Cartagena Tours and Excursions Actually Worth Doing

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Looking for the tours in Cartagena, Colombia that are actually worth doing during your trip?

As someone who lived in Cartagena for over a decade and writes a whole blog about how best to explore it, I think a lot of things in Cartagena can be done on your own.

However, I also think the average traveler gets a lot out of doing at least some guided Cartagena tours. Plus, some of the best things to do in and near the city are best done with Cartagena excursions.

In this post, I’ll share my picks for the best tours in Cartagena, so you can avoid tourist traps and make the most of your time in the city.

So, read on to learn which Cartagena, Colombia tours are most worth including on your itinerary!

Are Doing Guided Cartagena Tours Worth it?

Ok, yea, yea, I hear you…

I’m doing my research, reading this blog (check out my in depth guide to Cartagena here if you haven’t already, by the way), and I don’t need no stinking tourist trap tours with a guide making cheesy jokes and that lady that takes 17 selfies at every stop holding up the group.

I get it.

That’s how I’ve often felt about guided tours, especially when I was younger.

I like reading about places before I go, and like to do things on my own, especially if I can save a few pesos. I also like going at my own pace, stopping to take as many or as few photos as I want.

However, as I’ve gotten older and (maybe, hopefully?) wiser, I’ve realized doing guided experiences can offer a lot of benefits.

They can be a great way to make the best use of limited time. Plus, they offer valuable insight into the history and culture of a place. A good guide will also help you find hidden gems and places to return on your own.

They might even share a few jokes that are actually funny too!

So, yes, I think some guided Cartagena tours are absolutely worth doing.

Some things are also really only accessible as part of a Cartagena excursion or are best to do as a guided tour due to safety reasons.

Below, I’ll run through the tours in Cartagena that I think are most worth doing.

No promises on helping you avoid excessive selfie takers on shared Cartagena excursions, but I can offer you a 20% discount with the code ExploreColombia20 when you book any of these private tours in Cartagena.

Detailed Guide to the Best Cartagena Excursions and Tours

Ok, let’s dive into each of these top tours in Cartagena de Indias in more detail.

I’ve made this a top 11, cause you deserve more than just 10 Cartagena tours to choose from. Plus, 11 has a special significance for Cartagena since it declared its independence on November 11, 1811 (11/11/11).

1. Rosario Islands – A Can’t Miss Excursion in Cartagena

If you read my things to do in Cartagena post, you’ll see that I consider visit to the Rosario Islands an absolute must in Cartagena!

Yes, there are beaches in Cartagena proper, but they tend to be crowded and have lots of overbearing vendors. They also aren’t nearly as pretty as the Rosarios!

There’s also the Island of Tierra Bomba as well as Barú, where the famous but often overcrowded Playa Blanca is located.

However, the best experience is out in the Rosario Islands. You can compare all the Cartagena islands here if you need some extra convincing.

Undoubtedly the coolest way to do an island excursion in Cartagena is with a private boat rental where you can go at your own pace. You can see my tips for renting a boat in Cartagena here or get a quote for a Cartagena boat rental here from my partner with very competitive prices.

If you can’t manage to swing the private boat, there are some other great options excursions to the islands.

However, a word of warning: Be wary of cheap tours to the Cartagena islands sold by street vendors.

They are some of the worst tourist traps in Cartagena and notorious for packing lots of people on tiny boats. They also usually have lots of upsells along the way, such as paying for chairs at the beach.

If you’re looking for more reputable options, I recommend this catamaran tour. It’s a great boat and it includes lunch and snorkeling gear. You can also do a multi-island tour if you want to see as much as possible in a day.

You can also do a day pass at a hotel or beach club like the very popular Bora Bora.

See more ideas in my guide to the best Rosario Islands tours. If you have 5 or more nights total, you can also consider an overnight stay at one of my picks for the best hotels in the Rosario Islands.

2. Cartagena City Tour

Well, what would a list of the best tours in Cartagena be without your classic Cartagena city tour?

I recommend doing this your first day as it can be a great introduction to getting around and give you some valuable background and insight into the city’s culture and history.

I also think a city tour works well for Cartagena, because if you take my advice in my guide on where to stay in Cartagena and stay in the Walled City, you can knock out two of the biggest attractions that are outside of walking distance. That way you don’t have to worry about paying for taxis.

