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Cartagena Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Cartagena Nature & adventure

Cartagena: Totumo Mud Volcano Experience

1. Cartagena: Totumo Mud Volcano Experience

Discover the natural landscapes of Colombia on this guided excursion. Visit Santa Catalina, and bathe yourself in the purifying mud of the volcano. As the minivan leaves town, hear some curious facts about Cartagena's history and some tips to ensure a better experience at the mud volcano. The trip to Santa Catalina, another beautiful Colombian city and the location of the volcano, lasts around 45 minutes. Upon arrival at the volcanic zone, be greeted by the owner of a small nearby restaurant. Then, prepare for a unique experience as you climb the 50 steps that surround the volcano; remember to wear old clothing as the mud can be rough on delicate materials. Immerse yourself in the volcanic mud, reaping the health benefits for your skin from the millions of minerals. Some people say afterward, you'll appear 10 years younger. Inside the volcano, you can float thanks to the high number of minerals present. There will be some locals around offering massages for an extra price of 2 USD. Outside of the volcano, pay to get your photo taken for another 2 USD. When the soaking is over, head to the lake for a shower.  Before continuing back to the city, enjoy a typical snack in a rustic restaurant. Get dropped off at your hotel.

Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

2. Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

Experience clear blue waters, white sand, and awesome corals on a day tour to the Corales del Rosario National Park. Discover the group of islands on the coast of Colombia, a perfect natural environment to have fun and relax. Start the day from the meeting point and after a speedboat ride, explore the fortress on Bocachica island. Continue to a relaxing private island where beach chairs and umbrellas await you. Spend time in the sun and have a seafood cocktail or lemonade in one of the most beautiful places you will visit. Afterward, continue to Cholon to enjoy a mini party in the water with music, drinks, and people from other boats. Finally, stop at Playa Blanca in Barú Island, where there will be a more private space waiting for you away from the main concentration of boats and vendors. Here, eat a typical island lunch and spend the rest of the day on the beach, relaxing and swimming, before returning to Cartagena.

From Cartagena: Day Trip to Playa Blanca with Lunch

3. From Cartagena: Day Trip to Playa Blanca with Lunch

Enjoy a paradisiacal day relaxing on the white sand beach of Baru Island's aptly-named Playa Blanca. After getting picked up from the los Pegasos dock, take a 1-hour journey in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan to Baru. Begin the day with pickup at the meeting point at 6:40 am. Be accompanied by a bilingual who will provide you with a fruit salad for you to snack on along the way. Ride in a climate-controlled vehicle and arrive on Baru Island at around 8:00 AM. Take a 5 minute walk along the shore of the beach until we get to the Mambo Beach Club restaurant which is located in front of the beach. Upon arrival be welcomed by the Mambo team. Be provided with beach chairs, huts, bathrooms and lockers (subject to availability). In the afternoon, savor a delicious lunch with several options including vegetarian and meat dishes. If none of the options take your fancy feel free to order anything else on the menu and only pay the difference. Head back to the beach after lunch to relax for another few hours before beginning the journey back to Cartagena in the evening.

Cartagena: 5 Islands Tour with Snorkeling and Plankton

4. Cartagena: 5 Islands Tour with Snorkeling and Plankton

Explore one of the Caribbean's top destinations, full of wonderful beaches, snorkelling opportunities and history, in Cartagena's surrounding islands. Get deeply acquainted with the former colonial port turned touristic hub with an extensive tour of its most iconic locations. Begin early in the morning, at 7:30 am, leaving from the hotel area in Bocagrande or Laguito, as well as the northern part of Cartagena. Rendezvous with your guide for the tour at the Pegasus Pier, where a sport boat will be waiting to take you sailing across the entire Bay of Cartagena. You will sail around the island of Bocachica, a stunning sight and where the city's first fortification was built. Stop at Isla Grande, famous for the mansion Pablo Escobar built, as well as the wreckage of one of his private planes. Following this landmark, the snorkelling begins in the natural pool of San Martín de Pajarales. Relax afterwards at the Cholón Island with a typical Caribbean lunch, as well as music coming from boats and yachts. Once rested, you'll head to Agua Azul Island, where crystal clear water greets you to enjoy of an unforgettable landscape. Just as the night begins to roll in, you'll head to a beach to witness the light show put on by the plankton. Marvel at their bioluminescent effect before heading back to the bus shuttles that will drive you back to your lodging.

Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

5. Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

Embark on a customized day trip from Cartagena and enjoy a trip to some of Colombia's famous sites and beautiful islands along the way. Leave Cartagena and travel to Baru Village and the Rosario Islands, and enjoy boating through the beautiful mangrove forests while trying to spot local wildlife. Enjoy the freedom of a customizable private tour and choose the stops you'd like to visit on the tour for a personalized experience catered to your group. Be picked up from your accommodation and travel by land to Baru Village, about an hour and fifteen minutes outside of the historic center of Cartagena. Start the tour with a visit to the Baru Village and enjoy a tasty traditional breakfast in the village, and visit Villa Bonga before leaving for the mangrove forest and Rosario Islands on the boat. Take the time to stop for a snorkeling activity in a coral reef environment. Stop at a local beach and have a welcome drink while resting on the beach. Enjoy a local lunch from 1-2 pm at a house in Baru before continuing the trip with a walking tour of the village and a visit to some of the village's handcrafters. Return to your hotel following the end of the tour at 3 pm.

