COLOMBIA for FIRST TIMERS: Group Trip to CARTAGENA
5 days, 5 nights
Cost: From $1200 USD
This group trip to Cartagena - Caribbean gem - is for first-time travelers to Colombia
You need to get to Colombia and see what all the hype is about. Beyond the bright colors and bustling tourism you’ve seen in the media and online, you’ll experience a country in flux and a limitless multiplicity of culture, music, language - and get a chance to interact and exchange with folks who make the city what it is!
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash.jpg
Founded in 1533, Cartagena was once the primary Caribbean port for Spanish explorers and was a frequent target by pirates and other countries. Now, the only thing you need to protect yourself from here is the sun and packing it all into 5 days. Warm 365-days a year, Cartagena offers daily history lessons via its architecture and music, dialect and neighboring towns, and is a perfect destination for adventure and relaxation alike. On this 5-day experience, you’ll see what all the fuss is about during curated experiences with the SMT team, local guides, and a bunch of special guests.
What’s Included:
5 days in Cartagena
Private transportation while in Colombia
All breakfast and most lunches
Airport drop off
Welcome spirits (beverages)
On-site concierge services available for free afternoons and evenings
Several group experiences with local communities and active, outdoor adventures in addition to sufficient free time to explore on own
Payment plan options
Housing
Assistance with booking and best-practices advice for traveling to/from Colombia
Native and bi-lingual guide from Cartagena for group
Not included:
Airfare to and from Colombia
Souvenirs or food purchased outside of itinerary
Dinners not listed
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash 1.jpg
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Cartagena de Indias
Arrive to the crown jewel of the Caribbean. Transfer to hotel. We’ll spend our first afternoon getting to know the city with a walking tour of the historic downtown with a native and bilingual guide from Cartagena. Actually, he’s the #BestGuideInCartagena - Cartagena is only Cartagena if you’re walking downtown with him. Get to know your cohort with drinks at night.
Day 2: Getting to know Cartagena’s inner workings
Start the day off with a tour of the bustling Mercado Bazurto and learn about its history and relevance in the city’s inner workings, while tasting an intoxicating array of tropical fruits and other local goodies.
Then, we’ll learn about Cartagena’s famous fishing village, La Boquilla, with an ecological mangroves tour in canoe followed by fresh fish lunch on the beach. If you’re lucky we’ll toss some rum in your coconut! (*Seriously, though…)
Free night on the town with suggestions by SMT.
Day 3: Explore Islas Rosarios and the island of Baru
Oh, THAT turquoise water…
Take a full day to enjoy the famous Islas Rosarios in a private boat. Enjoy another beachside lunch and take an extended dip in sparkling turquoise water.
*Snorkeling options available. OOP expense.
At night: shake a leg at Bazurto Social Club or other famous salsa spots. Conversely, take in the local scene with a dinner in Getsemani plaza. Suggestions on us!
Day 4: Exploring Palenque
What is Palenque? The first free town of the Americas. Rich in history and a Unesco-protected language, fresh with culture and sounds, this is a great way to expand your understanding of Cartagena’s Afro-Colombian history. Cultural presentations, walking tour, and lunch on site.
At night we suggest: Go big! Have a cocktail at the top of the Movich or spring for a full seafood dinner at the famous La Cevicheria in El Centro.
Day 5: Dig in deeper…
Guests will explore Cartagena on their own and SMT will be on hand to put travelers in contact for any other local experiences they might like to have, or spend the day looking for souvenirs and exploring more on foot.
If interested, folks can inquire about:
Coffee tour/tasting experience
Bike tour of downtown
Private dance classes
Another day at the beach
Rum tasting tour
City Tour in private vehicle to see Castillo San Felipe, Getsemani, and Pie de la Popa (a monastery convent)
Botanical gardens ½ day experience with private car and guide
Horseback riding on the beach of La Boquilla
Day 5+6: SMT organizes airport transfer for your last day
Secure your spot via PayPal at info@scarletmacawtrips.com
Deposit of $200 required or paid in full - we’ll confirm via email.