Explore and discover the magnificent city of Cartagena. Begin with a stop at San Felipe de Barajas situated outside the walled city for a panoramic view of this monumental fort considered to be the most outstanding feat of Spanish military engineering in the New World.

Continue to Las Bovedas Artisan Center, built as dungeons and as a means of storage. Walk through narrow cobblestone streets and squares inside the walled city. Wander through Plaza de Bolivar which features a statue of its namesake. Visit the Inquisition Palace, established in the year 1610 to punish any crimes against the Catholic faith. You’ll see samples of jails and torture chambers.

Next, visit the San Pedro Claver cloister and monastery built in homage to the protector of slaves. Continue to the Navy Museum which includes a folk show and beverage. Before returning to your ship you will have a free time to explore by your own into the walled city and enjoy panoramic sightseeing through Bocagrande, the modern part of the city.

OVERVIEW

Pause for photos at a fortress built in the 17th century to defend Cartagena from pirates and indulge in a shopping spree at an upscale mall in the historical San Diego neighborhood. San Felipe Castle shares a UNESCO World Heritage site designation with several other Cartagena landmarks, in part because of its thick impenetrable stone walls studded with cannons. It is quite the sight from any angle. While driving downtown, you will pass miles of other defensive walls that were constructed and expanded over four centuries to further protect the port from invaders. Within these walls, you will find La Serrezuela, a shopping center known for its elegant boutiques and one-of-a-kind stores. After opening in 2019, it quickly became an icon as it was designed around the completely renovated Circo Teatro, once a venue for bullfights, operas and theatrical plays. You may spend more than two hours browsing the shops for designer fashions, exquisite jewelry and other exclusive merchandise.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stop to snap photos at the thick-walled 17th-century fortress San Felipe Castle.
• Pass miles of other defensive walls on a panoramic drive through downtown Cartagena.
• Spend hours shopping at La Serrezuela, an exclusive mall designed around a historical bullring.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Start your tour of the beautiful city of Cartagena with a photo stop at San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, situated outside the walled city and considered the largest Spanish fort in the New World. Continue to the Old City and wander through narrow cobblestone streets and squares while you admire the Colonial architecture, balconies and old churches. Your next stop will be the Inquisition Palace.

Enjoy a folkloric show during your visit to the Navy Museum which was established in 1986. Here, you’ll find historic military efforts of Cartagena, see the wealth of historical artifacts, maritime life and naval history of Colombia. A bottle of water or soft drink will be served upon arrival at the museum. Before returning to your ship, enjoy panoramic sightseeing through Bocagrande, the modern part of the city.

OVERVIEW

Discover Cartagena's iconic sights and Rhythms in an experience like no other. Starting with a scenic drive by the charming landmarks of the Historic District, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site to enjoy views of the city's old and modern sides that will amaze you, on your way to one of the best musical and cultural experiences Cartagena has to offer. Your tour will start with a guided walking tour through the Getsemaní neighborhood, delving into its fascinating landmarks, history and passageways. Let yourself be transported 300 years back, as you discover through its most emblematic monuments the rich history and cultural heritage this part of the city provides. To end your perfect day, continue to a local inspired venue. Here you will soak in the African-inspired Rhythms of Champeta, a local genre, in a fun and immersive class with captivating dancers. You'll have the chance to learn Colombian dance choreography, purchase local delicacies, and enjoy a delightful blend of flavors and music for an authentic Cartagena experience!