Typically, a city tour in Cartagena will include a visit to the Castillo San Felipe Fort, the convent atop the hill known as La Popa, and a walking tour of the Cartagena Walled City. Some might include neighboring and nearly equally historic Getsemaní too.

You can book a private city tour with our partners BnB Colombia Tours (be sure to use the discount code ExploreColombia20 for a 20% discount!) and go at your own pace.

Or you can book a shared tour here.

You can also do the fort and convent on your own and book a walking tour to get filled in on all the history behind them (see options for that below).

The Hop On Hop Off Bus is actually not a bad value, and it gives you a happy medium where you can go at your own pace but have your transportation arranged.

3. A Cartagena Walking Tour

If you do the fort and/or convent on your own, I’d still suggest doing a walking tour in the historic districts.

It’s the best way to get a crash course in the city’s history and culture.

If you want to opt for a private tour, you can get 20% off here with the code ExporeColombia20.

If you did do the city tour and already got the walking tour of the Walled City, you can also do a private tour that includes Getsemaní and the Bazurto Market (more on it below).

For a shared experience, I recommend this shared walking tour of the Walled City and Getsemaní.

I scouted it out on our visit in the summer of 2024 and thought it was a great value. You can read my full review of it here.

There are also some free walking tours of Cartagena.

Just keep in mind though advertised as “free,” the expectation is that you tip something at the end. It’s an interesting business model, and we’ve enjoyed free walking tours in other cities before.

For a more unique way to do the historic districts, you could also do a bicycle tour. You can book a private bike tour with our partners and use that same discount code or do a shared one via GetYourGuide.

4. Street Food Tour

If you’re not that into history and biking in Cartagena’s heat doesn’t sound that enticing, doing a street food tour is a great way to get an introduction to the city with a little bit of history and culture while enjoying some tasty food along the way.

Of course, you can always do both too!

I’d recommend this shared street food tour, run by the same terrific guides as the shared walking tour I recommended above.

And if you did do the walking tour and would rather just sample some street food on your own, do check out my Cartagena street food guide.

Or to learn even more, you could do this fried street food cooking class (more ideas for cooking classes below).

5. Sunset Cruise on the Bay

There’s just nothing quite like a beautiful sunset over the Caribbean.

While there are some great sunset spots in Cartagena, doing a sunset cruise on the bay is another of the Cartagena excursions I think is so worth doing.

We’ve done a bunch of them over the years and always enjoyed them!

In addition to getting a great view of the sun setting over the ocean, you also get a unique perspective of the city, which is particularly pretty lit up once it gets dark on the return trip.

My top choice is this catamaran sunset cruise. Susana and I have done it and agree it’s the coolest boat (see my review here). It also includes a couple of drinks and snacks.

For those looking to do a bit more imbibing, there is also an open bar sunset cruise. We’ve also done that one, multiple times in face, and always enjoyed it (see my review here).

Finally, this sunset cruise on a pirate boat also looks like a lot of fun. We actually tried to do this on a recent visit and missed out due to repairs on the boat, but it’s on our list for our next return visit.

6. San Basilio de Palenque Excursion from Cartagena

If you’re interested in history and culture, doing a trip to San Basilio de Palenque is one of the excursions in Cartagena most worth doing.

This was one of many towns founded by escaped slaves in the coastal interior. They were under constant threat of attack from the Spanish until a peace treaty actually made it the first officially recognized free town in the Americas.

Centuries later, many traditional West African practices have survived, including the only known Spanish based creole language.

For those interested in learning about the often under appreciated role of Afro-Colombians in Cartagena’s and Colombia’s history while also seeing a little bit of the less touristy rural side of Colombia, it’s absolutely worth visiting.

I took this shared tour to Palenque and thought it was well run (see my full review here). You can also book a private Palenque tour here (don’t forget that ExploreColombia20 discount code!).

7. Tour Cartagena’s Bazurto Market

If you’ve seen the Anthony Bourdain episode where he visits Cartagena, you got to see him head to the hectic Bazurto Market of Cartagena to get fresh ingredients with the chef at La Cevichería Restaurant.

While there, Bourdain marvels at the fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish. He even has a fresh lunch from a small food stall.

After Bourdain’s visit, tours to the market started to become a thing.

