San Basilio de Palenque: History Tour, Music & Traditional Lunch

Summary

Walk Palenque’s streets, taste tradition and hear living history

You’ll walk Palenque’s lively streets with a local guide, hear stories at Benkos Bioho Square, taste homemade rum and a traditional lunch, and feel music pulse through the community. From ancestral medicine to vibrant murals and spontaneous laughter, you’ll leave carrying more than photos—a sense of connection that lingers.

What’s the experience like?

"Try this," our guide smiled, handing me a small cup with something that smelled sweet and sharp—local rum, apparently their welcome drink in San Basilio de Palenque. I’d barely taken a sip before the music started up somewhere down the street—drums and voices that made my chest vibrate. The drive from Cartagena was just over an hour, but stepping out of the van felt like crossing continents. There’s this sticky warmth in the air, and colors everywhere: painted murals, bright headscarves, even the houses seem to hum.

We wandered through the main square where Benkos Bioho’s statue stands—our guide told us about him in this mix of Spanish and Palenquero I couldn’t quite follow (Li laughed when I tried to repeat a word; I probably butchered it). At Mi Kombilesa House, someone was weaving baskets on a patio while another group played marímbula. The sound is deep and woody—honestly, I’d never heard anything like it before. There was a moment where we all just listened. It felt important somehow.

Lunch came later than I expected (I guess time moves differently here), but it was worth it—rice and fish with plantains, plus some kind of lemonade that tasted faintly herbal. Our guide explained how traditional medicine works; she showed us leaves she’d picked herself from her garden. I didn’t expect to care about that part but now I still think about those smells—earthy, sharp, almost medicinal but comforting too. We ended up following the mural route back toward our van, passing kids playing soccer barefoot and women chatting under mango trees. It wasn’t polished or staged—just real life going on around us.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Palenque's history and culture

• Learn founding and history of Palenque
• Visit Benkos Bioho main square
• See Mi Kombilesa house
• Tour Masu Tejedor house-museum
• Explore traditional medicine patio
• View Pambele monument
• Walk Palenque mural route
• Experience cultural displays and murals

Top questions

How far is San Basilio de Palenque from Cartagena?

It’s just over an hour by car from Cartagena to San Basilio de Palenque.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, transportation to and from your hotel in Cartagena is included.

What kind of food is served for lunch?

A typical Palenquero lunch is included, usually featuring rice, fish or meat, plantains and a refreshment.

Are there demonstrations of music or dance?

Yes, you’ll see demonstrations of traditional dance and music during the tour.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes, infants can ride in prams or strollers and specialized infant seats are available.

Will we visit any museums or cultural sites?

You’ll visit places like Mi Kombilesa House, Masu Tejedor house-museum and see community murals.

Do guides speak English?

The guides are certified locals; language ability may vary but tours are generally accessible for English speakers.

Is there air conditioning during transport?

Yes, transportation is provided in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles.

What’s included

Your day includes door-to-door transportation from your Cartagena hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle with flexible pickup times. You’ll be welcomed with locally made rum before exploring Palenque’s squares, museums and mural routes alongside certified local guides. The experience features live music and dance demonstrations plus a typical Palenquero lunch with refreshments before heading back to Cartagena.