Your tour package includes:

• Your World Awaits Cultural Tours Travel Coach & Concierge on the ground with you supporting your travel and accompanying you on the itinerary tour
• Free or no additional fee experiences curated by your Travel Concierge
• Travel and destination expertise
• Bookings and reservations (free time activities)
• Issue-handling before, during, and after your trip
• Risk-management
• Quality control
• Country cultural education resources
• Pre-departure virtual meeting to prepare for the best experience
• Airport transfer from/to Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG)
• Hotel 3-star superior based on double occupancy (as noted in the itinerary). We value and seek to first partner with accommodations owned by local natives and local families to support the local economy and have more authentic local, cultural encounters.
• Ground transportation during tour itinerary (van, speed boat)
• Private group excursions (as noted in the itinerary)
• Meals – 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners (select meals as noted in the itinerary; vegetarian and other dietary options available)
• Entrance fees (as noted in the itinerary)
• Certified Local Tour Guide
• Bilingual English-Spanish speaking Tour Guide

Your tour package does not include the following and for all activities in your free time that you decide to do on your own, or activities not booked with World Awaits:

• Airfare to/from Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)
• Admission fees (unless listed in World Awaits experiences and tours)
• Meals, Snacks, Water and Beverages (unless listed in World Awaits experiences and tours)
• Tips & Gratuities (optional)
• Transfers (to/from other locations to designated pick-up or meeting points or drop-off points)
• Travel Insurance – Highly recommended to get travel insurance based on your needs with our partner here
• Anything not listed in the tour itinerary and inclusions

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Dinner

Arrive Transfer: Please arrive in Cartagena by 15:00 local time and hotel check-in.
Time of transport: 45 minutes

Guided tour start time: 20:00 local time

20:00-22:00 Welcome Dinner Experience

You will dine in the walled-city at a restaurant uniquely Cartagena with a blend of Caribbean cuisine and roots in Mediterranean gastronomy.

Included: Private transfer arrival, Transfer from and to hotel, certified bilingual guide, 3-course dinner with unlimited wine, 3-star superior hotel

Day 2: Walking History Tour of La Heroica – The Heroic City

Walled City Tour
Discover the stories, beauty, and culture of the iconic city of Cartagena starting with a walking tour through the historic center and its most popular streets, passing through the monumental stone walls and fortifications.

Getsemaní Tour
You will walk to the colorful neighborhood of Getsemaní where you’ll enjoy street art, the vibe, local fruits and drinks tastings. You will learn about the colonial period, the Afro-Colombian community, and their resilience to remain rooted in their communities.

Duration: 3 hours

Afternoon free time for the remainder of the day to explore the city or beaches until we meet for dinner
Included: Your travel concierge will help you plan your free time

Caribbean Dinner
Dine in one of the trendiest bars in Cartagena with Caribbean music, a tasty three-course menu.

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, certified bilingual guide, food tasting, water, 3-star superior hotel, breakfast

Day 3: Rosario Island Beach Day

Caribbean Beach Day
Sail to a beautiful coralline beach in Rosario Islands to swim, snorkel, relax in the quiet waters near the mangroves, and enjoy an exclusive beach club with an open bar and traditional Caribbean lunch.

Duration: 7 hours

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, speed boat, Certified bilingual guide, lunch, open bar, 3-star superior hotel, breakfast

Day 4: UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Village San Basilio de Palenque
An 1.5 hour ride from Cartagena, you will discover San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town of formerly enslaved Africans in all of the Americas and a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The roots of Cartagena are intertwined with Afro-Colombian people, history and culture through music, dance, food, and art. You will interact with locals of Palenque Village in this full-day excursion of Afro-Colombian life and heritage.

Duration: 6-8 hours
Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, Bilingual local guides, traditional lunch, Private transportation, air-conditioned transport

Day 5: Independence Day Festivities and Free Day
Enjoy the Annual Independence Day celebration festive with pride, cultural music, dance and the full essence of all things Cartagena! Celebrations are everywhere all around the city, but the main event is the parade long backdrop of the Caribbean Sea and the Walled City. Grab a great view, dance and party in the streets with the carnival-like atmosphere and spirit!

