Totumo Mud Volcano & Pink Sea Tour with Lunch from Cartagena

Summary

Half-Day Cartagena Tour: Mud Bath & Pink Sea Adventure

If you’re looking for something different near Cartagena, this tour lets you float in volcanic mud, see Colombia’s Pink Sea up close, and enjoy a local lunch by the beach—all in half a day.

What’s the experience like?

You know you’re close to El Totumo when the air gets thick with that earthy, almost salty smell, and you spot locals selling cold coconut water from battered coolers. Our guide, Andrés, waved us over to a rickety wooden staircase—twenty steps up, not too high, but enough to make your legs tingle. The mud inside the volcano is warm and oddly weightless; I floated without even trying. There’s laughter everywhere, and a few folks let out surprised yelps as they sink in. The mud’s supposed to be full of minerals—Andrés said it’s been used for generations to soothe skin and joints.

After rinsing off (with buckets of lake water handed over by smiling women who’ve clearly done this a thousand times), we headed north toward Galerazamba. The Pink Sea isn’t always neon—sometimes it’s more blush than bubblegum, depending on the season—but when we went, the salt flats shimmered with streaks of rose under the midday sun. A couple of kids ran by with bags of salt crystals for sale. It’s quiet here except for the crunch of salt underfoot and the wind off the flats.

Lunch was at a small spot in La Boquilla, right by the sand. Nothing fancy—just fried fish, coconut rice, and sweet plantains—but after all that salt and sun, it tasted perfect. You can hear cumbia music drifting from someone’s radio nearby. We lingered a bit before heading back to Cartagena, skin still tingling from the mud and sea air.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Totumo Volcano and Pink Sea Tour

• Visit Totumo Mud Volcano
• Explore Salinas de Galerazamba (Pink Sea)
• Lunch and relax at La Boquilla beach

Top questions

Is the Totumo Mud Volcano safe for children?

Yes, kids can join in as long as an adult is with them. The mud is shallow and staff are always around to help.

When is the best time to see the Pink Sea?

The pink color is brightest between February and April, but it varies with rainfall and salt harvesting.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and maybe some cash for tips or snacks from local vendors.

What’s included

This tour covers hotel pickup and drop-off in Cartagena, entrance fees for both Totumo Mud Volcano and the Pink Sea at Galerazamba, an experienced local guide throughout the trip, plus a tasty lunch at La Boquilla beach.