"Essential Cartagena" Private Tour.
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
The "Essential Cartagena de Indias" walking tour, will make you understand the relevance of this Caribbean port city and how its strategic location has helped to shape the world powers and economy from the 16th century till today. In this tour, you will feel the city like a local and will be amazed by the beauty and the good vibes of this unique place on earth. This is a no-rush kind of tour, that will walk tourists by history while learning why Cartagena became the prize for so many pirates and empires. Also, you will live the rhythm that does of Cartageneros happy citizens of the world. The walking tour is totally customizable and can be upgraded to compliment it to your interests or preferences. You will get to feel my city like a local. "El Guiador" is a perfect tour to fully understand the energy of the cartageneros and enjoy a fun time. Let me have the pleasure to be your #TourGuide I speak fluent English. Licensed, insured and certified by Colombian authorities.
Inclusions
What's included
- Bottled water
- Snacks
What's not
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Museo Naval del Caribe entrance ticket..
Itinerary
The Plaza de los Coches is where the people entered the walled city, it was where the slave trade happened and also acted as a kind of transportation hub. This is where the statue of the founder of the city, Pedro de Heredia, is erected.
In this plaza is where the gold, silver, and produce like tobacco, potatoes, sugar, fruits, and other produce were embarked to Spain in the Galeón Armada, also all the imports from the metropolis came by here to all the territories in SouthAmerica. The Casa de La Real Contaduría, the kings accounting offices is here and now is the mayor´s office of Cartagena.
If you believe in miracles this is a place on earth you should know, but also if you are someone that admires extraordinary human beings. The church of San Pedro Claver was made in honor of a Jesuit priest that dedicated his service to the wellbeing of the enslaved Africans that were brought to America by this port.
From here you will see the Cartagena bay and the Bodeguita dock and will learn about the defense of the city from pirates and enemies of the kingdom of Spain.
At this location, you will know about the history of the Colombian navy and one of its heroes, Admiral José Padilla, known by his colleagues as Prudencio because of his bravery and how he defeated the Spanish Armada, with very few men and ships.
At this museum, visitors will learn about the geography and nature that made this place a perfect site to build a defensive port and also you will get a complete look at the history of Cartagena de Indias from a naval point of view.
From this bastion, you will see the coastline and in the distance Bocagrande where the Spanish military engineers built an underwater jetty to impede navigation and to make ships go by the guarded entrance to the bay, Bocachica.
One of the most important sights at the city, here you will see the Palacio de la Inquisición, the statue of Simón Bolívar the "Libertador" of 5 countries, the Colombian beauty queens hall of fame.
Here you will see the gold artifacts made by the Zenú culture that inhabited this area before the Spanish came in the 16th century.
At this beautiful plaza you will get to know Gertrudis, or as is also known, "La Gorda de Botero", additionally we will appreciate the church of Santo Domingo, the first monumental construction at Cartagena.
Here you will get to see the Iglesia de Santo Toribio and also know more about how the people of Cartagena got their fresh water supply.
One of the picturesque plazas of Cartagena is San Diego, where students from the arts university make it a very trendy place to be delighted. Filled with excellent restaurants and historical buildings like the Santa Clara convent, now a luxury hotel. A stop to be delighted with street food like arepa de huevo, caribañolas or empanadas if you like to.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 511
- 43
- 30
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- 10
Ratings come from 14 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- We will start the tour at the "Torre del Reloj" , the entrance of the city since 1631 when the walls were finally finished and the city was enclosed.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- "El Guiador"
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
How it compares in Cartagena
- Its from-price is 43% above the median of the 1343 experiences we list in Cartagena.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 336 of 1343.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Cartagena
Cartagena, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, is a walled colonial port of flower-draped balconies, colourful plazas and warm, music-filled evenings.
The walled old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of cobbled streets and squares lined with pastel houses, churches and bougainvillea. The Clock Tower gate leads into Plaza de los Coches, and the cathedral, the Church of San Pedro Claver and the Palace of the Inquisition are all within a few blocks. Walking the thick ramparts at sunset is a local ritual.
Top-ranked sights in Cartagena: Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario), Old Town Cartagena, Santo Domingo Church (Iglesia de Santo Domingo).
Special offers in Cartagena
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