OVERVIEW

Begin your experience with a comfortable 20-minute coach transfer to the Old Town, where your guide will meet you for a walking tour through Cartagena’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll explore sites such as Plaza de Bolívar, Plaza San Pedro, the city’s Cathedral, and other highlights within the historic Walled City. During your walk, enjoy tastings of Cartagena’s typical street foods and fresh local fruits. After the guided portion, enjoy some free time to take in the atmosphere, shop, or explore at your own pace. Next, head to the embarkation point to board a comfortable boat for a scenic one-hour cruise across Cartagena Bay. Onboard, enjoy a lively open bar featuring rum punch, rum & coke, Colombian beer, lemonade, and sodas. The experience ends with the return cruise to the pier, offering panoramic views of both the colonial skyline and the modern city.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Sample some of the dishes and desserts that best reflect the local gastronomy and discover their histories and traditions. As an introduction to Cartagena, you will first visit San Felipe de Baraja, a fortress that has been a landmark since the Spanish built it in 1639. Your culinary immersion will begin with an arepa de huevo – a fried corn cake stuffed with eggs – and carimañolas, which are yuca fritters stuffed with meat or cheese. After an enlightening walk through the walled Old Town, you will stop to dine on Cartagena’s most emblematical dish, posta Cartagenera. Made with braised beef, red onions and tomatoes, this comfort food originated with the city’s early African and Spanish inhabitants. It is usually served with coconut rice and plantains. Dessert will likely be a coconut confection known as cocada and perhaps a caballito papaya sweet. Free time for shopping follows in Las Bóvedas market.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into the history and traditions behind Cartagena’s favorite foods through tastings.
• Sample fried breakfast dishes, comfort food for lunch and a selection of desserts.
• Walk through the atmospheric Old Town and snap photos at a 17th-century fortress.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Zip over to the Makani Beach Club in a speedboat and spend hours relaxing however you wish at the luxurious resort. The beach club is on the western shore of Tierra Bomba, the closest island to Cartagena, so it won’t take long to reach this idyllic setting. Upon arriving, you will be free to do most anything you please. You might stretch out in a sunbed on the sugar-white private beach, stroll along the shoreline, read under the shade of a towering palm tree and take a refreshing swim in the sea. There is also a large swimming pool with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas if you prefer to relax there. Enjoy a complete à la carte menu of cocktails, drinks, snacks and a variety of dishes to suit your preferences (not included in the rate).

