Cartagena

Food & Gourmet Tours

Enjoy a different experience of the Caribbean waters on this party boat tour to Cholon Island. Join one of the biggest weekend events in the area and delight in a day full of great music, drinks, and beautiful views and people. Soak up the all-round great vibes in the most incredible location, just a 45-minute boat ride from the city of Cartagena. After making your way to the meeting point, set off from Cartagena toward Cholon Island. Once there, dance waist-deep in the crystal clear water of the Caribbean Sea as reggaeton and electronic music blast out over the sound system. Keep the party going with an open bar of Colombian rum, beers, soft drinks, and water. Lunch is included, with red snapper fish and chicken available. This is a true island party experience for tourists and Colombians alike. At the end of the tour, return to Cartagena delightfully tanned, tipsy, and in the right mood to hit the town after.

Explore the Walled City of Cartagena and the neighborhood of Getsemani on a private tour. Travel through Colombia's history as your guide takes you through the city's historic center. Savor Colombian staples with a tasting of traditional snacks in the hip Getsemani. The tour begins in Plaza de Bolívar, also known as Peace Square, by the clock tower. Travel. Enter a different century as you visit the Walled City of Cartegena's historic spots and attractions. Visit San Pedro Claver Square and see the walls and bastions bordering the sea. Hear how these fortifications were important in the 16th and 17th-centuries in defending the territory from enemy troops. While on the square, also admire San Pedro Claver Church and its Spanish Colonial architecture. Stroll through narrow streets and among old colonial heritage houses to then try some Caribbean Colombian food. Have the chance to enjoy 2 traditional snacks, arepa with egg (a fried corn-based tortilla with an egg inside) and raspao (a cup of shaved ice with a fruity syrup). Experience different sides of Cartagena and catch up with the locals in Getsemani. Get to know the city's culture, tradition, and diversity on this walking tour.

Discover the relaxed spirit of Cartagena with a tour designed for you to taste caribbean cuisine. This tour will allow you to visit and experience places that are not featured on conventional guides. Meet your local guide at the iconic Clock Tower to begin your route of the best local eats, and key sights of the city. During the morning, visit 9 street food spots, usually unnoticed by foreigners but worshiped by locals. Try original recipes while seeing some of the most important sights of the historic center such as the Plaza de la Paz, Plaza de los Autos, and Proclamation Square. Meet and greet the guardians of local culinary treasure and take home their secrets and recipes. You'll have a small-group experience with no more than 10 people on the tour. Benefit from personalized insider tips about what to do next in Cartagena historic center after the tour has finished. This experience is a blend of mouth-watering cuisine and wonderful local people, get ready to share your stories and be part of the conversation.

Journey from Cartagena to the nearby fishing village of La Boquilla. Experience the atmosphere of a place that has retained its Afro-Caribbean heritage from the days when the area was once a haven for freed slaves. Meet locals who are proud of their African ancestry and children feel the rhythm of the percussion in each movement. Boat through the mangrove forest and keep your eyes peeled for the amazing animals native to the region. Take in the unique surroundings of the swamp as you pass through bright tunnels formed by dense foliage overhead. See the fishermen pulling in their nets. When you return from your mangrove adventure, dig in to a delicious lunch of typical Afro-Caribbean cuisine. Enjoy the flavors of coconut and other local seasonings common to Caribbean gastronomy mixed with fresh, locally-caught seafood. Take a short walk on the beach to digest your lunch before heading back to Cartagena. 

Discover the history behind the drink that represents the Caribbean. Walk through the streets of Getsemani, see iconic places and learn how rum is connected to the daily life of the people of Cartagena. Meet with one of the most knowledgeable rum people in town in one of the small houses in Getsemaní. Learn how to differentiate the rums and recognize their differences, as you share your best memories downed with rum. After having a little introduction and tasting some rums, go out and see what the drink looks like in the daily life of the locals by visiting local stores and bars.

Enjoy an evening of food and dance in Cartogena. Learn how to prepare the popular and traditional Arepas and taste its fried flavors. Learn how to dance the Champeta and celebrate African roots with immense amounts of food and good people. First, prepare the queen of the fried food table, Arepas, guided by a specialized chef in Caribbean cuisine. Made with yellow corn, discover proper cooking techniques and how to knead the dough. Groove to the salsa brava rhythms and learn the steps to the Champeta. Celebrate African heritage with dance and cauldrons full of fried food. Learn of the most popular cultural symbols in the city and make sure to leave some room for a special sweet surprise.

Bring your hunger and get ready to savor new flavors, smells, and experiences reliving the experience of every foodies' favorite host: Anthony Bourdain. He was captivated by the flavors of Cartagena by walking and tasting it at its original location, the Bazurto central market.  Join a chef and follow Anthony Bourdain's steps trying the true local cuisine. Let the aromas, the music, the colors and that relaxed spirit of Cartagena locals get to you while you talk to the superstars of the market.  Discover the best spots in between the mazes of the market to taste a "rainbow of fruits" and find out ingredients that you probably didn’t even know existed. Later, continue walking among the kiosks that offer everything from fresh fish, to flowers and meat while learning everything about it. Continue to the same spot where Anthony Bourdain went in his No Reservations show to try a traditional lunch menu. During the whole tour, benefit from personalized insider tips while exploring a non-touristy place with your small-group. This will be an experience that blends mouth-watering cuisine and wonderful local people, sharing their stories and partaking in conversations.

The Bazurto Market has everything you could ever need. This 3-hour tour is for adventurous souls looking for a glimpse into the lives of the people of Cartagena. Explore the traditional vegetable, fish, meat, fruit, clothing and art market. Marvel at the labyrinth created by the multiple food stands. At every turn there’s an opportunity to taste foods or drinks. If you like, buy the ingredients here and prepare a traditional Colombian meal later, or just enjoy the magical atmosphere of this popular place. After visiting the herb market, the music market and the arts and crafts section, head to the market’s cafeteria for lunch.

Get to know the artisanal coffee process while you learn about wonderful life stories from farmers with organic farms. Be immersed in the rich nature inside the forest of the Montes de Maria surrounded by rivers, huge trees, butterflies, and monkeys. Start with a 2-hour drive between Cartagena and San Jacinto, on the way you will learn about the music of the region and its influences. Upon arrival in San Jacinto, the guide will be waiting for you to show you a small local museum built by the local people to tell their story. Continue the adventure aboard a 4x4 vehicle (the only way to get there) to reach the forests where the farms are located. The farmers will tell you about their life and their families and will show you why coffee that grows surrounded by bananas, aguacate, yucca, and chili tastes better. Learn how to roast it over a fire (avoid burning it) and then grind it to taste the best coffee in the world. Back in town, visit the houses of the artisans who weave beautiful hammocks that have a certificate of origin and capture centuries of history in their weavings.

Begin your day joining the pirate crew at Pegasus Pier at 8:00 AM to check-in. At 8:30 AM set sail to experience a one of a kind experience as you go the same path the Spanish Forces once did to protect their colony. Learn all about the war between the UK and Spain and hear the stories behind the pirates and slaves that played a crucial role in the history of the city. Siege and capture what is now the Fort San Fernando de Bocahica and celebrate victory with a typical Cartagena lunch on the beach. You may also enjoy an open bar of coconut lemonade or alcoholic drinks made from rum, fruit punch, and aguardiente. During your time at the fort, feel free to go for a swim in the refreshing Atlantic Ocean, relax under the shade, or go sun bathing in the hot Caribbean sun. You will begin your return to Cartagena later in the day and be back at about 3:30 PM after a victorious afternoon of sailing, eating, and drinking.