remember long after you’re back on land.
Bogotá: Colombian Cooking Class & 4-Course Meal with LocalsYou’ll roll up your sleeves in Bogotá’s kitchen scene—cooking four Colombian dishes side by side with locals, learning tricks for arepas and Amazonian fish, then sharing laughter over homemade ice cream at the table. It’s part lesson, part family lunch—and you’ll leave smelling faintly of corn flour and caramelized plantains.
Cartagena: San Felipe Fortress & Walled City Private Shore TourYou'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.Is it for me?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.
Cartagena: Rooftop Salsa & Champeta Dance Class with DrinksYou spend three hours on a private grass rooftop in Getsemani learning salsa, bachata, merengue and champeta from an instructor who teaches step by step. Drinks — wine, beer, rum — come throughout, and you get a video of everything you learned so you can practice later. No experience needed, and the sunset over the fort is just there while you dance.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to learn actual Latin dances in the neighborhood where one of them was born, without the formality of a studio — the rooftop and the drinks and the grass floor are what make it feel like something more than a class.
Cartagena: Rooftop Brunch & Paint Class in GetsemaniYou'll spend two and a half hours on a private rooftop in Getsemani learning to paint Cartagena's colonial center while eating Colombian breakfast and drinking mimosas. The host teaches you their technique, provides all materials, and you leave with a finished canvas sized to travel home. No painting experience required; public transport is nearby if you need it.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to make something with their hands and eat well while doing it — the small group and private rooftop are what make it feel like you're painting with a friend instead of taking a class.
Cartagena: Cooking Class & Dance in Historic Restaurant KitchenYou spend two hours in a working restaurant kitchen in Cartagena's old city with two professional chefs, learning to cook coconut rice, patacones, mojarra roja, empanadas, and a local drink. You wear aprons and hats, get your hands in the work, and there's a moment to dance to live music. At the end, you eat everything you prepared together while the chefs share the stories behind each dish. The class includes a professional guide and runs near public transport options.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cook real Cartagena food with the people who cook it every day, not in a tourist kitchen but in the actual family restaurant — the two-hour format means you learn techniques and eat lunch without losing the rest of your day.
Cartagena to Santa Marta & Tayrona: Private Transfer & DriverYou're picked up at your Cartagena hotel and driven privately to Santa Marta, Minca, or Tayrona in an authorized vehicle with a professional driver who knows your name before arrival. The four- to six-hour journey includes tolls and fuel, with an optional one-hour food stop in Barranquilla. No shared minibuses, no haggling at the curb, no surprises about the vehicle or the fare.Is it for me?Book this if you're traveling between Cartagena and Santa Marta, Minca, or Tayrona and want to skip the minibus terminals and driver negotiations — the fixed price and authorized vehicle mean you arrive on schedule without the friction of arranging transport yourself.
Lowest price (10)
Cartagena Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Drop-Off 24/7You’ll skip taxi lines in Cartagena with private pickup right at Rafael Nuñez Airport or your hotel. Friendly drivers handle your luggage and share local tips along the way—sometimes even food advice if you ask! Enjoy air-conditioned comfort day or night, whether arriving or heading out. It’s a small thing but leaves you feeling welcomed—or sent off—with less stress than I expected.
Cartagena Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer & Luggage HelpYou arrive at Cartagena de Indias airport, find your name on a sign at the exit, and get driven to your hotel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with luggage help included. No shared rides, no waiting for other passengers, no haggling over price — just a straightforward transfer that gets you to your room without the usual airport friction.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Cartagena and want to skip the airport taxi scramble — a driver with your name waiting at arrivals means you go straight to your hotel without negotiating a fare or sharing the ride with strangers.
Bogotá: Emerald Museum Tour & Jewelry Workshop with PickupYou’ll step right into Bogotá’s emerald world—touch raw stones at the museum, hear stories from locals who grew up with gem mining, and watch jewelers shape bright green gems into wearable art. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off plus light snacks along the way. You might leave seeing jewelry (and maybe Bogotá) differently.
Cartagena: Old Town Bike Tour & Getsemani StopsYou’ll bike Cartagena’s Old Town & Getsemani at an easy pace with a local guide leading you through plazas, parks, and vibrant street art spots. Expect lots of stops for stories or photos, plus small moments — like fruit smells or local laughter — that stick with you long after you return your helmet.
Cartagena Bay Paddleboarding & Sunset Lights NightStep onto an LED-lit paddleboard in Cartagena Bay as sunset colors fade into night. With a local guide showing you how (no experience needed), you’ll glide over glowing water, spot fish darting below, and catch city lights flickering behind you—a feeling you’ll remember long after leaving Colombia.
Cartagena: Beach Horseback Ride with Pickup & DrinksYou’ll ride gentle horses along Cartagena’s quiet northern beaches with a local guide—no experience needed. Feed your horse after, enjoy a cold drink by the sea, and let someone else handle all transport from your hotel or apartment. Expect laughter, fresh air, and maybe even a new four-legged friend.
Cartagena: García Márquez Myths & Legends Private Walking TourYou’ll wander Cartagena’s historic center with a local guide who knows every legend behind García Márquez’s novels. Taste local sweets at Palito de Caucho, stand by the Hotel Santa Clara where fiction meets reality, and pause at Teatro Adolfo Mejía where art and literature cross paths. You’ll leave with more stories than you expected — some true, some maybe not.
Bachelor Party Bar Tour: Best Nightlife Spots with Local GuideIf you want more than just drinks—real connections, local tips, and a wild night out—this bachelor party bar tour is your ticket. You’ll get access to hidden spots and meet people you’d never find on your own.
Cartagena: San Felipe Fort, Popa Hill & Old Town City TourYou’ll ride up Popa Hill for sweeping views over Cartagena before exploring San Felipe Fort’s tunnels and ramparts with your local guide. Shop for crafts in Las Bóvedas’ old barracks and stroll through lively Old Town streets lined with music and color—ending your day feeling closer to Cartagena than you expected.
Cartagena: La Popa Convent & San Felipe Fort Morning TourYou're driven to four key stops in Cartagena's history: the monastery at the city's highest point, the colonial fortress, the Old Town's narrow streets and plazas, and the dungeons-turned-market. Entry to the convent and fort are included, as is the bilingual guide and transportation. You walk about twenty minutes total through the Old Town, and the whole experience runs a few hours before returning to your hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Cartagena's main historical sites in one morning without arranging transport or buying tickets separately — the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of that, leaving you free to ask questions and absorb the city's actual history rather than just its postcard version.
