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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 Sunset Cruise: Open Bar & Skyline Views TourYou’ll step aboard in Cartagena just before sunset for a 90-minute cruise across the bay, soaking up city lights and skyline views with unlimited open bar drinks included. Expect mellow music, friendly staff, and plenty of time to watch the colors shift over the water — a moment you might not forget too quickly.
Baru Island: Aviary Tour & Playa Blanca Beach LunchYou’ll wander through Colombia’s National Aviary with a local guide pointing out rare birds up close, then ride out to Playa Blanca for time on white sand and a typical lunch by the sea. Expect moments of quiet awe mixed with laughter over bird names you can’t pronounce—plus all transport included so you can just enjoy it.
Cartagena: Private City Tour with Castle & Old Town WalkYou’ll walk Cartagena’s walled Old Town with a local guide who brings centuries-old stories to life, climb Castillo San Felipe for sweeping views, explore colorful Getsemaní and sample street snacks if you want. Expect hotel pickup and entry tickets included—plus time for crafts or emerald shopping if something catches your eye.
Cartagena: Tierra Bomba Island, Fort San Fernando & Beach LunchYou take a boat to Tierra Bomba Island, walk through Fort San Fernando with a native guide, swim at the beach club, and eat a typical island lunch with a surprise show. Transport, entry, food, and guide are all included in one fixed price, and the whole experience keeps you away from the main tourist crowds in Cartagena's old city.Is it for me?Book this if you want to step outside Cartagena's walled city without renting a car or figuring out transport logistics yourself. The fixed schedule and included guide mean you get both the history and the beach in one afternoon, and the small-group format keeps it from feeling like a cruise ship excursion.
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: Street Food Tour with Local Tastings & BeerYou’ll wander Cartagena’s colorful streets with a local foodie, tasting fresh tropical fruits, cheese arepas hot off the grill, crispy patacón with suero, coconut sweets at Portal de los Dulces, and end with an ice-cold local beer among new friends. Expect laughter, stories behind every bite, and those small moments that linger long after you’ve left.
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: Bazurto Market Tour & Local Lunch with PickupYou’ll wander Cartagena’s Bazurto Market with a local guide who knows everyone by name—tasting tropical fruit right from the stalls, hearing cumbia beats echo through narrow aisles, and sharing laughs with vendors who offer small gifts just because. End your day at Cecilia’s Restaurant with a traditional lunch that lingers in your memory long after you’ve left.
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.
Cholón Island & Rosario Islands: Boat Party Day Trip with LunchYou’ll jump aboard in Cartagena for a day trip to Isla Cholón and Rosario Islands—expect loud music, swimming stops, two local beers, and a typical lunch right on the sand. You’ll dance (or try), laugh with new friends, and float between boats where nobody cares if you can’t pronounce “patacones.” It’s less about perfect moments than real ones.
Cartagena: San Felipe Castle & La Popa Convent TourYou’ll wind through Cartagena’s lively streets before exploring San Felipe Castle’s tunnels with your local guide. Climb to La Popa Convent for sweeping city views and pause for photos at iconic spots along the way. Expect laughter, real stories, entry fees included — plus moments that linger long after you’re back down at street level.
Cartagena: Bike or Walking Tour with Film & History StoriesYou’ll pedal or walk through Cartagena’s lively streets with a local guide who brings history and film stories to life. Sip strong coffee, sample fresh juice, explore centuries-old churches, and meet friendly locals along the way. End wherever you want—no rush—just real moments stitched together by laughter and sunlight.
Cartagena: Totumo Mud Volcano Private Tour & Snack PickupYou’ll float effortlessly in warm volcanic mud at El Totumo near Cartagena, guided by locals who know every trick and story. Expect laughter, a quick massage if you want one, snacks like empanadas or arepas after your dip, and easy transport both ways. It’s messy fun that leaves you lighter somehow—maybe it’s the minerals or maybe just the mood.
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: La Punta Beach Club Day Pass with DJs & LunchYou’ll slip onto Cartagena’s closest island for a day of easy-going music, sea air, and good food at La Punta Beach Club. Relax on beachfront beds with lunch included, swim or kayak if you feel like it, then gather around a bonfire as sunset colors shift overhead. It’s less about plans—more about letting go.
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: Totumo Mud Volcano Day Trip & Local LunchYou’ll float weightless in the Totumo Mud Volcano near Cartagena, laugh with locals as you rinse off in a riverside lagoon, then share a typical lunch at an eco hotel by the beach. With pickup included and a guide who explains why this odd ritual matters here, it’s a day for getting messy—and letting go.
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: Bay Dinner Cruise with 3-Course Meal & WineYou’ll watch Cartagena’s Old Town glow from across the bay while sharing a 3-course meal and two glasses of wine aboard a small-group dinner cruise. With friendly local crew and music drifting through warm air, you’ll see city lights flicker on as dusk settles—a relaxed way to experience Cartagena’s magic from another angle.
