Day trips from Cartagena: the forts, the old town or the beach

Cartagena is hot and humid all year, so the order of the day matters: the hills and the fort in the cool of the morning, the old town on foot, the car in between. Three of our tours stay in the city, and two leave it, for the beach on Barú and the village of San Basilio de Palenque. Here is what each of our five involves.

One day: Cartagena in a day, with the walls, La Popa, San Felipe, the walled city and Getsemaní. A second day: Playa Blanca, by road, before the boats arrive.

The five, side by side

Trip	Length	Leaves	Price
Cartagena in a Day: Private Tour with the Forts, the Old Town and Bocagrande	8h	07:00	from €340
Cartagena: Private Tour of San Felipe Castle, La Popa and the City Walls	4h	07:00	from €220
Cartagena: Private Tour of the Walled City and Getsemaní	4h	07:00	from €220
Playa Blanca Private Day Trip from Cartagena	8h	07:00	from €280
San Basilio de Palenque Private Tour from Cartagena	6h	07:00	from €220

Prices are starting prices and depend on the size of your group.

How to choose

You have one day, and want the whole city

Cartagena in a day. Eight hours from 07:00: the walls before the heat, the convent on La Popa, the fortress of San Felipe, then on foot through the Clock Tower gate to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, fried fish and coconut rice for lunch, Getsemaní, and a drive past the towers of Bocagrande.

You want the forts and the views

San Felipe, La Popa and the walls. Four hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: a walk along the top of the walls, the tunnels and batteries of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, and the convent on La Popa, about 150 metres up, for the best view of the city. Plenty of ramps and steps.

You want the streets inside the walls

The walled city and Getsemaní. Four hours, at 07:00 or 13:00, on foot, with the car dropping you at one end and collecting you at the other: the Clock Tower, San Pedro Claver, the cathedral and the Plaza de Bolívar, Botero's reclining woman in Santo Domingo, and the painted houses of Getsemaní.

You want a beach day

Playa Blanca. Eight hours, by road, about an hour each way: a long white beach on the Barú peninsula, quiet in the early morning before the boats from Cartagena arrive. Bring cash in small notes for sunbeds and lunch, and agree prices before you sit down.

You want the history behind the city

San Basilio de Palenque. Six hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: the village founded by people who escaped slavery around 1600, with its own language and music, walked with a guide from the village. It is a living village, not a museum: ask before taking photos of people.

Four things worth knowing before you book

Entrances are paid on the day

The price covers the private vehicle, driver, fuel, tolls and parking. Entrances to San Felipe, La Popa and the churches, the village guide in Palenque, sunbeds and boats at Playa Blanca, and lunch are paid on the day.

Plan around the heat

Midday is the hardest time to walk, so the early start is cooler. Bring water, a hat and sun cream. If you arrive by sea, we can collect you from your cruise ship: tell us the ship and the time when you book.

Private costs less than you think for a group

A coach seat is cheap for one person and stops being cheap at four. Our prices are by group size, not per seat: up to four of you share one car at one price, and the price only steps up when you need a van. And you are not waiting for forty strangers at every stop.

You can change your mind

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, refunded in full. If the date stops working, message us and we will do our best to move you to another day.