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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.
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Cartagena: Totumo Mud Volcano Tour & Local Snack PickupYou’ll float in warm volcanic mud at Totumo near Cartagena, get rinsed off by friendly locals in a lakeside splash, then snack on something freshly fried while your skin feels new. Expect laughter, simple comforts, bilingual guidance, and moments that linger after you’re back in town.
Cartagena: ATV Beach Ride & Private Swim with LunchYou’ll ride an ATV across Cartagena’s wild northern beaches with a local guide leading the way. Feel salt spray as you speed along sand and trails, then cool off with a private ocean swim before sharing lunch by the shore. Pickup, helmets, bottled water and lunch are all included—just bring your sense of adventure.
Rosario Islands: 5-Stop Day Trip with Beach Clubs & SnorkelingYou’ll move from pirate tales at San Fernando Fort to snorkeling coral reefs off Isla Grande before chilling with drinks at Rosario del Mar Resort Hotel. Dance (or just watch) at Cholón Island’s floating party scene, then unwind over lunch at Mambo Beach Club on Barú—all capped by poolside lounging at Anaho Beach Club as Cartagena glows in the distance.
Cartagena Walled City: Group Tour with Wireless AudioYou walk the historic walled city with a certified Spanish-speaking guide and wireless audio receiver, visiting the Clock Tower, Customs Square, Palace of the Inquisition, Naval Museum, and the city's main strongholds. The audio system lets you move at your own pace and take photos without losing the narrative. The tour includes a walking map and partner discounts for lunch and shopping. Plan for a full morning or afternoon.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to understand Cartagena's layered history — pirate attacks, the Inquisition, slavery, naval defense — without arranging a private guide or figuring out which monuments matter most. The wireless audio system means you're not glued to the group, so you can photograph and pause without holding anyone back.
Cartagena: Rosario Islands Party Boat Tour & Cholon LunchYou’ll jump straight into Cartagena’s wild side on this Rosario Islands day trip: speed across open water, spot Bocachica fort and Pablo Escobar’s old mansion, eat fresh fish with your toes in the sand, then dance (or just watch) at Cholon party island before heading back sun-dazed and smiling.
Cartagena: Old City & Getsemani Walking Tour with Local TastingsYou’ll wander Cartagena’s Walled City & Getsemani with a local guide who shares real stories behind each plaza and mural. Taste a typical drink along the way, hear music spill into sunny streets, and pause in quiet corners where history lingers. It’s not just sightseeing — you’ll feel part of the city’s rhythm for an afternoon.
Cartagena: Historic Center & Getsemaní Walking Tour StoriesYou’ll walk Cartagena’s walled city and Getsemaní with a local guide, tasting sweets at Portal de los Dulces, hearing pirate tales in lively plazas, spotting street art, and even learning some dance steps if you’re brave enough. This shared tour brings you close to Cartagena’s living history — and maybe leaves you humming salsa tunes long after.
Cartagena Sunset Cruise: 2-Hour Bay Tour & DrinksYou board at La Bodeguita dock and spend two hours cruising Cartagena's internal bay toward Isla Grande, watching the Walled City and Clock Tower light up as the sun sets. Your drink and appetizer arrive early so you can focus on the water and the light. The boat stays small and moves at a pace that lets you actually see what's in front of you instead of rushing through it. Bring your ID and sunscreen, and plan to be back on land by dark.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Cartagena's old city from the water without arranging your own boat or timing the sunset yourself — the fixed departure handles both, and the small group size means you're not competing for space or views.
Rosario Islands: 3 Private Islands Day Trip with SnorkelingYou’ll hop from Cartagena across Rosario’s private islands by boat with a local guide—snorkeling coral reefs near Isla Grande, swimming at Bela Beach, then sipping cocktails at Ibizza Island’s club. Expect music, laughter, sandy feet, and fresh-cooked lunch before drifting back salty-haired toward city lights.
Cartagena Airport Transfer: Private Vehicle, Door-to-DoorYou get picked up at the terminal with a name sign or collected from your hotel at a set time, then driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your destination. Tolls and taxes are included. The journey takes 15–40 minutes depending on traffic and location, and the price is per vehicle, not per person, so it doesn't matter how many travelers share the ride.Is it for me?Book this if you land tired and want to skip the taxi queue and price haggling — the driver's already waiting with your name, the vehicle is set, and the cost is locked in before you leave the terminal.
Cartagena Private City Tour: La Popa, San Felipe & Old TownYou 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.Is it for me?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.
San Basilio de Palenque: Freedom Tour from Cartagena with Local GuideYou're picked up from your Cartagena hotel and driven to San Basilio de Palenque, where a native guide walks you through four centuries of African heritage — the founding story, traditional medicine practices, the Creole language, and landmarks like the Benkos Bioho square and community murals. You'll hear live music, taste a welcome drink and a traditional lunch, then return to Cartagena by early afternoon. It's the kind of tour where the guide is from the place, which changes everything.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand Palenque's history from someone who lives it, not from a script — the guides are certified locals, which is what makes the difference between a tour and a real conversation with a place.
Cartagena: Walled City, San Felipe Castle & Popa Convent TourYou’ll walk centuries-old streets in Cartagena’s Walled City with a local guide who brings stories to life, climb San Felipe Castle for sweeping city views, taste Caribbean snacks you probably can’t pronounce (yet), and—if you choose—catch your breath high above it all at La Popa Convent. Expect laughter, real moments with locals, and plenty of color around every corner.
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: El Totumo Mud Volcano & Beach Club DayYou float weightlessly in warm, mineral-rich mud at a 50-foot volcano crater near Cartagena, supported by hotel pickup and a local guide. Choose a half-day wellness session or upgrade to a full day that adds beach club access. The experience includes a snack and local taxes, though massages and cleaning services cost extra. Plan for the crater to fill and empty in shifts, so you won't be alone but won't be packed in either.Is it for me?Book this if you want a natural spa experience that's genuinely different—the floating sensation in mineral mud is something you can't replicate elsewhere—and you'd rather not arrange your own transport from Cartagena or figure out the logistics of getting there and back.
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.
San Basilio de Palenque: Afro-Colombian History & Cooking ClassYou spend a full day in San Basilio de Palenque learning 400 years of Afro-Colombian history directly from locals—cooking an ancestral recipe, watching traditional music and dance, learning about plant medicine, and visiting the sites that shaped the community. Hotel pickup from Cartagena, a local trilingual guide, lunch, and all activities are included; the 1.5-hour drive each way means you're not rushing the experience itself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand Afro-Caribbean history through the people who lived it, not through a textbook—the local guide and the hands-on activities (cooking, drumming, boxing) mean you're learning by doing, not listening from a distance.
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.
Cartagena Bay: Dinner Cruise with 4-Course Meal & WineYou’ll board Sibarita Master for a two-hour dinner cruise across Cartagena Bay, sharing stories over a four-course meal with wine as city lights shimmer around you. Friendly crew take care of everything while background music sets an easy mood. Expect laughter, new faces at your table, and a fresh look at Cartagena’s Old Town skyline as night falls.
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.