Day 6: Day to Relax and Explore
Cartagena has something for everyone! This is your free day to rest, recuperate from the Independence Day celebrations, relax at the beach, hop off to another island, walk the Walled City or Getsemani art district, shop or choose your adventure! We will help you coordinate your free day and find curated local activities or cultural performances to enjoy!

Included: Your travel concierge will help you plan your free day, 3-star superior hotel, breakfast

Day 7: Nature Adventure in Historical Afro-Colombian Community

Artisanal Fishing in the Mangroves
Visit a long-standing Afro-Colombian community near Cartagena that has resisted gentrification and maintained their cultural lifestyle. Sail with local fishermen through the mangroves to fish in this extraordinary ecosystem, learn about their lifestyle and artisanal fishing techniques. Return with your catch of the day to share a traditional lunch with the community.

Duration: 4.5 hours
Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, specialized bilingual guide, activity insurance, water, hotel breakfast, lunch, 3-star superior hotel

Day 8: Departure or Connect to our Immersive Cultural Tour of Indigenous Communities and Jungle
Time to say see you again World Traveler or connect your trip to our next 8-day tour to Medellin or our 4-day tour to Indigenous Communities in Tayrona Park, Palomino and Santa Marta! You may either tour before or after your Cartagena tour!

Time of transport: 45 minutes
Included: Private transfer departure, hotel breakfast

This tour itinerary is available with our bilingual and multilingual tour guides and local hosts in the following languages:

• English
• Spanish

• Ages 12 and over
• If you desire cultural immersion to learn and interact more with the local culture and people. And you want a more slow to moderate pace itinerary and more free time
• Participants should have a moderate physical fitness level – requires moderate walking on historical streets, paved and not well-paved streets
• Please inform us prior to booking if you require accommodations with limited mobility or other special assistance. We will seek to meet your accommodation and explain which itinerary activities could be suitable or adapted for limited mobility.

Our Cultural Tours are immersive and enriched with opportunities to travel like a local and with locals when our local friends and partners are able to join us for casual meet ups. We embrace slower tourism and more local experiences beyond the typical touristic sites and scenes. As experts in intercultural relations, we will guide deeper conversations, learn the full, inclusive history, and have mutual learning opportunities with our local hosts. We build maximum free time and flexibility into your itinerary for your travel style and preferences. During your free time in the itinerary, you can choose to add tours, activities, experiences, or more rest and relaxation, or go with the flow, wonder and explore.

• Climate: In Cartagena, the climate is is tropical with very high temperatures year round ranging between 31°C (88°F) and 33°C (91°F). Rainy season is from May to November, with October being the wettest month, and a dry period from December to April.
• San Basilio de Palenque Climate: Palenque is hotter and muggier than Cartagena as the sun is more direct and there is no ocean breeze.
• Hot Water: With the tropical climate, you don’t need it! While the Cartagena hotel has lukewarm-to-hot water, it may not be as hot as you are accustomed to. We will be traveling like a local with locals!
• Air Conditioning: Our accommodation in Cartagena is equipped with air conditioning. However, please respect local customs and energy costs by not running the A/C all day and when you are not in your room. 
• Tour Itineraries: We give all diligence to adhere to the stated itinerary. If local constraints, government closures, safety and security issues, or inclement weather require rearrangement of the tour itinerary, we ask for your patience and understanding.

Important considerations:

• Luggage: Please do not bring more than 1 carry-on size luggage and 1 personal item or backpack per person. Due to transfers, vehicle size/space, and the terrain, it is not recommended to bring more or larger sized luggage. If you bring or accumulate more luggage or larger luggage, you may be required to book private transfers to accommodate your luggage at your own expense or pay luggage storage fees (if available).
• Museums Closings: some museums and sites are closed on Mondays with a few exceptions or a different closing day
• Photography and Video: Some Colombian museums and sites will not allow or charge a fee for video cameras, drone photography or it may not be permitted to enter these sites with tripods or professional equipment.
• Group size minimum participants to offer the tour: 10 participants
• Group size maximum: 20 participants

Recommended Flight to Cartagena depending on your international departure and arrival location in Colombia:

Rafael Núñez International Airport
Airport Code: CTG

Transfer from/to Cartagena Airport to your hotel:
Private transfer included; Private transfer may include other tour members in our private tour arriving at the same time as your flight

• Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes
• Sun protection – hat and sunscreen
• Necessary clothing or gear for your planned activities, experiences and excursions
• Insect repellent

• Please do not wear or bring expensive or showy jewelry, clothing, handbags or items
• Travel messenger bag / Crossbody bag recommended
• Undergarment travel fanny pack recommended
• External battery charger for your mobile devices recommended

• Single Room available upon request, availability and extra single room supplement fee
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• For U.S. citizens, tourism visits less than ninety (90) days do not require a visa. However, please always check with your country’s embassy and the visiting country’s embassy for any other entry requirements and if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months to enter the country.
• Vaccinations up-to-date with vaccination card as proof. Check with your country’s center for disease control. Recommended vaccines include but are not limited to: Routine vaccinations, Hepatitis A &B, Typhoid
• Please note that while not common, power outages,  water shortages, and flooded streets can occur in Cartagena. We appreciate your patience and understanding for these uncontrollable circumstances.
• Your World Awaits Cultural Tours travel concierge will accompany you on this tour operated by our certified local partner tour operators and guides

The vision of World Awaits Cultural Tours is to be a global community of global citizens sharing, caring, growing and contributing together through enriching travel experiences and relationships.


We seek out opportunities to make intentional, direct contributions of time, talent, and treasure to local people, communities and organizations in destinations we visit through planned and unplanned encounters. Our Cartagena cultural tour presents an opportunity with one local project partner and Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers to save just pounds/kilos of space in their suitcases to bring supplies or purchase supplies locally for children, families, and projects. Upon tour booking confirmation, we will send you access to the project overview and list of needed items. Thank you for giving and your impact.

Here are some full-day experiences and tours curated by World Awaits that you can choose to add to your itinerary. This list is not complete—your concierge will work with you to find and build your itinerary with the experiences you desire:


Tierra Bomba Beach Club for a Day
Spend your free day relaxing at a beach club on Tierra Bomba just a short boat ride to the island off the coast of Bocagrande. There are a variety of beach clubs to choose from focused on wellness, nature, indigenous Colombian culture wellness activities, sustainability, relaxation, ar a party! Your travel concierge will help you create the best experience to delight your soul and restore your body.

Duration: 5-6 hours
Fee: Beach Clubs day experience range from $85 – 100 USD
Included: Depending on your beach club of choice and class of service, packages generally include transportation from the meeting point to your hotel (near city center), boat ride to the island, lunch voucher, welcome drink, wellness activities, beach access, beach club facilities access, beach club entertainment
Not Included: Any port or tourist tax


Rosario Islands Beach Club for a Day
Spend your free day relaxing at a beach club in Rosario Islands, a 30-45 minute boat ride off the coast of Cartagena. There are a variety of beach clubs to choose from focused on wellness, nature, sustainability, relaxation, or a party! Your travel concierge will help you create the best experience to delight your soul and restore your body.

Duration: 5-6 hours
Fee: Beach Clubs day experience range from $75 – 150 USD
Included: Depending on your beach club of choice and class of service, packages generally include transportation from the meeting point to your hotel (near city center), speed boat roundtrip to the island, lunch voucher, welcome drink, wellness activities, beach access, beach club facilities access, beach club entertainment
Not Included: Any port or tourist tax


Totumo Volcano Mud Bath
Enjoy the wonders of nature with a mud bath in the volcano of Totumo. After your mud bath, you will be able to clean
yourself to be transferred to relax on a beach with access to the pool of a nearby beach club.

Duration: 5-6 hours
Fee: $75 USD
Included: Transportation to and from city center, bathing in the volcano, bathing in the Totumo lagoon, access to the swimming pool and facilities of the beach club, bilingual coordinator, accident insurance

Walk the beautiful streets and plazas with historical architecture, street vendors, local events, and pure energy.