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Shop in a historical marketplace and explore other Cartagena attractions before dining on a characteristic Cartagenero lunch. You will get an initial sense of the city’s past while pausing for photos of the 17th-century Spanish-built fortress San Felipe de Baraja. Similarly, during free time at Las Bóvedas, you will see how these 18th-century dungeons were repurposed into a small shopping mall. The merchandise ranges from colorful casual clothing to miniature versions of the works of Fernando Botero, perhaps Colombia’s most famous sculptor and artist. You will browse a collection of pieces from other Colombian artists at the esteemed Cartagena Museum of Modern Art. Even the museum’s 17th-century stone building is a work of art as it was once the Royal Customs House. You will have much to discuss over a traditional lunch that will likely include shrimp croquettes as an appetizer and a whole fried fish or a beef dish flavored with cinnamon as the entrée.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shop at Las Bóvedas, a shopping mall that was once a series of dungeons.
• Browse the outstanding collection at the Cartagena Museum of Modern Art.
• Dine on traditional Cartagenero dishes at a restaurant downtown.
• Pause to take photos of the 17th-century fortress San Felipe de Baraja.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe the incredible variety of birds at the Colombia National Aviary, which are exhibited by habitat and species so you can concentrate on the types of birds that you find most appealing. Colombia is home to more species of birds than any other country in the world, so there will be plenty to see as you browse the aviary at your leisure. Colombia’s national bird and national symbol is the Andean condor, a massive bird of prey that is a natural scavenger. They mainly grunt, click and hiss because they lack a larynx-like voice box that would allow them to vocalize. Other extraordinary creatures at the aviary include bright-pink flamingoes and pelicans in the coastal area, colorful macaws and harpy eagles in the rainforest environment and flightless emus in their own special habitat. There is even a lake that attracts migratory birds, the species of which will vary with the season.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse Colombia’s national aviary, which exhibits well over 100 species of birds.
• Focus on the birds of most interest to you, whether coastal, tropical or desert species.
• See an Andean condor, Colombia’s national bird and the world’s largest raptor.
• Learn fascinating facts about the birds and whether they are endangered or not.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Walk through the walled Old Town of Cartagena and admire the historical architecture between stops to sample a variety of local foods. As an introduction to the city, you will first stop for photos at formidable San Felipe Castle, one of several fortresses that earned Cartagena recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although you will explore other architectural landmarks, including the Church of San Pedro Claver and the Inquisition Palace – where prisoners suffered unspeakable horrors during the Spanish Inquisition – the main focus will then be on food. You will pause for a sampling of fresh tropical fruits in Santo Domingo Square and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Colombian coffee in Customs House Square. At one of the restaurants in Old Town will be served an arepa de huevo, a popular street food consisting of a fried cornmeal cake stuffed with fried eggs. For dessert, you will drop by the confectionery Sweets Portal.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy tastings of traditional local foods while walking through Cartagena’s Old Town.
• Savor tropical fruits, Colombian coffee and a popular fried egg-stuffed corncake.
• Stop for photos of San Felipe, a 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage site fortress.
• Explore the interiors of the infamous Inquisition Palace and an early 17th-century church.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Ahoy grummet! Ready to live an authentic pirate day? Enjoy a full-themed pirate experience in Cartagena. Explore the historical districts within Cartagena’s walled Old Town on a leisurely walk past the most revealing landmarks. Founded on a trade route in 1533, Cartagena was often attacked by pirates such as Sir Francis Drake and Henry Morgan, so defensive walls and fortifications were soon built. As you will discover, they still stand and have earned Cartagena a World Heritage site designation. While meandering through the atmospheric streets, you will view a vast array of wonderful colonial architecture, churches, mansions, and lively squares where you can appreciate the daily life of the locals. Other highlights include the iconic clock tower at the entrance to the walled Old Town and the Inquisition Palace, where prisoners were tortured until the Spanish Inquisition ended in 1834. Join Captain Henry Morgan and his crew for a highly entertaining 90-minute walking tour around this pirate’s land. You will explore and learn with our pirates how was life in the city in 1600 and early 1700’s. You’ll learn about the city’s history, customs, traditions and why not? Maybe you’ll find out where the treasures are hidden. During free time, you can explore further or perhaps shop for designer fashions, local artwork, and emerald jewelry. Colombia is the world’s largest producer of emeralds, so you can expect to find a wide selection of gems to fall in love with.

Your day of discovery begins when you board you air conditioned transportation. You’ll pass by buildings and homes featuring Colonial, Republican and Moorish styles and your guide explains the many influences that came to be in Cartagena. Your first stop will be 'Punta Icacos', near the fishing village of La Boquilla. Here, you’ll be greeted by local fishermen who earn a living by traditional means of fishing. These fishermen will explain the process of making, repairing and casting the nets, as well as provide a demonstration. You’ll even have the opportunity to learn the art of throwing the net if you wish or you can also sip on fresh coconut milk or coconut water while you watch your companions cast the net. On your way back to Cartagena your guide will provide you with more information regarding Colombian history including the "Vallenato". The Vallenato is a traditional type of music typically using an accordion, flute and drum. Next, stop is at El Muelle where you’ll be greeted and entertained by your own band of Vallenato.

Sample a traditional Colombian snack or "frito" if you wish before making your way to the Emerald Museum. Here, you’ll see craftsmen at work as well as learn the history and cultural importance of the precious stone. Then, visit the famous walled or Old City and Portal de Dulce, an area where local vendors sell the handmade Columbian candies, famous around the world. Take a sweet sample before continuing your walk through the Plaza de la Aduana and Simon Bolivar Square. Along the way your guide will point out areas of interest as well as information on the many churches, building and monuments before you begin your free time in the colonial city. Feel free to stroll along the beautiful streets, browse the many shops and admire the beautiful architecture and flower covered balconies before returning to your ship.