DAY 2. Cartagena

CARTAGENA CITY TOUR WITH LA POPA MONASTERY & SAN FELIPE FORTRESS (Half day)
Private services

Your city tour will begin with a transfer from the city’s center to the La Popa Convent. At the convent you will have an incredible view overlooking the entire city of Cartagena and out to the ocean. From there, you will proceed to the biggest fortress ever built by the Spanish in all of South America, the San Felipe de Barajas Fortress. You will visit the entire fortress, including some of the tunnels located inside, as well as the statue of Don Blas de Lezo.4

After this you will return to Cartagena’s city center and visit important landmarks, such as the official entrance to the walled city with the clock tower “Torre del Reloj”. Behind it you will find the Monument of Don Pedro de Heredia, the founder of Cartagena de Indias from 1533. Your guide will share with you stories of Cartagena’s founding and interesting tales of legends and pirates. *

*Note: if there is no possibility of visiting the Monastery of La Popa, it can be replaced by the Sanctuary of San Pedro Claver in the Old Town. We will book busses max for 10 pax

You will have an english speaking guide included.

GRAFFITI TOUR IN CARTAGENA
Private Services

Our Street Art & Graffti tour gives you deeper insight towards Cartagena focused on the alternative and cultural quarter and coolest barrio: Getsemani. The stories are told with present graffti paintings with images of tropical scenes, palenqueras, and local flora and fauna. In Getsemani the individuality and spirit of the neighborhood remains intact. You can come as a tourist but you leave as a local understanding what makes the barrio so special engaging with the people to ensure that it preserves its particular charm. This neighborhood has shaken off the gritty reputation, and turned to street-art as a way of incorporating the voice of local residents and artists into the fabric and the narrative of the city streets. Grafftis transformed this neighborhood in the last years, after the frst Graffti Festival in Getsemani that took place in December 2013.

Our fully qualifed guide offers a complete knowledge of the impressive history of Getsemani starting at the clock tower, from there, we go to the street of La Sierpe (where all the murals are) and Trinidad plaza, which has an historical, cultural and national value. We will also walk on top of the city wall.

You will spend the night at Hotel Santa Catalina (Superior Room).

Included: Entrance to La Popa Monastery, Entrance to San Felipe Fortress, English speaking guide, private excursion, local guide, private transportation – minibuses of 10 pax, bottle of water, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

DAY 3. Cartagena – Isla de Tierra Bomba – Cartagena

Transfer from your hotel to the harbour in Cartagena.
BOMBA BEACH CLUB (Full day)
Today you will have the full day to enjoy the beach and sun of Cartagena on the Island of Tierrabomba at the Bomba Beach Club. A boat will bring you from the harbor to the Island of Tierrabomba which will take between 25 and 40 minutes. At the beach, you will receive a welcome cocktail and then have time to enjoy the beach at a special place. Enjoy the Caribbean Sea and sun or enjoy a swim in the pool to which you have access as well. at about mid-day, you will be brought back to Cartagena once again.
Please note that drinks and food are not included.
Transfer from the harbor to your selected hotel in Cartagena.

You will spend the night at Hotel Santa Catalina (Superior Room).

DAY 4. Cartagena

FREE DAY CARTAGENA DE INDIAS

This is a day at leisure or you can sign up for the 2 optional tours (you can do both tours):

• Mangrove in the morning
• Salsa in the afternoon

Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Heredia. This charming Caribbean city was one of the most important parts of the Spanish Empire in America during the colonial era. Nowadays it is one of the most important and preferred destinations for travelers during their stay in Colombia. The city was Cartagena de Indias one of the most important and preferred destinations for travelers during their stay in Colombia. The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 due to its historical center, its history, and the set of fortresses, walls, and military infrastructure built by the Spanish to defend the city from the English pirates during the 17th and 18th centuries. In the diversity and cultural richness of the city the mixture of the indigenous and African cultures, as well as the Spanish influence is clearly evident.
During the colonial era, Cartagena was besieged by English pirates who tried to steal the gold that was sent to the port of the city to be shipped back to Spain. Due to this, the Castle of San Felipe and the walls that surround the old city were built. The Castle of San Felipe is in fact, one of the largest military fortresses built by the Spaniards in South America. During the wars of independence, this city was the most crucial in order to defeat the Spanish army and that is why Cartagena is called the “Heroic City”. Cartagena, therefore, preserved its architecture, walls, and history and became the most important tourist destination in the country. In the city, you can walk among the old streets, walk on the top of the walls, try the traditional cuisine, and listen to the musical rhythms known as Colombian Caribbean. You can also visit the modern area of Bocagrande and El Laguito. If you are a sun, sand, and beach enthusiast, you can visit the Rosario Islands. They are an archipelago of islands that belong to the city. There you can bathe in the warm and crystal clear waters of the Caribbean and enjoy beautiful, white sandy beaches.
You will spend the night at Hotel Santa Catalina (Superior Room).

Alternative Excursion La Boquilla Canoe Mangroves Tour instead of Free day in Cartagena de
Indias :
TOUR THROUGH THE MANGROVES (3 hours)
Private services
This tour will lead you to the small fishermen’s village of La Boquilla highly recommended for nature lovers.
After arriving in the fishing village of La Boquilla about 30 minutes from the Cartagena city center, you will get on the canoe and cross the mangrove forest and the lagoon Ciénaga de Juan Polo. You will go through some natural mangrove tunnels like the Tunnel of Friendship, Love, and Luck. At the lagoon, you will see fishermen working on their daily catch. The perfect word for describing this gorgeous scenario is peace. The mangrove forest offers great flora and fauna. Among other things, you may see different species of birds and crabs and with a little luck, a coon or a green parrot may appear on the riverbanks. After the canoe tour, you will receive a cold coconut drink. Then, you will take a walk through the village and along the beaches where the English – speaking guide will tell you more about the daily life of the people that make their living mainly fishing. You will arrive at a restaurant, where we can have lunch and try the typical local dishes like fried fish with coconut rice, plantains, and salads. After lunch, you can take a dip in the Caribbean Sea or relax on the beach.

Alternative Excursion Salsa Tour Quiebracanto + Excursion Salsa Tour Quiebracanto with English
speaking guide instead of Free day in Cartagena de Indias :
SALSA TOUR QUIEBRACANTO
Private services
Complete guidance through the salsa history in the traditional Salsa Bar Quiebra Canto. Benefit from the exclusive music collection from our host, Lácides Patrón, in the popular Salsa Bar Quiebra Canto. Lácides Patrón, who is originally from Cartagena has more than eighteen years of experience in administrating this magic place. Discover with him the secrets of the salsa world. Lácides’ music collection is one of the biggest in Colombia. He has more than five thousand CDs and three thousand LPs, that summarize the development and history of salsa throughout the years. During the speech about salsa, you have the opportunity, to learn and practice the different salsa rhythms. During the event, you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail.
*Note: This experience is available after 16h00.

Included: Activity, English speaking guide, private excursion, local guide, private transportation, a bottle of water, cocktail, English speaking guide for the tour, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

DAY 5. Cartagena

Transfer from your selected hotel to the airport in Cartagena.
Included: breakfast at your selected hotel, departure transfer, English speaking guide for the transfer