• Historic walled city
• Beaches nearby – Bocagrande, La Boquilla, Laguito, Manzanillo del Mar
• Getsemaní neighborhood and street art and Plaza de la Trinidad
• Calle de Las Sombrillas (Umbrellas) in Getsemaní
• Calle Del Espiritu Santo in Getsemaní
• Walk the Bahia de Cartagenas in Manga and Bocagrande
• Cerro la Popa with panoramic views of the city and a beautiful 17th-century monastery (entry fee)
• Walking tour of the historic center to learn about its history and culture (tip)
• Plaza de la Proclamación
• Plaza de San Diego
• Plaza Santo Domingo
• Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, a Baroque-style church dedicated to the patron saint of the enslaved
• Walk along the picturesque city walls at sunset
• Museo del Oro Zenú collection of gold artifacts from the indigenous Zenú people
• Museo Naval del Caribe, a maritime museum with exhibits on the city’s naval history
• Parque de la Marina, a beautiful waterfront park with stunning views of the city
• Palacio de la Inquisición, a former palace that now houses a museum of the Inquisition (entry fee)
• Iglesia de Santo Domingo, a historic church with a beautiful interior and stunning altar.
• Teatro Adolfo Mejía, a historic theater with a beautiful interior and free cultural performances
• Parque Centenario with kiosks, monkeys, sloths and iguanas
• Plaza de las Bóvedas, former dungeon now souvenir shops and cafes of unique local and regional goods
• Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena Luxury Hotel former convent
• Centro Comercial La Serrezuela Shopping Mall and former indoor theatre arena water fountain show and occasional free cultural performances
• …And more…

• Private tour package or free-time tours for your family or group upon request
• In-country domestic airfare transfers
• 4-star, 5-star, boutique and luxury accommodations
• Two-day or more overnight add-on experiences
• Experiences and activities are endless from exotic experiences, gastronomy and cooking, art, entertainment and performances, sports, eco-tourism, adventure, wellness classes, to language classes or other learning experiences
• Romantic or special getaways
• Special occasions celebrations
• Extend your trip in the same destination
• Connect your trip to another destination or 8-day Medellin Colombia Immersive Cultural Tour or our 4-day immersive cultural tour to indigenous communities in the jungle of Tayrona National Park, Palomino and Santa Marta and save $150 off your Cartagena tour!

• All pricing is in USD – US Dollars
• Please read and agree to our full terms and conditions here and Section: “Land Only Tour Package Participants”
• Worry-Free, No Obligation Reservations for 7 days on Land Tour Packages World Awaits Cultural Tours offers a worry-free, no obligation reservation request for 7 days after the Tour Booking is received, during which time you can cancel your tour package’s reservation request for any reason. Credit card payment processing fees are not refundable.
• Minimum Non-Refundable Deposit and Final Payment If you are making your tour reservation within 90 days of your tour date, the 7 days grace period is waived. There is a non-refundable deposit of USD 250 per person. Your final payment is due 90 days prior to your tour’s departure date or by the payment deadline dates specified for your specific tour. If the reservation is made within 90 days of the tour departure date, full payment is due within 7 days of reservation.
• Tour Price All tour prices are listed in US dollars and are based on tariffs and rates of currency exchange in effect at the time of printing or publishing online. These rates are subject to change as deemed necessary and fair by World Awaits Cultural Tours.
• Price Guarantee World Awaits guarantees your tour price once World Awaits has received full payment for your Tour. Only amendment fees, currency surcharges, optional hotel or accommodation swaps, optional hotel or accommodation extensions, optional day-trips or excursion tours, or flight changes may have additional costs. These costs must be added to the tour package and will result in a price reassessment for each passenger.
• Tour Departure Guarantee World Awaits guarantees departure day for all of our listed tour packages. However, should the total number of tour members fall below 10 persons, World Awaits reserves the right to change or cancel the tour.
• Payment Plans directly with World Awaits Cultural Tours Considering your tour must be paid in full 90 days prior to the tour start date, you must select a payment plan that will allow completion of all payments prior to this 90 day prior payment deadline. This does not apply to Buy Now, Pay Later service providers because your financing is directly with the third-party provider.
• Cancellation You can cancel 91 days or more in advance of the tour, but your deposit is non-refundable, and any credit card processing fees, charges/penalties by an accommodation supplier, land operators and travel suppliers. Please read our full terms and conditions for cancellation policies and charges timetable after this 91 day period. Cancellation must be in writing.
• This tour requires a minimum number of travelers of 10 persons. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date or different tour or a full refund.