It’s a very neat way to see the less touristy side of the city and have a unique experience, but if you have a sensitive nose, have a weak stomach, or are a hygiene freak, it’s probably best avoided.

I strongly recommend going to the market only as part of a guided tour unless you speak Spanish and have some experience traveling elsewhere in Latin America.

It’s a chaotic labyrinth and parts can be a bit dodgy.

However, if you do go with a reputable tour and guide, you should feel safe doing so.

You can also book a shared tour to the market here.

You can also book a private a tour to the market with out partners BnB, or for a better value book a half day experience that includes a walking tour of Getsemaní and the tour to the market (use discount code ExploreColombia20 for 20% off on either!).

8. Do a Cooking Class

If the Cartagena market tour interested you, you might also enjoy a cooking class.

I guess this isn’t exactly a Cartagena tour, but it’s a neat and organized experience that is a bit different and allows for some hands on fun and learning.

Plus, the best part is you get to eat what you make!

My mom and I did this cooking class and thought it was excellent! You can read about our experience here.

Do pay close attention when booking because they have a rotating menu based on the day of the week. For a really unique experience, choose the option that also includes a tour to the market where you buy the ingredients you’ll use in the cooking class!

You can also do the shorter street food cooking class I mentioned above, run by the same place.

They also run a great rum and chocolate tasting, which would make for a good dessert! You can read my review of it here.

Also, be sure to check out my guides to the best restaurants to try in Cartagena and the best dishes to try in Cartagena too!

9. Do an ATV Excursion in Cartagena

If you want to do something a little bit off the beaten path with a dose of adrenaline, doing an ATV tour in Cartagena is a great option.

There are a couple ATV tours in Cartagena, but I think the best one is the excursion on Tierra Bomba Island, just across the bay.

I really like that it includes a stop at one of the Bocachica forts, one of the best hidden gems in Cartagena, and a stop on a beach in addition traversing some great trails over fun terrain on the island.

The view you get of the city from the hills on the island almost makes doing this Cartagena excursion worth it on its own!

I’m pleased to be able to offer this experience via a special partnership available to readers of the site. Click here to contact our partner and reserve your ATV tour in Cartagena.

10. Cartagena Mud Volcano Tour

The Totumo Mud Volcano is probably Cartagena’s oddest attraction!

I remember going here during my first year in Cartagena. It was, well, unique. Not something I’d repeat, to be honest, but it was neat and is certainly a good story.

Supposedly, the mud is great for your skin. So, there is that.

I think it’s a bit of a love it or leave it kind of experience.

If it sounds fun, you’ll enjoy it and should do it.

If it sounds awful, just skip it.

While it is possible to do this on your own by hiring a taxi or driver, there are plenty of tours to the Cartagena mud volcano that are reasonably priced, so I’d recommend just doing it that way.

You can book a shared tour to the mud volcano here.

Read more about this unique Cartagena attraction at my complete guide to the mud volcano.

11. Howling Trail – The Best Cartagena Nature Tour

I did the Howling Trail excursion from Cartagena during the summer of 2024, and I was really impressed.

I got to see several howler monkeys, and we came very close to seeing two other species of monkeys too.

This hike, only a little over an hour away from Cartagena is one of the best hidden gems out of all the tours in Cartagena.

It’s also the best nature tour in Cartagena, and takes you through a hike in the tropical dry forest. Olinto, the guide, is really passionate about the forest and does a great job with this tour.

Read more about the Howling Trail here.

You can also read about my experience doing the Jaguar’s Footprint hike, which includes a nice hike plus music workshop also run by Olinto.

If you’re big into nature, I’d also suggest considering a visit to the Cartagena Aviary and possibly a Cartagena mangrove tour too.

If you have the time for it, heading up the coast to Tayrona Park and Minca are totally worth visiting too.

Or for a really unique experience, consider going on a wildlife safari in Casanare.

Which of these Cartagena tours will you do?

There you have it, my picks for the best tours in Cartagena, Colombia!

Whichever of these Cartagena tours you do, I hope this guide was useful for planning your trip, and, most importantly, you enjoy them and your entire time in Cartagena!

I’d love to hear more about any you did in the comments, and I’d love for you to check out all the other content on the site to help you plan.

Cheers and Happy Exploring!