Cartagena: Snorkel, Mangroves and Playa Blanca Tour

6. Cartagena: Snorkel, Mangroves and Playa Blanca Tour

Get picked up from your accommodation at 7:30 AM in an air-conditioned bus. Meet your guide who will provide all the details about your upcoming adventure and the route. At 9 AM, arrive at the island of Baru and board a boat. Cruise for 15 minutes through the crystal clear waters until you arrive at the snorkeling site. After 1 hour of enjoyable snorkeling, continue the tour into the mangroves to see birds, iguanas, and other species. Discover the fascinating landscapes of the island and the life of the native species who inhabit this magical ecosystem. At 1 PM, head back to Playa Blanca to enjoy a delicious lunch with options of fish, chicken, or vegetarian. Once you've eaten, spend some time swimming in the clear waters or relaxing on the beautiful white sand beach. At 3:30 PM, board the return bus which will drop you off back at your hotel.

Cartagena: Sunset Sea Kayaking Tour

7. Cartagena: Sunset Sea Kayaking Tour

Experience Cartagena from the water's edge during a sunset kayaking adventure from Castillogrande Beach and Cartagena Bay. Paddle a sea kayak along the complex and diverse coastline as you discover the most enchanting features of this beautiful city. Choose between a shared or private tour then enjoy a very gentle paddle of about 2 km which requires no previous kayaking experience. After a short instructional session, make your way from Castillogrande Beach with your guide through the warm waters of the Caribbean until you reach the Cartagena Bay. Float along at your own pace, taking in the beauty of the changing landscape around you. After seeing the sunset, return to the meeting point, taking home beautiful memories.

Cartagena: Speedboat Trip to Rosario Islands with Snorkeling

8. Cartagena: Speedboat Trip to Rosario Islands with Snorkeling

Experience clear blue waters, white sand, and awesome corals on a day tour to the Corales del Rosario National Park. Discover the group of islands on the coast of Colombia, a perfect natural environment to have fun and relax. Start the day from the meeting point and after a speedboat ride, explore the fortress on Bocachica island. Continue to a relaxing private island where beach chairs and umbrellas await you. Spend time in the sun and have a seafood cocktail or lemonade in one of the most beautiful places you will visit. Afterward, continue to Cholon to enjoy a mini party in the water with music, drinks, and people from other boats. Finally, stop at Playa Blanca on Baru Island, where a more private space away from the main concentration of boats and vendors awaits you. Here, eat a typical island lunch and spend the rest of the day on the beach, relaxing and swimming, before going on the plankton activity, you will be given an induction on this activity including your snack. Your return by bus

Cartagena: Beach Horse Ride and Colombian Horse Culture

9. Cartagena: Beach Horse Ride and Colombian Horse Culture

Ride a horse along a scenic beach in Cartagena with a bilingual, English and Spanish-speaking guide. Find out about the local Colombian Paso Fino horse breed, and enjoy a small-group experience for no more than 6 people. Begin your activity with hotel pickup in Cartagena and get transferred comfortably to the ranch. Upon arrival, listen to an in-depth explanation about the Colombian Paso Fino, see how well the horses are cared for, and watch a demonstration of what they can do. From there, you'll be taken to the beach and paired with the perfect horse for your experience level, whether you've never ridden before or are an expert rider. Set off on your ride along the beach, and feel the smoothness of your horse's gait — paso fino means fine step. Disconnect from everything and tune in to the sound of the waves. Enjoy the sea breeze on your face, and have your photos taken by your guide so you can just focus on having an amazing time. After a couple of hours, you'll be taken to a beachfront restaurant where you can enjoy the ocean and sun while lunch is served before you are taken back to your hotel.

Cartagena: Bioluminescent Plankton Tour

10. Cartagena: Bioluminescent Plankton Tour

Admire an extraordinary natural phenomenon which only occurs in a few parts of the world– the bioluminescent plankton. Begin your tour during the afternoon, as the sun begins to set. Gain an understanding of these unique creatures from your knowledgable guide. Hop aboard your boat and sail for 10 minutes to the cove of Puerto Naito. Dive into sea and swim in the warm water which is full of bioluminescent plankton. With every movement you make, the plankton will generate light, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Choose to meet at the meeting point or choose the option including roundtrip transportation. If you choose the option with transportation, you’ll also have some free time to explore Playa Blanca.

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What people are saying about Cartagena

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 58 reviews

We were hesitant to book this experience, but glad we did. Yes, it is a very touristy activity, but being in the mud is an experience that's hard to describe, therefore you'll have to experience it for yourself. Being in the mud feels incredible! It's about a one-hour drive to the area, you leave your bags with the guide and head up to the mud pit. Once inside you'll spend about 20-minutes getting massaged and hanging out in the mud, then it's to the lake to get cleaned up. After that, you'll be served a beverage and an empanada. Plus, you can give your phone to one of the guys and he will take a ton of pictures of your group. A very nice service. Overall, it was an inexpensive, unique activity.

This was a fantastic tour. Our guide, Luis, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the birds that we saw and even offered to extend our tour (we were too tired to take him up on that offer, alas!). We observed so many diverse species of birds. The breakfast was also a highlight of the trip - we were welcomed into a home nestled in Matute Nature Preserve, where we were served a delicious Colombian breakfast. As a special treat, we watched a sloth climbing through the trees from the breakfast table! I highly recommend this tour! Thank you Luis for such a special morning.

We were picked up by Diana and Carlos the driver. Diana explained our itinerary very clear and gave us pointers on what to do at the beach. Carlos the driver was friendly and entertained us with good music. We then were split into groups and my group had Guillermo. Guillermo stayed with us make sure we received our free drink and food. He checked on us diligently to make sure we were satisfied. This was one of the best tours.

The euphoria after the the experience was amazing. Massage was great and not creepy (I don't enjoy being touched by strangers) and then washing in the lake felt a little water-boardy but not unmanageable. I cannot push this trip on enough people. YOU HAVE TO DO IT! They will tell you theirs names and expect tips but, seriously... take ALL my money. So worth every penny!!!!!

Unbelievable experience with awesome tour guide and driver (Nevis and Jesus)